Brooks Cascadia 15, Men’s race Running Shoe

Product Information

John: Agree with Jeff and I will only comment that I felt that the Mad River TR 2 midsole is much softer and cushier than the Cascadia 15’s, at least during the initial break-in period.

Canice: The Cascadia is one of the iconic shoes in the history of trail running and as crazy as it is, this was the first time I have run in the Cascadia. We’re now on version 15 and the shoe has evolved nicely over the years. When you first slip a pair on you’ll notice the shoe is soft and flexible and has a very roomy toe box. I found the shoe to fit true to size, has a good heel hold but is a little loose over the instep. The toe box offers optimal protection and is flexible, which contributes to the shoe’s enhanced softness. The BioMoGo midsoles felt significantly firmer than my Altra midsoles. I expected this to change after a short break-in period, but the firmness remained. From a pure comfort perspective, I prefer a softer midsole, but foresee the slightly harsh Cascadia ride to benefit long-term durability and foot protection. Again, my only concern, I wish my toes didn’t get squished as much as they do by sliding forward, but perhaps one can buy something slightly larger or wider if this is a concern.

Blog Archive

Brooks has a history and reputation of making well-built, high-end, reliable running footwear, and this is no exception. After years of BioMoGO DNA, Brooks is shaking up its collection with new foams that rely on DNA LOFT technology. So, introducing DNA LOFT v2! We spare you the technical details (such as the so-called percentage improvement announced by the brand for the cushion) to focus on how the midsole felt for the testers. I really liked the upper in the Cascadia 15s, but the best features are in the midsole of this shoe. The durable midsole features an 8mm drop and provides good protection underfoot.

Jeff V: The mesh upper is, as John states, is very similar in construction to the Caldera 4 which has proven to be very durable over time. Jeff V: Very close in my opinion in all ways, though the Mad River TR 2 has perhaps a touch better traction and a slightly softer midsole.The upper is really well constructed, and for the GTX model, the Gore-Tex held up really well in creeks, streams, and in snow. 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. One of the classic complaints about the Cascadia is its weight. There are so many trail shoes out there that tip the scales more positively than Brooks’ long-running legacy trail shoe. Narrow toe box: My lone point of discomfort while using these shoes was a blister that formed on my right big toe where it got jammed against my, uh… second biggest toe. This validated my bias toward the wider cut of my Altras. Fellow Altra fans will feel restricted in the Cascadias, which may or may not be a deal-breaker. For everyone else, the traditional fit of these shoes will feel unremarkable. Update: Cascadia 15s are offered in wide sizes. I haven’t tried them, but that’s pretty cool. John: very comfortable out of the box, stable in varied terrain, engineered mesh upper that is soft to the skin This year’s Cascadia 15 resembles the previous version in almost every way, which makes sense– only real update is an enhanced upper.

The two big stand out impressions I had when I first tried the Cascadia 15 is that the toe box is great and there’s not a lot of cushion in the shoe. I had always envisioned the Cascadia as being more of an all around trail shoe so I was expecting something more substantial under foot but the Cascadia has a lot more ground feel than I would have guessed. The Brooks Cascadia 16 is a comfortable and versatile running shoe to run on trails. This new version is lighter (finally under 300 g/10.6 oz) while offering more cushioning (29 mm under the heel). I’m generally impressed with the looks, profile, and design of the Cascadia 15s, although it doesn’t necessarily grab one’s attention with its outward design. The color scheme pictured here is Ebony/Red, with a gold accent for the logo and some of the trim.I’ll get into the details of the shoe in the proceeding sections, but as stated previously, this is a well-constructed shoe that looks like it is ready for just about anything one can throw at it! I wish that I could provide more data regarding long-term durability, though I have seen no red flags at this point. I expect these to last as long as anyone can reasonably expect from a pair of trail runners. The 8mm drop and toe box are not my favorite features, but they’re in line with industry norms. Depending on personal preference, these will be exactly what a lot of folks are looking for. So try them out if you’re interested, and make sure to listen to your feet. Pivot Post Stability: Ever wonder if those two colorful triangles on Cascadia midsoles do anything besides look cool? Yeah, me too. Turns out they are the Pivot Post system, which adds stability on uneven terrain. The tongue is semi-gusseted on both sides with some stretchy mesh, giving these shoes a snug feel over the top of my foot without any restriction or pinching in the toes. Comfort could be better

The upper is an engineered mesh with some welded overlays to provide some extra stability and structure. The mesh is soft and flexible, which allows the shoe to hug the midfoot very well. The toe box is wide enough to be comfortable, but it isn't so wide that it's sloppy. The 3mm lugs allow for running on a variety of surfaces, including a pretty comfortable pavement experience when needed. Conclusion One should also note the universal gaiter loops and durable lacing. Again, besides the restrictive feeling in the toes, this shoe is well constructed. Midsole

Brooks Cascadia 15 and Brooks Cascadia 15 GTX Overall Impressions

The grip is also top-notch. Even if some reviewers note that the profile of the lugs (medium depth) may not be suitable in some rare cases (really technical terrain, such as mud), not much to complain about here. Gaiter Traps: I think gaiters are stupid and unnecessary, but I might just be a stubborn outlier. If you do like gaiters, you’ll be happy to hear that these shoes have a hook loop at the toe of the laces and a Velcro pad on each heel. The more closed mesh of the 15 also helps keep out debris as opposed to the more open mesh of the previous version. The weight is not as light as we would expect—298 g (M)/269 g (W)—but runners couldn’t feel it. We still have to appreciate Brooks’ efforts to increase the cushioning and sole height while shaving a bit of the weight simultaneously (7 g less, yay!). If you are a longtime Cascadia wearer, what do you think of version 15 compared to previous versions?