Forums >Gears and Wears>Brooks or not?
If you are neutral I am a huge fan of the Brooks Launch. Nice and light, they feel fast, and there is still plenty of cushion to run a full in.
Whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to say, It is well, it is well with my soul.
I too love the Launch, I always get comments on it in races.
Bought it for $70 and hoping to squeeze 400 + miles out of them, I am generally easy on shoes though (my 125 lb frame helps)
Every Mile is a Gift
Often injured, NEVER giving up.
Runner
One more vote for the Brooks Launch.
I picked up a pair last week and have put 40 miles in them. Did some speed work in them, and did a 22 mile long run in them. They feel about as fast as my speedwork shoes(Adizero ace and adios rotated) but with lots more cushioned of a feel without a huge compromise in speed perception.
If you want a little lighter I'd look at the Adizero line by adidas because I've tried Brooks, Asics, Adidas, & Nike versions of tons of shoes. For me the two most similar feels come from the Brooks and the Adizero line(with Adizero offering some good racing flats for my foot).
2010 Races: Snicker's Marathon(2:58:38), Scenic City Trail Marathon(3:26:36), Laurel Highlands Ultra 77(19:13:44), Ironman Louisville(13:07:07) 2011 Races: Mount Cheaha 50k 5:22:47, Tobacco Road Marathon, Mohican 100 Miler
I am using a pair of the Adizero Boston's at the moment and while I am satisfied with the sole and general performance of the shoe, I really don't like the upper or tongue. The shoe just doesn't seem to wrap my foot as nicely as some others do, and the tongue is way way to thin. It is constantly getting folded over as I put the shoe on, and it is too thin to pad the laces when I pull them tight enough.
I should have mentioned that. I loved the Adizero CS and when it was discontinued I got a pair of Aces and Bostons at the same time. The Boston was the worst upper on a shoe that I have ever seen. I didn't get blisters on my feet I got cuts. I bled through the shoe, and literally ran in it 3 times before using it as a "yard" shoe. It is s shame too because it would seem the Boston should compete head to head with the Brooks Launch. Maybe Adidas will update the upper to the Boston.
fear the Col Sanders
Another Launch recommendation here. My wife has gotten tired of me coming home from runs and telling her how much I like them.
The awkward colors are really growing on me, too. In my last marathon, the orange trim matched the orange d-tag. I felt so with it and fashionable.
Compared to the Launch, the Ghost seems like a much heavier shoe.
Just because I look dumb doesn't mean I'm not...
Same here! I'm constantly repeating it, and I think she just ignores my comments now.
If you want to try an salvage them you can try what I did. My wife got a pair of yankz at a half-marathon and I put those into the shoes. The stretchy quality of the yankz allowed the shoe to hold onto my foot with out cutting it to pieces. I don't know that I would want stretchy laces in all my shoes but they made the Adizero Bostons manageable.
I am going to buy a new pair of Launches for my next marathon, I am only hoping that they come out with a new color before then. The orange is neat for in a race but a little too much for just about every other situation.
I've never worn a pair of ghosts, so I can't compare the two. I can say they seemed to fit pretty true to size, I generally wear a size 11 and the 11 launches fit just fine.
If anyone else cares about the colors....I did the 'contact Brooks' link from their web page asking if there was going to be a new color released in the near future. I got the following email back the next day.
Hello, Thank you for contacting Brooks Sports. The current and future color ways of the Launch are listed below: Men's: Current - 681 - Cardinal/Blaze/Silver Releasing 7/01/10 - 007 - Black/Silver/Nightlife Women's: Current - 341 - Mantis Green/Purple/Silver Releasing 7/01/10 - 474 - Alaska Blue/Silver/Deep Royal/Black/White I hope this helps, please let us know if you have any further questions. Regards, Jenni Brooks Sports Customer Service