Brooks - Catamount 3

Some already said, but I'd look at the: * Topo MTN Racer 3 - tried them on in store and thought they felt great * Brooks Catamount 3 or 4 - I run in the 2's right now and have the 3's waiting in the wings. This is my favorite trail shoe, although it is a little narrow. * Nike Zegama 2 - I didn't like them because I thought the heel drop felt like too much for the trails and would cause stability issues for myself. Foam felt great though. * North Face Summit VECTIV Sky 2 - heard good things about this one that's about to come out. The one might go on sale soon. * adidas Terrex Agravic 3 - heard good things but too narrow for me * adidas Terrex speed - heard good things but too narrow for me * nnormal kjerag - heard good things and is a sustainable brand * Altra Monte Blanc - heard good things from people who have no heel slippage problems, although the heel didn't work for me at all

Given your experience with Salomon and Brooks combined with the desire for stability: Try Salomon Genesis or Brooks Catamount 3. The Genesis is one of Salomon's most stable trail running shoe I've had, while the Brooks Catamount runs incredibly well and stable on moderate trails. The Genesis is softer and has better grip, while the Catamount is more responsive. Horses for courses, really. Since you also have La Sportivas: I can recommend looking at the Prodigio, which is a well rounded shoe that I like picking up for versatility in terrain that is mixed.

I wear Glys and wear trail runners, if you just like brooks try the catamount 2s or 3s, great beginner trail shoes. If you are looking outside the brand I really like the Nike zegama 2s, I plan to wear those on my next ultra

I am on my third pair! Freaking love that shoe, and they are a great performing shoe that doesn't cost a fortune.

I know la sportiva kaptiva and use them for technical terrain. Akasha is a strange shoe for me … only works on forefoot. I also use speedgoat 5 and like it - can’t go wrong with 5 or 6. Mafate Speed also more for technical. I have also experience with catamount 1 and catamount 3. I don‘t have any experience with saucony peregrine. Over all the catamount 3 ist for me the most interesting shoe right now: fast on forefoot, rolling in the center and a softer feel on the heel than the speedgoat. No Vibram but the rubber of the 3 feels pretty sticky. All in all a really great shoe of it‘s not muddy. If la sportiva - I would give the prodigio or jackal boa a try. More modern kind of shoe. But: depending on your weight, fitness level, and your foot …

I love the Brooks Catamount 2. I’m trying the Catamount 3 right now but will probably end up ordering a few pair of the 2’s to use until they’re nla.

I have Brooks Catamount (Both 2 & 3) and I like them a lot. They loose some spring/cushion after a few hundred miles but they still look new. I don’t know that it’s realistic to expect the foam to stay bouncy for five hundred hard miles.

I hear y'all. Being in the Bison class club at a mere 235lbs and six foot, I don't necessarily want a 35mm heel stack while running the trail. I am game for test driving every shoe at REI. Right now, I'm on a three shoe rotation: Altra LP 8, Brooks Catamount 3, and Saucony WC. I'll probably move into the LP9s here soon.

I have a really narrow midfoot and heel. Like a really narrow heel and brooks has the best heel lock down, better than everything else. Even the brands known for having narrow shoes like Salomon and La Sportiva. If brooks road shoes fit you really good I’d try the caldera and catamount. Both last years models can be had for about $100. Caldera for long slow days, catamount for faster. Could be catamount for everything if you like a little bit lower to the ground shoe.

Suprised they went with vibram. In my use of the catamount 3 and the caldera 7 I thought trail tack green was pretty good.

The best ones I had for me were Long Sky 2 Matryx and Catamount 3. I don't do well with too much height or too much cushion.

Good to hear that Brooks still has it. Catamount 4 was a big flop, even more coming from the 3 which was a stellar shoe. I would get this Caldera anyday before a Mafate X or something of the sorts.

I have almost 400km on my Catamount 3s and they are my default racer. Light, nimble, protective.

My most stable but still somewhat cushioned trail running shoes are the Brooks Catamount 3. I'm staying away from the 4 as it seems taller, but just ordered another pair of 3. It's my main racer.

I do very well with Brooks Catamount 3 (the 4s injured me) for my characteristics and preferences.

I have 400km on the pair I bought new and ~50km on a pair I bought with 200km. I rolled my ankle badly with them last weekend though. They are the most stable show I have, they give me too much confidence on technical descents compared to my actual technique.

I’ve had 4 pairs of Catamount 3, absolutely loved them. Size 44.5 (EU). I wanted to give a try to the Catamount 4, same size 44.5 and they were too small. They changed the fit I guess the shoes won’t work for me anymore. Unfortunate, because they were really a stunning pair of shoes for me!

FWIW I did full 100k in the cat 3 with no issues.

Fine actually! Didn’t need to swap them once.

I have Brooks Catamount 3 used for 477 km. Because the shoe fit my feet, they are my favorite. Just got my secound pair of Brooks Catamount 3 and have used them in a short 20 km trail race.

I’m in the rocky/rooty Southeast and primarily run in my Brooks Cascadias, and for smoother/faster stuff switch to the Catamounts. Love them.

I don’t love the Catamount 3s as much, I feel like they’re a little more flimsy. BUT they did get me through a 100 miler😂 I usually go back to my 2s though.

I’m still running in the Catamount 3. Great shoe for <50km or less. Haven’t tried the Caldera but would gladly give them a go once I decide to retire my Trabuco Max. Sadly, can’t seem to get them to fit very well but also keep forcing myself to run in them.

I feel like my Glycerin's fit similarly to the Caldera, but the Caldera feels too soft and bulky for the rocky technical trails that I mostly run on. If you are on smoother graded paths, it might be excellent. I'll probably end up with a pair next year just to have them. The Catamount is a much sleeker shoe than the glycerin, but the upper fits me about the same. The foam seems similar, but it's not a plush shoe. It will be a great shoe for a shorter race like a 10k, but for a lot of longer slower runs, maybe you want something else. Watch some YouTube reviews and see what you think. I just got the version 3 on clearance for $50 and I like it a lot. I'll probably wear it for my next half marathon. I don't like the Cascadia, so no advice there. Both the catamount and caldera are 6mm drop, which will feel different from the 10mm drop of the glycerin, if that matters. As for other brands, the options are endless so I'm just talking Brooks here. Nike Pegasus Trail is a soft shoe with 10mm drop, so that's just a start for something more similar.

There are trailrunning shoes, lightweight trailrunning shoes and so called «road-to-trail» shoes.\ One should use at least 2 pair of shoes for rotation anyway.\ And there's always _n+1_ 😉\ I use the Brooks Catamount 3 in a mix of road/trail runs.

Brooks Catamount 3. Georgeous shoe.

I've been running ~200 km with the Catamount 3. Apart from its outsole not being as grippy as the one on the Salomon Speedcross shoes I used to wear, I've no complaints.\ The Catamount is a fast shoe on gravel, I appreciate it.

I wear size 42 (EU), I've been to the brick & mortar store where I bought my pair of Catamount 3 in March 2025. Sadly, my size wasn't up for grabs anyway. Had to order online. Well, as long as I get a pair...\ Yeah, I've heard from several people now that there's a noticeable change between C3 and C4. I've seen a version of Catamount 3, called «Agile» supposedly even lighter and meant for trail races. Very interesting. I rarely come across a shoe which fits like a glove, figuratively speaking, immediately at the first try.

The trails I run on are mixed. Some are loose gravel/packed gravel, some are wood floor with lots of roots and muddy sections (depending on weather), I also came across some more difficult rock gardens recently.\ I forgot to add previously: I also bought the Brooks Catamount 3 on the same day.\ Catamount 3 feels superior. An amazing shoe.

These are some cheap ones I got from a local store in my city (Salzburg, Austria). I'd say the fabric thickness is about 2x the thickness of typical sneaker style socks.\ I personally think the Genesis were the wrong choice for my foot anatomy/style of running anyway. My other pair (Brooks Catamount 3) literally fits like a glove.

I use the catamount 3s and absolutely love them. Only complaint I’ve had is when it’s slick out the grip could be better. But for everything else they’ve been great.

For shoes Brooks catamount 3, and Norda 001s love them both. Recently picked up the Craft Pro Hydration vest to try out, 2 runs in it so far and no complaints.

Catamount 3 are my favorite trail shoe at the moment. On my second pair. Available on Amazon and elsewhere for under $100. Lighter than calderas, much more nimble. Great traction. Plenty of room for my toes to spread out. Great ground feel and plenty of protection. Currently love the Hyperion max for roads as a frame of reference.

I wear the Brooks Catamount and I'm really happy with it!

I used Catamounts for my 50 miler last weekend in the San Juans and they’re great, but on their last life

Im ~85kg and found that i prefer firm and responsive when running (short) races, with a not-too-stretchy upper. I think the brooks catamount could be a good option - they feel fast, stable and sturdy (i have the 2’s). The kjerags works well for me too i must say.

You might have luck with Brooks Catamount or Cascadias! They both are fairly narrow and have a protective rock plate. I also love Topo Mtn Racers- they have a wider toe box but are narrower everywhere else, and they have vibram soles with great traction. As a general heads up, I have narrow feet too and swear by heel lock lacing- it’s been a game changer and prevents a lot of heel slipping!

Go with the catamounts. Been doing so for 2.5 years. Get you a girl that can do both

I have a broad forefoot and a narrow heel. Brooks has been good to me as well as La Sportiva. Prodigo Pros and Caldera 8 is what I am working with now. For faster nimbler shoe I have been using the Catamount. Not sure about this latest version, haven't tried it.

Idk if it’s a “heavy” enough option but I’ve enjoyed backpacking in the Brooks trail shoes. I wore the catamount for a 2 day 14-mile trip through the desolation wilderness in Tahoe and loved them. No blisters and felt a lot more nimble than my buddies in hiking boots.

Brooks Catamount > Lone Peak

Hello. I come from the same issue. I had major issues with Plantar Fasciitis after running in the Speedcross and S/Lab Speed for many years. My first shoe was the Hoka Speedgoat Evo. That was an epic shoe, but sold out everywhere so quickly I only ever ran in one pair. Since then I’ve tried many similar shoes, looking for great grip, soft and bouncy ride, but good stability as I over-pronate, plus I recently developed osteoarthritisin my big toes. So, I really rate the following: - Hoka Mafate Speed 4. Good all rounder - Salomon S/lab genesis. A little narrow and unstable but speedy and shed mud quickly - La Sportiva Prodigeo Pro - great foam and good grip, lightweight. - Saucony Xodus Ultra - 1 and 3 are pretty good, ignore the 2. - Hoka Tecton X 3 - my go-to race shoe for hard packed trails and gravel I like the Speedgoat, Catamount, Fuji Lite, Ultra Glide too but they all have compromises that the shoes above don’t have in the same way.

I really love my catamounts. I did an extremely technical half marathon w/ 4500ft of gain/loss during the rain and they never slipped a single time and felt nimble all the way

I understand the thinking behind Gore-tex shoes. If water can't get in, it also can't get out. Recipe for blisters and skin damage (in longer distances). I've run in Brooks Catamount for everything from one-hour Sunday runs to 35-milers, including several races that were insanely wet and muddy. Paired with Feetures trail socks, I've never had a single problem. They drain really well.

Oh man Catamounts were horrrrrendous for me. I used to run and hike in Cascadia 8s or 9s so when I found them on a good sale I decided to give the Catamounts a try for getting back into trail running after many years off. I could barely walk let alone run a mile and a half without getting the worst shin splints I've ever had. I used to always wear La Sportiva approach shoes for climbing so gave the Prodigios (regular, not Pro) a try and they've been amazing. To OPs question on other gear - no name Amazon shorts with a built in compression boxer 👌 no chafing and half the price of the name brands. Carefully husbanding my last two Arc'teryx Velox tees though - still to this day the best hot weather running/hiking/MTBing shirt out there imo and mine are definitely getting a bit threadbare after the 12 years or whatever I've had them. I hope when they give up the ghost I can find something else with a similar ultralight dotted/pucker weave.

I wear Brooks Ghosts on road runs.. Brooks Catamounts were a lovely transition to a trail runner. Would definitely recommend. I tried on Brooks Cascadias, but they were a little too bulky for my liking

Your 10k time is pretty fast - you can get more racing style trail shoes built short fast trail races . The brooks catamount is an example of that . ( I know this because I’m racing a trail half in July and looking for something !) However you’ll wear the lugs out more quickly on the road hence if it’s basic trail , dry and not technical - and more road - you might be better off just wearing your normal racing shoes and saving a few quid .

001 for the Long Haul, Brooks Catamount for the quick dirt, Salomon S/Lab Genesis when I want some cushion and it’s not wet (for some reason that contragrip doesn’t grip on the VT mountains with even the littlest bit of moisture), 002 sometimes but not often

I weigh the same as you and I found I prefer foams that feel rather firm at first because they then break in to feel great. For road running and trail running Brooks and ascics typically fit the bill. I trained for my first ultra in brooks catamounts and loved them for their grip in all conditions and comfort on my feet for 30 miles even without a crazy stack height.

I’m shocked. I run trails in the Catalinas and Rincons half the year and I tear through my Brooks Catamounts in like 200 miles. I need to try these.

Indeed. E.g. Brooks Cascadia is one of the worst shoes I ever had (for me) which is ranking higher than one of my favorites (Brooks Catamount)

I picked up some Gel Trabucos here recently and love them. Other shoes I have been wearing are xodus ultras, mtn racers and brooks catamount. Fit wise I love them, they feel stable and enough cushion while not being clunky like my catamounts.

Big fan of Brooks Catamount. You can usually find last years models at deep discounts. Great all arounder.

Amazing on all types of terrain. Hard rock, mud, hard trail. You name it, Cascadia can do it. It's my big mountain shoe, with Catamount being my daily hard trail lap shoe.

Brooks Catamount. They can do anything. Amazing shoe. (Also PNW)