Brooks Launch 9 vs 8 Comparison Running Shoe Review
The main difference between the Brooks Launch 9 and the Brooks Launch 8 is the Brooks Launch 9 is lighter and features more structure at the forefoot of the outsole to balance out the softer engineering, while the Brooks Launch 9 offers a slightly firmer sensation on footstrike.
This structural integrity ensures the Brooks Launch 9 provides reliable support even as the midsole naturally compresses and approaches the end of its lifespan. The Brooks Launch 9 has a more noticable beveled heel, working in harmony with the shock-absorbing BioMoGo DNA midsole for consistent support, particularly for heel strikers.
Brooks don't overcomplicate the midsole - sticking to the philosophy that less is more by keeping it free of nylon plates or carbon plates that are currently popular in the tempo and interval running shoe world - making it ideal for runners that prefer to keep it simple. Up top it features a refined, breathable upper with a more minimalist tongue for a personalised and snug-feeling fit.
The Brooks Launch 9 is engineered for neutral foot types seeking to shift up the pace a gear, providing protection during your more progressive runs and also offering a potential ride for crushing longer runs with a lighter weight. As running shoe expert Josh puts it, “Brooks Launch 9 is nothing short of honest, reliable and consistent".
If you like the sound of the Brooks Launch 9 but need extra stability, the Brooks Launch 9 GTS is a solid option.
Check out the review with full transcript below.
Hey guys, it's Josh here from Sportitude Running to talk about the new Brooks Launch 9. Without further ado let's get stuck in.
The Brooks Launch 9 is a lightweight, neutral running shoe from the Brooks running family. We have a full-length BioMoGo DNA midsole. It's a nice, soft feel underneath the body but also has that slightly responsive or snappy feel through the forefoot which Brooks runners will appreciate.
There’s considerable change with the upper of this shoe. There is a slight alteration with this midsole and in doing that they had to change the outsole configuration.
In today's review we'll go through all of those three engineering concepts, break it down, compare it to the Brooks Launch 8 and give you all the information that you need at home to potentially make this one of your next running shoes. Let's get stuck in.
Runner Profile
The Brooks Launch 9 is a neutral running shoe so on the medial side the density of the midsole is the same as it is on the lateral side. For what a neutral foot type looks like jump to What Type Of Running Shoes Are Best For Me? and we'll take you through to a description of a neutral foot type.
The Brooks Launch 9 is a lightweight running shoe. There is an element of protection underneath the body, but it still technically sits in an energised category which contains a few other Brooks running shoes, mainly your tempo and interval running shoes so you can do some progressive runs in the Brooks Launch 9. However, there will be a small cohort runners out there that would probably enjoy a shoe like this for some mileage running.
Of course, you have to be able to tolerate less support, a little bit less cushioning for a shoe like this to sit on your foot for your longer weekend runs or your mileage running.
Upper
Let's talk all things upper with the Brooks Launch 9 and compare it to what we had last season with the Brooks Launch 8. The first noticeable change is the new tongue. Brooks have reduced the construction of their tongue. They've made it lighter and thinner so you're going to get a little bit more ventilation through the top of your arch.
However, they haven't sacrificed the fit, feel and function. The tongue being a bit thinner will conform over the top of the arch a little bit nicer, so you get more of a customised fit in comparison to last year where it was thicker. I’m not saying there was anything wrong with that at all because 90% of shoes still have tongues that are very similar to the Brooks Launch 8 with a little more padding on offer.
In making the Launch 9 lighter, Brooks have had to adjust a couple of those components in the upper. There’s engineered mesh through the forefoot and a little bit of detail with the side panels and the overlays which provides a nice fit and construction across the shoe.
The heel counter probably is my favourite feature of this shoe. It still has an internal heel counter like the Brooks Launch 8 last year so there's no change with regards to the amount of structure on offer around the back of your heel.
However, the fit and feel is a little bit different due to a slight increase regarding the foam they have placed on the inside of this heel collar. There are still the Achilles flares on offer, so you won't get that pinched feel at the back of your heel.
The Achilles flare provides enough structure and comfort but also takes the pressure off the base of the Achilles where it inserts into your calcaneus. It’s the same thing as last season with the Brooks Launch 8, however as I touched on it’s just a little bit more foam around the internal heel collar.
Outsole
Let's jump from the upper and talk all things outsole. What we have on offer is full ground contact. Rubber has been placed from the back of the shoe right through the forefoot. There's no interruption with any Trusstic system through the midpart of this shoe. It's been the case now for a number of years with the Brooks Launch franchise. They've kept it really consistent with the amount of rubber which has been placed underneath the shoe.
What we have on offer through the forefoot is really similar in terms of the comparison between the Brooks Launch 8 and the Brooks Launch 9. There’s almost like a diagonal flex groove from the lateral to medial side. On the medial side though you'll see the rubber configuration is encapsulated. That is going to provide extra structure and integrity for the shoe, still flexing in the right areas but delivering enough support for those metatarsals as you exit out of your gait cycle.
A really important feature of any outsole is to complement what a brand is doing with its midsole and in terms of the Brooks Launch 9 they've really got it on point with that forefoot construction.
Coming down through the midsection of this shoe as we touched on before there is no interruptions with plastic Trusstic systems. The width of the rubber through that midfoot is marginally broader than last year. That means you’re going to get more purchase with the ground as you're transitioning through midstance, especially for heel strikers and for midfoot runners as you land on contact.
Coming back to the heel, the biggest change has been the bevel construction. This is going to come into play more for your heel strikers, for that runner that comes down on heel first. Having a slight bevel at the back of this shoe will provide a little bit more cradled support and also complement that amount of cushioning you're going to receive from that BioMoGo DNA midsole. In comparison to last year we had a slight bevel, but it wasn't really as noticeable at the back of that shoe as it is in the Brooks Launch 9 today.
Midsole
Let's dive into the midsole where essentially most the magic happens with all running shoes. Less is more. I've touched on that expression a few times but with your Brooks Launch running shoe, Brooks really want to focus on comfort, fit, feel and function by not throwing in too many bells and whistles into this midsole.
It's very off trend with regards to what is happening in the market, especially in this lightweight category. Nylon plates, carbon plates, carbon rods - whatever it be, a lot of brands are focusing on putting some form of extra assistance through the midsole to generate that really snappy propulsive feel during your running experience.
However, the Brooks Launch 9 is nothing short of honest, reliable and consistent. With the midsole change Brooks have increased the stack height by 2mm. In the Brooks Launch 9 we have 24mm in the heel and 14mm in the forefoot for that 10mm offset.
In last year's Brooks Launch 8 we had a 22mm heel and 12mm forefoot with a 10mm offset. By increasing it by 2mm you could say naturally that's going to be a slightly softer ride.
The feedback we've had from a couple of our staff members that have been testing this shoe, myself included, is it is a slightly softer ride underneath the foot. You could argue that that's because of the extra stack height.
However, I think that Brooks has put a little bit more effort into the BioMoGo DNA midsole, providing a slightly softer compound rubber on that increased stack height. As we touched on, it's going to provide a little bit more cushioning on your landing. If you're a heel striker, expect a little bit more protection in the Brooks Launch 9 than the Brooks Launch 8. Even if you're a midfoot striker you will experience a little bit more protection as well.
The biggest change or the biggest alteration with the engineering configuration of this shoe is the outsole through the forefoot.
A little bit more effort has been put into providing some structure and integrity on that outsole on the medial side and I feel the reason that Brooks have done that is to complement the slightly softer ride you're going to get in the Brooks Launch 9. We're talking slightly softer. When the shoe is in its last chapter in the remaining 15% to 20% of its life, when the midsole compresses, you're going to get a little bit more support through that forefoot configuration which is important for that experience through the whole entire life of this shoe.
As we touched on in the intro, being a neutral shoe there's nothing on offer on that medial side. If you're looking for a very similar experience to the Brooks Launch 9 but you want an element of medial protection, the Brooks Launch 9 GTS is coming out soon and we'll do a full review on that shoe.
Weights & Widths
Now to talk about a couple of statistics regarding the Brooks Launch 9. There’s a big weight reduction in the men's model. We have 232 grams in the men's size 9 and in the women’s model we’re talking 201 grams for a size 7. To give you some context, the men's Brooks Launch 8 last year was 244 grams, so a 12 gram change is a considerable amount for a very similar shoe.
While we're talking all things statistics, let's just give you the information you need regarding widths. In reference to the Brooks Launch 9 it is only available in a standard width. The men's model is going to come in at a D width and the women’s model is going to come in a B width.
If you're a runner that likes what this shoe offers but you're seeking a slightly broader fit, there will be a 2E on offer for the Brooks Launch 9 GTS men’s model and a D on offer for the Brooks Launch 9 GTS women’s model. It will have the GuideRails on the medial side for extra arch support. You'll get a slightly broader and more voluminous fit throughout the entire shoe.
The Wrap Up
If you're searching for a lightweight, honest and reliable midsole then the Brooks Launch 9 is going to be one that you should definitely consider. It’s fantastic for your interval runs, some progressive runs and also great for some mileage running if you're a runner that can tolerate a lighter system underneath the body.
That is my take on the Brooks Launch 9 from the Brooks running family. If you have any questions about this shoe or where it has come from, please contact our Sportitude shoe experts.
If you haven't subscribed to the Sportitude YouTube channel hit the red button, stay notified and we'll keep pumping out new shoe reviews for you the running community out there.
Until next time be safe, be kind to one another, happy running and we'll see you at the road. Take care.
FEATURES
Brooks Launch 9
- Support: Neutral
- Upper: Mesh
- Midsole: Brooks BioMoGo DNA
- Heel Height: 24mm
- Forefoot Height: 14mm
- Offset / Drop: 10mm
Men
- Weight: 232g / 8.2oz (size 9)
- Width: D (standard)
Women
- Weight: 201g / 7.1oz (size 7)
- Width: B (standard)
Brooks Launch 8
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