Brooks Levitate LE Review

For years, top-quality running shoes with ample cushioning had a midsole made from ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA). Though the foam performs well initially, it does deteriorate, which leads to a flat and leaden running experience. Brooks Running realized that to elevate their game, they needed to move beyond EVA. They had to transcend traditional midsole technology and build a new running shoe, one that would to satisfy the runners who desired a springier, more responsive, and durable experience. Enter the Brooks Levitate.

For this new shoe, released in September 2017, Brooks partnered with the material science wizards at chemical giant BASF. Two-and-a-half years of development led to the creation of an entirely different midsole called DNA AMP. The source collaboration found them experimenting with new cushioning ingredients to find energy-returning alternatives beyond the standard EVA foam that has long dominated the industry as the go-to midsole material.

Energetic Innovation

Bennett Grimes, Brooks footwear product line manager, said instead of EVA the company looked to polyurethane (PU), a dense foam with good dampening properties, as an effective alternative to use in the midsole.

“In the '90s, polyurethane showed a lot of promise as a running shoe cushioning system because it was durable and returned energy well," he says. “But its formulations were too hard to work with—it was heavy, vulnerable to cracking and water damage and it didn't look attractive."

New innovations in PU technology, like being able to modify it at a molecular level and create a foam that returns to it's original forms, gave Brooks an edge. Now they could now create a midsole that provided high energy return with the right balance of cushioning, weight, and durability.

Grimes says that they encased the PU compound used in DNA AMP in a hard thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) skin to reduce the energy dissipation that happens when a runner's foot hits the ground. This skin helps insure that more energy returns to the runner instead.

“DNA AMP doesn't just provide energy return, but a sensation when you run in it," he says, "a springy, energetic ride with the midfoot transition zone shifting energy quickly from heel to forefoot."

Return to Running

Since the Levitate launched many testers and consumers have reviewed the shoe favorably. Hal Koerner, an elite ultrarunner and owner of a specialty running store in Ashland, Oregon, has been testing the shoe and so far has about 80 miles in his pair.

“Initial step-in feel is quite cushy," he says, “but once you're out the door I found it to be rather responsive, a lot of energy return."

Korener was also impressed with the roomy toe box, which allows his forefoot and toes to spread out on impact. The rest of his foot felt secure from the instep to the back heel cup. Korener says the shoes seems durable too.

“They have bounced back from run to run without any noticeable loss in energy return," he says. "I feel like they are just getting broken in and have a long life in front of them." Korener's few quibbles with the shoe centered around a higher drop from heel to toe than he usually prefers—8mm. Still, “the higher heel height wasn't as noticeable and my foot strikes seemed seamless," he says. "The firmness through the transition probably helped with that."

Koerner found the outer sole best suited to roads rather than more varied surfaces, but overall, he was impressed: “I will continue to run in this shoe, mainly road miles and on longer runs," he says, "as I've grown quite confident with the superior cushioning and energy return—anything to help these old legs out!"

New Release

Besides the enhanced energy return that comes from the re-engineered DNA AMP midsole, Brooks put a lot of time in the new Fit Knit upper portion of the shoe. The integrated, knitted textile is constructed to comfortably cradle your foot as it moves and expands.

“To achieve the innovative stretch fit of the upper," says Grimes, “we utilized a circular knitting process. In contrast to flat knits, the 3D nature of circular knitting allows for more precise engineering—102 needles are programmed to create a tightly knit structure that stretches for a supremely comfortable and dynamic fit."

The new upper, combined with an internal bootie, helps to enhance the overall energized experience of the Levitate because of its supportive and snug fit.

To reach an even wider, more fashion-conscious, and street-style orientated customer, Brooks released a new, limited edition version of the Levitate called the LE in March 2018. Grimes says their goal is to bring more people into the DNA AMP experience by offering colors that are more versatile.

Rest assured that the new Levitate LEs still have the energizing technology that comes in the original shoe. The springy, cushioning, DNA AMP midsole is unchanged, as is the snug and and light circular knit upper. Now, with new colors on offer, runners can rip up roadways or strut down the street looking sharp, all while getting more rebound returned to their stride in the refreshed LEs.