Males’s Brooks Cascadia 18 Evaluate

Backside Line

The Brooks Cascadia 18s are versatile, snug, and breathable and a few of our favourite males’s mountain climbing footwear constructed for lengthy miles on established trails. These footwear are one among our favorites at CleverHiker: we’ve logged over 6,000 miles on America’s most scenic trails in these footwear, together with the PCT, CDT, the Pinhoti Path, and sections of the Colorado Path. Weighing solely 11 ounces per shoe, they steadiness sturdiness and agility properly due to strong traction and springy foam midsoles that make it a breeze to sort out varied terrains.

Nevertheless, the Cascadias are much less sturdy than different mountain climbing footwear, particularly on tough routes, because the skinny higher mesh can develop holes after 400 miles. With a heel-to-toe drop of 8mm, they provide wonderful cushioning, however on the expense of floor really feel. For those who’re on the lookout for light-weight footwear for a summer time of path runs, day hikes, and long-distance backpacking, these are an ideal selection.

Consolation

The Brooks Cascadia 18s are snug out of the field and require virtually no break-in time. Their comfortable match and easy, efficient lacing system is a successful mixture that makes these one among our favorites for lengthy days. The Cascadias really feel safe all day without having to re-tie your laces each few hours. These footwear stand out for his or her wonderful lateral stability, making them really feel agile and strong on most terrain and obstacles.

We’re additionally huge followers of their breathable mesh uppers that preserve your ft cool and dry, which is particularly noticeable throughout intense exercise and sizzling climate. Their versatile uppers permit for pure foot flexion, and the froth midsoles create plush cushioning whether or not you’re operating quick downhill on pavement or backpacking slowly uphill. 

The Cascadias have just a few downsides in the case of consolation, although. This model of the Cascadias has a inflexible inner plastic liner beneath its tender ankle cuff that may rub in opposition to ankles over time, resulting in potential ache and irritation on longer outings. And the skinny tongue doesn’t present a lot cushioning, which we actually really feel on the highest of the foot after 15+ mile days. 

The laces, whereas efficient initially, are inclined to stiffen over a couple of hundred miles, and generally is a bit cumbersome to string and tie. And, the 8 mm heel-to-toe drop is on the excessive finish in the case of assist, which could not go well with everybody’s biomechanics or wants.

Traction

The Brooks Cascadia 18s have respectable traction due to their sticky rubber outsoles and knobby multidirectional lugs. This tread sample grips surfaces properly throughout ascents due to their triangular tread on the toe and forefoot and offers dependable braking on the heel on descents, making the Cascadias really feel particularly secure on trails with a number of ups and downs. The Cascadia 18s traction makes them perfect for tackling quite a lot of path circumstances for sustaining a gentle tempo and maintaining wonderful management.

Though the thick foam midsoles present nice consolation, this quantity of froth reduces your total floor really feel and diminishes the sensory suggestions wanted to regulate your stride and discover good foot placement on technical routes. The lugs on these footwear are additionally a bit shallow, limiting how efficient they’re on slick rocks, steep filth trails, and moist surfaces the place deeper traction issues. We additionally discovered that the tread sturdiness shouldn’t be as sturdy as different path trainers, so you might wish to keep away from rugged terrain otherwise you’ll danger faster put on and have much less efficient grip over time.

Weight

The Brooks Cascadia 18s are a few of the lightest mountain climbing footwear we’ve examined, weighing in at only one pound, six ounces for the pair. Because of their mesh woven uppers, skinny TPU overlays, and light-weight foam midsoles, the Cascadias’ low weight will make you’re feeling agile all day lengthy and cut back each foot and leg fatigue throughout lengthy days.

The con of such a featherlight shoe is that the Cascadia 18s aren’t very sturdy. Nevertheless, in case your prime precedence in a mountain climbing shoe is gentle weight for quick motion throughout lengthy summer time adventures, the Cascadias are a winner.

Sturdiness

The Cascadias have a lot of options that give them added sturdiness. Skinny TPU overlays reinforce essential areas just like the toe, sides, and heel to supply further safety in opposition to typical path obstacles like filth, roots, and bramble. The rubber tread extends over a portion of the toe for further resistance in opposition to scuffs and impacts from rocky terrain, and the laces are textured, flat, and long-lasting. We additionally just like the Velcro gaiter attachment on the heel (gaiters bought individually) to assist preserve particles out of the shoe and decrease abrasion on the mesh uppers whereas mountain climbing.

However, there’s no approach round it: the Cascadia 18s usually are not our first choose for sturdiness. They’re firstly path runners, in order that they’re meant to be gentle, quick, and ethereal and aren’t similar to burly mountain climbing footwear with leather-based uppers, thick outsoles, and protecting options. The mesh uppers are susceptible to blowing out across the toe space after roughly 400 miles of use – however that quantity is far decrease in case you’re mountain climbing technical terrain. Additionally, the tread on these footwear doesn’t final particularly lengthy, with the lugs carrying down inside 300 miles, diminishing their grip, and the tender heel cuff wears down shortly with common on/off.

Climate Resistance

One among our favourite issues concerning the Cascadia 18s is that they dry shortly and supply stellar air flow. Their woven mesh uppers are wonderful at dumping warmth and expelling moisture, in order that they’re perfect for mountain climbing and operating on sizzling days with sweaty ft. They’re additionally an ideal selection for hikes with a number of water crossings since they dry many of the approach inside solely 30-40 minutes after being totally submerged in water – though they may take longer to dry in climates with excessive humidity and decrease elevation. And, the gaiter attachment on the heel is a sensible function to maintain particles, rocks, and water out of your footwear.

Nevertheless, the Cascadia 18s usually are not weather-resistant and tackle water shortly on account of their mesh uppers. You’ll wish to look elsewhere in case you’re mountain climbing in shoulder seasons or colder circumstances the place your ft might get chilly and moist simply. Their lack of insulation and waterproofing means they received’t preserve ft heat in colder climate, so that you’ll wish to preserve these solely for summer time adventures.

Ought to You Purchase the Brooks Cascadia 18?

The Brooks Cascadia 18s are comfortable, secure, and responsive footwear good for path runners, day hikers, and long-distance backpackers. For those who’re on the lookout for strong all-around footwear that’s light-weight, versatile, and breathable to knock out in depth mileage on established trails, the Cascadias are for you. With over 6,000 miles logged by our staff on trails throughout the nation, these footwear have confirmed their consolation, performance, and dependability for years. They provide a steadiness of durability and agility, making them good for nearly any journey on a path, from deserts to forests and past. 

Nevertheless, the Cascadia 18s aren’t probably the most sturdy footwear, so we don’t suggest them in case you’re heading off-trail or into particularly rugged terrain. Whereas they’re extremely gentle and breathable, the higher mesh is prone to break and doesn’t maintain up properly via bushwhacks, scree, and rocky trails in comparison with mountain climbing footwear with sturdy leather-based uppers or bolstered toes and heels. We additionally discover they’ve much less floor really feel than different path runners, which is likely to be a difficulty for navigating obstacles. However in case you’re on the lookout for a dependable, versatile, and well-rounded path shoe for operating and mountain climbing, the Cascadia 18s will preserve your ft comfortable.

What Different Mountaineering Sneakers Ought to You Take into account?

Topo Athletic Ultraventure 3 Evaluate:  The Topo Athletic Ultraventure 3 are simply as versatile and cozy because the Cascadias, with a equally ethereal and light-weight design due to gentle, breathable mesh uppers. Nevertheless, the Ultraventure 3s have a roomier toe field for pure foot flexion and a lacing system situated greater on the foot for a extra custom-made match.

HOKA Speedgoat 5 Evaluate: For those who just like the comfortable soles, springy really feel, and secure experience of the Cascadia 18s, the Speedgoat 5s take these options to the following stage. Just like the Cascadias, the Speedgoats supply unmatched consolation and agility however have a decrease heel-to-toe drop with probably the most foam cushioning of any path runner we’ve examined.

Saucony Peregrine 14 Evaluate: The Peregrines are a really shut competitor to the Cascadias with their equally light-weight development, breathable uppers, and superior versatility on path. Nevertheless, the Peregrines have a extra aggressive lug sample that gives higher traction and fewer foam via the midsole for higher floor really feel.