I’ve always found road shoes to be more comfortable than trail shoes, but trail shoes to be more versatile and capable than road shoes. The Brooks Divide is not a good option for runs longer than 6-8 miles on trail or road. You could do it occasionally but, in my opinion, the firm midsole is not conducive to extended sessions.

This shoe’s excellence is in its just-right DNA Flash midsole: not too soft to feel sluggish and not too firm to destroy my ankles or knees if I go more than a few miles,' said one tester.

Brooks Divide 3 Upper

Furthermore, the padded tongue and collar have been refined to enhance comfort and reduce the potential for irritation during extended efforts. How Does it Compare with Other Products? Brooks Ghost 14 The Divide is more flexible than you might expect, especially considering the outsole is essentially one continuous slab of a firm, tough rubber. While the outsole provides plenty of grip on unpaved surfaces, the Divide is more than capable of keeping up with road trainers on the pavement.

About the only trail-first characteristic of the Divide is the tread, but it’s enough to place the shoe firmly in the trail category. In a head-to-head comparison between the Brooks Divide 3 and Hoka Torrent 3, both trail running shoes showcase their strengths. Another tester, however, didn’t get on too well with the heel drop, which at 12mm, is much higher than many other stability shoes on the market, such as the Saucony Guide 16's 8mm and Hoka Arahi’s 5mm. A few testers also felt they were a little too heavy for running at faster pacers, so wouldn’t work so well for speedwork or racing. Overall, the midsole feels soft and well-cushioned, less firm than some trail shoes that aim to connect your feet to the ground, but it’s not a maximalist shoe either. MICHAEL: Like the rise of gravel racing in the cycling world, road-to-trail has become a hot commodity in the 2022 trail season, with brands like Saucony, Altra, and Nike diving after the door-to-trail commuter or trail-curious buyer. So naturally, my expectations for the shoe were not unlike Sam’s. Brooks would apply its classic formula of cost-effective midsole + great fitting, comfortable upper + decent low-profile outsole, and voila, we have a great beginner road-to-trail shoe at an even better price. However, this changed when the formula we thought would be a simple addition included… well… you know… division.

In addition to these major updates, the Divide 3 also presents a modified lacing system that allows for easy adjustments and a more personalized fit.

Mike P (9.5): The Topo on paper has more features, and is more (long) race oriented, but I’m including it here because, for me, it falls into the same category as the Divide. I find the Topo a bit thin in the forefoot for true ultra distance territory, so I’ve been using it for easy miles, casual use and hiking. Toebox space in the Divide is actually comparable to the Topo. I find the Divide upper more comfortable as Topo’s thin tongue gives me some lace bite. Both work well for moderate distance training miles, the Topo could go longer based on your personal fit and feel. Jeff V: The new air mesh upper is impressively modern looking, flexible, well ventilated and secure. The lacing is once and done secure, without any pressure points and provides a comfortably snug fit without have to wrestle with or over tighten. The Brooks Divide is advertised as a door-to-trail shoe, and it serves that purpose nicely. That said, I’d describe it as a legit trail shoe that feels like a road shoe.

Step-in feel and impression is also quite nice. Having enough room upfront is always a good thing in my book, and they just feel solid and supportive underfoot. I detect a slight curvature under the arch which I appreciate, without any unevenness or gaps underfoot as I felt with the Caldera. Just a nice, no-nonsense overall fit and feel. I can’t say how much intentional design thought went into this, but I’m finding that it really works well. Landings roll smoothly from my typical lateral forefoot landing area across to the medial side and then through the middle of the shoe. It feels like the flex grooves prevent the shoe from feeling slappy and they do smooth out the ride. I think the same effect will be felt by heel strikers landing on the lateral rear segment of the “crash pad”. The Brooks Divide 3 is technically a road/trail hybrid, but it is a better trail than road shoe. The outsole has been plenty durable, but even with small amount of road use I have begun chewed through some of the rearfoot lugs at 35 miles (5-6 miles of road use). It should last for an average number of trail miles given the already firmer midsole. So while this shoe is durable, I would suggest keeping it more for trail than road. As expected, it is tougher than a regular road shoe and substantially protective in the toe area. But you need to consider that this is not a leather shoe, so the upper is more prone to tear when exposed to rough trail conditions. You may also want to consider this shoe if you travel regularly and want to have a single shoe that can handle both road and trail environments.

The Divide combines the best of both worlds and gives you a shoe that can do everything a trail shoe can, while feeling as good as a road shoe. There should be more shoes like the Divide. However, a potential downside to Divide 3’s breathability is its reduced ability to repel water, making it less suitable for wet or muddy scenarios. The Cascadia is Brooks' best-known trail shoe, largely thanks to legendary ultra-runner Scott Jurek being such a big fan. And you really need to be channelling your inner Scott Jurek to get the most out of these shoes, as they’re built for long runs on mountainous terrain. In the 16 th version, there’s an extra 2mm of cushioning, and the midsole is now made up of Brooks’ DNA LOFT v2 foam, making it 10 percent softer and 20 percent lighter than the Cascadia 15. Padding around the heel collar is just right for a door to trail trainer and the height is ideal for my preferences.From time to time carriers may deliver earlier or later, or on non working days however this is cannot be guaranteed nor should it be expected.