Brooks Cascadia 15, Men’s race Running Shoe

Product Information

The Cascadia 16 is ideal for trail runners who want a stiff, protective shoe that’s stable on varied terrain. If you hadn’t noticed, Brooks has been dropping some great updates and new shoes in its trail line. The Catamount is a new flashy speedster, the Divide provides some promise as an entry-level trail shoe, and the Caldera has a plush and smooth ride. I’ve been excited to try these shoes out ever since first learning about famed ultrarunner, Scott Jurek, over a decade ago; however, I have not had the opportunity until now.

One of the classic complaints about the Cascadia is its weight. There are so many trail shoes out there that tip the scales more positively than Brooks’ long-running legacy trail shoe. The Brooks Cascadia 16 is a comfortable and versatile running shoe to run on trails. This new version is lighter (finally under 300 g/10.6 oz) while offering more cushioning (29 mm under the heel). John: Adding to Jeff’s comparison, the Caldera 4 is suitable as a road to trail hybrid and has a more running oriented ride. In my lone critique of the Cascadia 15’s ride, I mention that the shoe doesn’t “spring off” and the Caldera 4 is where you can find a more runnable shoe in the Brooks line. One of the first shoes that comes to mind when we think of trail running is the Brooks Cascadia. In its fifteenth iteration, and now with an added Gore-Tex treatment, the Brooks Cascadia 15 GTX remains as a standard-bearer for the trail running shoe community.

The Brooks Cascadia is the flagship of the American brand’s trail collecting. Of course, it’s impossible to talk about the Cascadia without mentioning Scott Jurek: the legendary athlete has undoubtedly been a critical component of the shoe’s commercial success over the years. For those who do not know Scott Jurek, let’s just say he’s won the Western States 100 seven times (!)! Yup. And, by the way, if you’re looking for a great book on running (with delicious vegan recipes as a bonus), you should read E at and Runwhen you have the chance. Last but not least, if the Brooks Cascadia 16 received such high scores from the testers, it’s also because of the excellent ground feelit offers. Typically, you have to choose between cushion and proprioception. Well, not here! Conclusion

They tested very well in durability and protection while also finding them to be very comfortable in the upper and midsole. It isn't a great shoe, but it is a solid "good". Jeff V: Comparable in overall usage and versatility, the Cascadia is a bit more durable, protective and better suited for technical terrain. Sense Ride 3 is more plush.

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. We’ve also named the Brooks Cascadia 15 one of the best trail running shoes! See our Best New Trail Shoes of Fall-Winter 2020 for more recent trail running shoe releases. However, to achieve this, Brooks removed the lugs from under the midfoot. In the end, testers didn’t notice it much: there wasn’t a moment when they thought it was missing. So let’s see in the long term how opinions converge. Interestingly, Nike’s Terra Kiger 7 has gone the other way: it now includes lugs under the midfoot, which was not the case in previous versions. I’ll get into the details of the shoe in the proceeding sections, but as stated previously, this is a well-constructed shoe that looks like it is ready for just about anything one can throw at it! I really liked the upper in the Cascadia 15s, but the best features are in the midsole of this shoe. The durable midsole features an 8mm drop and provides good protection underfoot.

This year’s Cascadia 15 resembles the previous version in almost every way, which makes sense– only real update is an enhanced upper. 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. Lacing is very secure and easy to get right on the first attempt with no need to ever re-adjust and the stretchy lace loop is handy to easily keep the laces in place. 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. New Mesh Upper: The big update for this model manifests itself in the new upper. Specifically, monoloop mesh works in tandem with added mudguard slots to improve breathability and drainage over previous models. I went out of my way to test these claims by jumping in every puddle or creek I could find and was pleasantly impressed by the dry-out time. I know good breathability when I feel it, and these Cascadia 15s breathe as well as any of them. Upper durability is always a huge question mark when it comes to thru-hiking footwear. With only 150 miles on my pair, the jury is still out.Pivot Post Stability: Ever wonder if those two colorful triangles on Cascadia midsoles do anything besides look cool? Yeah, me too. Turns out they are the Pivot Post system, which adds stability on uneven terrain.