Brooks - Cascadia 14
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Reddit Reviews:
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Last updated: Dec 25, 2025 Scoring
Liked most:
561
131
"I was quite impressed with its comfort and trail capabilities, and truly believed I had found an excellent shoe for my long runs and hikes. ... the New Balance Hierro v9 remains my top choice for comprehensive trail running. Its superior comfort and, crucially, its consistently reliable grip in varied and challenging conditions make it a more dependable partner on the trails I typically encounter. ... I feel more secure in the Hierro, and that confidence is key. In fact I will be using it for my upcoming races and that says it all."
"The Vibram Megagrip outsole on the Hierro v9 is simply outstanding. Its 4.5mm lugs provide excellent, reliable traction across various surfaces, from dry dirt to slick roots and muddy patches. I've always felt incredibly secure, and it consistently inspires confidence in diverse conditions. ... Great Vibram outsole grip, even on mud and wet rocks"
"The Trabuco 12 have been the best trail shoes I’ve ever owned. ... I’m 6”4 and charge hard over serious rocky terrain…and I feel completely safe in them."
142
60
"the splay in the toes is naturally better with that wide toe box"
"My foot (as measured by Fleet Feet's scanners) is D width (women's wide) at the forefoot and my heels are really narrow so Topo's shape works well for me."
"I think I have a similar foot to you - front is wide due to bunions but the rest of my foot is regular width. I absolutely love my Topos"
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"About 100 miles of trails and they look like they are brand new besides mud stains."
"Cascadias are super durable. ... When I was a letter carrier they were my shoe of choice- you could often find last year's model on sale, and the outsoles held up much better than many other brands over time."
"Salomon speedcross can take a beaten on the trails. ... Two pairs in 3 years with about 800 miles each pair."
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"I've worn Xodus runners for years on class 3/4 scrambles in the PNW, in addition to leading a few low class 5 routes with them as well."
"Got me through a week with everything Utah can throw at you - snow, mud, dirt, gravel, sand, slickrock, slot-canyon scooting, and the occasional stream crossing - and I never felt unsure of my footing."
"got me through a couple of ultras and about 185 miles spread multi-day over a week or so in Spain rocky/hilly/wet terrain."
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2
"have always protected my feet at all distances (up to 50 mile)"
"I prefer a stiffer sole for walking over roots and uneven rocks ... personally really liked the Brooks Cascadia for the additional support."
"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."
Disliked most:
22
14
"The Atacama desert ate up my new Brooks Cascadias in one week."
"first hiking trip and lots of chunks missing."
"I got caught in heavy storms in a field with a Coleman darkroom tent last year, it completely flattened and the poles split on two sides."
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"Also, the grip was really crap, particularly when it’s a purpose built trail shoe."
"Sections of the trail were fairly muddy this time. ... It was there the shoe washed out over and over again. ... The experience was similar to trail running in road shoes. ... There was a total loss of grip. ... We also need to see a shoe with longer lugs and a better lug pattern to give confidence in wet conditions."
"Tried my Ultraventures on a recent high route in wet weather and fell twice on slick rock/moss, they are relegated to cutting the grass now."
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63
"Way too stiff underfoot."
"All cushioning felt gone to me."
"I get a tight Achilles after running in them"
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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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15
"In the front right corner of the left shoe (and vice versa with the right one) they have a strange sharp strengthening that cuts against my toe. ... It doesn't really hurt the first few kilometers, but if I run over 8 km, especially in the descents they destroy my toe to a point it really hurts a lot and I can't wear the shoes for another 2 days."
"I'd have destroyed my toenails for sure if I bought my actual number"
"I'd have destroyed my toenails for sure if I bought my actual number"
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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