Runners feel the energy return at Brooks’ Levitate shoe launch

BY ANNA SPIEWAK

Seattle-based Brooks Running, known for its running-shoe-market focus, held a launch event in The Big Apple for its new Levitate with DNA AMP shoe, which included a preview of its Spring 2018 line.

During the two-hour morning event in late September, members of the press got to test out the new sneakers during a half-hour, 5K run, to see if they felt the springiness while jogging in the new BASF polyurethane-based cushioning midsole that is said to deliver high energy return.

Tiffany Ayuda, of the Daily Burn received her Levitate footwear that morning, and immediately took her 5.5-sized shoe for a test run during the morning stroll in the West Village part of NYC.

“They feel very supportive and light on your feet. I like the platform, it provides more support to my foot. I usually feel pain in the arch after a long run,” she said. “I felt like I could go longer distance with them.”

Ayuda added that she will definitely wear the sneakers again.

Samantha Zabell from Time Inc. arrived to the event wearing her brand new shoes that she received a week prior, because she liked the springy feel under her feet. The video producer intends to use the shoes for future running.

“We wanted to create a shoe that is 100 percent focused on energy return. So, we partnered with our friends at BASF and we set to create a compound that revolutionizes running,” said Carson Caprara, Director of Global Product Line Management, Brooks Running, during the event. “DNA AMP, which is polyurethane-based, activates when you put some pressure on it. It gives you a springy experience that hopefully you’ll feel when you run.”

The Brooks Levitate with DNA AMP is available for $150 in two colors for women and two colors for men.