Males’s Brooks Cascadia 17 Assessment

Backside Line

The Brooks Cascadia 17s are versatile, snug, and breathable sneakers constructed for climbing lengthy miles on established trails. These sneakers are certainly one of our favorites at CleverHiker: we’ve logged over 6,000 miles on America’s most scenic trails in these sneakers, 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 because of 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 climbing sneakers, 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 glorious cushioning, however on the expense of floor really feel. If you happen to’re searching for light-weight footwear for a summer season of path runs, day hikes, and long-distance backpacking, these are an amazing selection.

Consolation

The Brooks Cascadia 17s 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 certainly one of our favorites for lengthy days. The Cascadias really feel safe all day without having to re-tie your laces each few hours. These sneakers stand out for his or her glorious 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 hold your toes cool and dry, which is particularly noticeable throughout intense exercise and scorching 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 a number of downsides in relation to consolation, although. This model of the Cascadias has a inflexible inner plastic liner underneath 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 likely to stiffen over a few hundred miles, and could be a bit cumbersome to string and tie. And, the 8 mm heel-to-toe drop is on the excessive finish in relation to help, which could not swimsuit everybody’s biomechanics or wants.

Traction

The Brooks Cascadia 17s have respectable traction because of their sticky rubber outsoles and knobby multidirectional lugs. This tread sample grips surfaces properly throughout ascents because of their triangular tread on the toe and forefoot and gives dependable braking on the heel on descents, making the Cascadias really feel particularly secure on trails with plenty of ups and downs. The Cascadia 17s traction makes them perfect for tackling a wide range of path circumstances for sustaining a gradual tempo and holding glorious management.

Though the thick foam midsoles present nice consolation, this quantity of froth reduces your general 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 sneakers are additionally a bit shallow, limiting how efficient they’re on slick rocks, steep grime trails, and moist surfaces the place deeper traction issues. We additionally discovered that the tread sturdiness isn’t as sturdy as different path trainers, so chances are you’ll wish to keep away from rugged terrain otherwise you’ll threat faster put on and have much less efficient grip over time.

Weight

The Brooks Cascadia 17s are among the lightest climbing sneakers we’ve examined, weighing in at only one pound, six ounces for the pair. Due to their mesh woven uppers, skinny TPU overlays, and light-weight foam midsoles, the Cascadias’ low weight will make you are feeling agile all day lengthy and scale back each foot and leg fatigue throughout lengthy days.

The con of such a featherlight shoe is that the Cascadia 17s aren’t very sturdy. Nevertheless, in case your high precedence in a climbing shoe is gentle weight for quick motion throughout lengthy summer season adventures, the Cascadias are a winner.

Sturdiness

The Cascadias have numerous options that give them added sturdiness. Skinny TPU overlays reinforce essential areas just like the toe, sides, and heel to offer additional safety in opposition to typical path obstacles like grime, roots, and bramble. The rubber tread extends over a portion of the toe for additional 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 hold particles out of the shoe and decrease abrasion on the mesh uppers whereas climbing.

However, there’s no method round it: the Cascadia 17s usually are not our first decide for sturdiness. They’re before everything path runners, in order that they’re meant to be gentle, quick, and ethereal and aren’t corresponding to burly climbing sneakers with leather-based uppers, thick outsoles, and protecting options. The mesh uppers are vulnerable to blowing out across the toe space after roughly 400 miles of use – however that quantity is far decrease when you’re climbing technical terrain. Additionally, the tread on these sneakers doesn’t final particularly lengthy, with the lugs carrying down inside 300 miles, diminishing their grip, and the tender heel cuff wears down rapidly with common on/off.

Climate Resistance

One in all our favourite issues concerning the Cascadia 17s is that they dry rapidly and supply stellar air flow. Their woven mesh uppers are glorious at dumping warmth and expelling moisture, in order that they’re perfect for climbing and operating on scorching days with sweaty toes. They’re additionally an amazing selection for hikes with plenty of water crossings since they dry a lot of the method inside solely 30-40 minutes after being absolutely 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 characteristic to maintain particles, rocks, and water out of your sneakers.

Nevertheless, the Cascadia 17s usually are not weather-resistant and tackle water rapidly as a result of their mesh uppers. You’ll wish to look elsewhere when you’re climbing in shoulder seasons or colder circumstances the place your toes might get chilly and moist simply. Their lack of insulation and waterproofing means they received’t hold toes heat in colder climate, so that you’ll wish to hold these solely for summer season adventures.

Ought to You Purchase the Brooks Cascadia 17?

The Brooks Cascadia 17s are comfortable, secure, and responsive sneakers good for path runners, day hikers, and long-distance backpackers. If you happen to’re searching 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 group on trails throughout the nation, these sneakers 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 17s aren’t probably the most sturdy sneakers, so we don’t suggest them when you’re heading off-trail or into particularly rugged terrain. Whereas they’re extremely gentle and breathable, the higher mesh is inclined to wreck and doesn’t maintain up properly by means of bushwhacks, scree, and rocky trails in comparison with climbing sneakers with robust leather-based uppers or strengthened toes and heels. We additionally discover they’ve much less floor really feel than different path runners, which is perhaps a difficulty for navigating obstacles. However when you’re searching for a dependable, versatile, and well-rounded path shoe for operating and climbing, the Cascadia 17s will hold your toes pleased.

What Different Mountaineering Footwear Ought to You Take into account?

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

HOKA Speedgoat 5: If you happen to just like the comfortable soles, springy really feel, and secure trip of the Cascadia 17s, the Speedgoat 5s take these options to the subsequent degree. Just like the Cascadias, the Speedgoats provide unequalled 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: The Peregrines are a really shut competitor to the Cascadias with their equally light-weight building, breathable uppers, and superior versatility on path. Nevertheless, the Peregrines have a extra aggressive lug sample that provides higher traction and fewer foam by means of the midsole for higher floor really feel.