Selecting the right running shoe is among one of the most important elements to prevent injuries and run happy. For the everyday runner, the process and all the terms out there can be a bit perplexing … pronation, supination, upper, toe-off, eversion, motion control, neutral, stability, foot-strike … whew! Today, I’m sharing three Brooks shoe reviews in both the neutral and stability categories to hopefully help bridge the knowledge gap slightly.

It’s no surprise that I love Brooks Running and am a die-hard fan of the PureCadence (lightweight shoe that offers moderate stability). Although I’ve been running in the PureCadence injury-free for more than 3 years, I still like to get familiar with other models and styles for the runners I coach and all of you. Today, I’m sharing my personal review of the Brooks Launch 2, Brooks PureFlow 4 and Brooks Ravenna 6. I’ve had a chance to not only test and run in each of these shoes, but I also got to talk to the Brooks footwear team earlier this year about each one and the updates they’ve made. You can read a comprehensive review on the Brooks PureCadence 4 here.

Brooks Launch 2

The Launch is a shoe that Brooks actually discontinued after it introduced the PureProject line several years ago. After receiving an uproar from runners when they killed the shoe, they recently brought it back. I for one am glad they did. The Launch 2 is an excellent shoe for those with a neutral gait, and I’d highly recommend you neutral runners check it out.

I like that it’s lighter weight than the neutral shoes in their core line (e.g. Glycerin, Ghosts) while still offering more shoe for runners who don’t like a minimalist ride. They are also extremely comfortable and cushioned. They are ideal for people with medium to high arches and are made with softer materials. They also have a 10 mm drop from the heel to the midsole and weigh in at 7.9 ounces for women and 9.8 ounces for men. They retail at $100, which is a lower price point than a lot of other shoes out there. While I have the limited edition Boston Marathon Launches, they come in a variety of awesome colors for both men and women.

Brooks PureFlow 4

The Brooks PureProject is my favorite line of shoes that Brooks produces, and the PureFlow 4s have surprised me the most this year.

Like the PureCadence, they are incredibly comfortable and offer excellent cushioning for a lightweight shoe. However, being a neutral shoe, I was surprised to see how well my form looked in these shoes (with a heat-molded insert inside) in slow motion last month. I am a bit of an over-pronator, and while some pronation is good, most neutral shoes still allow my arch and ankle to collapse inward too much. These don’t. If you’re a neutral runner or slight overpronator, check these out. I’m still partial to the PureCadence, but this is a great option. They retail at $110 and weigh in at 7 ounces for women and 8.6 ounces for men. They also have a 4 mm drop from the heel to the midsole. I would love to see some more pleasing color options in the fall and next model as I don’t love running shoes that have a very dark color as the primary color.

Brooks Ravenna 6

The Ravennas are the only Brooks shoes in the guidance category, which means they provide light stability in the core line. While the 6s are lighter, offer more toe spring and have awesome color selections this year, they continue to be my least favorite Brooks Running shoe.

I have run two marathons in the Ravennas (both in 2011) and I know many runners who swear by these shoes, but they simply don’t fit my foot well and feel very heavy on my feet. I’m a size 9 in every other Brooks shoe. The 9s in the Ravenna don’t fit the same as all the other shoes. They feel too big in some areas and I can feel the arch and other parts of the shoe to the point of distraction. I would encourage anyone who likes the Ravenna to also try the PureCadence if you’re up for running in a lighter weight shoe. The Ravennas retail at $110 and weigh 8.8 ounces in women and 10.7 ounces for men with a 10 mm heel to mid-sole drop.

I am a Brooks Running Run Happy Ambassador and received all the shoes outlined in this post for free. I write about Brooks because I am obsessed with the brand, not because I have to. The content and views expressed on runladylike.com are never biased or influenced by partners I work with and never will be. You get the honest, raw, uncensored and unladylike version of the truth here. That’s it. If there are Brooks products you try and for some reason don’t like, please send me an email at runladylike@gmail.com and I’d be glad to pass along your feedback to the Brooks crew.

I want to hear from you! What running shoes do you love right now? What are your favorites? Least favorites? If you’ve tried any of these shoes, share your thoughts!