In 2004, trail running legend Scott Jurek partnered with Brooks to revolutionize the trail running shoe. While the cutout pattern of the outsole and rock plate is designed to mold to the terrain, this translates to a feeling of increased stability, not increased sensitivity. The TrailTack rubber outsole provides good traction whether conditions are dry or damp, supported by the DNA LOFT v2 midsole that moulds to the ground for better stability and adds a plush feel to the ride. For some context, a 21mm stack height in the toes is thicker than the stack height in heels of more than a few shoes included in this review.

Brooks Cascadia | Trail Running Shoes | Brooks Running Brooks Cascadia | Trail Running Shoes | Brooks Running

The rock plate and outsole have cutouts designed to help the shoe mold and adapt to technical terrain, and Brooks claims their new proprietary DNA LOFT v2 midsole is "5% softer and 20% lighter than the Cascadia 15. The stiffness of the Cascadia 16 right out of the box may irritate many runners, especially those used to plush, modern trail shoes. The proprietary TrailTack rubber is simultaneously soft, responsive, and tacky, allowing you to bound up slopes at full speed.The Cascadia 16 is something of a hardcore trail running shoe, designed for a core group of runners who like to push long distances over rough terrain. Although it's hard to tell if this shoe is 5% more cushioned than its predecessor, as Brooks claims, it provides a comfortable glide over even the most technical trails once broken in it. Even though the Cascadia 16 didn't earn any awards, it is one of the highest-scoring shoes in our best Trail Running Shoes lineup and is certainly a fan-favorite among our testers.

Cascadia 16: All Terrain Trail Running Shoes | Brooks Running Cascadia 16: All Terrain Trail Running Shoes | Brooks Running

Icons caret-sm-white star-half circle-drag icon-checkmark-nocircle icon-envelope Left Arrow Scroll down Scroll down close Expand Scroll down quote-marks squiggle Play Play Pause Pause long squiggle squiggle 1 close filter-icon Info Compare Compare Selected Information Check Icon Plus Icon Minus Icon Check Icon Check Icon IoLfEV84vfPSqP3site turnto.Seventeen years later, he’s still pressing forward, bringing you the 16th iteration of the new and improved Cascadia. This is perhaps the first thing you will notice trying on the Cascadia 16 for the first time: the platform's support and stability are unlike other shoes on the market. The highlighter yellow is a fun throwback to the first Cascada 1, created by Brooks with Scott Jurek in 2004 to be the "ultimate trail running shoe. From the stiff midsole and adaptive outsole to the wide toe box and neutral arch support, the design of this specialty trail runner all comes back to stability.

Brooks Cascadia 16 Review | Tested by GearLab Brooks Cascadia 16 Review | Tested by GearLab

Even though this shoe is incredibly stiff compared to others we tested, the vertical cutouts of the outsole allow the shoe's base to mold around roots and rocks for added stability in uneven terrain. While the upper includes four mesh ports along the side to improve drainage, most of the mesh upper is covered by a TPU film to improve durability.This lack of sensitivity will likely bother some runners — particularly those coming from a minimalist or track background — but is beneficial when you start to stack up miles. Please Note: Shipments sent to the European Union are sold exclusive of VAT and may be subject to local import duties and taxes. Different shoes may work better for different arch types, but it doesn't reflect more or less arch support. The stiff rock guard and thick midsole allow this tank of a shoe to take on challenging trails and demanding races, all while offering the support, comfort, and stability necessary for endurance feats.