Males’s Brooks Cascadia 18 Assessment

Backside Line

The Brooks Cascadia 18s are versatile, snug, and breathable and a few of our favourite males’s climbing sneakers constructed for lengthy miles on established trails. These sneakers are one in every 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 stability sturdiness and agility nicely 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, for the reason that 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. 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 a fantastic 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 in every 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 maintain your ft cool and dry, which is very noticeable throughout intense exercise and scorching climate. Their versatile uppers enable for pure foot flexion, and the froth midsoles create plush cushioning whether or not you’re working quick downhill on pavement or backpacking slowly uphill. 

The Cascadias have just a few downsides with regards to consolation, although. This model of the Cascadias has a inflexible inside plastic liner below its delicate 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 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 with regards to help, which could not swimsuit everybody’s biomechanics or wants.

Traction

The Brooks Cascadia 18s have respectable traction because of their sticky rubber outsoles and knobby multidirectional lugs. This tread sample grips surfaces nicely throughout ascents because of 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 ultimate for tackling a wide range of path situations 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 excellent foot placement on technical routes. The lugs on these sneakers are additionally a bit shallow, limiting how efficient they’re on slick rocks, steep dust trails, and moist surfaces the place deeper traction issues. We additionally discovered that the tread sturdiness just isn’t as sturdy as different path trainers, so you might need 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 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’re 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 18s aren’t very sturdy. Nevertheless, in case your prime precedence in a climbing shoe is mild 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 important areas just like the toe, sides, and heel to supply further safety in opposition to typical path obstacles like dust, 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 maintain particles out of the shoe and decrease abrasion on the mesh uppers whereas climbing.

However, there’s no means round it: the Cascadia 18s usually are not our first decide for sturdiness. They’re at first path runners, so that they’re meant to be mild, quick, and ethereal and aren’t similar 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 way decrease in the event 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 delicate heel cuff wears down rapidly with common on/off.

Climate Resistance

One among our favourite issues in regards to the Cascadia 18s is that they dry rapidly and supply stellar air flow. Their woven mesh uppers are glorious at dumping warmth and expelling moisture, so that they’re ultimate for climbing and working on scorching days with sweaty ft. They’re additionally a fantastic selection for hikes with numerous water crossings since they dry a lot of the means inside solely 30-40 minutes after being absolutely submerged in water – though they’ll 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.

Nevertheless, the Cascadia 18s usually are not weather-resistant and tackle water rapidly resulting from their mesh uppers. You’ll need to look elsewhere in the event you’re climbing in shoulder seasons or colder situations the place your ft may get chilly and moist simply. Their lack of insulation and waterproofing means they received’t maintain ft heat in colder climate, so that you’ll need to maintain these completely for summer season adventures.

Ought to You Purchase the Brooks Cascadia 18?

The Brooks Cascadia 18s are comfortable, steady, and responsive sneakers excellent 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 excellent for nearly any journey on a path, from deserts to forests and past. 

Nevertheless, the Cascadia 18s aren’t probably the most sturdy sneakers, so we don’t suggest 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 vulnerable to break and doesn’t maintain up nicely by means of bushwhacks, scree, and rocky trails in comparison with climbing sneakers 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 may be a difficulty for navigating obstacles. However in the event you’re on the lookout for a dependable, versatile, and well-rounded path shoe for working and climbing, the Cascadia 18s will maintain your ft blissful.

What Different Mountain climbing Sneakers Ought to You Contemplate?

Topo Athletic Ultraventure 3 Assessment:  The Topo Athletic Ultraventure 3 are simply as versatile and comfortable because the Cascadias, with a equally ethereal and light-weight design because of mild, 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 personalized match.

HOKA Speedgoat 5 Assessment: For those who just like the comfortable soles, springy really feel, and steady experience of the Cascadia 18s, the Speedgoat 5s take these options to the subsequent 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 Assessment: 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 by means of the midsole for higher floor really feel.