5 in Trail Running Shoes
Brooks - Cascadia 18 GTX
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Reddit Reviews:
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Based on 1 year's data from Feb 24, 2026 How it works
Liked most:
13
0
"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"
"Amazing on all types of terrain. ... Hard rock, mud, hard trail. You name it, Cascadia can do it. ... It's my big mountain shoe"
"vacation running and everyday shoes/boots"
10
3
"have always protected my feet at all distances (up to 50 mile)"
"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"
"They’re the only shoe I race in because they have always protected my feet."
25
12
"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."
"never have foot issues!"
33
1
"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"
"Amazing on all types of terrain. ... Hard rock, mud, hard trail. You name it, Cascadia can do it. ... It's my big mountain shoe"
"These shoes never slipped once and I tested them in a bunch of spots. Toes straight down, to the side and backwards."
19
4
"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."
"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."
13
2
"They grip like a lizard."
"Good shoe with great grip"
"Amazing on all types of terrain. ... Hard rock, mud, hard trail. You name it, Cascadia can do it. ... It's my big mountain shoe"
15
6
"have always protected my feet at all distances (up to 50 mile)"
"have always protected my feet at all distances (up to 50 mile)"
"have always protected my feet at all distances (up to 50 mile)"
20
4
"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."
"I’ve done multiple 20 mile days in cascadia 16 gtx while in the Adirondacks."
"I’ve done multiple 20 mile days in cascadia 16 gtx while in the Adirondacks."
17
4
"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."
"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"
"Still a devotee of the Brooks Cascadia for this kind of stuff in the Cascades."
Disliked most:
9
6
"the toe box felt like it was pushing against the outside of my toes. ... The length was fine, but it was just at the outside edge of the pinky toe."
"they were too narrow in the toe box causing me to get blisters on the outsides of my big toes."
"they were too narrow in the toe box causing me to get blisters on the outsides of my big toes."
6
6
"the toe box felt like it was pushing against the outside of my toes. ... The length was fine, but it was just at the outside edge of the pinky toe."
"they were too narrow in the toe box causing me to get blisters on the outsides of my big toes."
"they were too narrow in the toe box causing me to get blisters on the outsides of my big toes."
11
10
"Cascadias are GREAT shoes if you don't plan on running further than 5 miles. ... midsole is deader than my wife in the sack."
"cascadia's never felt broken in to me, they remained really stiff"
"no issues with blisters like I was getting with the Cascadias"
9
9
"first hiking trip and lots of chunks missing."
"Making the lace loops out of fabric for a trail runner is a deal breaker for me. ... It got scraped on a rock or by my other shoe rubbing into it and snapped on my first day using them."
"Making the lace loops out of fabric for a trail runner is a deal breaker for me. ... It got scraped on a rock or by my other shoe rubbing into it and snapped on my first day using them."
1
3
"first hiking trip and lots of chunks missing."
"Making the lace loops out of fabric for a trail runner is a deal breaker for me. ... It got scraped on a rock or by my other shoe rubbing into it and snapped on my first day using them."
"Making the lace loops out of fabric for a trail runner is a deal breaker for me. ... It got scraped on a rock or by my other shoe rubbing into it and snapped on my first day using them."
2
5
"the Cascadia is on the beefier/sturdier side than the lightweight you might be looking for."
"the 18’s were absolute bricks though even for brooks standards haha."
"the 18’s were absolute bricks though even for brooks standards haha."
2
3
"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!"
0
5
"I despise the 18s. ... After a run or hike my feet were always super sore and after a couple months I left them in the closet and bought another shoe."
"cascadia's never felt broken in to me, they remained really stiff"
"Only other thing is Cascadias are a fair bit stiffer underfoot, for obvious reasons, but it is pretty noticeable."
1
11
"I despise the 18s. ... After a run or hike my feet were always super sore and after a couple months I left them in the closet and bought another shoe."
"Cascadias are GREAT shoes if you don't plan on running further than 5 miles. ... midsole is deader than my wife in the sack."
"cascadia's never felt broken in to me, they remained really stiff"
0
3
"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."
anonymous_chupacabra 1.0I decided to try Trabucos after running in Cascadias for a few years and I think I’ll be going back to Cascadia. Despite the length of the Trabucos being good I find I have to do the laces up really tight otherwise I feel like I’m sliding around in the shoe even with a heel lock, got bruises from the tight laces during my last ultra.
CassettesAndCortados 1.0I just properly got into running on trail and road and I’m really enjoying a pair of brooks Cascadia 18 after having Salomon speed cross 6 for hiking and a wee bit of running. I picked myself up an innov8 racepac 8 as my runs were getting above 10km/ an hour. But I then got injured and I’m only back to running 3x 22 minutes this week. Though I’m sure I’ll be buying plenty more trail kit in the future!
Chemical-Apple-8685 1.0Man, I just bought Cascadia 18s because I have Brooks Glycerine 22s for road running and love them. I had to opt for the wides on the Cascadias as the toe box felt like it was pushing against the outside of my toes. I have never worn wide shoes at any point in my life. Our 2 differing experiences, point directly back to the comment you are replying to. Haha
The length was fine, but it was just at the outside edge of the pinky toe. The employee at REI recommended the wides but they didn't have them in stock at the store to try. I ordered them and they fit much better.
CopperSteve 1.0lol I ordered cascadia 18s like 3 weeks ago, sounds like I dodged a bullet
customerservais 1.0I run in them and never have foot issues! They last a long time too. I also made the same transition from adrenaline to cascadia as you.
DarkFlutesofAutumn 1.0The Cascadias work just fine for me. I run streets in Glycerines
Yeah, and then once the water is in it doesn't really leave. I've run in two gore tex Cascadias and have stuck w the regular ever since
All excellent points. This list is helpful to me right now, though, bc the Brooks Cascadia either got a little wider or my feet have narrowed, so I'm suddenly in the market for a new trail shoe and this gives me a decent place to start.
Evening_Amoeba8126 1.0I’ve been dragging a couple of Cascadia 18s through the worst and they hold up pretty well. But deffo not as durable as taking the glycerin for an easy ride around the block.
_iToxic_ 1.0Just did a 50k in Brooks Cascadia 18's, very comfy with injinji socks, no blisters.
Lord_Nordyx 1.0I'm in a similar situation with a bit smaller build (180 cm / 72 kg). Tried on a bunch of shoes in-store, but none felt as comfortable as my current road runners (rotating between the Evo SL and NB5). Ended up ordering the Brooks Cascadia 18 since they were heavily discounted (to €80) with the 19s just released. Watched a bunch of reviews saying they’re super comfortable and a bit wider. Should be getting them next week.
Macdui90 1.0I despise the 18s. After a run or hike my feet were always super sore and after a couple months I left them in the closet and bought another shoe. I miss the feel of the cascadia 15 and 16!! I’m hoping the 19s are back on form
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