There is a lot of debate over the various versions of the Brooks Cascadia from “floating” eyelets to lack of traction. Let’s look at the updated Brooks Cascadia 7 ($110).
INITIAL IMPRESSIONS
The Cascadia 7 comes in slightly above 12 oz. It fit true to size. Some of the great features are:
- Pivot Post System (4 points of independent “suspension”), that is, keep the foot neutral on uneven surfaces
- Anatomically correct asymmetrical design
- Multi-directional lug pattern
- Asymmetrical lacing system
There are several real improvements in the 7’s such as the change back to the triangular lugs for better traction and durability, as well as, an asymmetrical lacing system to reduce any top-of-the-foot pressure experienced in the older versions.
I have include the features in the photos below (just move your cursor over the image).
TRAIL TESTING
Smooth is the word that comes to mind. The Cascadia 7 transitions well from road to the trials. They also work well on most surfaces I was able to test on (except snow), even on slick rocks. They work well when wet and in muddy conditions (no issue with traction). I was surprised that the shoe drained well when wet. In the “lab”, the evaporation test results were “Good”. I could easily put a lot of miles on the 7’s, that is, this is an all-purpose trail shoe that does just about anything you want on the trails. The overall fit is perfect (no slipping or blisters) with plenty of protection from sharp objects.
TECH SPECS
- Toe Measurement – 10 mm
- Heal Measurement – 22 mm
- Drop – 12 mm
- Gusseted tongue
- Neutral Shoe
- Rock Plate (Forefoot)
- Midsole – EVA
- Upper – Synthetic
- Made In – China
Weight Breakdown
CONCLUSION
The Brooks Cascadia 7 is for the runner looking for the traditional trail running shoe that is durable and an all-purpose shoe for just about any condition.
The things I liked:
- Very durable and breathable upper
- Great traction in wet and muddy trails due to the updated triangular lugs
- Secure fit
- Hmmm, make it lighter, say around 10 oz, and 8 mm drop (but then again, this is an all-purpose shoe)
I’ve had my Cascadia 7’s for about 400 miles now. While typically I prefer a more minimalist shoe, for my current conditions in Afghanistan they are perfect. They have great protection against rocks and other sharp objects which has proven invaluable for me to prevent injury’s.