Brooks Launch 11 Review
By David Salas and Andrea Myers
Brooks Launch 11Price: $119.95 at Running Warehouse
Weight: 8.3 oz, 235g (men's size 9), 7.2 oz, 204g (women's size 8)
Stack Height: 35 mm heel / 27 mm forefoot
Drop: 8 mm
Shoe Purpose: Lightweight Training Shoe ; Neutral
Pros: Incredibly versatile training shoe at the price point
Cons: Very snug fit throughout and will be too narrow for some
RUNNING SHOE SUMMARY
The Brooks Launch 11 is a lightweight neutral training shoe. The shoe is geared for versatility and offers a good balance of cushioning, durability, and responsiveness at an approachable price point. The shoe has a snug performance fit throughout and provides responsive ride through toe off. The midsole is comprised of mostly DNA Flash, the proprietary supercritical midsole for Brooks. There is a touch of DNA Flash V2 in the forefoot for some added bounce. The lightweight trainer is meant to give some appeal for workouts as well.
SIMILAR SHOES: New Balance 880v15
PAST MODEL: Brooks Launch 10
FIT
(To learn how a shoe should fit, check out our full podcast on fit by Matt Klein.)
David: The Brooks Launch 11 fits true to size in my men's 9.5, but does run snug throughout. The length felt true to size. The width through the heel and midfoot is slightly narrow, with the forefoot being normal width. The shoe does have a lower volume to it and so the upper does hug the foot snug throughout. The tongue does have a good amount of padding and I did not have any issues with biting from the laces. The upper material is decently comfortable. It gives a good balance of being lightweight and airy, but also maintains some softness on foot. The heel does have a decently stiff heel counter, but it is padded really well.
The midfoot feels a little more narrow than it actually is, secondary to the sock liner. The sock liner extends medially and acts a little like a sidewall within the shoe. I don't mind the feeling, but it does make it feel a little more narrow. The forefoot width seems to be okay, but feels more narrow than it is because of the volume. Those that like a snug fitting shoe throughout will like this. I did not find the snug fit troublesome for me, but this is by no means a spacious shoe. The upper does break in with some uses, but the general theme of the snug fit remains. The lockdown throughout is good though. I had no issues with heel slippage or translation of my foot. Although the upper still worked for me, I do think I would like a little more volume in future iterations of the shoe.
David's Typical Size: Men's US Size 9.5
Shoes that have fit David well: Nike Vomero 17, Saucony Ride 16, Puma Velocity Nitro 3
Shoes that have fit snug: HOKA Arahi 7
Shoes that have fit large: Salomon Aero Glide
Andrea: The Brooks Launch 11 fit true to length in my usual women's 9.5, but I found it narrow in the toe box, particularly on the inside of my big toes. I was comfortable doing up to 6 miles in the shoe, but would not use it for anything longer due to the fit. The overall volume of the shoe is low and I had to open the laces up a bit to get a comfortable fit. Compared to my favorite Brooks shoe, the Hyperion 2, the upper is narrower in the midfoot and forefoot and the volume is overall lower. The upper does not have much stretch to it, which accentuated the narrow width and low volume for me. The rearfoot is also narrow, but I did not find it as tight as the forefoot. There is a rigid heel counter and moderate padding in the collar, which provided a snug and secure fit. The laces appear to be the same laces that Brooks used in Hyperion Max 1 and Hyperion 1, which are flat and do not stretch. The tongue has moderate padding and is held in place both by gusseting and a lace loop. The tongue stayed securely in place while running and I did not experience any discomfort from the laces. Due to the narrow and lower volume upper, this shoe will be best for those with narrow feet or those who like a close fit. For me, the shoe fits too narrow in the toe box for me to continue running in it. The shoe is available in wide, so it is possible I would be happier in that version.
Andrea's Typical Size: Women's US Size 9.5
Shoes that have fit Andrea well: Brooks Hyperion Max 1 and 2, Topo Cyclone 2, Nike Vaporfly 3, ASICS Novablast 4 and 5, PUMA MagMax Nitro
Shoes that have fit snug: Altra Escalante 4 (toe box width and volume), Mizuno Wave Rebellion Pro 2 and 3 (length), Saucony Endorphin Speed and Pro 1-4 (length)
Shoes that have fit large: Adidas Boston 12 (length), Adidas Adios 8 (length)
Doctors of Running Checklist
Is This a Good Shoe for Walking: Somewhat
Is This a Good Shoe for Standing: No
Is the Forefoot Flexible: Somewhat
How Flexible is the Shoe: Mild
Is This a Good Heel Bevel: Yes
Recommended for Haglunds: No
Recommended for Sockless: No
Durability Expectation: Average
PERFORMANCE
David: I enjoyed my time in the Brooks Launch 11. The Launch 11 is designed to be a lightweight training shoe that is versatile enough to pick up the pace. I do think the ride lets you know that very quickly. The Launch has a gentle rounding through the heel and forefoot, but ultimately maintains a flatter geometry. The Launch 11 uses DNA Flash as its midsole, which parallels the previous Hyperion series' supercritical foam. The foam has a good amount of resilience and bounce to it, but maintains a slightly firmer profile for being a supercritical foam. The forefoot has a touch of DNA Flash V2, and has a bit more bounce and compliancy to the midsole when loaded through that region. The Launch does not have a stiffening agent added to the shoe, but still maintains a decent amount of stiffness throughout the platform. The midsole holds its shape well and also combines with a thicker outsole platform underfoot. When loaded, there is a mild amount of give to the forefoot, but this does run a little stiffer. That stiffer platform does feel nice when the pace picks up though. I found that the shoe did run well at easy and rhythmic paces, but the lightweight and snappy nature of the shoe does make you want to bump the pace up a little bit. The Launch does seem to fill a nice role as an "everything" shoe for me and has just enough cushion for longer runs as well.
The Launch is definitely one of the lighter and more responsive options on the market at its price point. 8.3 ounces, 35mm of stack height, and a responsive foam is definitely enticing at the $120 price tag. The only drawback to longer efforts with the Launch would be swelling accommodation. Because the fit is so snug throughout, some may struggle with expansion of the foot throughout the run with this one. This is also a true neutral shoe. Outside of the sock liner having some gentle sidewall action through the medial midfoot, there really isn't much else reinforcement with stability. Those with nimble and neutral mechanics will have a lot of fun with this shoe, but those needing a little more guidance may have a harder time with longer and more intense training efforts. The Launch 11 is definitely a versatile lightweight trainer though.
Andrea: The Brooks Launch 11 is a lightweight performance trainer that could be a do-it-all trainer for those with narrow feet. I really wish the shoe fit me better (and perhaps I need to try a women's 9.5 in wide), because the midsole foam and geometry align well with my preferred movement pathway and the shoe performs well at a range of paces. Fit issues aside, the shoe feels light on foot and can easily pick up the pace for intervals. The forefoot features a later rocker, moderate flexibility, and DNA Flash v2, which provide a small amount of responsiveness and guidance at push off. The shoe feels like its stated 8mm drop, but the heel bevel and somewhat wider base in the area of my 5th MTP made the shoe feel comfortable for midfoot landings, even when I was running recovery paces. I have tested the shoe at paces ranging from marathon pace to mile pace, and I didn't find any pace that it didn't feel suited for. The tight toe box fit prevented me from testing it on longer workouts or easy runs, but I think if it fit me better, I would use the shoe for just about any type of run. If you are looking for a shoe that is reminiscent of old school lightweight neutral trainers, and you have a narrow foot, the Launch 11 might be a great option for you.
I have 30 miles on my pair and there is almost no visible wear on the outsole. There is some exposed midsole in the center of the rearfoot and midfoot, but it also shows minimal wear. All of my runs in the shoe have been on snowy, wet, or sand covered roads and I have not had any traction issues. I wouldn't hesitate to take the shoe on dirt roads or non-technical dirt trails, but this is definitely primarily a road shoe.
STABILITY
(Learn more about stability in our full guide)
David: The Brooks Launch 11 is a very neutral shoe, but does have some things that help with stability. The platform itself maintains a moderate amount of rigidity to it, via the firmer and more resilient midsole and thicker outsole coverage. The moderate stack height also gives the opportunity for a little more ground feel. The upper security on foot is quite good and does not allow for any foot translation or heel slippage. The outsole traction underfoot is good and should serve a good variety of situations. The platform has a very normal width and does not offer much in terms of sole flaring. There are not really any sidewalls, outside of a medial extension of the sock liner. There are no formal methods of stability integrated into this shoe, and the Brooks Launch is definitely a neutral shoe.
Andrea: The Brooks Launch 11 is a neutral shoe with minimal guidance features. It features some mild sole flaring in the rearfoot and forefoot, which is balanced medially and laterally. The later forefoot rocker gives gentle guidance into pushoff, but it muted somewhat by the flexibility of the forefoot. The base is generally narrow, with mild widening at the MTPs, but I would not say it is enough to lend any amount of stability to the shoe. The Launch 11 is definitely a neutral performance trainer that will work best for those without stability needs.
Thoughts as a DPT: Launch 11 vs Hyperion 2 vs Hyperion Tempo
By Andrea Myers
Longtime readers of DOR know that I am a fan of lightweight, neutral performance trainers. Many of my favorites over the past several years have been Brooks shoes, with Hyperion Tempo, Hyperion Max 1, and Hyperion 2 all on my list of favorites. For those readers who are like me, you may be wondering how the Launch 11 compares to these great shoes. When I first heard about the changes to Launch 11 from Tina Danforth of Brooks on the DOR podcast last summer, I thought it might be more similar to the Hyperion line than the previous Launch models, and I was correct in some respects. From a fit perspective, the Launch 11 fits most similarly to Hyperion Tempo, which I found to be on the narrower side, but not so narrow that I couldn't use it for many 12-15 mile workouts. Launch 11 is by far the narrowest and lowest volume of the bunch. The main difference in fit between the Hyperion Tempo and Launch 11 is that the upper of the Launch 11 is thicker and stiffer than the Hyperion Tempo upper. Launch 11 does have better laces than the weird serrated and stretchy laces of Hyperion Tempo. Hyperion Max 1 and Hyperion 2 both have higher volume, wider toe boxes that fit much more comfortably for me than Launch 11. From a performance perspective, the Launch 11 feels like a higher stack, heavier, and stiffer version of the Hyperion Tempo.
The Launch 11 is over an ounce heavier than Hyperion Tempo, Hyperion Max 1, or Hyperion 2, which is noticeable when running in the shoes back to back. Launch 11 feels more like a trainer, whereas Hyperion Tempo feels more like an old school racing flat, with Hyperion Max 1 and Hyperion 2 (which are very similar in weight, stack height, and geometry) being closer to the Hyperion Tempo in terms of responsiveness and weight. While I would never use Hyperion Tempo for a long easy run due to its lower stack and firmer ride, I would (and have) use Hyperion Max 1/Hyperion 2 for easy long runs up to 20 miles. If Launch 11 fit better, I would imagine it would make a nice long easy run shoe as well. From a stability perspective, Hyperion Max 1 had more significant stable neutral features, including a more significant heel bevel and forefoot rocker. These features were reduced in Hyperion 2, placing it squarely in the neutral category. Hyperion Tempo would be the most neutral shoe due to its low stack, mild forefoot rocker, and lack of sole flaring. The only features that make Launch 11 slightly more stable are the greater stack height and mild sole flaring in the rearfoot and forefoot.
Here are the specs for each of the shoes:
If viewed as part of the Hyperion lineup (which just for the record, Brooks does not say), I would consider Launch 11 to be more of a daily trainer model, even compared to Hyperion 2. I think what makes Launch 11 stand out is its low price and its ability to handle every pace for those who want one shoe to do it all. In a way, it has the trickle down performance of the Hyperion line without the Hyperion price tag.
RECOMMENDATIONS
David: The Brooks Launch 11 has a lot of positives, but there is always room for improvement. Despite the good lockdown of the upper, I did find it to be more snug than I was hoping for. Enough to where I think it may be a deal breaker for some. I think increasing the volume through the upper and allowing for a little more width through the midfoot and forefoot could benefit many.
Andrea: I really like the ride and performance of the Launch 11, and I am particularly impressed by its value at $120. For me, the shoe is too narrow, which created discomfort at my big toes and will keep me from running it in again. It is possible that the wide version would solve this issue, in which case the Launch might be one of my favorite trainers. Even with the availability of a wide option, I think the regular width version is too narrow, and could be improved by opening up the toe box.
WHO IS THIS SHOE FOR?
David: The Brooks Launch 11 is a lightweight neutral training shoe for someone that is looking to have a versatile and nimble ride on foot. The Launch is very neutral and will cater to those who do not need much stability in their shoe. The shoe also has a snug fit throughout and will also work well for those that like a more narrow fitting shoe. The moderate stack height and responsive foam give a lot of life to this shoe and at 8.3 ounces this shoe can definitely turn over when it is asked to. The geometry has a gentle roundingto it, but for the most part maintains a flatter geometry and relies on your natural mechanics. Those that are looking for an "everything" shoe at a cheaper price point have a good option here with the Launch, if they can handle the more snug fit.
Andrea: The Brooks Launch 11 is a do-it-all performance trainer that is lightweight, responsive, and can handle a variety of paces. It will be best for those with neutral mechanics who do not want a shoe dictating motion in any direction. At $120, it is an incredible value and will be a great option for youth runners or anyone looking to buy one shoe that can handle everything. The only drawback is the narrow and low volume midfoot and forefoot. Those interested in the Launch 11 may want to try the wide version if you do not have a particularly narrow foot.
GRADES
David
Fit: B (Good lockdown throughout, but this will definitely be too snug for some.)
Performance: A (Despite the fit issues and swelling accommodation comments, this is the definition of a lightweight and versatile training shoe.)
Stability: B+ (Very neutral and relies on natural mechanics. Moderate stack height, good upper lockdown, and outsole traction help. No major elements of sole flaring or sidewalls.)
Value: A (If the upper works for you, I think 120 is a very fair price point for how well this shoe performs.)
Personal: A- (It is pretty snug. But this shoe has a lot of upside for potential uses in the rotation.)
Overall Design: A-
Andrea
Fit: B (Narrow forefoot caused irritation of big toes, low volume required more slack in lacing than I normally utilize. Rearfoot fit is comfortable and secure.)
Performance: A (Ignoring tight toe box, this shoe can do everything. Nice combination of low weight, responsiveness, and moderate forefoot flexibility. I am disappointed it doesn't fit me better because I would definitely run a lot in this shoe.)
Stability: [neutral] B (A truly neutral shoe with minimal guidance features. Not a shoe for those who need any sort of motion control or guidance.)
Value: A (Incredible value for the performance, as long as the shoe fits.)
Personal: B+ (It would be an A if the forefoot fit better. However, I am very impressed by the performance and design of the shoe.)
Overall Design: A-
SHOP | SUPPORT DORBrooks Launch 11Price: $119.95 at Running Warehouse
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