5 Shoes Similar To Brooks Launch

“A versatile, lightweight shoe with proper midsole cushioning that’s suitable for neutral runners.”

This is why Brooks Launch has been a hit among Brooks’ fans for a while. The underdog shoe does what you want and doesn’t disappoint. Throw to these features its affordable price, and you get a non-negotiable bargain!

But who doesn’t like to have some other options in hand?

That’s why we’ll be looking at 5 shoes that are similar to Brooks Launch in this article, so you can compare and decide for yourself what’s best for you.

The 5 Best Shoes Similar to Brooks Launch

1. Nike Zoom Rival Fly

2. Saucony Kinvara

3. New Balance Fresh Foam Zante

4. ASICS RoadHawk FF

5. Brooks Revel

My Top Pick: Saucony Kinvara 12

5 Brooks Launch Alternatives

A Sneak Peek Into Brooks Launch

Brooks Launch is a neutral running shoe that’s dedicated to normal people. By “normal,” we mean not-necessarily athletic. Yet, it should perform well if you decide to wear it for a run or any activity.

Brooks Launch’s latest model, Launch 6, rides smoothly and has that bouncy, light feel. It’s unobtrusive due to its light weight and mesh upper.

Moreover, it features Brooks’ own BioMoGo technology, which is some kind of midsole padding that enhances shock absorption and results in more comfortable cushioning.

Brooks Launch is above-average shoes that get the job done and might even outperform some of its counterparts of the same price range. 

Let’s take a look at its competitors.

Without further ado, here’s our list of the shoes we found most similar to Brooks Launch on the market.

1. Nike Zoom Rival Fly

Nike’s Zoom Rival Fly is among the most underrated models of the Zoom line. We think it got undermined from plenty of “shinier” models of the same line that stole its thunder, like Nike Zoom Pegasus and  Winflo.

When it comes to price, fit, and overall characteristic, Rival Fly resembles Brooks Launch in a lot of ways. Yet, the two shoes are as different as night and day in terms of arch support.

While the Rival Fly was criticized because it nearly had zero arch support, The Launch has acceptable arch support -though it’s not Brooks’ best-. We’d like to note that some people who tried Brooks Launch have mistaken its supportive midsole for being “rigid and firm.”

We understand that the “rigid” sole might be annoying to some, but if you want good running shoes that offer support, that’s the way to go.

2. Saucony Kinvara

Saucony’s Kinvara is known for its flexibility, lightness, and soft cushioning. Looking at these aspects, it has a lot to share with Brooks Launch.

Both shoes share the same lightweight feel, although the Kinvara is a bit on the lighter side. It’s also softer with a light upper mesh. They’re quite different when it comes to landing, though.

Kinvara will give you an unnoticeable landing effect; it feels as you’re not wearing shoes, which is okay if you’ll be mostly running on flat ground which is typical for most Saucony running shoes. 

On the other hand, Launch 6 will give you a firmer landing with more support, so it gets the point here.

Launch definitely scores better when it comes to durability. Besides, it has a firm underfoot that’s convenient for runs and workouts

In contrast, Kinvara has a minimalist underfoot that’s made of foam, which means it won’t withstand heavy activity, you better use these as everyday shoes.

These two shoes come at equivalent prices, so the price won’t be a factor to consider here.

3. New Balance Fresh Foam Zante

Another comparable model to Brooks Launch is New Balance’s Zante. These two shoes are targeted towards runners, but they don’t feel the same.

Zante is on the firmer side, with a lower drop, while Launch is softer with a cushioned midsole. Zante’s toe box is wider, and its fit is generally more spacious, whereas Launch is more snug and sports a more flexible fabric.

Regarding support, Zante does a better job with its low-profile foam outsole that offers good support and impressive responsiveness.

One of our favorite features about New Balance’s Zante is its traction. It has a good grip on nearly all types of terrain, even in icy and wet weather conditions.

Given a choice between Launch and Zante, we’d probably go for Zante. 

4. ASICS RoadHawk FF

5. Brooks Revel

These shoes from Brooks have a lot to share with Launch. Revel has an almost identical price to that of Launch. Its design isn’t too different from Launch, and it’s as firm. But it features a noticeably narrower fit.

While not too different, Revel’s appearance is more vibrant and appealing than Launch. Honestly, Launch’s design, especially Launch 6, was a bit below average. Revel tops it in this area, fair and square.

Revel rides well, somehow even better and faster than Launch. Something you won’t necessarily expect from a shoe that’s marketed as “soft cushioned.”

We think we attribute the fastness aspect to the lower drop of Revel. It also has a lighter weight.

Wrap Up - 5 Brooks Launch Alternatives

Brooks Launch is an affordable neutral shoe with “just right” cushioning that lets you run fast and comfortable.

These other shoes we shared above are similar to Launch, sometimes with more cushioning, or with more support.

The right decision? Whatever caters to your needs. We don’t think you can go wrong with any of these shoes!