By the way, not only have I been giving thought to what trail running shoe I wanted to buy, I also decided that I was going to make it an excursion in the process. Seeing as Brooks is my first choice for running shoes, I wanted to physically go to the source. The pacific northwest is a beautiful part of our country known for its majestic mountains, seaside towns, and pristine lakes. It is a boon for trail running. Seeing as Brooks has it's headquarters and only retail location located in Seattle (Fremont), I had to go. What a trip! Go to Washington if you can. It is well worth your time. I cannot state adamantly enough how badly Brooks needs to open additional retail stores in other markets. I buy everything online, but there are certain stores where a physical visit is worth every penny. I pitched the DC market to the sales manager at the store and HOPE that he will set into motion the wheels of progress!
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| Getting in the way of beauty |
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| Running Mecca! |
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| Made from running medals |
Ok, now onto the shoes! Brooks offers two versions of the Cascadia, which is their flagship trail runner. The regular Cascadia and the GTX. I purchased the GTX. The main difference is that the GTX features a Gore-Tex upper that will definitely help keep your feet dry through the wettest conditions. I tested this and it works. Brooks offers a couple of other trail running options. The Adrenaline ASR 13's and Pure Grit series both sacrifice protection and stability for speed. I tried on both and found them to be very solid shoes that felt comfortable, but in the end when I am trail running I want as much support and stability as I can get. The Cascadia line is built with those two features in mind. The shoe is built from the ground up with the idea that anything that a trail can throw at you, it will handle.
The one sacrifice you will have to make with the GTX version is with color scheme. There is only one as you can see above. I happen to like this color scheme, but your preferences may differ. The regular Cascadia line has several color options and some of them are much brighter. The GTX is also $50 more expensive, but you are getting more shoe for your buck. This shoe features some pretty awesome specs designed to make your trail running experience better.
The DNA midsole cushioning and four-point pivot control is not something that I can speak to accurately as of yet. I have only run about 16 miles in these shoes, but I will say that despite being a bit narrow in the middle, the shoe is comfortable. I surmise that as I break the shoe in more, this will only get better. Brooks characterizes these features as providing "ultimate" control. While it is not going to allow you to climb trees, it will give you a sense of better stability through the twists and turns of trail running. I have found that some extra confidence with footing goes a long way when you are traversing leaf covered, moss grown trails with hidden rocks and roots underfoot.
The full-length segmented crash pad is essential. I cannot tell you the full pain that is a sharp rock hitting your mid foot as you place all your weight down. If you have not experienced it, try to avoid it. It can derail a race. Having a shield to help protect you from that pain is really important. The Cascadia shield technology works. I ran on a very rocky trail for 3.5 miles of my half-marathon and my feet felt great. No impacts from the rocks that I could feel during the run. Some may find this to numb the experience a little, so if you prefer a more minimalist running shoe, the shield is likely going to deter you from buying these.
The rugged outsole is also an outstanding feature of the shoe. Dealing with a lot of water on my run, I never felt like I was slipping or sliding around. Again, this is a huge confidence booster and can mean the difference between a PR and a just miss during a race. In addition to confidence, this feature can be key to injury prevention. Slipping on wet trail or pavement can lead to injuries as most of you know. The more traction the better off you are in my mind.
The lacing system of the shoe is a little different as the third row juts in towards the middle of the tongue. I believe this provides better stability, but I will not judge it one way the other. It will be something that some will love and others will not. However, I find that to be true for almost all running shoes. Laces and the lace points on the shoe can make a big difference in how the shoe fits and feels during a run. I did not experience any issues with it. If anything the shoe fit more snugly across the middle of the foot providing more stability. This might be uncomfortable to some though.
My overall initial impression of the Cascadia GTX is that this is the mackdaddy of trail running shoes. If you are willing to sacrifice some additional weight and rigidity, your feet will thank you. I ran a trail half-marathon in Seattle and experienced no issues with the shoes whatsoever. While I did not PR, due to the conditions with rain and high winds, I ran a very good race. The price point may be a little high for some, but the additional features and the quality of the shoe more than make up for it. Your biggest decision is going to center around paying for the regular Cascadia or the GTX with the Gore-Tex. I believe that either way you go, the money is well worth it.
RATING: 5 out of 5
Questions for comments:
Have you ever traveled anywhere fun to run a race? If so where?
Would you do it again?
Do you prefer to run trails or on the road?
