Brooks Men's Launch Gts 8 Running Shoe

Product Information

Many long standing models have been consolidated into their existing neutral trainers that offer a support iteration.

Loved the cushioning most of all!” said another tester. “I have recurring Achilles tendonitis that will get irritated if I run too much in low-profile shoes. These had lots of bounce in the heel, which really helps prevent injury for me.”

Brooks Launch GTS 9 Conclusion

Renee: The Rebel v2 was my favorite road shoe of 2021. The midsole is magic. The Launch 8 is a more traditional, firmer ride, for daily miles. For speed and tempo work, the Rebel v2 is better. The Launch 8 has better protection underfoot, but I’ve used the Rebel v2 from short speed work to 20 milers on gravel. Sizing is comparable. The Launch 9 is an excellent single shoe in the quiver for the high school or college runner as it can handle all paces and should prove durable. The same applies to faster runners piling on the miles in relatively short runs. Together, the DNA Flash foam and SkyVault create an energetic ride, and enough responsiveness to get a good feel for the ground underfoot, which can be helpful for navigating obstacles on technical trails. The upper comes with a toe cap for protection against trail debris, and it also features drainage holes to shed water, so your feet won’t slosh around in the shoe after a creek crossing. In RW testing, the Catamount 2 won praise for its excellent grip, even in wet and wintry conditions.

If that sounds helpful, look for Brooks models with a “GTS” in the name, which stands for “Go-to Support.” Brooks makes GTS versions of many of its shoes, including the Glycerin and Launch. At the time of testing, I am also running in the Lululemon Blissfeel which has a more substantial width under the heel. Runners who prefer more of a base for longer runs will want to look to Blissfeel (woman-only shoe) or the ASICS GT-2000 10, in addition to Brooks’ more substantial support shoes Glycerin GTS and Beast/Ariel (men’s/women’s).Adding to the environmental benefit is the Green Rubber silica used in the outsole rather than a petroleum base. What puts the “Go To Support” in these are the Guide Rails. Both sides of the shoe have extra pieces of firm foam that cradled my heel. On impact, they were there to help guide my foot, but only when I needed them to. I’ve always had upper-fit issues with Brooks, from a too-high toe box in Ravenna 8 to a too-narrow forefoot in many Ravenna, Adrenaline, and Transcend models since. Shannon (GTS): The ride is ultimately what made me a fan of this shoe. As I said before, this is one quiet, smoothly riding shoe. Brooks managed to let us have our cake and eat it too with their addition of more cushioning yet keeping things lightweight. This is going to be a versatile, go-to-for-anything type of shoe just as I used my previous Launch. If you’re a fan of the previous Launch GTS, never fear as the update is one that you will enjoy equally, if not more, than its predecessor. In this special mini-podcast episode, our team breaks down the differences between the Launch 8 and Launch GTS. We also talk budget shoes and our favorites so far in 2021.