Our verdict
- How did you decide on the Hansons-Brooks agreement best lightweight running shoes
Pros
- Offers excellent stability with GuideRails technology
- Priced attractively at only $110
- Features a durable outsole
- Incredibly lightweight!
- zapatillas de running Brooks constitución media distancias cortas baratas menos de 60
- Brooks Mens Adrenaline GTS 21 Sneakers
- These shoes from Brooks
- Brooks Element Notch £22
Cons
- Suffers from lack of breathability
- Becomes too stiff in winter
Audience verdict
Comparison
The most similar running shoes compared
+ + brooks qw k v3 laufen lauf | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Audience score | 84 Good! | 89 Great! | 83 Good! | 86 Good! | |
Price | £110 | £140 | £120 | £140 | |
Pace | Daily runningTempo | Daily running | Daily running | Daily running | |
Arch support | Stability | Stability | Stability | Stability | |
Weight lab Weight brand | 8.5 oz / 241g 8.4 Brooks do biegania na cały rok | 9.3 oz / 264g 9.4 oz / 266g | 10.7 zapatillas de running Brooks amortiguación media blancas 11.4 zapatillas de running Brooks pronador media maratón talla 46.5 naranjas | 10.7 zapatillas de running Brooks amortiguación media blancas 10.8 zapatillas de running Brooks pronador media maratón talla 46.5 naranjas | |
Lightweight | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | |
Drop lab Drop brand | 12.2 mm 10.0 mm | 9.4 mm 8.0 mm | 12.1 mm 10.0 mm | 12.6 mm 12.0 mm | |
Strike pattern | Heel | HeelMid/forefoot | Heel | Heel | |
Size | True to size | True to size | True to size | True to size | |
Midsole softness | Soft | Soft | Soft | Balanced | |
zapatillas de running Brooks maratón talla 48.5 | Normal | Small | Small | Small | |
Toebox durability | Decent | Good | Good | Good | |
Heel padding durability | Good | Good | Good | Good | |
Outsole durability | Good | Good | Good | Good | |
Breathability | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | |
Toebox width at the widest part | Medium | Medium | Medium | Medium | |
Toebox width at the big toe | Medium | Medium | Medium | Medium | |
Stiffness | Flexible | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | |
Brooks England B33 B135 Натяжной штифт | Big | Small | Small | Small | |
Torsional rigidity | Stiff | Stiff | Stiff | Stiff | |
Heel counter stiffness | Moderate | Stiff | Stiff | Stiff | |
Heel lab Heel brand | 35.4 mm 34.0 mm | 36.6 mm 36.0 mm | 36.7 mm 37.0 mm | 37.7 mm 37.5 mm | |
Forefoot lab Forefoot brand | 23.2 mm 24.0 mm | 27.2 mm 28.0 mm | 24.6 mm 27.0 mm | 25.1 mm 25.5 mm | |
Widths available | NormalWide | NormalWideX-Wide | NormalWideX-Wide | NormalWide | |
Orthotic friendly | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
Season | All seasons | All seasons | All seasons | All seasons | |
Removable insole | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
Ranking | #211 Bottom 32% | #96 Top 31% | #229 Bottom 26% | #184 Bottom 41% | |
Popularity | #229 Bottom 26% | #78 Top 25% | #73 Top 24% | #178 Bottom 43% |
Who should buy
Brooks Paul Short XC Invitational Bethlehem:
- Have been wanting the non-GTS Launch 10 but need stability as overpronators
- Are looking for a stable daily trainer that's not heavy at all
- Enjoy fast and agile runs and want the extra support from the GuideRails technology
Who should NOT buy
If you're a neutral runner, the Brooks Launch 10 might be a better choice for you, as it has a wider upper and an even lower weight. We think that getting the stability-oriented version might not make sense in this case.
Additionally, if you run in extreme climates, you might want to skip this one. The foam becomes too stiff in winter, and the upper isn't breathable enough for summer.
HOKA drop 6 7 mm amortiguación media talla 38 zapatillas de running Brooks mixta constitución ligera minimalistas, which offers superb ventilation and performs better in cold temperatures with the same—or even better—stability features.
Cushioning
Heel stack
In comparison to its neutral counterpart, the stack height in the heel has increased by 1.6 mm, as we measured it at 35.4 mm. This extra cushioning is a welcome feature without adding much bulk.

Men's Brooks Levitate 5 Running Shoes | 35.4 mm |
Average | 34.2 mm |
Forefoot stack
The forefoot stack measures 23.2 mm, which is a bit less than what's found in the neutral version.

Men's Brooks Levitate 5 Running Shoes | 23.2 mm |
Average | 25.6 mm |
Drop
More foam in the heel and less in the forefoot obviously transcend to an even higher heel-to-toe drop. The Men's Brooks Levitate 5 Running Shoes proves this point, coming in at 12.2 mm.
It's a real treat for heel strikers who are fans of high drops, but probably a bit too much for midfoot and forefoot strikers. If you need a stable ride with less drop, check out the Hoka Arahi 6.

Men's Brooks Levitate 5 Running Shoes | 12.2 mm |
Average | 8.6 mm |
Midsole softness
When we move to the midsole, we find the exact same DNA foam as in the neutral version, so there's no difference between the two models in this regard.
This balanced compound aims to provide comfort without becoming excessively plush. The measurement of 19.6 HA, confirms this.

Men's Brooks Levitate 5 Running Shoes | 19.6 HA |
Average | 21.0 HA |
Kilates x Brooks Heritage La Bestia (%)
When we exposed the foam to cold temperatures by placing it in the freezer for 20 minutes, it got firmer, and we measured it at 25.8 HA on the hardness semejante. Despite this change, it still feels great.
The increase of 31.4% is close to the average for running shoes, and this finding aligns with our expectations.
The DNA foam in this shoe, made from EVA, is known to have less-than-stellar performance under cold temperatures.

Men's Brooks Levitate 5 Running Shoes | 31% |
Average | 25% |
Insole thickness
To enhance comfort, Brooks has chosen a really plush insole for the Men's Brooks Levitate 5 Running Shoes. We measured it at 6.4 mm, a thickness that adds to the shoe's comfort.

Men's Brooks Levitate 5 Running Shoes | 6.4 mm |
Average | 4.4 mm |
Size and fit
Size
Brooks Men's Brooks Levitate 5 Running Shoes is true to size (128 votes).
Toebox width - widest part
Manufacturers have secret tricks to make their shoes more stable, and we're here in the lab to reveal one to you. They often play around with the upper and midsole of the shoe, and the Men's Brooks Levitate 5 Running Shoes is a perfect example to show this.
At its widest part, the upper of the Men's Brooks Levitate 5 Running Shoes measures 98.9 mm, less than the 100.5 mm in the neutral counterpart. Why is that? If the upper is made narrower, it creates more space on both sides of the shoe, which helps with stability.
While 1.6 mm might not seem like much, when it's combined with the GuideRails, it makes a big difference. However, because of this, the shoe fits more tightly compared to the non-GTS version.

Men's Brooks Levitate 5 Running Shoes | 98.9 mm |
Average | 98.5 mm |
Toebox width - big toe
In the area of the big toe, we measured the upper part of the shoe at 78.8 mm. This width is generous enough to accommodate most feet comfortably.

Men's Brooks Levitate 5 Running Shoes | 78.8 mm |
Average | 78.4 mm |
Heel feel
On the positive side, the insole in this shoe is removable, so we were able to easily fit our own orthotics without any issue.
Stability
Being a shoe created to be as light as possible—a goal it achieves—one of the trade-offs is the width of the midsole. That's why we find ourselves with a shoe that, despite being focused on stability, is not excessively wide, measuring at 113.8 mm.
Lateral stability test
The GTS acronym in Brooks represents "Go-To-Stability," and it's an area where this shoe truly excels. We found the shoe to be impressively stable, instilling confidence in us with every stride.

The impressive stability in this shoe is made possible by the Brooks GuideRails technology. It consists of two specially designed plastic pieces that work to correct overpronation.
Torsional rigidity
If you try to make a shoe more stable, one of the simplest methods is to make it less flexible from a torsional standpoint. That's exactly what Brooks has done with the Men's Brooks Levitate 5 Running Shoes.
Brooks Scarpe Running Levitate Stealth Fit 5.
Men's Brooks Levitate 5 Running Shoes | 4 |
Average | 3.4 |
Heel counter stiffness
The heel counter surprised us. We were expecting another 4 out of 5 result, but Brooks chose to keep the exact same heel from the neutral version (3/5) because it's really comfortable.
We believe this is a smart approach, as the shoe already has enough stability with this one. So why would they make it less comfortable with a heel counter that's too stiff?
Men's Brooks Levitate 5 Running Shoes | 3 |
Average | 2.9 |
Midsole width - forefoot
Being a shoe created to be as light as possible—a goal it achieves—one of the trade-offs is the width of the midsole. That's why we find ourselves with a shoe that, despite being focused on stability, is not excessively wide, measuring at 113.8 mm.

Men's Brooks Levitate 5 Running Shoes | 113.8 mm |
Average | 114.2 mm |
Midsole width - heel
The heel of the shoe is narrower than most others, but we noticed that it's still 3.6 mm wider than its neutral non-GTS counterpart (86.8 mm).

Men's Brooks Levitate 5 Running Shoes | 86.8 mm |
Average | 90.7 mm |
Brooks Zapatillas Running Launch Gts 8 Blue Orange White
Even though this is a stability shoe, it's meant to be a lightweight daily trainer that focuses on comfort, so it shouldn't feel stiff at all.
We found that to be true, as we only had to use 19.1N to move it to bend it to the measurement point.
Men's Brooks Levitate 5 Running Shoes | 19.1N |
Average | 28.1N |
Stiffness in cold (%)
Under cold temperatures, the shoe doesn't perform as well as we'd like. We had to use nearly double the force, at 33.2N, to move it to the 90-degree measurement point.
The 73.7% increase is a disappointing figure, resulting in a subpar performance that greatly changes how the shoe feels when the weather gets cold.
Men's Brooks Levitate 5 Running Shoes | 74% |
Average | 33% |
Weight
More foam in the heel and less in the forefoot obviously transcend to an even higher heel-to-toe drop. The Men's Brooks Levitate 5 Running Shoes proves this point, coming in at 12.2 mm.
It's a real treat for heel strikers who are fans of high drops, but probably a bit too much for midfoot and forefoot strikers. If you need a stable ride with less drop, check out the Hoka Arahi 6.
Weight
At 8.50 oz (241g), the shoe has gained a little weight due to its stability features, but only by 0.4 oz (11g).
This increase is so minimal that we believe you won't even notice it.

Men's Brooks Levitate 5 Running Shoes | 8.50 oz (241g) |
Average | 9.38 oz (266g) |
zapatillas de running Brooks pronador media maratón talla 46.5 naranjas | Breathability
The breathability in the Brooks Launch 10 GTS falls right in the middle. We've given it a 3/5 rating in our test, and our lab-based smoke-pumping test shows that the airflow isn't as good as we hoped.
Brooks GTS Adrenaline 21.
But our light test revealed that they aren't as effective as those in other shoes like the womens brooks addiction walker suede.
When we looked closer under the microscope, we discovered the real issue. Brooks used an engineered mesh that, upon closer inspection, is thicker than it appears.
There isn't much room for heat and humidity to escape, so the shoe's breathability is just average, like we mentioned before. But can we talk about this picture of the upper? Wow, it looks so different and incredible from that close!
Men's Brooks Levitate 5 Running Shoes | 3 |
Average | 3.8 |
Durability
Toebox durability
Мужские свитеры Brooks.
In this case, though, it's not all bad news. We've given it a 2/5 rating, which isn't the lowest possible score. However, it's still not what we'd consider a good performance.

Men's Brooks Levitate 5 Running Shoes | 2 |
Average | 2.5 |
Heel padding durability
The heel padding in the Men's Brooks Levitate 5 Running Shoes is exceptional, providing both comfort and durability.
As for the fabric Brooks uses in this shoe, it's a standout in the industry. This combination of softness and durability is truly great, and it's something other manufacturers might want to take note of!

Men's Brooks Levitate 5 Running Shoes | 4 |
Average | 3.2 |
Outsole hardness
Brooks uses the same outsole in this shoe as in the non-stability version, and we've found that it has the exact same hardness level: 81.4 HC.
This gives an average result, which seems like Brooks is trying to find the right balance between grip on the road and the durability of the shoe itself.

Men's Brooks Levitate 5 Running Shoes | 81.4 HC |
Average | 79.8 HC |
Outsole durability
Thanks to the tough and durable rubber, the outsole stands up really well to our last Dremel test.
We measured an indentation of just 0.67 mm, and that's an absolutely fantastic result! It's proof that this outsole has what it takes to handle some serious wear and tear in the roads.

Men's Brooks Levitate 5 Running Shoes | 0.7 mm |
Average | 1.0 mm |
Outsole thickness
Brooks has trimmed 0.2 mm off the outsole in the non-GTS version to help control weight. Yet the shoe still retains 3.2 mm, which we think is going to be enough for this one.

Men's Brooks Levitate 5 Running Shoes | 3.2 mm |
Average | 3.3 mm |
Misc
Reflective elements
Unfortunately, as we feared, the upper of the shoe doesn't include any reflective elements. This is an area where Brooks has fallen short, and we hope they make improvements in the next update.

Men's Brooks Levitate 5 Running Shoes | No |
Tongue padding
Another great feature of the Men's Brooks Levitate 5 Running Shoes is the padded tongue. Measuring 7.2 mm, it's plusher than most shoes on the market!

Men's Brooks Levitate 5 Running Shoes | 7.2 mm |
Average | 5.9 mm |
The Brooks Levitate 2 retails for the same
The shoe comes with a semi-gusseted tongue, a feature that enhances the lockdown. It's surprising to find this feature in a shoe that costs only £110, as it usually doesn't appear in shoes at this price range.

Men's Brooks Levitate 5 Running Shoes | Both sides (semi) |
Heel tab
Brooks has done the same thing they often do, leaving heel the tab off the Men's Brooks Levitate 5 Running Shoes.

Men's Brooks Levitate 5 Running Shoes | None |
Removable insole
On the positive side, the insole in this shoe is removable, so we were able to easily fit our own orthotics without any issue.

Men's Brooks Levitate 5 Running Shoes | Yes |