Brooks Men's Launch 8 Running Shoe

Product Information

Brooks organizes its road shoes into three categories: “Cushion,” “Energize,” and “Speed.” (The brand’s trail shoes technically fall into their own separate category, but they use the same midsole foams as the “Cushion” and “Energize” shoes.) The GTS version is simply a stability version of the same shoe. In this case, the 8 GTS looks identical to the 8 with the only difference being the addition of a mid-foot support band. As your foot strikes the ground, the segments work together to customize your individual lay down to provide the right amount of cushion and seamless heel-to-toe transition for you – making the most of all that effort you put into each stride. Guide Rails Run Happy' is Brooks' motto, and we think with these two shoes in your running armoury you're going to be doing just that. You've now got all your aspects of training covered, from your early week recovery miles, and your long run, to your tempo and VO2 max session.

In the end, if you are looking for a fast trainer, that’s stable and dependable, durable and light enough for race day, the Launch 8 accomplishes all that. I don’t love the midsole, but they feel nimble and they are a nice improvement from the 7. One last thing to comment on is if you are a winter runner, these shoes didn’t fare too well in our freezer test, with the shoe getting 102% stiffer when cold, which may deter some. The Launch 8 is softer than any of the previous models, and that does a lot to broaden its mainstream appeal. And if you’re an existing Launch loyalist, there’s no reason for concern – the V8 retains all the signature elements that have made the series successful.This creative new concept eliminates the need to have two different shoes, and simply makes one model and platform with or without stability elements like guide rails. Brooks has been around for over 100 years, but its story as a running company began in 1974, when the brand released its first running shoe, the Villanova. The shoe was a revelation: It was the first to use ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) foam padding, which was lighter and softer than other midsole materials used at the time. The Villanova set a new standard for running shoes–EVA is still widely used in running midsoles today.

The spacer mesh keeps the foot well-ventilated, so the interiors are breathable enough to be featured on our curated list of summery shoes. We have discussed frequently that pronation is not bad, as it describes a normal motion and many times can actually be protective against impact related injuries (Barnes et al., 2008). However, like any motion, poor strength and control combined with overtraining can certainly be a risk factor for several foot/ankle injuries (See our post on Excessive Pronation as a Movement Impairment). Much of the evidence was mixed on this until a decently done article came out recently in the Journal of Orthopaedic and Sports Physical Therapy. Willems et al. (2021) analyzed several Randomized Control Trials (some of the best types of research studies) and found that motion control type shoes can reduce the risk of PRONATION-RELATED PATHOLOGIES, but not pathologies associated with anything else, ie specifically related to Achilles Tendinopathy, stress on the medial structures of the foot (posterior tibialis, etc) and potentially the plantar fascia (Willems et al., 2021). The calf-Achilles complex does assist with inversion and supination of the foot, which makes sense that uncontrolled pronation may stress that tissue if an individual overtrains and overstresses it without allowing appropriate time for recovery or possessing poor stress. The posterior tibialis and other invertors of the foot attempt to provide control during the phases of gait where pronation occurs. If weak or overworked, these certainly are at risk. The plantar fascia is a passive structure that supports the arch, so excessive stress in the area with allowing time for adaptation or recovery could certainly cause injury here.The Adrenaline GTS 23 offers a moderate amount of support and a soft, well-cushioned midsole, which makes it a great choice for easy runs and long distance efforts. Cushioned with DNA Loft v2 foam in the midsole, the Adrenaline serves up a highly cushioned heel and firm forefoot. We don’t know what Brooks intends to do with the racing flat category, but it seems like the Hyperion flat (not to be confused with the H-Tempo or Elite) will be retired. If you’ve previously steered clear of the Brooks Launch due to its firm ride, then it’s worth giving the Launch 8 a re-try. ALDREN (GTS): The Launch GTS 8 brings a lightweight look to a stability trainer. Are you trying to not blow some cash on your new shoes? Do you need another pair of trainers to run in while your other ones are still drying off? Are you looking to Run Happy, or at least not sad? Well, the GTS 8 may work for you. The Good