Brooks Running Levitate Tech Details & First Runs Review: Stable, Consistent, Dynamic Ambulation

Article by Sam Winebaum

Brooks Running Levitate

The Brooks Running Levitate ($150) is an all new, premium neutral trainer featuring an innovative DNA Amp midsole which works in harmony, and we don't use that word lightly, with a flexible arrow shaped outsole. This is a energetic, if heavier shoe, for long miles in great comfort. Levitate has a 8mm drop. Available September 30th. 

Brooks Running Levitate

The weight spec is 11.2 oz/318 grams in men's size 9. Our sample size 8.5 weighed 11.1 oz.

11. 2 oz you say... Isn't that heavy for even a premium daily trainer these days?  Let's put the weight aside for the moment as in our first run the energetic smooth ride had us feeling we were in a lighter shoe and certainly lighter feeling and more lively running than many shoes in its class such as the ASICS Gel Nimbus 19  (RTR review), adidas Energy Boost 4 (RTR review), or even Brooks own Glycerin 15 (RTR review), all weighing somewhat less. 

Fit

The Levitate fit me true to size, with one caveat. The very front tip of the shoe is a bit short and low, the darker toe blue bumper more long over the toes, rigid and lower than I like. I did try them barefoot and there the toe head room and length is perfect making me think it is the height of the toe box and the extended bumper . While new shoes often need some seasoning of the sock liner and knit uppers do tend to stretch on the run I do think they run a bit low upfront.

Brooks Running Levitate

Midsole

The starring feature of the Levitate is clearly the DNA AMP midsole. From BASF, the same company that cooked up the TPU heated pellet materials used in adidas Boost, the Levitate uses a completely different foam material, PU or Polyurethane. I have not seen PU in any recent shoes although Salomon will be using it as a forefoot insert in its 2018 S/Lab Sense Ultra 2 (preview here) which is called out to improve durability and consistency of cushioning over time. 

Brooks claims that PU provides "unparalleled energy return". To deliver "amplified experience" the PU midsole is encased in a TPU skin. TPU it is used in many ways in the midsole and even uppers and in harder plates in midsoles such as in most Boost shoes, to here as a skin. The skin is supposed to resist horizontal expansion of the midsole as forces are applied to deliver the fullest energy return or more accurately really lowest energy loss possible from the rest of the midsole. 

The midsole is beveled at the forefoot with a wider platform on the ground than under foot. At the heel it bevels from the middle in both directions,  both narrower under foot and at the outsole but in a less pronounced fashion than forefoot as near the outsole just it front of the rear it also bevels back out a bit. Given the shiny sliver sidewall color difficult to photograph.  Not exactly sure what this geometry does but suspect it assists landing and then at toe off allows the foot to roll slightly.

How does this innovative midsole compare to other newer midsoles? Do Brooks' claims hold up?

The term"unparalleled energy return" refers to testing vs. other unnamed materials cited by Brooks. What I can say is that the feel is one of consistent , distinctly controlled, stable, shock free cushion and then well dosed rebound from heel to toe off, at any pace. I think the TPU skin plays a huge role as does the excellent full outsole. The fact the midsole is of a single density contributes to the incredibly consistent smooth cushion feel and energy return. 

• Compared to Boost or Saucony Everun TPU there is less of a sense of bounce and also far less horizontal expansion and sloppiness and instability under load
• The cushion is in not as soft as in Brooks Glycerin 15 that I found borderline mushy, especially at heel and not much as much fun to run particularly as slow paces. 
• It is far more consistent in cushion and transition than the Energy Boost or softer yet Supernova with their awkward off balance weight towards the heel. Levitate's forefoot is also better cushioned and more stable.
• It is slightly softer than the Nike Zoom Vomero whose less flexible Air Zoom forefoot I didn't like at slower paces. 
• it has a firmer far more stable but far more shock free cushion especially at the heel than the Hoka Clifton 4.

The closest comparison in feel might be the upcoming Saucony Triumph ISO 4 (first impressions review here), a shoe with a similar full single material midsole and full stable outsole. While I titled the ISO 4 article "Smooth All Over", Levitate is smoother yet. The Triumph ISO 4 is similarly consistent in feel but one can sense the Everun TPU midsole expanding horizontally, losing forward and vertical rebound more than the Levitate's. 

Finally while in a completely different weight class and for a difference purpose, the Pebax foam based Nike Vapor Fly (RTR review) has a similar smooth cushion, silkier yet in feel in a much, much lighter and by all indications also less durable package.. Their built in carbon fiber plate makes determining how much this midsole deflect horizontally difficult to determine. My sense is a touch more.

Compared to Ghost 10

Left:  Ghost 10 Right: Levitate

One could also for sure think of the Levitate as a luxury updated Ghost 10 (RTR review). The fit in terms of width and hold is very similar although the materials of the Levitate are softer, especially noticeable wearing one on each foot barefoot. The heel collar of the Levitate is noticeably more comfortable barefoot. The mid foot hold of the Levitate is a touch more secure, despite having fewer overlays and especially down towards the foot bed although this may change with more miles on the sock liner. 

Left:  Ghost 10 Right: Levitate

I have only jogged a few hundred yards one on each foot but the Levitate absorbs shock and "returns energy" far more smoothly and effectively than the Ghost with a smoother transition, credit to the DNA AMP midsole and simplified outsole design of the Levitate. The Ghost is more agile maybe a touch more responsive off the heel due to its very thick rubber and is more flexible up front. While early, I prefer the over all smooth ride of the Levitate for the purpose of daily training, despite its extra ounce or so weight and higher price.

Outsole

The outsole plays a huge role in the overall package. It has a long flex running further back and is a bit stiffer than the Glycerin 15.  The outsole appears to be of two grades of firmness with the area forward of the first groove after the arrow (see below) slightly softer.  

Brooks Running Levitate

The heel rubber is somewhat softer than the Glycerin 15's and the forefoot rubber somewhat firmer as best as I can tell.  The heel area to mid foot outsole/midsole combination is more filled in with Levitate contributing to the stability   The outsole compliments and matches the characteristics of the midsole brilliantly. There is no sense that the outsole and midsole are mis matched in firmness and there is no overly firm or soft landing and no interruption in transitions. All of this contributes to the smooth, consistent ride. 

Upper

The circular knit Fit Knit upper is sharp looking, beautifully crafted, secure and comfortable except for the quite low and firm front and sides of the toe bumper. There is plenty of stretchy width and no overlays at the metatarsals so wider feet should be happy.

Brooks Running Levitate

The knit is very soft, dense and lined with an internal fabric, not sure why this fabric is even included. I found the upper quite warm on a 70 degree moderately humid day, Thin diagonal overlays at mid foot provide plenty of mid foot hold and support.  The tongue is lightly padded, lace up was once and done a characteristic of most Brooks shoes and something I appreciate. 

Brooks Running Levitate

Ride

The Levitate has a unique and fabulous ride. The energy return, or more accurately lack of energy loss, is noticeable yet controlled and occurs without losing stability, bouncing around laterally or vertically, especially at the heel, or getting in the way of forward momentum which is sometimes the case in TPU based shoes.  I wouldn't exactly use the word "levitate" to describe the ride, a word I might associate with the incredibly light Nike Vapor Fly, but they for sure ambulate in a very unique and dynamic way. The cushion is outstanding, very different in that usually softness of foam and the amount or stack of it provides cushion but here the cushion is more elastic and smooth with no sensation of softness leading to energy and efficiency loss as I found in the Glycerin.
Transitions are smooth and easy at all paces with no sense of disconnect or hesitation between landing and toe off although as a well cushioned, fairly stiff,  long flexing shoe they aren't snappy quick but are very decently agile for their cushion, with some welcome if muted road feel in the forefoot.
At slower paces I wondered if the shoe had to much drop, forgetting it was 8mm.  I run in shoes from zero to 10mm drop and here I felt there was a touch more heel lift than I prefer at slower paces. This is a tribute to the combination of PU midsole with TPU skin and outsole stabilizing landings just right. At faster tempos say around 9 minute pace that sensation went away. Drop is just a number really as the materials and how they are engineered into a design provide the effective drop and here to lose weight I believe Brooks could reduce the drop further.

Brooks Running Levitate

Conclusions
Readers might wonder how I can reach any conclusions after one 5 mile run. With many shoes this is not possible but with the Levitate the picture is clear. Brooks has set a new bar for controlled, smooth energy returning cushion with its new DNA AMP midsole technology. This is a energetic, if heavier shoe, for long miles in great comfort.  It is outstanding.
One should not expect the Levitate to levitate... or to be a performance trainer, or something it isn't. There is no question by weight that the the new PU midsole foam with TPU skin, plus the full coverage outsole must weigh more than EVA foam alternatives, and the shoe does indeed weigh more than the competition. The midsole's advantages in consistent yet stable directed energy return, smooth well cushioned but not dead or harsh on the run feel clearly outweigh for me... any perceived weight penalty for its intended purpose of comfortable long miles daily training at moderate paces.
Levitate is a heavy duty, premium daily trainer and one that competes very well, and more miles will tell, but is likely for me is in a hunt for best in category in terms of ride quality, It is in a race with the slightly lighter TPU based Triumph ISO 4 whose more open upper I prefer. It is clearly superior in all respects for me, expect the upper, to Brooks' own overly soft Glycerin.
The Levitate will be a great choice runners who are not gram conscious for every shoe and every run but who seek a long lasting durable and comfortable day in day out trainer with some energy to the ride.  Heavier neutral runners and even mild over pronators who are hard on their shoes should consider Levitate due to its wide on the ground platform, full coverage outsole and the expected consistent durability of the PU midsole over time.
I do hope, and expect, that Brooks will come out with "slimmer" DNA AMP models in the future, a performance trainer would be incredible but all in all the Levitate is a great new running new shoe with a distinctly directed and dynamic new midsole the highlight.  More to come in a full review.

Sam's bio see our Reviewers Bio Page here

The Levitate was provided at no cost.The opinions herein are entirely the author's.

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