The RW Takeaway: The Launch 8 and Launch GTS 8’s new upper was a polarizing feature for testers, but the shoes are still a reliable option for new runners looking for a lightweight trainer with moderate cushioning and high energy return.
- New air mesh upper provides more ventilation
- Lightweight BioMoGo DNA midsole
- GTS version features Brooks’s guide rails stability tech
Type: Road
Weight: 244 grams (M), 224 (W); GTS, 250 grams (M), 230 oz (W)
Drop: 10mm
The Launch is a part of Brooks’s speed category of shoes, its BioMoGo DNA providing a modest layer of midsole cushioning and high energy return. Its fraternal twin, the Ravenna, is also a crowd-pleaser; it provides support without the bulky stability features characteristic of supportive trainers.
I had three shoes that served as life rafts during 2020’s pandemic storm, and of those three the Launch 7 was included. Needless to say, I had high expectations prior to testing the Launch 8 and its stability counterpart. The shoes have undergone a couple of changes, most notably the renaming of the Ravenna, redubbed as the Launch GTS.