Чоловічі бігові кросівки brooks ghost 9 | Our verdict

The Brooks Launch 2 Red White-Blue shines as a budget-friendly yet high-performing daily trainer, especially for heel strikers. It boasts a competent midsole, cosy mesh upper, and impressive durability. Adding to its appeal, we found during our test runs that it can easily transition from the road to the gym, thanks to its snug fit and moderate cushioning. While it may fall short in the energy return department, it's a small hiccup considering the overall value.

Чоловічі бігові кросівки brooks ghost 9 Pros

  • Outstanding value for just $100
  • Brooks Glycerin 20 GTS 20 and Caldera 6
  • Superior breathability
  • Brooks ghost 13
  • Incredibly light
  • Remarkably durable
  • Performs well in all seasons
  • brooks hyperion review

Чоловічі бігові кросівки brooks ghost 9 Cons

  • New Balance talla 34
  • Limited energy return

Who should buy

zapatillas de running Brooks entrenamiento ritmo medio maratón talla 47:

  • New runners looking for a reliable but affordable shoe to start their journey
  • Brooks enthusiasts who desire a budget-friendly option for their daily runs
  • Heel strikers seeking the best back for their buck in a running shoe

Brooks Launch 2 Red White-Blue

Who should NOT buy

If you're seeking a daily trainer with high energy return, this shoe won't be your best bet in our opinion. While it's a solid option, it does lack that extra bounce. For that, you'd need to look into options above £100, such as the ZAPATILLA TRAIL RUNNING HOMBRE BROOKS CALDERA 5 or the Brooks Ghost 15.

Also, runners with a forefoot striking technique should look elsewhere based on our lab tests. With a significant 12 mm heel-to-toe drop, this shoe is tailored for heel or midfoot strikers. Consider the zapatillas de running Brooks hombre trail talla 36.5 amarillas as an interesting alternative.

Brooks Launch 2 Red White-Blue parts

Cushioning

Heel stack

We measured the shoe's heel stack and found it to be a solid 34.2 mm. This provides plenty of cushioning for all heel strikers, even those who are on the heavier side.

Brooks Launch 2 Red White-Blue Heel stack
Test results
Trace 2 34.2 mm
Average 34.2 mm
Compared to 403 running shoes
Brooks Glycerin 8 Mens
22.5 mm
Heel stack
46.3 mm

Forefoot stack

We then measured the thickness of the forefoot and found it to be just 21.9 mm. This is really thin, letting you feel the ground well.

If you're a forefoot striker, you might find the foam cushioning simply too low.

Brooks Launch 2 Red White-Blue Forefoot stack
Test results
Trace 2 21.9 mm
Average 25.6 mm
Compared to 403 running shoes
Brooks Glycerin 8 Mens
13.7 mm
Forefoot stack
37.1 mm

Drop

We discovered a gigantic heel-to-toe drop of 12.1 mm in this shoe. This clearly shows that the shoe is designed for heel strikers or for those looking to ease pressure on their Achilles and calves.

If you're a forefoot striker or zapatillas de running Brooks pie arco bajo apoyo talón talla 44, this shoe might not be the best fit for you.

Brooks Launch 2 Red White-Blue Drop
Test results
Trace 2 12.3 mm
Average 8.6 mm
Compared to 403 running shoes
Brooks Glycerin 8 Mens
-0.2 mm
Drop
16.1 mm

Midsole softness

Note: a low durometer measurement equals a soft material, whereas a high measurement means it's firm.

The BioMoGo DNA midsole fits right in with what we expect from Brooks foams. It offers a snappy, responsive feel rather than a cloud-like cushion. However, it lacks energy return.

The durometer delivered a 22.1 HA reading. So, it's definitely not for those who are looking for pillow-soft running shoes, better check the New Balance FuelCell Rebel v3 instead.

Brooks Launch 2 Red White-Blue Midsole softness
Test results
Trace 2 22.1 HA
Average 20.9 HA
butów męskich Brooks.
Compared to 330 running shoes
Brooks Glycerin 8 Mens
8.5 HA
Midsole softness (soft to firm)
35.0 HA

zapatillas de running Brooks mujer competición neutro voladoras 10k amarillas (%)

To see how the shoe holds up in cold weather, we put it in the freezer for 20 minutes. After letting it rest, we measured the softness again. We found that there was a small increase, going up to 27.4 HA.

With just a 23.8% change, you might think it's just an okay performance for a running shoe. But let's give credit where it's due—this is an amazing result for a wallet-friendly shoe.

Launch de Brooks Running, you want a stability trainer to rotate with Brooks models like the. However, we discovered that the Trace 2, using a modified EVA, stays impressively consistent, barely changing at all.

Brooks Launch 2 Red White-Blue zapatillas de running Brooks mujer competición neutro voladoras 10k amarillas
Test results
Trace 2 24%
Average 25%
Compared to 330 running shoes
Brooks Glycerin 8 Mens
0%
zapatillas de running Brooks mujer competición neutro voladoras 10k amarillas
63%

Чоловічі бігові кросівки brooks ghost 9 | Insole thickness

We measured the insole at 4.3 mm, which is pretty standard. There's nothing special to report about it. It's made of comfy foam, and should give you no issues at all.

Brooks Launch 2 Red White-Blue Insole thickness
Test results
Trace 2 4.3 mm
Average 4.4 mm
Compared to 399 running shoes
Brooks Glycerin 8 Mens
1.5 mm
Insole thickness
7.3 mm

Size and fit

Size

Brooks Launch 2 Red White-Blue is true to size (611 votes).

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1 size small ½ size small True to size ½ size large 1 size large
Compared to 382 running shoes
Brooks Glycerin 8 Mens
½ size small
Slightly small
True to size
Slightly large
½ size large

zapatillas de running Brooks mujer minimalistas talla 49.5

We analysed the toebox in the lab and found it to be 96.3 mm, which is pretty average but leans a bit on the snug side. However, it's not a big deal.

Brooks Launch 2 Red White-Blue upper

If you guiador wide feet, you might think about getting a wider size. Good thing Brooks offers this shoe in both D and 2E widths in some markets.

Brooks Launch 2 Red White-Blue Tessa Brooks Rouched Strappy Mini Dress
Test results
Trace 2 96.3 mm
Average 98.5 mm
Compared to 370 running shoes
Brooks Glycerin 8 Mens
91.6 mm
zapatillas de running Brooks mujer minimalistas talla 49.5
104.9 mm

Toebox width - big toe

The big toe area is a bit narrower at 76.0 mm compared to a regular daily trainer. But there's no need to worry for most runners, mainly because the engineered mesh is really flexible.

Brooks Launch 2 Red White-Blue Brooks Cena od 300 do 399 Fioletowe
Test results
Trace 2 76.0 mm
Average 78.4 mm
Compared to 244 running shoes
Brooks Glycerin 8 Mens
67.6 mm
Toebox width - big toe
89.2 mm

Stability

Lateral stability test

The Brooks Launch 2 Red White-Blue is designed to be a neutral daily trainer. But we found that it also offers a good amount of stability. So, if you're a mild pronator, we think this shoe may work for you.

Torsional rigidity

When we bent and twisted the Trace 2 in our hands, and it didn't put up much of a fight. So, we gave it a 3 out of 5 on our scale for how Rail or bendy it is. This kind of flexibility is the safe bet for any brand that doesn't want to take risks.

Test results
Trace 2 3
Average 3.4
Compared to 382 running shoes
Brooks Glycerin 8 Mens
1
Torsional rigidity
5

Чоловічі бігові кросівки brooks ghost 9

The lead designer at Brooks chose a pretty average heel counter for this one. It's not too soft and not too Rail. We'd rate it a straightforward 3 out of 5, just like the torsional rigidity.

Test results
Trace 2 3
Average 2.9
Compared to 366 running shoes
Brooks Glycerin 8 Mens
1
Чоловічі бігові кросівки brooks ghost 9
5

Midsole width - forefoot

Keeping up with the theme of creating a no-risk shoe, we measured the midsole width in the forefoot area and found it to be 113.6 mm. Again, no big shocker here, but that's not a bad thing at all!

Brooks Launch 2 Red White-Blue Midsole width in the forefoot
Test results
Trace 2 113.6 mm
Average 114.1 mm
Compared to 404 running shoes
Brooks Glycerin 8 Mens
102.2 mm
Midsole width - forefoot
126.9 mm

Mochilas e bolsas Sportswear Brooks England

The heel is wider than we anticipated, measuring in at 92.3 mm. It totally fits the bill because, as we've mentioned before, this shoe is specially designed for heel strikers.

Asics Nimbus 20 o New Balance 1080v6.

Brooks Launch 2 Red White-Blue Midsole width in the heel
Test results
Trace 2 92.3 mm
Average 90.6 mm
Compared to 404 running shoes
Brooks Glycerin 8 Mens
70.8 mm
Mochilas e bolsas Sportswear Brooks England
106.6 mm

zapatillas de running Brooks constitución ligera minimalistas distancias cortas placa de carbono

Most runners looking for a budget-friendly shoe want it to be good for running but also versatile enough for gym workouts or casual walks. With pricier shoes, the focus is usually just on running.

At £100, the Trace 2 proved to be great for various activities in our lab. We found that part of its versatility comes from its flexibility. It took us just only 20.7N of force to bend the shoe 90 degrees, which is a really low measurement.

Test results
Trace 2 20.7N
Average 28.1N
zapatillas de running Brooks tope amortiguación constitución media minimalistas media maratón.
Compared to 383 running shoes
Brooks Glycerin 8 Mens
2.2N
Flexibility <> Railness
72.1N

Stiffness in cold (%)

After spending another 20 minutes in the lab, we ran the same test again. This time, we measured a slightly ghost force—just 23.3N. Interestingly, that's still way less than half the average force usually measured in this test.

We found that the difference is just 12.7%, which is actually closer to what you'd expect from high-end shoes rather than a budget-friendly pair. And it's less than three times the average result, which is seriously amazing.

Test results
Trace 2 13%
Average 32%
Compared to 383 running shoes
Brooks Glycerin 8 Mens
0%
Stiffness in cold
101%

Weight

Brooks is really working hard to make their shoes light, and they're using that to help sell them.

We found that this shoe is no exception. Tipping the scales at just 8.8 oz or 249g, it's incredibly light!

Brooks Launch 2 Red White-Blue Weight
Test results
Trace 2 8.78 oz (249g)
Average 9.38 oz (266g)
Compared to 404 running shoes
Brooks Glycerin 8 Mens
5.61 oz (159g)
Weight
12.59 oz (357g)

Breathability

Brooks is known for making breathable shoes, and the Trace 2 is no exception, even though it's a budget-friendly option. We were pleasantly surprised when this shoe earned a perfect 5/5 score for breathability.

In the video above, you can see how easily smoke escapes from multiple parts of the shoe. This is impressive because many shoes only offer good breathability in one part of the upper. But the Trace 2 excels all around.

Now, why is the breathability so good? We discovered that when we shined a powerful light on the upper, all the ventilation holes became visible in full glory.

These holes extend from the toe box to the midfoot, allowing for excellent airflow—a feature often missing in affordable shoes.

Brooks Launch 2 Red White-Blue microscope

We also took a closer look under the microscope, as we often do in our lab.

Brooks Launch 2 Red White-Blue close microscope

The engineered mesh upper not only looks great but also has an inner layer of fabric to boost comfort. This is probably why Brooks added more ventilation holes in comparison to shoes like the Hyperion Max brooks women s ghost 13 shibori.

Test results
Trace 2 5
Average 3.8
Compared to 333 running shoes
Brooks Glycerin 8 Mens
1
Breathability
5

Durability

Toebox durability

With a generous number of ventilation holes, we expected the upper to perform poorly in our dremel test.

But, to our pleasant surprise, that wasn't the case at all! The 3D Fit Print engineered mesh stood up incredibly well against our testing tool. In fact, it outshone nearly every other running shoe on the market, earning a solid 3/5 score!

Brooks Launch 2 Red White-Blue Toebox durability
Test results
Trace 2 3
Average 2.6
Compared to 267 running shoes
Brooks Glycerin 8 Mens
1
Toebox durability
5

footwear and product line manager for Brooks

We were also genuinely impressed with the durability in the heel padding area.

It surpassed all our expectations at a 3/5 score. There's no worry about wear and tear in this area; it's built to last.

Brooks Launch 2 Red White-Blue footwear and product line manager for Brooks
Test results
Trace 2 3
Average 3.2
Compared to 262 running shoes
Brooks Glycerin 8 Mens
1
footwear and product line manager for Brooks
5

Outsole hardness

Next, we turned our attention to the outsole in our lab to degrade investigate the shoe's durability. We found that the type of rubber Brooks uses isn't overly hard at 79.8 HC.

Brooks Launch 2 Red White-Blue outsole

We observed that the outsole has some areas of exposed foam, but these are strategically placed. This suggests that they aim to strike a nice balance between providing solid grip, weight savings and enough durability.

Brooks Launch 2 Red White-Blue Outsole hardness
Test results
Trace 2 79.8 HC
Average 79.7 HC
butów męskich Brooks.
Compared to 384 running shoes
Brooks Glycerin 8 Mens
56.1 HC
Outsole hardness
93.0 HC

Outsole durability

After putting the outsole to the final test with our Dremel, we discovered a mere 0.4 mm indentation. This is a standout result that points to fantastic durability for the shoe.

Brooks Launch 2 Red White-Blue Outsole durability
Test results
Trace 2 0.4 mm
Average 1.1 mm
Compared to 245 running shoes
Brooks Glycerin 8 Mens
0.0 mm
Outsole wear
2.0 mm

Outsole thickness

The outsole's thickness came in at 3.3 mm, which is pretty standard. This seems like a good compromise between weight and durability.

However, given how tough the rubber is in this shoe, we believe Brooks could guiador reduced the thickness even more to save even more weight!

Brooks Launch 2 Red White-Blue Outsole thickness
Test results
Trace 2 3.3 mm
Average 3.2 mm
Compared to 401 running shoes
Brooks Glycerin 8 Mens
1.0 mm
Outsole thickness
6.0 mm

Misc

Reflective elements

Sadly, we found that the Trace 2 doesn't guiador any reflective pieces for better visibility at night.

Brooks Launch 2 Red White-Blue Reflective elements
Test results
Trace 2 No

Tongue padding

We measured the tongue and found that Brooks really nailed it with this design. The tongue is a just-right 5.3 mm thick, which is enough.

It's so easy for companies to pack in extra padding and talk it up, but too much foam inside the tongue only makes the shoe heavy and bulky!

Brooks Launch 2 Red White-Blue Tongue padding
Test results
Trace 2 5.3 mm
Average 5.8 mm
Compared to 401 running shoes
Brooks Glycerin 8 Mens
0.4 mm
Tongue padding
14.2 mm

Tongue: gusset type

We discovered in this lab review that this shoe offers many features you'd usually find in more expensive models. However, the tongue isn't one of them.

It has a non-gusseted tongue, which is understandable. Still, it's nice to dream about having it all, isn't it?

Brooks Launch 2 Red White-Blue Tongue: gusset type
Test results
Trace 2 None

Heel tab

We observed that the Trace 2 doesn't guiador a heel tab, but this isn't because it's an entry-level shoe. Is just the way Brooks is designing their latest shoes.

Brooks Launch 2 Red White-Blue Heel tab
Test results
Trace 2 None

Removable insole

We found that the insole is removable, which is really convenient. This means you can easily swap it out for custom orthotics or even your favourite insole from another pair of shoes. So, you're not locked into just the default option.

Brooks Launch 2 Red White-Blue Removable insole
Test results
Trace 2 Yes