Mountain shoes
Product 2026
Woman, Man
We got the chance to discover the latest version of the legendary Cascadia — now in its 20th iteration!
Before getting into the technical changes made to the Brooks Cascadia 20, let’s go straight to how it feels out on the trail. The first impression is of a relatively streamlined shoe that sits close to the foot, particularly around the metatarsal area. At the heel, we would have liked a little more lockdown. That said, there is plenty of cushioning around the heel and comfort is excellent, allowing you to run for long periods without hot spots or irritation.
Right away, you notice the cushioning running throughout the entire length of the shoe. The sensation is pleasant, and the Brooks Cascadia 20 does a great job of filtering out rough terrain without compromising stability, which is one of its strong points. Heavier runners will notice that the heel foam is quite soft, which can slightly reduce stability, particularly for those with a pronounced heel strike.
The Cascadia makes it possible to tackle sections of trail that would normally leave your legs battered without having to suffer through them. The balance between impact protection and stability is well judged. The shoe feels predictable, reassuring and confidence-inspiring. The transition onto the forefoot could, however, be a little more pronounced.
The Brooks Cascadia 20 isn’t the most energetic trail running shoe out there, but it is built to go the distance and handle long runs. Extremely versatile, it is equally comfortable on shorter distances and across a wide variety of terrain.
Grip is now provided by a Vibram Megagrip outsole, and we were genuinely impressed. Traction on rocks, slabs and wet surfaces is firm, direct and reassuring. The low-to-the-ground feel adds even more confidence, particularly because the Brooks Cascadia 20 doesn’t have a tall stack height.
The drop is a fairly standard 6 mm for this type of trail running shoe. We weighed our pair at 293 grams in a size US 9.5 / EU 42.5.
Weight is well controlled. For this 20th edition, Brooks has made changes to the comfort, stability and durability in high-friction areas, while also improving the breathability of the upper.
The improvements to the Brooks Cascadia 20 are clear, particularly when it comes to grip and stability. A legendary trail shoe that keeps getting better with each new generation!
32 mm6 mm 
We used this equipment over a long period of time
These are our thoughts after intensive use:
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