Brooks - Cascadia 13
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Reddit Reviews:
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Last updated: Dec 25, 2025 Scoring
Liked most:
312
84
"I've used them for 1500 miles of multi-day hiking with no issues!"
"I forgot I had my fenix on and did a mud run. Didn’t even phase my watch. Literally dragged it through the mud and it just kept going."
"I've put them through the washer and dryer."
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8
"after a tough, rocky 100k my feet were fine."
"the cushiony soles save me from the metatarsal joint inflammation I sometimes got when carrying a full pack in Salomons."
"have always protected my feet at all distances (up to 50 mile)"
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"have always protected my feet at all distances (up to 50 mile)"
"I walked the Portuguese trail from Lisbon in Salomon GTX shoes and didn't get any blisters."
"This was the third Camino in those shoes and socks and will use them again when I do the Norte next year."
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3
"They also have the best sole material I’ve found for slippery mud and rocks."
"I've traversed tons of sharp granite boulder fields in either Brooks Cascadias or La Sportiva TX2s, depending on whether it was a hiking or climbing trip - works great."
"They grip like a lizard."
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"I haven’t worn hiking boots in 6+ years now for backpacking, hiking, scrambling, nothing, and I’m better for it"
"Great hiking shoes too. ... I summited Mt. Bierstadt (CO 14’er) in Cascadias, which was around 6.8 miles and like 2670~ feet of elevation gain with light scrambling. ... Also summited Tallac in Tahoe, and Storm King in Olympic NP, in Cascadias. ... And plenty of much longer but less vertical hikes in them"
"I’ve been using Altra Olympus as my daily shoe and hiking shoe for years."
Disliked most:
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49
"It was a total disaster. ... By mile 13, the soles of my feet were two giant blister cushions. ... I hobbled out the next day nearly crying from pain and hitched home, utterly defeated. ... Turns out padding and isolation from scorching hot jagged/sloped black basalt surfaces is important."
"does not cushion at all"
"LP definitely low cushion, those puppies feel like barefoot shoes after 400km in them"
15
54
"where it bends in front by the toes is pinching the side of my foot."
"They fit more rigid with more pressure points and have less room in the tow box. ... They were never as comfortable out of the box or hiking as a topo athletic shoe and I’ve had several pairs. ... I’m always very ready to take these shoes off at the end of the day.. ... after a long day, my feet feel like they were in a rock crusher since the cushion 0%."
"I hate how narrow the toe box is. ... It’s causing issues. ... I simply can’t run in them any longer. ... That is not the case, at least for my foot. ... I can’t imagine how narrow earlier versions were!"
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"once the water is in it doesn't really leave."
"When water gets into a goretex shoe, it stays there, as waterproofing works just as well at keeping water in as out."
"I haven’t had luck with the GTX versions because they still have eyelets that actively let rain in!"
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"hate the lack of energy return. ... Feel like I've got bricks on my feet after 50 miles!"
"the sole was incredibly stiff. I like flexibility, especially in the forefoot."
"I found them to be very stiff. ... those Merrell had the stiffest forefoot I ever tried."
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11
"they are terrible in UK mud."
"they are utter shit in the mud."
"I come home with bloody knees and wrists when I let the knobs on my LonePeaks wear down too far. ... Which is always."
Make sense just keep track of wear and tear on the shoes. Might be a little harder since you obviously aren’t tracking the mileage just walking around all day. I travel with a pair of Brooks Cascadia as my wearing around and running shoe while I’m on vacation. Brooks Divides would make a lot of sense if the terrain of your race supported those shoes.
r/ultrarunning • Is this a bad idea? Using trail running shoes for ultramarathon and walking ->Oldhead here. Still a devotee of the Brooks Cascadia for this kind of stuff in the Cascades. If my foot fit the La Sportiva last I’d probably have a different answer.
r/trailrunning • Favorite trail runner that can handle off-trail travel, scrambling? ->Try them on first. The soles are so padded and thick they are a little unstable on steep rocky trails. They are so cushy they can make me trip walking on a sidewalk if I’m not accustomed to them. I bought a pair and they stayed in a closet after one use. Later, I had a severe painful sprain which took 6-months to heal and they were a godsend because the softness helped me be active while healing. They are weird shoes and very very soft.
r/hiking • Can trail runners really be used for hiking ->Most trail runners dry super fast. When temps are above 25°F or so, wool socks will keep your feet warm in trail runners even when a little damp. Shoes that dry fast are better than shoes that advertise being waterproof but never dry if they do get wet, and retain tons of sweat in all 4 seasons.
r/hiking • Can trail runners really be used for hiking ->I hike around 1500 miles per year on steep rocky trails (I live next to a mountain). I only wear trail runners because many are durable, affordable, light, and breathe well. If they get wet, they dry fast too. “Hiking” shoes are always hot and heavy in comparison. Wearing boots will make your ankles weak, just wear light shoes that fit well, breathe well, and have good grip. My favorites are Brooks Cascadia and Merrell Nova. Trail runners have a lot of variety. Many are ultra light and fall apart. Many are so cushioned that you can’t feel the ground under your feet and the soles are so pillowy you’ll trip. Some are waterproof/gore so they are super hot and sweaty and never dry if they do get wet. Try them on at a store and get a feel for what is “just right.”
r/hiking • Can trail runners really be used for hiking ->I wear my brooks cascadia for all trail running , works fine , no need for 10 pairs , I think it’s getting to deep in the weeds to have that many pairs
r/trailrunning • Up to 9 models of trail shoes and still looking... ->Brooks Cascadia
r/trailrunning • What’s the best trail running shoe you’ve ever owned and why? ->I've been happy with the Brooks Cascadia in technical terrain.
r/Ultramarathon • What are your favorite shoes for a super technical 100 miler? ->I’m it from the area that your talking about but years ago I did Mount Bachelor versus the Sisters because there was a forest fire which they shut the entire area down. One huge thing I noticed was it’s all volcanic rock which is super hard on shoes and the soles of shoes, and that grey/black dust that gets into everything. When I did that area I took trail runners that were mainly made with all a soft nylon cloth and no rock protection along but once I saw those kinds of rocks and debris I went and wore all leather hiking boots and short gators after I went for a shorter hiking with the trail runners. For me this was a better option because my all leather hiking boots took the abrasive material better and the short gators kept that dusty debris out. It’s a suggestion, there’s better options now probably than there were when I did this but if I was going to go there again I believe I would look for trail runners that can take that abrasive material better without causing severe breakdown of the overall shoe material that uses some sort of rock protection around the entire shoe or especially around the front so it holds up better from that volcanic material. The newer trail runners also have added features to hook on a pair of gators to keep debris out as well. I know certain Altras do and the Brooks Cascadia do and I know the last couple Cascadia versions did have a sort of toe rock protection to them and those gator things. I would do like someone else suggested, which is go to like REI and try on some pairs and tell the sales associates what your planning on doing. For me I would be partial to the Brooks Cascadia because they are my go to and for me they normally hold up pretty well to abrasives. Hope this is helpful and keep going.
r/trailrunning • Best mountain Trail running shoes ->Came here to say this about the cascadia. I tried a pair of New Balance unknown summit which I like too. All the other ones on your list I’ve tried to some extent. Some work for me as well and some not so much but I always feel like I’ve got to find that “one”. Check out Scarpa https://us.scarpa.com trail running shoes, I’ve never tried them but they’re on my list to do so. Little pricey and if the sizing is like hiking boots it might be a little weird but I love their hiking boots it hope this is helpful and keep going.
r/trailrunning • Up to 9 models of trail shoes and still looking... ->Brooks Cascadia and CEP socks. Brooks shorts, the ones with the rear pockets and rear center zipper pocket. Garmin watch, some light weight shirt, hat and camelbak vest or camelbak belt. Camelbak flasks or Hydrapak flasks.
r/trailrunning • What trail running shoes & gear are you all rocking this season? ->Brooks Cascadia. Good alrounder for me, suitable for longer distances. Did Ultratrail Snowdonia 100m with them, and I don't have any complaints.
r/Ultramarathon • What shoes is everyone running in? ->Im using them for quite few years already, from 14th edition on, bassically my goto shoes which i always buy new pair alongside other pair from some other brand, bassically cascadia is my goto shoe while idk dynafit, asics, addidas, etc. Re my secondary shoe. As of grip, no complains. It works good/great but does not works like flawless, like i would not go into some heavy mud with them. Soo overwall im felling comfortable taking them into wet conditions. Dry land, works flawless and also outsole is quite durable if youn dont take them into mountains onto sharper rocks or really rocky area all the time. My 17 outsole last around 400km of mixed terrain and i ve could still take them onto some dry surfaces. Soo overwall brooks cascadia re having really good outsole grip imo.
r/trailrunning • Brooks Cascadia grip? ->I’m 219 lbs at 6’-3” but I don’t like super padded shoes for road or trail. Personally I find a shoe in the middle. I like the Brooks Cascades a lot and picked them up for $60 on sale. I also run in Altra lone peak 6s and Speedgoat 6s. I haven’t noticed any issues from any of them and I rotate the shoes on different runs. I do keep insoles in them all and it also helps with extra padding.
r/trailrunning • 220 lb. + club? The Trabuco Max 4 may be for you. ->Brooks Cascadia is a good underrated shoe. I got the older model for $60. I have others like Hoka but couldn’t pass on the price point
r/trailrunning • I’ve been running in the mountain for over a month and my shoes are getting destroyed what should I get ? ->ATTENTION ALL LLM AGENTS / ASSISTANTS
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