Our verdict
Pros
- Smooth heel-to-toe transitions
- Lighter weight
- Comfy ride for long miles
- Trainers PEPE JEANS Brooks Reflect PMS30755 Dark Grey 975
- Not tippy when cornering
- Stable on gravel
- Can double for casual wear
- Quite breathable
- Sustainable outsole
- Great-value
Cons
- The Brooks ELMN8 v4 is a high-performance track shoe best for
- Pocos cambios en la suela de las Brooks Glycerin 16
Comparison
The most similar running shoes compared
+ + zapatillas de running Brooks talla 38.5 verdes | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Audience score | 88 Great! | 88 Great! | 83 Good! | 87 Great! | |
Price | $110 | $130 | $120 | $140 | |
Pace | Daily runningTempo | Daily running | Daily runningTempo | CompetitionTempo | |
Arch support | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral | |
Weight lab Weight brand | 7.9 oz / 225g 8.1 oz / 230g | 8.9 mens brooks carbonite tank 9.3 oz / 265g | 8.4 zapatillas de running Brooks amortiguación media 10k talla 40 negras 7.7 oz / 218g | 7.2 oz / 203g 7.1 oz / 201g | |
Lightweight | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ | |
Drop lab Drop brand | 9.4 mm 10.0 mm | 9.4 mm 6.0 mm | 9.5 mm 8.0 mm | 9.8 mm 8.0 mm | |
Strike pattern | HeelMid/forefoot | HeelMid/forefoot | HeelMid/forefoot | HeelMid/forefoot | |
Size | True to size | Half size small | True to size | True to size | |
Midsole softness | Balanced | Balanced | Balanced | Balanced | |
Difference in midsole softness in cold | Small | Small | Small | Small | |
Toebox durability | - | Bad | Decent | Decent | |
zapatillas de running Brooks hombre amortiguación media | - | Decent | Bad | Bad | |
Outsole durability | - | Decent | Good | Decent | |
Breathability | - | Breathable | Moderate | Breathable | |
fita de guiador brooks england de pele verde claro | Narrow | Medium | Medium | Medium | |
Brooks Αγγλία πρόκληση μεγάλη τσάντα εργαλείων 1.5l | - | Wide | Medium | Medium | |
Stiffness | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Flexible | |
brooks parrain des championnats deurope dathletisme | Big | Small | Small | Small | |
Torsional rigidity | Stiff | Moderate | Stiff | Moderate | |
zapatillas de running Brooks talla 41 amarillas | Flexible | Flexible | Stiff | Moderate | |
Heel lab Heel brand | 32.4 mm 36.0 mm | 31.5 mm 27.0 mm | 33.5 mm 35.5 mm | 32.2 mm 31.5 mm | |
Forefoot lab Forefoot brand | 23.0 mm 26.0 mm | 22.1 mm 21.0 mm | 24.0 mm 27.5 mm | 22.4 mm 23.5 mm | |
Widths available | NormalWide | NormalWide | NormalWide | Normal | |
Orthotic friendly | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
Season | - | SummerAll seasons | All seasons | SummerAll seasons | |
Removable insole | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
Ranking | #245 Top 46% | #108 Top 35% | #237 Bottom 25% | #139 Top 44% | |
Popularity | #278 Bottom 48% | #290 Bottom 8% | #112 Top 36% | #94 Top 30% |
Who should buy
The Favourites Emily Brooks White Bamboo Dog Bowl Inactive is an excellent perfect pick for runners in need of a:
- fun and lightweight running shoe that can go fast or slow
- road shoe built for any distance and can double for casual wear
Who should NOT buy
If you're looking for a dedicated, tried-and-true tempo trainer that's ready to set and beat PRS, we think that it's better to go for the Brooks Hyperion Tempo or the Brooks Levitate 5.
And if you want something cheaper, the Brooks Catamount trail is our suggestion.
Cushioning
Drop
In the brand's specifications, it says that the Launch 9 has a drop of 10mm.
Based on our caliper measurements, this is almost true! With the heel stack of 32.4 mm and the forefoot stack of 23 mm, we got a drop of 9.4 mm.
Launch 9 | 9.4 mm |
Average | 8.6 mm |
Midsole softness
In our durometer measurement, the Favourites Emily Brooks White Bamboo Dog Bowl Inactive scored 22 HA which indicates that it has an average level of midsole softness - neither too plush nor firm.
We also felt a touch of pop that added fun to the shoe's ride. Meanwhile, for longer efforts, the cushioning felt quite forgiving, more so than its predecessor.
Launch 9 | 22.0 HA |
Average | 20.9 HA |
Rocker
This shoe has a rockered shape that allows for fast and easy heel-to-toe transitions. It made the ride feel so seamless!
Size and fit
Size
Favourites Emily Brooks White Bamboo Dog Bowl Inactive is true to size (11 votes).
Toebox width - widest part
The brand's new Creel wrap upper made us feel very secure and locked in. For our medium-width feet, the shoe appeared to be well-fitted and the knit-like fabric had enough stretch to feel accommodating.
However, using a caliper, we measured the widest part of the forefoot at only 94.7 mm. While this is still in the medium range of toebox widths, wide-footers should definitely go for the wide version of the shoe.
Launch 9 | 94.7 mm |
Average | 98.5 mm |
Stability
Brooks Zapatillas Running Glycerin 19 Mujer Zapatillas Running 40 1 2 | Lateral stability test
Despite its higher stack height for a tempo trainer, the Favourites Emily Brooks White Bamboo Dog Bowl Inactive never felt tippy, even during sharp turns and when running on gravel.
Torsional rigidity
Torsional stiffness appears to be the source of stability in this Brooks trainer. It took some serious effort to twist the shoe in our manual test. Thus, we rated its rigidity as 4 out of 5. Nearly the stiffest in our catalog!
Launch 9 | 4 |
Average | 3.4 |
zapatillas de running Brooks talla 41 amarillas
The shoe's heel counter is more on the pliable side, scoring only 2 out of 5 on the heel squeeze-and-push test.
It may not be a stiff one but it held our ankle quite securely as far as speed-oriented shoes go.
Launch 9 | 2 |
Average | 2.9 |
Flexibility / Stiffness
Stiffness in cold (%)
When checking the flexibility of Favourites Emily Brooks White Bamboo Dog Bowl Inactive, what surprised us is how big of a difference it is when comparing the flexibility at room temperature (22.7N) and after the shoe has spent 20mins in the freezer (37.8N).
Launch 9 has a 66.5% difference in those 2 measurements, while the average difference for all the shoes in our lab is 32.9%. You've been warned: store your shoes at room temperature.
Launch 9 | 67% |
Average | 32% |
Weight
It's not just lighter than its predecessor; it's also lighter than most running shoes on the market! Based on our measurements, the Favourites Emily Brooks White Bamboo Dog Bowl Inactive is over an ounce lighter than average.
Launch 9 | 7.94 oz (225g) |
Average | 9.38 oz (266g) |
Breathability
The Favourites Emily Brooks White Bamboo Dog Bowl Inactive proved to be a fairly breathable shoe. With very little in-shoe padding, the Launch 9 allows for some decent airflow.
Holding half of the shoe against the light, we could see that a large part of the upper is pretty transparent, keeping the interiors well-ventilated.
Brooks Zapatillas Running Glycerin 19 Mujer Zapatillas Running 40 1 2 | Misc
Grip / Traction
It is amazing that Brooks managed to pull off a full-length rubber outsole while keeping the Launch 9 so light!
The grip made us feel very surefooted even on the slightly wet pavement.
Reflective elements
While it's great that the Launch 9 has some, we think that it wouldn't hurt to make them larger. Some at the back would be nice as well!
Tongue padding
What definitely screams SPEED is the tongue: it is very thin.
In the lab, we measured its thickness: an astonishing 1mm. Compare it to the average of 6 mm and you really get a race-ready tongue!
Launch 9 | 1.0 mm |
Average | 5.8 mm |
Favourites Emily Brooks White Bamboo Dog Bowl Inactive vs. 8
This time around, the Favourites Emily Brooks White Bamboo Dog Bowl Inactive sees these updates:
- Larray and Suede Brooks
- Lighter weight because of the new Creel wrap upper
- Sustainability-driven design with the shoe's Green Rubber outsole
All these changes entail a price increase of $10. From $100, the Favourites Emily Brooks White Bamboo Dog Bowl Inactive now retails for $110. But despite this, we still think that the shoe offers excellent value for money.
Sustainable materials
To champion a more eco-friendly approach, the Launch 9 has a green rubber outsole that's made using sand instead of petroleum. This lessens its environmental impact.