Males’s Brooks Cascadia 18 Overview

Backside Line

The Brooks Cascadia 18s are versatile, snug, and breathable and a few of our favourite males’s mountaineering sneakers constructed for lengthy miles on established trails. These sneakers are one among 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 stability sturdiness and agility effectively due to strong traction and springy foam midsoles that make it a breeze to sort out varied terrains.

Nonetheless, the Cascadias are much less sturdy than different mountaineering 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 wonderful cushioning, however on the expense of floor really feel. For those who’re on the lookout for light-weight footwear for a summer season of path runs, day hikes, and long-distance backpacking, these are an incredible alternative.

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 profitable 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 sneakers stand out for his or her wonderful lateral stability, making them really feel agile and strong on most terrain and obstacles.

We’re additionally massive followers of their breathable mesh uppers that hold your ft cool and dry, which is very 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 couple of downsides in the case of consolation, although. This model of the Cascadias has a inflexible inside plastic liner below its mushy 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 is usually a bit cumbersome to string and tie. And, the 8 mm heel-to-toe drop is on the excessive finish in the case of help, which could not go well with everybody’s biomechanics or wants.

Traction

The Brooks Cascadia 18s have first rate traction due to their sticky rubber outsoles and knobby multidirectional lugs. This tread sample grips surfaces effectively throughout ascents due to their triangular tread on the toe and forefoot and supplies dependable braking on the heel on descents, making the Cascadias really feel particularly steady on trails with numerous ups and downs. The Cascadia 18s traction makes them ideally suited for tackling a wide range of path circumstances for sustaining a gradual tempo and retaining 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 sneakers 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 is just not as sturdy as different path trainers, so it’s possible you’ll need 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 18s are a number of the lightest mountaineering sneakers 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 are 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. Nonetheless, in case your high precedence in a mountaineering shoe is mild weight for quick motion throughout lengthy summer season adventures, the Cascadias are a winner.

Sturdiness

The Cascadias have plenty of options that give them added sturdiness. Skinny TPU overlays reinforce essential areas just like the toe, sides, and heel to offer 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 hold particles out of the shoe and reduce abrasion on the mesh uppers whereas mountaineering.

However, there’s no approach round it: the Cascadia 18s aren’t our first decide for sturdiness. They’re before everything path runners, so that they’re meant to be mild, quick, and ethereal and aren’t akin to burly mountaineering sneakers with leather-based uppers, thick outsoles, and protecting options. The mesh uppers are liable to blowing out across the toe space after roughly 400 miles of use – however that quantity is far decrease in the event you’re mountaineering 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 mushy heel cuff wears down shortly with common on/off.

Climate Resistance

Certainly one of our favourite issues in regards to 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, so that they’re ideally suited for mountaineering and operating on scorching days with sweaty ft. They’re additionally an incredible alternative for hikes with numerous water crossings since they dry a lot of the approach inside solely 30-40 minutes after being absolutely submerged in water – though they are going to 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 sneakers.

Nonetheless, the Cascadia 18s aren’t weather-resistant and tackle water shortly resulting from their mesh uppers. You’ll need to look elsewhere in the event you’re mountaineering in shoulder seasons or colder circumstances the place your ft might get chilly and moist simply. Their lack of insulation and waterproofing means they gained’t hold ft heat in colder climate, so that you’ll need to hold these completely for summer season adventures.

Ought to You Purchase the Brooks Cascadia 18?

The Brooks Cascadia 18s are comfortable, steady, and responsive sneakers 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 intensive mileage on established trails, the Cascadias are for you. With over 6,000 miles logged by our staff on trails throughout the nation, these sneakers have confirmed their consolation, performance, and dependability for years. They provide a stability of durability and agility, making them good for nearly any journey on a path, from deserts to forests and past. 

Nonetheless, the Cascadia 18s aren’t probably the most sturdy sneakers, so we don’t advocate them in the event you’re heading off-trail or into particularly rugged terrain. Whereas they’re extremely mild and breathable, the higher mesh is prone to wreck and doesn’t maintain up effectively by way of bushwhacks, scree, and rocky trails in comparison with mountaineering sneakers with sturdy 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 in the event you’re on the lookout for a dependable, versatile, and well-rounded path shoe for operating and mountaineering, the Cascadia 18s will hold your ft comfortable.

What Different Climbing Footwear Ought to You Take into account?

Topo Athletic Ultraventure 3 Overview:  The Topo Athletic Ultraventure 3 are simply as versatile and cozy because the Cascadias, with a equally ethereal and light-weight design due to mild, breathable mesh uppers. Nonetheless, 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 Overview: For those who just like the comfortable soles, springy really feel, and steady trip 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 Overview: The Peregrines are a really shut competitor to the Cascadias with their equally light-weight development, breathable uppers, and superior versatility on path. Nonetheless, the Peregrines have a extra aggressive lug sample that gives higher traction and fewer foam by way of the midsole for higher floor really feel.