The Brooks Launch 12 Helps You Run Fast—and Save Big

The Brooks Launch 12 is a bargain buy for runners looking for a lightweight everyday trainer.The shoe has DNA Flash v2 foam, making it a good choice for speed days.Some testers liked the snug fit, while others felt the midfoot was a little too narrow.The Launch 12 is cushier than a racing flat but can handle hard workouts on the track and on the road. The affordable trainer—a bargain buy for $120—won’t break the bank, but it doesn’t feel cheaply made. The Launch has that Brooks touch; the comfy fit that securely locks your foot inside an airy mesh upper.We included the Launch 12 in our Best Affordable Shoes guide because it’s an excellent choice for runners wanting a designated trainer for fast days. It’s also a sweet, cheaper lower-stacked alternative in a sea of towering, high-cushioned models.Affordable, Versatile, SpeedyProsLightweightResponsive nitrogen-infused foamShock-absorbing cushioning Grippy outsoleBest forEveryday training, speedworkCushioningModerateWeight8.9 oz (M), 7.9 oz (W)Drop8 mmStack Height35 mmFor the runner who says the Brooks Ghost is too bulky and boxy, the Launch 12 could be your sole mate.Racing Shoe FoamI’ve added track workouts to my training this year after finally overcoming my fear of the dreaded all-eyes-on-me oval. It’s fun to go balls-to-the-wall in today’s super trainers and high stacks during speed sessions, but I sometimes desire a more grounded, minimally designed trainer to really test my fitness. The Brooks Launch 12 is that shoe.Finding out there’s DNA Flash v2 foam in the Launch 12 is like finding an Easter egg in a movie. It’s a callout to the Hyperion Elite 4, Brooks’s premium racing shoe model. The shoe originally had nitrogen-infused DNA Flash v2 foam to pump up your ride before switching to DNA Gold (PEBA, baby) in the Hyperion Elite 5. But it can’t be ignored that DNA Flash v2 was a form of Brooks’s original super foam.This gives the shoe a firm, snappy ride with plenty of padding for shock absorption. It’s not max-cushioned, and certainly not super trainer height at 35 mm, but it packs plenty of support for hard and long efforts.trevor raabThe same cushioning in Brooks’s super shoe, the Hyperion Elite 4.“Typically, I’m a fan of the middle ground when it comes to trainers,” said Content Hyper Editor Ashley Tysiac. “I like to have a shoe with enough cushioning that I feel like my feet are supported, but not too much that I feel like my feet are being weighed down by bricks. This shoe was a pleasant break from some of the heavier, maximalist trainers that I’ve tried in the past couple of years. It’s a lightweight shoe that provides a firm ride.“There’s not a ton of give to the shoe or spring in its step, but I didn’t mind that. The firm, easy ride was something I could enjoy on regular runs, long runs, and even some runs with faster-paced segments in the middle.”A Racing Flat FitThe Launch 12 is built like a track shoe with its narrow, streamlined last. Tester Ricky Snyder said he had no issues with the fit, saying everything was “perfect, no hot spots or cramping in the toe box, no hard or rubbing plastic parts.”However, Tysiac—and I—found the Launch 12’s midfoot a wee too snug.“I wasn’t a huge fan of the lacing system,” she said. “No matter how many times I loosened and re-laced my shoes, it always felt too tight through the midfoot area, causing some noticeable discomfort.”trevor raabSome testers found the midfoot section too narrow.As a runner with wide feet, I couldn’t agree more with Tysiac. Compared to Brooks’s Hyperion 3, which also has DNA Flash v2 foam along a knit upper that hugs your foot, I felt the Launch 12 was much narrower and constrictive. The Hyperion 3 costs $20 extra, and speaking from experience, it could be worth the spending if you have wide feet like mine.A Versatile TrainerThe Launch 12 is a shoe for runners looking to find a cheaper alternative to the more costly speedwork ones on the market, but it’s also for runners who miss shoes pre-super foam. The shoe may have an older midsole version of Brooks’s special sauce, but the ride takes you back to simple days, when a firmly cushioned trainer was all you needed to get in a run.“Of all the various shoes I’ve worn over the past few years, the Brooks Launch 12 is your standard, light-cushioned shoe,” said Tysiac. “If it were an ice cream flavor, it would be vanilla bean. If it were a Girl Scout cookie, it’d be a shortbread. Standard and enjoyable, but nothing over the top.trevor raabThe shoe has excellent traction on wet roads.“I took out the Brooks Launch 12 on a variety of runs, including regular runs, regular runs with pickups in the middle, and long runs. Perhaps the shoe’s best feature that stands out is how light it is, providing a ride that doesn’t feel too bogged down. They felt light enough to rip off some faster-paced fartlek segments during the middle of a regular run, but still supportive enough to make it through a longer run.”For $120, you’ll find a trainer that can take on multiple workouts. The Launch 12 is a good deal for the runner looking to save.Shop Men’s at brooksrunning.com | Shop Women’s at brooksrunning.comAmanda Furrer, Editor, Running Reviews, studied journalism at NYU and writing at Emerson College. She has reviewed gear and covered other topics in the running space for almost 10 years. Since 2013, she has consecutively run the Boston Marathon. She also has a master’s degree in gastronomy from Boston University and was formerly a professional baker for two years before hanging up her apron.