Brooks Cascadia 15, Men’s race Running Shoe

Product Information

The new Brooks Cascadia 16 is more cushioned and softer at the same time. Also, its outsole offers more flexibility. The result is a smoother and more responsive run. Ah, and the legacy Pivot Post system is finally gone, without any negative impact on stability. Traction: The Cascadia’s outsole grips better than what I’m used to (read: Altra). No doubt about it. It might be the rubber, or it might be the lug pattern, but the result is a shoe you can trust to stay planted on all but the slipperiest of surfaces. Definitely adequate for trail and boulder hopping. Canice: The upper of the Cascadia 15 is soft and flexible and seems to be simple but in truth has a lot of great features done incredibly well. The most important aspect of the Cascadia 15 is that it is comfortable. The overlays around the sides of the shoe and across the toe box are flexible and provide a great amount of durability to the upper.

Brooks has a history and reputation of making well-built, high-end, reliable running footwear, and this is no exception. At 10.9 ounces (310g) in a US men’s 9, this is just too heavy in my opinion, especially in a shoe that’s not springy or bouncy which combats the heft (like the Endorphin Trail). Durable but not extremely breathable John Tribbia (5' 6", 130lbs) is a former sponsored mountain/trail runner who has run with La Sportiva, Brooks/Fleet Feet, Pearl Izumi, and Salomon. Even though he competes less frequently these days, you can still find John enjoying the daily grind of running on any surface, though his favorite terrain is 30-40% grade climbs. He has won races such as America's Uphill, Imogene Pass Run, and the US Skyrunner Vertical Kilometer Series; and he's held several FKTs on several iconic mountains in Boulder, Colorado and Salt Lake City, Utah. If you follow him on Strava , you'll notice he runs at varying paces between 5 minutes/mile to 12 minutes/mile before the break of dawn almost everyday.The Brooks Cascadia 16 is a stiff, supportive, protective trail running shoe that's great for long hauls on aggressive terrain. And don’t worry about being on a bandwagon. We all have our preferences, and old habits die hard. Especially when it comes to footwear.

Jeff V: The Caldera 4 has a very similar upper in regard to material, but the Caldera has a wider, more relaxed fit that makes it more suited to moderate to mellow terrain than the Cascadia. Cushioning is also softer and more ample, though traction and overall technical performance does not match the Cascadia. The upper is really well constructed, and for the GTX model, the Gore-Tex held up really well in creeks, streams, and in snow. Now, keep in mind that this does not mean that these shoes are waterproof, but the Gore-Tex will keep you moderately dry with a water repellent quality when intermittently encountering Mother Nature. While the midsole cushioning is softer, testers still note a hint of firmness. Clearly, on a scale of one to ten, with one being very firm and ten very soft, we are on six. The arch support is sufficient to be comfortable during long runs, regardless of your arch type. TAYLOR: Brooks does a couple things right when it comes to trail shoes. Comfort is a top priority and you can bet on trail protection. The Cascadia 16 has a purpose again thanks to this year’s updates, but there are a lot of trail shoes on the market and in my opinion, the Cascadia fills a narrow need as a protective, stiff shoe. Cascadia 16 fits greatOne should also note the universal gaiter loops and durable lacing. Again, besides the restrictive feeling in the toes, this shoe is well constructed. Midsole

TAYLOR: I waited this long to say it, but both last year’s model and the new Cascadia 15 are on my shortlist of shoes that I really don’t like. Another overhaul would be welcomed! Honestly, it’s outdated and out-performed by so many other shoes, even from the same company. The increased flexibility coupled with a softer, more generous cushion provides a smooth run on natural terrains.

This is the same outsole as the previous version and durability has proven to be above average with only slight signs of wear on the lugs where I toe off or land. TAYLOR: To answer the question from before, sadly, the Brooks Cascadia 15 is more like the bighorn king who once was. I tried. I really, really tried. After reviewing the overhauled Cascadia 14 last year, I had zero interest in stepping foot in it again. I worked myself up to be excited about the 15 and was really let down again. Brooks also states, “Our unique Pivot Post System provides a stable platform that allows your foot to adapt to any terrain.” While the midsole is not super responsive or agile, the durability is what will cause a runner to keep on lacing these bad boys up for one trail after another. Outsole