Trail-Running Shoes Buying Guide

Offering adaptable stability and trail-ready protection, the women's Brooks Cascadia 18 trail-running shoes will give you confidence to explore new trails, especially when the terrain gets technical.
Imported.
View the Brooks Cascadia Product LineView all Brooks Women's Trail-Running ShoesBest Use | Trail Running |
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Trail-Running Shoe Type | Rugged-Trail |
Running Shoe Cushioning | Moderate Cushion |
Heel-to-Toe Drop (mm) | 8 |
Heel Stack Height (mm) | 33 |
Forefoot Stack Height (mm) | 25 |
Footwear Height | Ankle |
Footwear Closure | Lace-up |
Upper | PrintDyed mesh |
Midsole | DNA LOFT v2 |
Outsole | TrailTack rubber |
Rock Plate | Yes |
Vegan | Yes |
Weight (Pair) | 1 lb. 4.1 oz. |
Gender | Women's |
5 | 5.5 | 6 | 6.5 | 7 | 7.5 | 8 | 8.5 | 9 | 9.5 | 10 | 10.5 | 11 | 11.5 | 12 | 13 | |
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U.S. Women's | 5 | 5.5 | 6 | 6.5 | 7 | 7.5 | 8 | 8.5 | 9 | 9.5 | 10 | 10.5 | 11 | 11.5 | 12 | 13 |
U.S. Men's | 3.5 | 4 | 4.5 | 5 | 5.5 | 6 | 6.5 | 7 | 7.5 | 8 | 8.5 | 9 | 9.5 | 10 | 10.5 | 11.5 |
EU | 35.5 | 36 | 36.5 | 37.5 | 38 | 38.5 | 39 | 40 | 40.5 | 41 | 42 | 42.5 | 43 | 44 | 44.5 | 45.5 |
Sizes along top of chart are U.S. Women's sizes. Correlating U.S. Men's sizes and EU sizes provided for clarity.
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[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] I have been road and trail running for more than 14 years. I received the Brooks Cascadia 18, and I absolutely love them! First, the color is amazing! Flashy, yet neutral. Second, they fit true to size and feel fantastic on my feet. They literally hug your foot in all the right places which is so important for injury prevention when trail running. Third and last, while I am currently training for a half marathon and my trail running is limited (preventing injury) these are my new go to for just a run to the store or a walk with the kids. Comfort, support, awesome colors! I can’t recommend these enough!
I have been wearing Cascadias for the past 8 years, and I used to love them. I wore them to hike the PCT, run my first trail marathon and run my first ultra. I had been impressed by their durability. HOWEVER, the Cascadia 18 is a change, and not in a good way. I bought a pair of Cascadia 18's about 4 months ago and used them for training runs on muddy/ slightly rocky Ohio trails (nothing crazy), and I have large holes on both shoes after only 290 miles on the shoes. This is incredibly disappointing and will be ending my loyalty to Brooks. I would NOT buy the Cascadia, or any Brooks trail shoe ever again.
[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] The Cascadia 18 from Brooks are my new go-to shoe. They are so comfortable. They're also one of the lightest shoes I've ever worn. Usually it takes a few times of wearing a new pair of shoes for my feet to feel like they comfortably fit. The first time that I wore these shoes I seriously didn't want to take them off. They are lightweight and breathable yet sturdy enough that I feel like they can handle any terrain. My shoe size varies between a 7 1/2- 8 so I went with the 8 and I'm glad I did. They offer the perfect amount of room, they are form fitting but do not feel like they are squeezing my feet. They offer the perfect amount of support! I definitely wouldn't change anything about these.
Perfect for the trail, hiking and running. Comfortable, no blisters and even kept my feet dry when I got into some unexpected snow.
[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] I loved taking my new Cascadia 18 sneakers out on the trail. They are extremely cushioned, and the base of the shoe really absorbs any pressure from rocks. The shoes felt very comfortable on my foot, but my only complaint would be that the heel part of the shoe rubbed against my heel a little bit. It wasn’t enough to blister me, but it bothered me a tad. I feel like these sneakers run true to size, and I appreciate the laces being just the right length without having to double lace them. These are some solid sneakers will definitely get a lot of use on the trails!
[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] My first impression of the Cascadia 18 was the fun design. I love the bright colors on the tread & the fun pops of pink. As an avid walker and casual runner I’m always looking for a shoe with great support that’s comfortable. That’s definitely the Cascadia 18. I have wide feet and these fit comfortably, although a bit snug with my first try on, they have broken in nicely with each use. The fabric is breathable which is essential for hot summer days. The design is modern & goes well with any of my running and walking gear. If there is one thing I would improve is definitely the fit, just allowing a bit more room initially but that may be better if 0.5 sizing was available. Overall, these shoes are my new go to & I love wearing them!
[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] These are definitely the type of shoes needed for trail dirt paths. The tread kept me from slipping. The colors are ok could be a little better. The one thing with this style of shoe is I feel the sizing runs narrow instead of regular. I typically fit size 9 in all sneakers and these shoes were not true to size. The fabric is lightweight and the design could be a little more modern/feminine. If I could change anything it would be the design of the shoe. What I love about this shoe is the tread serving its purpose.
[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] Owning these Brooks Cascadia 18’s has been my go to for running in my indoor gym that has a track. They fit snug around my ankles which i love! It makes me feel safe while running. The inside soles are comfortable and I can wear these shoes all day without any discomfort. I love the aesthetics of these Cascadia 18’s as they are not regular boring running shoes. The colors go well with each other. The bottom of the soles are my favorite. Brooks did a fantastic job in creating these shoes. The bottoms grip well and I love how they have ridges to grip on the track. These are wonderful gym shoes and running shoes. I use these everyday and have zero complaints!!! I’m very active and struggle to find a good shoe for running and for the gym. These have been a Hail Mary for me!
[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] I needed a new running shoe to help support running outside (I usually run inside on a treadmill). The Cascadia 18 has a very sturdy heel which helped support my ankles if going from road to path and back again. I even wore them on a quick hike and appreciated the grip the bottom of the shoe provides. My feet run slightly wide and these are just the tiniest bit snug but are already stretching to fit me better. Definitely recommend if you are in need of a shoe that provides great support for all terrain!
[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] The Brooks Cascadia 18 tennis shoes are now among my favorite. I broke my sesamoid bone (bone right below the big toe) back in 2020 and it’s hard to find a shoe with enough toe width and toe cushion to be fully comfortable and these deliver. This is probably my favorite thing about the shoes all together. The arch width is also perfect and hugs my arch just enough. The shoe design is pretty classic. It doesn’t scream with loud colors but has the right balance of muted colors to go with just about any outfit. I am comfortable for hours in these shoes. I appreciate that the fabric around the toe, arch and the soles. The fabric around these areas are all water proof but the rest of the fabric is very breathable so my feet don’t sweat. I truly cannot think of anything I would change about these shoes.