Brooks Reverses Course on Launch

The company responds to runners' feedback and will continue producing the shoe in 2013

Jeff Dengate

Published December 20, 2012

Brooks has changed its plans to discontinue the Launch, a move sure to delight fans of the shoe.
In June, the company had said it would stop producing both the Launch and Green Silence at the end of this year. The news was met with displeasure by many runners in the Runner's World forums and on social media. On Twitter, runners protested the decision by posting tweets that included the hash tag #SavetheLaunch.
While Brooks says it expected to hear feedback about killing the shoe, it received hundreds of requests to reconsider. "After such an outcry of support we knew we had to keep it around for all the fans," Brooks' Global Director of Footwear, Andre Kriwet, said when announcing the decision.
The Launch won the Best Debut award in Winter Shoe Guide in the December 2009 issue of Runner's World.
"This fantastic new shoe is lightweight, flexible, and supportive with a fast feel," read the review. "Testers raved about how well the shoe moved with the foot."
Longtime wearers are still raving about that fit and performance, although the shoe has seen no updates in recent years. Brooks says the only change in the short term will be new colors for 2013, with a possible update to come in the future.