Nike LunarLaunch Review

by solereview
Published: Last Updated on

Lunarlaunch_Ratings

Sensory_score_Lunarlaunch

Color: Volt/Photo blue-black

Intended use: Recovery runs, long distance. Use on all surfaces except trail.

Surfaces tested on: Road, 21° C/70° F

Upper: Synthetic overlays, welds.

Midsole: Single density Lunarlon foam

Outsole: Carbon rubber

Weight: 254 gms/8.95 Oz for a half pair of US11/UK 10/EUR 45

Widths available: D-standard (reviewed)

Don't get confused, this is Nike's 4mm heel drop, neutral trainer which looks like the Lunarglide but is nothing like it. Soft ride, with great upper fit to boot.

Saucony Kinvara 5, Nike Pegasus 31, Flyknit Lunar 2 
Cushioning, lightweight, upper fit, snug collar
No reflectivity
Nike_Lunar_Launch

The Nike Lunarlaunch. Haven’t heard a peep about this shoe. Also called the Lunarvia earlier.

The lack of noise around the $100 Lunarlaunch is surprising. You see it here and there online, but it’s not even on Nike’s US website. Is an official press release lurking around the corner? Not quite sure. Either way, we said it is surprising because the LunarLaunch (also known as Lunarvia pre-release) is a brand new shoe from Nike in more ways than one. When was the last time you saw a 4 mm heel drop, neutral trainer from Nike which was not part of the Free line-up? It also features an unadulterated, full length Lunarlon midsole (look ma, no firm EVA casing! ) which again, makes the Lunarlaunch uncommon. Ok, the last part was not apparent before we wear-tested and cut a few slits on the midsole, but it nevertheless piqued our curiosity. So we asked Nike PR to send us a pair, and luckily we got one pronto as a media sample. We buy 99% of the shoes we review, but hey, from time to time we welcome free shoes too.

Nike_Lunar_Launch

Looks very similar to the Lunarglide 6, but has an entirely different function. We lay out the how and what of it in this review.

There are more than a few unexpected elements in the Lunarlaunch, but we’d like to dispel any pre-conceived notions you might have beforehand. Look at the picture, and what strikes you is the shoe’s uncanny resemblance to Lunarglide 6. So you might be thinking, ‘it looks like a lower heel drop version of Lunarglide 6’, or  ‘it’s a Lunarglide 6 with a minimal upper.’ While it is true that there’s a strong hint of similarity with respect to upper materials and construction, the ride character and purpose of the Launch is completely different.

Nike_Lunar_Launch

If you thought the front and rear midsole were made of separate densities, you’d be wrong. It’s a midsole paint job!

At first glance, the midsole appears to be made of multi-density foam like the LG6, with differently colored forefoot and rear suggesting a combination of soft and firm foam. That assumption would be incorrect, as Nike uses midsole paint to create that illusion. This is our second encounter (first being LG6) with a paint job skilfully done; almost as if Nike has cut a tasty deal with a midsole paint supplier, there’s so much of it going around. Also, as we are used to seeing the Lunarlon foam inside a firmer base, we thought that to be case for LunarLaunch too. But we couldn’t write this review unless were triply sure, could we? So we cut deep slits in three different areas of the midsole to check if there was anything else inside.

Nike_Lunar_Launch

We cut a deep slit in the forefoot. The surface is midsole paint, and the insides are made of Lunarlon.

Nike_Lunar_Launch

Checked under the forefoot…

Nike_Lunar_Launch

… and under the heel area.

Nike_Lunar_Launch

Lunarlon is visible through the small strobel hole in the heel area.

The first cut was on forefoot sidewall, and then using a flathead screwdriver, that area was prised open. As you can see, the surface is mere yellow paint and beneath that is Lunarlon. We also cut slits under the forefoot and heel to see if there was anything encased, and our little endeavor yielded nothing. We discovered that the consistency of midsole cross section was identical to the Lunarlon foam found inside the Lunarglide 6. This meant that the entire midsole is one piece, and made of Lunarlon foam. So what does that make the LunarLaunch, and how does its cushioning behave?

Nike_Lunar_Launch

It might be a 4mm drop shoe, but that’s the unloaded offset. The loaded (effective) drop is much lower due to the softer foam density.

The Lunar Launch is a softly cushioned neutral runner, with no pronation control elements to speak of. The brand also specifies the heel to toe drop as 4 mm, which we believe is a first for the brand in context of the mainstream neutral running category (non-Free). But do keep in mind that 4 mm is the unloaded drop, and very different from a loaded drop, which happens when full body weight is applied on the shoe. Most of the brands try to sell the heel offset number to runners, but the true measure of a heel drop should be considered when the shoe is in motion, and not while sitting on the shelves. A 4 mm drop of a Kinvara is not the same thing as that of the LunarLaunch, because midsole densities are different, which in turn makes them behave accordingly.

Nike_Lunar_Launch

100% Lunarlon midsole.

In this case, the Lunarlon foam midsole results in a very soft ride, causing the heel to compress a lot in relation to the forefoot, possibly creating a zero or negative heel offset while in motion. 4 mm is much smaller than most people make it out to be; to give you a perspective, the tiny conical tip of a Bic ballpoint pen is 3 mm. Add 1 mm to that, and then picture 150-180 pounds of bodyweight crushing a 4 mm thickness of soft foam. During the Lunar Launch weartest, it felt absolutely certain that the effective heel offset was zero millimeters or lower. During rear-foot strikes, the foam tends to briefly bottom out, a result of material softness and lower heel stack height.

Nike_Lunar_Launch

Besides the Lunarlon foam, some of the springback comes from the new forefoot design. Concentric rings of rubber are glued over the midsole, and compress like ‘pistons’ during weight loading.

The cushioning is soft, but is it responsive? It feels springy, much better than regular EVA, but was found wanting for more. There is plenty of softness to go around which also feels very uniformly spread – much due to the use of singlular density, Nitrile rubber blended Lunarlon. But compared to compounds/systems like the Boost foam and Zoom Air bag(s), responsiveness levels are lower. There is some additional spring-back in the forefoot – because of the ‘pressure-map’ design, which have these concentric rings of rubber overlaid on Lunarlon. These rings are mounted independently on the foam, and create a mini-piston effect of sorts when weight is applied. In a way, this behavior is similar to what we experienced on the Flyknit Lunar 2 forefoot – but delivered much softer.

We hoped that the transition would be superlative owing to uniform density. But, ironically, that very aspect works against that happening. Most of us land rear-foot first, and these foot-strikes makes the foot feel as if it’s momentarily pointing upwards before moving towards the forefoot. Kind of a mini-Achilles Tendon stretch, if you know what we mean. This nature of transition makes the LunarLaunch better suited for conditioning runs at a moderate pace, instead of something which you’ll choose for running fast in. If you want to go faster, a shoe which has a firmer midsole will perform better; the soft heel of LunarLaunch feels less economical during runs.

Nike_Lunar_Launch

Outsole is completely covered with rubber except for the grooves/channels. Lack of side to side flex grooves on forefoot makes it stiff.

Nike_Lunar_Launch

Close-up of rear-foot, even the blue sections are all rubber. Raised sections on the black outsole rubber pieces wear out pretty quickly.

The outsole has rubber, lots of it. This is a shoe which has maximum rubber coverage for the new ‘pressure-mapped’ outsole, when compared to the Eclipse 4, Lunar Fly 2 and Lunarglide 6. Except for the grooves you see in the outsole picture, every part of the midsole is topped with rubber, creating an all-contact outsole. While durability should be good long term, there were signs of quick wear on outer heel even after the first 10 miler. The LunarLaunch’s heel area isn’t beveled, and the lug design isn’t flat (like the Pegasus) which seems to be the reason behind greater levels of wear. A lot of unbroken rubber rings also makes the forefoot quite stiff, plonking it in near-Kinvara territory.

Nike_Lunar_Launch

The raised midsole flare provides under-arch support.

Underneath, the grip is good and uniform, helped by the placement and design of outsole rubber. One good thing about the Lunar Launch midsole is that its waist (middle) is wide, and comes with a small flare under the arch area. The outcome of this is a noticeable level of under-arch support coming from the midsole. To put things in clearer terms, the midsole waist is wider than the more built-up Pegasus 31.

Nike_Lunar_Launch

There’s a welcome uniformity of fit on the Lunarlaunch, most likely because of its use of the Nike Free last.

The uniform spread of upper fit is rather impressive. In most shoes, the upper usually feels relaxed in the forefoot, then building up snugness towards the midfoot. The LunarLaunch shows no such disparity, and the fit comes across as consistent throughout. While there are a couple of elements which help achieve that effect (we’ll cover that in a short bit), we think that the pièce-de-résistance  in Lunar Launch is use of the Nike Free last. How do we know that?

Nike_Lunar_Launch_5

Ok, there’s some text on the sockliner, but this is identical to the Nike Free insole.

Nike_Lunar_Launch

Also seen on all the Nike Flyknits and 2014 Free 5.0.

Nike_Lunar_Launch

Yes, this looks and sounds familiar.

Nike_Lunar_Launch

It is quite possible that the shoe has a lower heel drop using the same QD-39 last and regular forefoot thickness. That should theoretically increase the toe-spring, and make the toe box slimmer. The big toe does poke through the mesh behind the internal bumper.

The removable footbed holds a clue. It says ’neutral and soft’ on the top, nothing of much import there. But flip it over, and there’s a familiar marking. ‘Nike Free, QD-39’. If you been reading our reviews, then you would instantly recognize similar markings on the insoles of all variants of Nike Free Flyknit, and also this year’s Free 5.0. If all these shoes are using the same footbed with identical ‘QD-39’ markings, then it obviously underscores the fact that these models share identical fits. The only downside we see of that is this: if the same last is used across varying heel drops, then that should correspond to the increase or decrease in toe spring (space between tip of the sole and ground) upfront. Lunar Launch maintains a chunky forefoot while reducing the heel stack height, so that would mean the toe spring has increased. The big toe tends to poke through the mesh, almost as if proving our hypothesis right.

Nike_Lunar_Launch

Lunarlaunch comes with a Burrito. Not the one which you can eat, but one you can run in.

Nike_Lunar_Launch

The ‘Burrito’ tongue is attached to one side of the upper.

Nike_Lunar_Launch

The flap on other side spreads wide and is padded.

Nike_Lunar_Launch

Full internal sleeve, and the tongue lining has a soft hand-feel.

We loved the near-form fitting upper of the shoes we just mentioned, and that sentiment extends to the Lunar Launch too. The fit somewhat is reminiscent of a Free Flyknit, but minus the compression. The fit is supported by use of an inner sleeve, soft materials, a collapsible collar, and what Nike calls a ‘Burrito tongue’. The tongue is part of the medial upper, and no, not a traditional gusset. The collar continues to create the lip and lining of the tongue. It’s not the same fabric though, the tongue mesh looks the same as the one used on the collar, but it is actually softer. The other end folds over the lateral (outer) side of foot, and is comfortably padded. The laces are flat, and the cinching pressure is spread evenly without hot-spots.

Nike_Lunar_Launch

A full sleeve tends to make the shoe run warmer in comparison to un-lined upper types.

As the case with most inner sleeved running shoes, the insides run a bit warmer compared to shoes with un-lined, open spacer mesh based uppers. But as we’re all heading into winter, that should be an issue (except for Australia, where it’s going to be summer soon. Ah, Melbourne. You are beautiful).

Nike_Lunar_Launch

Upper mesh is identical to Lunarglide 6. Open structured mesh fused to a layer of foam, check out our Lunarglide 6 review for a dissected cross section of this material.

Nike_Lunar_Launch

Fused layers of synthetic form the eyestay and part of the heel. Lacing is flat and spreads top-down pressure evenly.

Nike_Lunar_Launch

The heel section resembles that of the 2012 Free Run 3 and 3.0 V4. No internal stiffener, so the collar is collapsible. Portion in center is made of stretch mesh.

Nike_Lunar_Launch

Smooth, padded collar lining. Soft Achilles liner.

Nike_Lunar_Launch

Swoosh same as that of Lunarglide. Sheen but no reflectivity.

The upper mesh is identical to Lunarglide 6, with an open mesh laminated to a foam base. And then there are welded overlays which serve as the eyelet base and part of the heel window. The collar/heel area of the upper is collapsible; a design nod to the 2012 Nike Free Run 3 and the Free 3.0 V4. The collar goes snugly soft around the ankle, and if you want to dial up the fit, just use the last row of eyelets. There’s no reflectivity on the Lunar Launch; the fused Swoosh logos have a sheen like the LG6, but is not optimized for night time visibility.

Summing up our thoughts, we look at the Lunar Launch as a unique shoe. This is one of the few Nike shoes which combines low heel drop and traditional neutral running aspects. This shoe can be used as a daily trainer with good levels of comfort and durability, but not as a speed trainer.

Note on ratings: Our numeric scoring of 8.6/10 is based on a total of weighted averages. The attributes namely transition, stability and fit contribute to 69% of total scoring weight, which we see as more important than material (7%), cushioning (7%), traction (12%) and weight (5%). Hence the scores will not add up when simple average calculation is used.

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60 comments

Qian Wang September 18, 2014 - 10:52 am

Thanks for the review! (I’m not going to say that it’s the besterest because that’s a given for every one of your reviews and I save a lot of time by not typing besterest) I didn’t even know that the Lunarlaunch existed! Jeez! Is Nike afraid of it stealing Lunarglide sales? Nike shoe launches are normally pretty big. By the way, how does this compare to the Dual Fusion Run 3 and the Pegasus 30 (not 31, because that’s not plush)?

solereview September 18, 2014 - 4:59 pm

At a 4mm heel drop, the neutral Lunarlaunch should be big news. Not sure why it is not.

This is lower (in heel height) than the Dual Fusion and Pegasus, fits better (at least we appreciate the form fitting upper) and has a more responsive ride.

Qian Wang September 18, 2014 - 8:16 pm

Thanks for the reply! You’re right about there being no news. It isn’t even listed on Nike’s website and only available through third-party retailers.
Also, typing besterest in explanations doesn’t count.

Dan September 18, 2014 - 10:12 pm

How does it compare to the Pegasus for a neutral runner?

solereview September 19, 2014 - 3:56 am

Key differences – the Lunarlaunch is:

a) Squishier in heel than Pegasus.
b) Snugger upper
c) Stiffer forefoot
d) Lower weight than the Pegasus
e) Quality of heel to toe transition lower than Peg.
f) Cushioning less responsive in heel than Pegasus, more responsive in forefoot.

John Crenshaw September 19, 2014 - 7:09 am

Solereview – wonderful site and I look forward to your tremendous, insightful, and beautiful reviews. I am already a huge fan of this.

Love the detail you go into and explanation of the weighting of the scores.
Lastly, excited that you guys are beginning to receive shoes from companies.

See you soon!

solereview September 19, 2014 - 7:14 am

Thank you so much for the kind words! Still feel our reviews can be much better than what they are, we have a few ideas but will wait for the opportune moment.

Marinaio old school September 22, 2014 - 8:06 am

This shoe does not exist :)

(or at least it is impossible to find, nike store online ->nope, nike stores here in italy ->nope, running shoes stores both online and offline ->nope)

Too bad :(

solereview September 22, 2014 - 8:42 am

Maybe it is a matter of time before it shows up!

Sam September 22, 2014 - 12:07 pm

Saw some at Dick’s Sporting Goods this weekend. Not that it helps much in Italy.

James September 24, 2014 - 5:08 am

You can find this online at a few places now. Kinda surprised Nike has released next to no info on it. It won’t sell very well at all and I can see people getting mad when they buy it expecting something like the Lunarglide and realize how low the drop is. I’m thinking it’s gonna be a good idea to wait and pick these up on ebay when prices gutter.

solereview September 24, 2014 - 5:28 am

Yes, can be confusing because it feels little like the Lunarglide 6. They should just have left the midsole alone.

solereview October 8, 2014 - 7:50 am

Reading your comment, it appears to be directed at solereview and not Qian!

You’d be surprised to know that most running shoes are built the same for Mens and Women, except for the sizing. So areas discussed during reviews here apply to female runners too.

You could try something like Nike Core Flex 2 and Nike Dual Fusion TR 2 which are in the $80 to $100 price ranges.

awesomeranju October 8, 2014 - 8:45 am

Thanks .shall do that .

Gonzalez October 25, 2014 - 8:56 am

Awesome review! Shoes only sold at select online stores I guess… I was wondering if you would recommend these shoes to do Insanity in? Would they make a good trainer shoe?

solereview October 26, 2014 - 5:37 am

Yes, they should do ok for Insanity. The forefoot’s spongy, so that should feel comfortable during cardio workouts purely done on forefoot tipping. The drawback is that the upper might not feel as supportive. Have you tried shoes like the Nike Lunar TR1?

Serendipity October 26, 2014 - 11:51 pm

I did find this shoe in a local store here in India :)

I have flat feet and I had heard that the Lunar Glide was good for folks with Flat Feet.
Does the same hold true for Lunar Launch?

solereview October 27, 2014 - 1:57 am

The Lunar Launch is very different from the Glide – much softer. But it has good arch support and fit, so that’s something you can try too.

flatlander October 28, 2014 - 1:32 pm

Like others, I’m confused as to why Nike hasn’t promoted this shoe. I have wide feet and, as a result, wear them without insoles. That leaves them with the perfect amount of cushion for this high mileage forefoot striker.

solereview October 28, 2014 - 6:27 pm

Indeed. Strange are the ways of the Swoosh.

Narayan November 3, 2014 - 2:19 am

Would you recommend LunarLaunch for Full Marathon run? Additionally, does it offer the spring feeling to propel for a quick dash as most of the other light weight shoes(like Adidas F50) would?

solereview November 3, 2014 - 8:38 am

Speaking for ourselves, won’t chose the Launch for distance racing. It’s too soft in the heel with a warm upper, we’d rather prefer the Adizero adios Boost 2 or Nike Zoom Streak 5.

Narayan November 3, 2014 - 9:14 am

Thanks, am used to adidas F50 for close to 2 yrs now & recorded my PB in all categories this year , would find natural successor in adios however found the fit too narrow & 2/3 pressure pts on my toe … While am touch broad footed & seek a shoe weighing approx 250 gms & thereabouts … Tried asics kayano20 the overweight ~310gms) & pronation correction put me off. Few options wud help

solereview November 5, 2014 - 7:04 am

In that case, the Zoom Streak 5 will work perfectly. One of the few distance running speeders with a roomy forefoot. Saucony Kinvara 5 (not 4) is another option with an spacious front.

solereview November 5, 2014 - 7:53 am

Can’t say much about the Boston 4 – haven’t had a chance to try them.

The Boost Boston 5 is a ‘comfort’ version of the Adios Boost 2, with little more room in the front. Still snug, though. We reviewed this shoe on solereview last month.

The Hoka One One Clifton is an unconventional alternative, but despite how it looks, it doesn’t slow you down. Great for distance runs, our review up later this week.

howdoyoudo November 9, 2014 - 8:59 pm

Hello! I’m currently deciding between getting a pair of nike free 5.0 2014s or the new lunar launch. I would just about agree on the lunarlaunch if not because of the big difference in flexiblity you pointed out in your very informative review :) I am only using the shoe for some occasional exercise and daily gym classes at school and such, so I’m really mainly focusing on the design aspect, but I don’t want to be wearing a stiff shoe that will hinder me. What are your thoughts on which I should choose?

solereview November 11, 2014 - 2:06 am

We’d prefer the Lunar launch given the circumstances you’ve described.

wordsandsuch November 20, 2014 - 6:00 am

hi there, loved the review! i’ve seen these shoes browsing around the internet, looking for new shoes, but haven’t been able to find much written about them.

i don’t do really high mileage on any given run; i’ll run 3-5 miles a few times a week. i’m a mild overpronator, but my wear patterns aren’t horrendously off-center. i’ve got a pair of free 4.0 v3 that i’ll lace up for shorter runs, and on longer runs i’ll wear the lunarglide 4 or lunareclipse 3. keep in mind that my shorter runs aren’t necessarily faster. i’m not training for anything, so it’s more just to get out and run after work, you know?

anyway, it sounds like running in these would feel more like my frees than the (relatively speaking) stability-oriented lunars i own; would that be fair to say? but, other than the heel, maybe the upper would feel a bit more like the lunars than the frees?

thanks!

solereview November 20, 2014 - 6:20 am

You’re right in assuming the Lunar Launch to be distanced from stability models like the Glide. That said, this shoe’s a bit removed from Free’s in the sense that the sole is very well cushioned.

Yes, the upper shares some materials with the latest Lunarglide 6, but the fit does not have the side cinching which comes from the Flywire cords. Much more easygoing.

All in all, seems the kind of shoe for your needs.

wordsandsuch November 20, 2014 - 7:12 am

awesome, that’s good to know. thanks for the reply!

Kumara Rama K December 4, 2014 - 4:37 am

i was using sketchers stride ,a year back,,then i bought adidas energy boost 2 months back,,but wrong size ,because of techfit it was tight,,then again i bought nike flyknit airmax 2014,last month ,uk 8.5 size ,this shoe is 1/2 inch loose,used for 15 days ,not soo soft as mentioned in ike website ,,knee stared paining,,,then i went to nike showroom and tried nike lunarlaunch magnet grey color ,i bought …i am using it for ELLIPITAL CROSS TRAINER AS WELL AS JOGGING,,i do ellipital cross trainer for 54 minutes with average 8 watts ,,and then jogging for 48 minutes average speed 6.2 ,,please suggest can i use the nike lunar launch for this exercise,,,,and i am intrested in buying nike flyknit lunar 2 wolf grey color for this …i use this in alternate days ,,,and also i want to buy UA Speedform Apollo,,please suggest i am doing right things ,,i have knee pain ,my age is 42 yrs ,,,

solereview December 6, 2014 - 7:30 am

Note: please post with proper paragraph and sentence breaks. It took us a couple of minutes to break down your wall of text with excessive punctuation and make corrections.

If you’re asking whether the Lunarlaunch and Flyknit Lunar will suit your current workout, then yes, they should work.

Knee pain might not necessarily be due to shoes. It will help if you condition/strengthen your upper and lower body, with specific attention to Quadriceps, Hams/Glutes and Calves/Achilles. Your physical trainer should be able to help you.

potato December 4, 2014 - 7:20 pm

hi, do you think that the lunar launch shoes would be okay to just be worn as casual shoes rather than running shoes? thanks

solereview December 4, 2014 - 8:11 pm

Absolutely, no problemo!

Kumara Rama K December 5, 2014 - 9:16 pm

what about reebok one cushion 2.0 review

solereview December 6, 2014 - 7:23 am

Sorry, no Reebok reviews. Also, your question is off-topic, please post your future request under the ‘upcoming reviews’ section.

Isabella Ossio December 25, 2014 - 11:04 am

Hi, i’m from Peru and I have recently bought the new lunarlaunch shoes. I was wondering if the lunarlaunchs are the right shoes for running long but not so long distances at a medium pase (8km). Also i would like to use them for gym trainning. Thank you! Great review.

solereview December 26, 2014 - 2:20 am

Yes, they’ll do just fine for road and most gym workouts.

Alex December 31, 2014 - 2:51 am

Hi, great reviews, I find them extremely well done and useful!

I’m currently running with a pair of Vomero8, but it’s time to buy new ones (I run almost 650km with them). I think they’re quite comfortable, but they’re the first serious running shoes I’ve ever had, so I cannot tell.
Do you suggest LL or LG6 for a 85kg runner who does from 8km to 20km a run or something else?
Thanks :)

solereview December 31, 2014 - 3:49 am

Thanks for the comment!

If you were happy with the Vomero 8, then the Vomero 9 should feel similar as both share the same sole unit.

Otherwise the Nike Pegasus 31 is also a shoe to be considered, alongside Lunarlaunch. The LG6 will feel too firm compared to what you’ve been running in.

Jen January 7, 2015 - 2:15 pm

Hi,
I found Flyknit Lunar 2 not cushioned enough for my marathons. Can the Lunarlaunch work for that distance? thanks for a thorough review.

solereview January 8, 2015 - 2:13 am

The Lunar launch certainly feels more cushioned than Flyknit Lunar 2’s so worth a try. Also fit try the Pegasus 31.

Jen January 8, 2015 - 6:47 am

Thanks so much. I’ll give it a try!

Runczar January 20, 2015 - 10:26 am

Loved the Flyknit Lunar Ones but hated the
Flykint lunar 2!Huge running nerd and didn’t even know about this shoe. You think if I liked the lunar one I will like the lunarlaunch? I currently rotate the kinvara 5, Zoom elite 6, Nike kiger, lunar racer, and lone peak 1.5. Finding your website has been a blast. Love the in depth reviews. BTW I do about 50-60 mile per week and race from 5k to half marathon.

solereview January 21, 2015 - 6:47 am

Compared to the Nike Lunar 1, the Launch’s much more cushioned, kind of a softer/springy ride, The difference lies in the midsole construction – while the FL-1 was part Lunar, part EVA, Launch’s midsole is 100% Lunarlon.

Heel drop is same as K5, and upper fit feels great. We think you’ll like it.

Lazaros Dimitriadis January 31, 2015 - 5:36 am

I have just bought a pair of Lunarlaunch based on your review and could no be happier. Will use it mainly for running tredmill and gym work out and at age 46 I have to say that my knees love these shoes a lot.
Fit is just right and the looks (found the same colors as the review in Nike Greece) are awesome.
Thank you for a great review, you have won a reader.

solereview February 2, 2015 - 7:29 am

Hi! Thank you for sharing the feedback, and pleased to hear that the Launch has worked out for you, and that our review was of some help!

Isaac February 28, 2015 - 8:35 am

Hi, I currently have the Kinvara 4 and I like them, but if I was looking into buying a new shoe with slightly better cushioning and an updated upper, would you reccomend these, the Free Flyknit 4.0, or the K5.
Thanks, Isaac

solereview March 5, 2015 - 3:16 am

We’d suggest you try both the K5 and Launch. The Kinvara 5 is softer (slightly) than 4, and has a different upper fit (relaxed forefoot and snug midfoot).

The Launch has a consistent upper fit and feel, while being much softer than K4 and 5.

Personal Best March 19, 2015 - 11:40 am

Hi. So glad to have found this site/review as I’m looking to purchase new running sneakers and was seriously considering the lunarlaunch. I’m mostly a forefoot and midfoot strike running about 3-4 miles a day. Would you recommend these? If not, I’d love suggestions. Thanks!

solereview March 20, 2015 - 5:54 am

Hi there!

Yes, the Lunarlaunch should do well, and also consider the Fresh Foam Zante too. Similar heel to toe drop and weight.

james March 27, 2015 - 4:38 pm

howmany miles do you think this would last? would it be suitable for cross country training? about 30-40 miles a week over the summer

solereview April 1, 2015 - 6:26 am

Should go for 400 miles minimum. Use on XC depends on the kind of terrain, If it is just flat grass or packed dry soil, then no issues.

Lori Emmington September 10, 2015 - 10:11 pm

I love the fit of the Nike Terra Kiger–the 4mm drop, the snug midsole and wide toe box. Is this a similar fit in a road shoe? I’ve got 56 year old knees and will be running my first marathon. My Terra Kigers have been great for half marathons, but enough cushion for 26.2? I want the feel of a Nike Free with enough support for these old knees!

solereview September 10, 2015 - 11:05 pm

Hello Lori, we haven’t tested the Terra Kiger, so can’t say how these compare! Sorry about that.

Ikac Stevanoski December 24, 2015 - 8:46 pm

How compare this with Lunar Flyknit 2, I consider to buy Lunar Flyknit 2 because there is 40% discount and when I try in the shop they are so cushioned, I haven’t tired something so cushioned before, only problem is don’t have low drop,offset.
I have problem to find LunarLaunch to buy even online, can you suggest something else.
I am neutral, forefoot runner very light and I want low drop with very cushioned forefoot, heel doesn’t need to have cushion at all.
I consider Saycony Kinvara, LunarTempo, Asic 33FA, J33 Gel, Puma FAAS 500 S to run from 5k to 21k.
I have New Balance 890 v3 and others I have problem with cushion on forefoot and durability the mesh is shred.

Thanks

solereview December 27, 2015 - 2:25 am

The Lunarlaunch is even more cushioned than the Flyknit Lunar 2. If your need is low drop and cushioned forefoot, you should try the Nike Free RN distance.

Ikac Stevanoski December 28, 2015 - 9:59 pm

I see now Nike Free RN is newest model, how compare the forefoot softens with Saycony Kinvara or Asic 33 FA, are they more cushioned from Nike Free 5.0.

solereview January 1, 2016 - 1:43 am

The Nike Free RN Distance’s forefoot is softer than Kinvara, yet firmer than the 33FA and Free 5.0

Ikac Stevanoski January 31, 2016 - 1:43 am

I get the Flyknit Lunar 2, I can’t find in my country Asic 33 FA or Nike Free 5.0. I hate Flyknit Lunar 2 why is it so high at the heel. I tried the Vomero 9 also, def I feel the Zoom pocket in it, it is soft in forefoot, but the Vomero is def so much heavier. I see Glide, Sequence and Ultra boost but I didn’t tried because all the boost foam was in the heel and because of the weight. I can’t say are they softer forefoot from my Flyknit Lunar 2.
For the Flyknit Lunar 2 when I tried I think they were softer, but now I think they are not so soft, I only run 5k in it, I can’t run half marathon now to try them now, I am eager to find out how it will be.
Flyknit are so good, give optimal feet.

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