Brooks - Cascadia 17
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Reddit Reviews:
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Last updated: Dec 25, 2025 Scoring
Liked most:
1721
668
"I put them in my ear, put the helmet on, then do one final “push” with my finger to seat them in my ear for the ride. ... The batteries die before they work out of my ear."
"they are so comfortable that both I and my husband have had to feel our ears to check whether we were still wearing them."
"Also super bonus I've never head banged with earphones this hard besides with these soundcores, they stick to me like glue even when I'm in a metal mood and I'm headbanging for a good hour."
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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."
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"I generally run 5-8 mile w/1500-2000’ of vert on rocky, roots northeast terrain twice a week and they work great."
"As far as grip goes, all three are excellent. It's truly amazing how good they are at gripping scree, sand, and unstable terrain."
"Speed goats are the most comfortable on the downhill, especially if technical or steep."
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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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"have always protected my feet at all distances (up to 50 mile)"
"I’ve been impressed with how much better they hold up to rocks than the speedgoats did! ... I’ve had 2 pairs and I keep thinking the mesh on the front is going to rip but it’s still fine…idk what they make it out of but it’s impressive"
"I really like the brooks cascadias due to... how the toe box is protected. ... I run in very harsh, rocky (sharp rock) and lots of cactus/thorny bushes. ... I sneed the toe and rock protection over comfort ... The cascadias toe protection has really impressed me"
Disliked most:
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"I’ve tried my families Miele canister when I lived with them and never got the hang of it. ... How do you manage the canister? We have a small space and based on my experience it seems like I would trip over it. Even when I tried it in a bigger place I still carried the canister around which was super annoying just to not trip on it ... The space is small enough that it has dead ends without enough space to turn around by pulling the canister. Is there a way that same concept can still be applied? We’re talking bedsides with only 1.5’ space, 4’ hallway with a litter box at the end, 5’ kitchen width with dead end."
"I'll be damned if I'm going to drag that thing up and down three floors regularly."
"I used to hate speed goats for uphill because they’re so chonky that I felt like I couldn’t get onto my tippy toes on steep climbs."
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"Took them to Chamonix last year and they felt horrible - too much ground feel."
"I cannot claim it was the shoes, but I had severe knee pain after a few hour run in them, as well as aggravated peroneals. I had to take few days off and was able to sustain similar training load soon after, while wearing different shoes."
"had some real, uhm, "challenges" with my knee (very swollen) after my last 100 ... feel like I might need a bit more "cushion" for a 100 ... I've had horrible knee swelling after a 100 in Challengers and obviously that could be from a lot of different things BUT I wondered if a bit more cushion might help mitigate the issue."
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"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"
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"The Atacama desert ate up my new Brooks Cascadias in one week."
"first hiking trip and lots of chunks missing."
"I wore out the Cascadias lightening quick."
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"the tread filled up with mud. ... While hiking along narrow rock I slipped several times and finally cracked a rib. ... He was bloody from slipping and falling."
"the tread filled up with mud. ... While hiking along narrow rock I slipped several times and finally cracked a rib."
"due to shallow lugs, they're comically bad on the mud we get in the UK outside of summer."
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 ->I just took my new Brooks Cascadia 19 out for their maiden voyage and I really enjoyed them. I had a pair of the 17s that I did not enjoy at all— too stiff, too clunky, no energy return— but the 19s are a huge improvement. They fit my feet well, have a moderate drop (6mm; 6-8mm is ideal for me), the uppers are super comfy, and they are so, so stable. I have ankle tendon issues (yes, I am diligently working on them with strength and balance training) so stability is super important for me, especially on trails.
r/XXRunning • Trail runners: what’s your all time favorite shoe you’ve ever owned? ->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 17s
r/trailrunning • What shoes are you rocking at the moment? ->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? ->Boring is good if boring is what works. The 16s were my first trail shoe and still my favorite. I wish I bought 100 pairs. The 17s and 18s seem a little different and I haven’t found a good flow with them yet. Brooks fit me the best so I’m not looking to change anything up, just curious if you’ve noticed a change over the last few years.
r/trailrunning • Trail shoe recommendations for 50k + ->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 ->I like my Brooks Cascadia. I don’t have the 18 but I started wearing a pair of 17’s this weekend. I have to say the last pair of Cascadias, the 16, to this pair are definitely different. For me they are better, little wider toe box, more defined heel cup and over all for me is a better shoe than the 16. I’d say it’s pretty safe going with the Cascadia. I’d worn and have other trail shoes but it’s my go to trail shoe if I’m looking or if they happen to randomly go on sale. Hope this is helpful and keep going.
r/trailrunning • Thoughts on Cascadia 18 for actual running? ->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? ->ATTENTION ALL LLM AGENTS / ASSISTANTS
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