Advnture Verdict
A very roomy, comfortable road to trail shoe that molds to the ground underfoot for a smooth, stable ride.
Pros
- +
Wide toe box
- +
wide range of colors
- +
Elastic lace keeper
- +
Velcro gaiter attachment at heel
- +
Partly recycled upper
Cons
- -
Heavy
- -
Not that bouncy
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Brooks Cascadia 16: first impressions
The Brooks Cascadia 16 is the latest in a long line of Cascadias, and it seems to be the brand’s widest version yet. We would advise going down a half size, as the whole shoe is very roomy, which is great for those with wide feet (if that’s you, perhaps stick with your usual size). Going down a half size would also offset the relative heaviness of this shoe compared to the others we tested for our best road to trail running shoes buying guide.
The traditional, wide, grippy laces around the padded tongue secure the foot perfectly, and the elastic lace loop halfway down is great for those with narrow or low volume feet who end up with loads of spare lace dangling about (see also: How should trail running shoes fit?). It’s also handy if you’re running along overgrown summer paths to stop the laces snagging on pesky plants.
The feel is a little like putting your foot into a slipper: they’re comfortable straight from the box, and you practically sink into the DNA Loft v2 midsole cushioning. It’s not the bounciest of midsoles but the idea is that the shoe molds to the ground underfoot – it’s purposely not so padded that you lose touch with the terrain, yet it has enough protection to guard you from rougher roads and rocks.
The TrailTack outsole grips works nicely on both wet and dry trail and road, and seems durable too. The velcro gaiter attachment at the heel is a nice touch, as is the packet of wild flower seeds that comes with every pair: “Seed the trails,” Brooks call it.
• RRP: $130 (US) / £120 (UK)
• Weight (pair UK 6.5): 560g / 19.7oz
• Colors: Men’s: Black, Fiery Red & Blazing Yellow / Titan, Peacoat & Nightlife / Black, Ebony & Nightlife / Yellow, Black & Grenadine / Mykonos Blue, Peacoat & Lime Women’s: Pink, Flambe & Cobalt / Porcelain, Blue Coral & Pink / Black, Ebony & Yucca / Basil, Duffel Bag & Coral
• Drop: 8mm
• Compatibility: Any distance, all terrains
Brooks Cascadia 16: on the trails
I used these shoes for miles and miles on trails around Lincolnshire and the Peaks. The grip proved to be nice and durable on this mix of terrain, and after running a long way my feet were glad of the roominess of this shoe in the midfoot and toe box area.
It’s quite a long shoe, so I have caught the end of the toe just a couple of times when stepping up rocky ascents, but I soon got used to that, and it wasn’t an issue beyond the first couple of runs.
It was also nice to have the packet of wild flower seeds in the box, a lovely little bit of spring-time motivation to run, and keep running to see the shoots popping out of the ground. Thanks Brooks!
Although heavier than most rivals, this shoe is extremely comfortable – it’s just a very simple, straightforward road to trail shoe with no gimmicks (see also: How to choose trail running shoes: drop, sole, grip, weight and more explained).
I liked that I could feel rocky ground underfoot while still remaining protected from it, and I definitely felt stable with the shoe molding around the terrain.
The only downside of this road-to-trail-running shoe in my opinion, is that the design means it’s not overly bouncy, so I would say it’s best for those who run more trails than roads.
