For each running shoe model we analyze reviews from many sources to propose an overall score and a consensus. With all the young gun trail shoes making their way around the mountain with their new technologies, how does the Cascadia 15 stack up? The result is a stable, well-protected, breathable shoe with good traction that works well for trail running and backpacking.

John: The Cascadia 15 is a good day to day trainer for casually paced outings of long or short distances.Currently between pairs of road shoes, I have grabbed the Brooks Cascadia 15 or the Brooks Cascadia 15 GTX for all-road runs and have not been bothered. While the midsole is not super responsive or agile, the durability is what will cause a runner to keep on lacing these bad boys up for one trail after another. Jeff V: The Caldera 4 has a very similar upper in regard to material, but the Caldera has a wider, more relaxed fit that makes it more suited to moderate to mellow terrain than the Cascadia.

The toe bumper is improved as well, slightly thicker and offering better coverage with integrating with a 360 degree rand for better protection in rough terrain. We gently mocked the overall lack of style of their shoes earlier (not on the Cascadia 16, of course, which is quite sleek), but we must give credit where it’s due: it’s one of the best brands out there when it comes to quality and value for money!

Firm midsole: While the stack height of the Cascadias is similar to that of Altra Lone Peak’s (23mm vs.

As a registered dietitian and ultrarunner, she’s worked one-on-one with athletes, primarily runners, since 2013 to optimize performance via fueling and hydration. When you first slip a pair on you’ll notice the shoe is soft and flexible and has a very roomy toe box.

Accustomed to road shoes with significant drop, the Brooks Cascadia 15 and Brooks Cascadia 15 GTX haven’t caused any upset with a stack height of 16mm in the forefoot and 24mm at the heel. Like the previous version, I find the midsole to offer a very good combination of firm, yet compliant and predictable stability, with all day cushion and reasonably responsive performance. Brooks has a history and reputation of making well-built, high-end, reliable running footwear, and this is no exception. It is something that is well noted in Brooks’ description of the Cascadia, and I’ll touch more on this in the next section, but I can’t deny that the Cascadia is super protective…like obsessive big brother protective. Brooks also states, “Our unique Pivot Post System provides a stable platform that allows your foot to adapt to any terrain.

Protection: A Ballistic Rock Shield combined with the familiar Brooks BioMoGo DNA cushion prevents those pointy rocks and roots from bruising your soles. Now, keep in mind that this does not mean that these shoes are waterproof, but the Gore-Tex will keep you moderately dry with a water repellent quality when intermittently encountering Mother Nature. I went out of my way to test these claims by jumping in every puddle or creek I could find and was pleasantly impressed by the dry-out time. The Cascadia 15 GTX is suited for just about every surface one can think of, whether the user is running or hiking.

His hunger drove him the length of the PCT in 2015, the CDT in 2019, the ECT in 2022, and scatters him to wild places worldwide. My testing pales in comparison to the 46-plus days Scott Jurek spent in 2015 running 50-mile, back-to-back days in Cascadias while setting what was at the time the men’s supported 2,189-mile Appalachian Trail fastest known time; so if you hesitate taking my word for it, consider Scott’s! Between the lug pattern and whatever proprietary rubber blend Brooks is using these days, the Cascadias have excellent grip. Most runners will not be blown away by its agility or response, but overall I experienced a very cushy run, even on rocks, scree, and other hard trail surfaces. The overlays around the sides of the shoe and across the toe box are flexible and provide a great amount of durability to the upper.