Brooks Cascadia 18 GTX

Summary

Average Weight: Men's 332g
Heel Drop: 8mm
Stack Height: 20/12mm
Lug height: 4.5mm

A waterproof trail shoe with a rock plate and great grip, designed for rugged terrain, offering durability, stability and protection.

Men's Brooks Cascadia 18 GTX

£150.00

Features

Upper:

Gore-Tex ® Invisible Fit membrane is light and flexible for a great fit
TPU toe cap protects the toes

Midsole:

New Trail Adapt System integrates midsole, rock plate and DNA LOFT v2 cushioning to absorb the impact from hard surfaces
Ballistic Rock Shield protects the foot against sharp stones or rocks

Outer sole:

TrailTack rubber outsole offers a balance between performance and durability
Zonal pods to offer enhanced control and moderate stability over rough terrains

Pros

Fully waterproof shoe that will keep your feet dry in the heaviest rain
Vegan-friendly
Great grip that will give you confidence on all sorts of off-road terrains
Comfortable adaptive fit
Suitable for both running and hiking

Cons

Added protection and waterproof layer make them slightly heavier than non-GTX models

In Testing

This shoe fits true to size. Often I find with other Gore-Tex shoes, the size comes up smaller, but these fit great! My feet are slightly wider in the forefoot, so sometimes shoes can rub on my little toe. I was happy to see that this isn't the case with the latest version, which offers enough space in the forefoot so that my toes don't get squashed. At the same time, thanks to the full internal saddle system, the shoe doesn't feel baggy, as it gives you a nice close-to-foot fit.

As soon as you put the Cascadia 18 GTX on, you know this is a reliable shoe you can trust. It feels really lovely, supportive and comfortable. When dashing up and down the trails, the shoe gives you the confidence you need, as it makes your stride secure and stable.

Knowing that there is no anti-pronation control in the trail shoe, I was curious to see how it would work for me. And I have to say that I was very pleased the shoes were stable enough for my feet, so my achilles stayed happy, even on longer runs beyond 15km. My original impression was that the shoe was designed mainly for slower runs on trails. And sure enough, they feel wonderful on my slow off-road runs.

However, I didn't think I would enjoy doing speed work in them. After being challenged by my friend to some intervals on road, I thought let's give it a go... and I was truly amazed how light and fast these shoes felt. Even though we were running on pavement in the rain, there was no sliding, no slipping, but only a fast, secure, smooth ride. Pure joy!

Verdict

Thanks to many fabulous technical features, the Brooks Cascadia 18 GTX gives you enough confidence to run (or hike) – no matter the weather or terrain. It feels light and comfortable on your feet, while keeping you stable, both on your on-road and off-road adventures.

Men's Brooks Cascadia 18 GTX

£150.00