Brooks  Catamount Agil Trail-Running Shoes

My Favorite Trail Runner

This is probably my favorite trail shoe of all time, and I have bought a lot of trail shoes. Brooks absolutely nailed it with this shoe. It is a secure but very comfortable fit. The stack is quite low, and as a result the shoe is incredibly stable. That stability gives you a lot of confidence when descending technical trail at faster speeds. The 5mm lugs make them idea for soft ground, and while I tend to believe Mega Grip is the best of all the rubbers on the market, Brooks rubber is very good. The low stack might be a deterrent for some distances, and so far I have only taken them 25 miles in a single run. However, I feel this shoe is good through at least a 50k and maybe a 50 mile. I actually plan to wear a pair for the first 59 of my next 100. So far I have run 150 miles in the last month.

Perfect for going fast on technical trails

This shoe is perfect for me for fast, short, and technical trail races. I just did a 10k trail race in them and they were awesome. I would feel comfortable going up to half-marathon distance in these. If you have wider feet, they may not be for you, but I have a narrow, lower-volume foot, so I appreciate the precision and security of the fit.

Good, not great shoe. Not for OCR.

A good lightweight and speedy trail shoe for “light” duty trails, like carriage trails. I live in an area where many trails end up like running on dry river beds, and these shoes are not stable like the Cascadias and you feel every rock. The “ankle collar” sucks! I wore these shoes with no show socks on an after work run, and I still have scabs on the back of my Achilles 3 weeks later. Also, not durable enough for OCRs. I burned a groove in the foam after one practice rope climb.

Originally posted on brooksrunning.com

I'm into week three of running in them. They have a comfortable fit except for the gaiter-like "collar" around the ankle. It's very difficult to put the shoe on because that material is so tight around the ankle. The seam in the back of the "collar" rubbed a hole in the back of my ankle on the second run. It's not a very smooth seam. At this point I roll the collar down, but I will probably just cut it off with the hopes that it makes it easier to pull the shoe on. Other than that gaiter collar, it's a great shoe. Great shoe laces. Woman size 11.5. running 3 - 4 times a week less than three miles per run.

Originally posted on brooksrunning.com

Fast, Light, Agile, Grippy and a Great Fit

Pleased I took advantage of a $50 discount and took the plunge to purchase these bad boys! ...As soon as I opened the (very light) box the shoe just shined! - Excellent quality of construction, attention to detail, and fast looking - The shoe has since delivered in spades proving to be a nimble grippy comfortable (fit like a glove) and fast runner on technical trails and grass. I have worn the shoe in heavy prolonged rainfall on muddy and waterlogged outings at speed and the grip is great, the shoes also do not get heavy when run through puddles or creeks. I would push these up to a 50k ultra, but many will want more underfoot protection across that distance! (Yes, you will feel sharp rocks). The design feels very stable on uneven surfaces and there is an appropriate amount of pop and energy return from the embedded plate! ...Run Happy? Yes 100%.

Originally posted on Brooks Running Australia

4 to 4.5 trail racer.

It's very light and has great grip. I really liked the top of the shoe around the ankle being tight so that gaiters are not needed but not so tight as to cause any issues. It's pretty flexible and that means its comfortable but does mean it's not built to be real solid so I give it a 4 just because I wouldn't mind a little more of a solid shoe, although that lightness and flexibility actually matches the description. I am looking forward to using these as my trail racers. Also the shoe laces are the bomb with a great texture to not loosen up. I would give them a 4.5 as a trail racing shoe.

Originally posted on brooksrunning.com

Such promise for a first gen Agil

Wanted to love these as a lightweight trail runner as compared to the Cascadia I normally wear, but (a) the uppers were super snug even for my low volume feet, and (b) the sewn seam on the integrated debris gaiter is _right_ at the achilles and is a recipe for fast hotspots. If they'd shifted the seam inboard by an inch into the pocket next to the tendon, at least the chafing would be minimized and it'd be worth it to see if the upper stretched out some. Hopefully Brooks will address this next year.

Trail speed

Fast, light, responsive. I train in Caldera’s and put these on for faster workouts and racing and notice a massive difference, especially on steep climbs. Raced a trail marathon in them, and while they were a joy to run in going uphill, the lack of cushion really started to become evident over rock gardens. I think they could up to 50k if you’re on more mild trails, fire roads, etc, but for techy terrain, they’re probably a little more limited in distance. Still, very happy that Brooks is making a race day trail shoe!

Originally posted on brooksrunning.com

I wanted to love them

I watched several YouTube videos reviewing this shoe, and I loved the way it looked. I ordered it in my usual size, and they felt narrow and too long. I decided to try again, and I ordered another pair a half size smaller. They were uncomfortable, and I started to get a hot spot on my right heel. These shoes are lightweight and they looked to be a promising replacement for my beloved Salomon S/Lab Sense 8 shoes that Salomon no longer makes. Super bummed these didn't work out, but I had to return them.

Great trail racers!!

These are super snappy and responsive for racing, very nimble on the trails! The upper was stiff at first but after one wear it seemed to break in and no longer feels that way. I had issues with the regular Catamounts causing pressure across my forefoot, but these fit much better (even though they are still snug). I have worn these for races up to 20 miles and didn't wish for more show. I really appreciate this more niche trail racer and hope it doesn't go away!!

Originally posted on brooksrunning.com