Brooks Launch GTS 10 Review: Sneaky Fun Stability

What You Need To Know

Introduction to the Brooks Launch GTS 10

SAM: Like trees and crows, our feet remember things. My feet remember showing up to my first year of college track with a brand new pair of Brooks Glycerin, blissfully unaware that I was about to get dropped in every workout while wearing what felt like cinderblocks. My feet also remember returning to running from stress fractures wearing a pair of Brooks Adrenaline. Once again, I couldn’t move fast, but that was exactly what I needed at that point in time. I have been left wondering since then if there would ever be a Brooks shoe I enjoy for the simple art of running comfortably at a fast pace.

I thought the Levitate 6 would be my answer last December, but I strongly disliked that shoe. Defeated, I left my dream in the closet of trying to find a fast Brooks shoe that works for me. But the universe works in mysterious ways, and the answer you are looking for always seems to come when you least expect it. Dear reader, the Launch 10 GTS is the answer. Let’s get into why.

What we like about the Brooks Launch GTS 10

SAM: Let’s start with stability tech. Ever since my experience with the Adrenaline GTS, I’ve been enamored with Brooks’s Guiderail technology. I’ll honestly say that it’s the best support system in the game, hands down. While I love what Asics is doing with its 4D system, I think the Guiderails have mastered the art of simple and dynamic support. The Guiderails do exactly as the name implies and guide your foot through the stride, keeping your footpath centered and allowing for your natural gait and biomechanics to flourish in a way that does not cause injury.

The first positive that stands out in this shoe is the weight. My US M9.5 weighs in right at 8.6 oz, and this is with a 24 mm stack in the heel and a 14 mm stack in the forefoot. In my opinion, this is the perfect amount of Brook’s BioMoGo DNA cushioning to be soft but keep you moving. I’ve always found Brooks’ cushioning denser than others, and by virtue of this, I have struggled to feel comfortable in a fast stride wearing Brooks shoes. Those worries dissipated quickly while running in the Launch 10 GTS.

I found this shoe useful for easy, medium, and long runs and found it very efficient for quick strides and hill repeats as well. Is it a shoe that you’re going to smash your race day PRs? No. It is quick and comfortable enough to get you through daily training, speed work, and a race at an absolutely absurd price point and, more importantly, make sure you get there healthy.

Another positive of this shoe is its lightweight support. The Guiderails, wide forefoot, and relatively low stack make this shoe very stable for nearly everything you might need a running shoe for. This is possibly the only running shoe besides OG Kinvaras that I enjoy using for runs, walks, and workouts in the gym. Brooks claims that the Launch GTS 10 offers speed and support for all kinds of workouts, and I took that very literally. It was just as comfortable in a squat rack as it was on the road, and it is not often you find that in a running shoe nowadays.

The upper is the only updated portion of the Launch GTS from its previous model, and it definitely has a sleeker and faster look. You can pick out most Brooks shoes from miles away, but this one takes a second look to confirm that it’s indeed a Brooks sneaker. I’m usually a neutral tones kind of guy, white being my preference, but I loved the bright green colorway I received. I mentioned it before, but the final positive is the price. $110 is incredible. Truly. Not many running brands have entry-level shoes that are this solid for this cheap. It’s a value in the truest sense of the word. Great job, Brooks.

What we don’t like about the Brooks Launch GTS 10

SAM: I have nothing here, at least not really. The only con I have is a possible recommendation. I’d be curious to see if cutting off some of the outsole rubber would help this shoe save even more weight, a la the Saucony Kinvara. But that would make the shoe less durable, which would remove it from consideration as an incredible value. This might even be a final positive, so take that as you may.

Brooks Launch GTS 10 Conclusion

SAM: I wanted to keep this review in the same spirit as the Launch 10 GTS itself — Simple and efficient. I’ll be honest, I love this shoe. It’s everything you need in a beginner running shoe. I’d recommend it to anyone starting out training for a race or even any middle school or high school runners picking up running for the first time. It has everything you need in a shoe. It is light, fast, and efficient but has just enough dense cushion to keep you protected. Having all that plus lightweight stability is the kicker here, especially for newer runners who might not know if they pronate or supinate.

Getting into running and staying healthy is the hardest part about staying consistent, and I think this shoe will help runners do that. Finally, you really cannot beat a $110 price point. We’re getting to the point where you have to take out a personal loan to buy daily trainers, so walking into a running store and seeing the price of this will continue to make the sport accessible to first-time runners.

You can pick up the Brooks Launch GTS 10 for $109 at Running Warehouse (featuring free 2-day shipping and 90-day returns) using the buttons below.