Brooks  Caldera 3 Trail-Running Shoes - Women's

I bought a the original Calderas to walk part of the Camino de Santiago and I loved them for their low drop and how wide the toe box was. Unfortunately, they got holes in the sides near my pinkie toe really quickly. After switching brands for a year or so, I came back to the Calderas because I'd heard they fixed the side hole issue. Unfortunately, the toe box feels significantly narrower, causing almost immediate blisters on hikes and foot pain during any higher-impact activity. Within two weeks, part of the top rim near the laces had split open. I'm pretty dissapointed.

This version is VERY narrow in the toe box, especially across the widest part of the foot. My previous calderas were generous and allowed the foot to flex naturally; these were like a vice across my foot. SO incredibly disappointed as returns during the covid crisis feel really impossible. NO GOOD FOR BROOKS CALDERA FANS.

I have purchased 3 pairs of these now. I developed a stress fracture of my femur that took a long time to recover from, and I have life-long limitations on distance running as a result. I now exclusively wear high-cushion shoes to run. I think these are ugly. The sole is way bulkier than I'd like. But they have kept me safe and running and are my go-to shoes for any distance running. I alternate with another pair of Brooks that are less bulky and more street-style for use with jeans on long walks, but use these for any longer runs.

I run easy trails, consisting of gravel and dirt, with little incline/decline. Some of the gravel portions are loose and large, and I run in inclement weather. The do really well on the trail and the rare portions of pavement that I come across - they have good grip and cushion. Also, I have high arches, tend to bare weight on the mid or fore foot, and have metatarsal pain. I have long, wide splaying toes, and the toe box suits them well. They provide more cushion in the forefoot, and the 4 mm puts me in a better landing position. I'm 40 yo, run twice a week, about 3 miles to 10 miles each time. I would definitely recommend.

i love the colorway of the grey/peach— finally something tasteful that’s not tacky fluorescent or pink/purple. i really was hopeful that these would be great for running but unfortunately it just gives me blisters on my toes and plantar faciitis. my road running shoes are the ghost 10’s and although ugly in color (black with pink— why not just off white?), they are extremely comfy and never give me any trouble. i’ll probably just stick to using these calderas for lighter day hikes unfortunately. i have narrow feet and they definitely fit a bit larger than the ghost 10’s and a bit wider in the toebox, which might be my issue. the traction is great though.

I have narrow, bony, low volume feet and finding shoes that fit and have adequate cushioning without feeling squishy is always a challenge. These almost fit the bill, but I ended up returning them. Pros: -Miraculously, the shoe fit my narrow feet well...at least the top did. It laced well, looked good and offered a snug, secure fit. The mesh was supportive and not too stretchy. -The bottoms offered good cushioning without being too squishy. Cons: -The bottoms are HUGE in width, particularly the forefoot. The sole extended a full 3/4" beyond the shoe on the inside edge at the forefoot, and a 1/2" on the outside of the shoe. It felt like I was wearing clown shoes. I like trail runners and hikers to have a fairly trim profile so that I can run and hike nimbly. I want where I place my foot on trail to be the width of my foot so that I don't get hung up on roots and rocks, and turn my ankles. These were like wearing snowshoes! I can't imagine trail running in these. Maybe they would be okay for walking on pavement or sidewalks, or for someone who needs a WIDE platform for their foot... So, back they went. Bummer because the top of the shoe was great.

You honestly sent me dirty used shoes. What? That’s the last time I will order from your website.

I think most people would give these five stars. So it’s more of a personal note that I give it only four. They are really cushy and I use them for walking and training and they work well for that. But I tried to wear them around town and just standing in one place and then I found my feet were hurting me. I have a really bad plantar fasciitis that is 24 seven and it’s been that way for 10 years. So I’m used to my feet hurting in place but that’s why I give it four as opposed to five. I feel like they were too cushy for me and so I think next time I might go back to the Cascadia that I had before.

I have been hiking for the last three years in my Nikes (terrible, I know) and decided while going down the Mist Trial in Yosemite that enough was enough. I had blisters (yes, plural) on my heels and could feel literally every pebble beneath my feet after the fourth mile, and it really detracted from the experience. After much contemplation and help from the super helpful staff at REI, I picked these shoes and will NEVER go back! After another weekend exploring Yosemite in my Brooks, I have found that all of my problems in the Nikes have completely gone away and made for a great weekend. I just love how supportive and durable these shoes are while still being extremely cushioned and flexible. Perfect for running and light to moderate hiking. Worth every penny!

I love the style. I ordered a half size up. I’m dress shoes I’m a 9.5W. Generally there aren’t many wide options so a half size up almost always works. This model has some sort of really tight elastic band across the top where the laces are. It immediately put too much pressure across the top of my foot. The shoes look great and the footbed feels stable but if you need a wider shoe then definitely order a wide in this model.