Trail-Running Shoes Buying Guide

Be ready for rugged terrain and wet weather. Comfortable and protective, these Brooks trail-running shoes have a stable and adaptable ride. GORE-TEX waterproofing helps keep your feet dry.
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 | Maximum Cushion |
Heel-to-Toe Drop (mm) | 6 |
Heel Stack Height (mm) | 35 |
Forefoot Stack Height (mm) | 29 |
Footwear Height | Ankle |
Footwear Closure | Lace-up |
Waterproof | Yes |
Upper | Air mesh |
Midsole | DNA LOFT v3 |
Outsole | TrailTack Green |
Rock Plate | Yes |
Vegan | Yes |
Weight (Pair) | 1 lb. 3.8 oz. |
Gender | Women's |
Type of Waterproofing | GORE-TEX Invisible Fit |
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.] The women’s Cascadia 19 GTX is an excellent shoe for trail running in wet and muddy conditions! This shoe keeps your feet dry and keeps the water out! The cushion and stability are just right and I felt stable on uneven terrain. The fit is true to size and the toe box is on the wider side so your toes don’t feel cramped. The shoe itself has an awesome design and looks great on and does not have a ridiculous amount of cushioning. The only minor thing about the shoe is that your feet get hot. Fast. That being said, it’s because the fabric is so water resistant, so I will take hot feet over wet feet any day! Overall, I love this shoe!
[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] These shoes are so advanced, it feels like so much time and science went into developing them. The fit is great - not too loose but supportive and flexible. The nitrogen injected soles make it feel like you’re running on a springy treadmill vs. the great outdoors, and I really appreciate the design of the bottom portion of the shoe that mimics (in my opinion) a mountain range. I was pleasantly surprised at the level of grip from the treads, which was great for the trails but felt a little funny walking around the house on my way outside.
[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] The shoe provided great support and cushion as my foot impacted with the ground - it was like walking on a cloud! The only issue with the fit was that the shoe was slightly short by a half an inch at least. It felt like my toes were a little too close to the tip of the shoe. Additionally, the heel had extra padding that was slightly uncomfortable around my ankle, but some people might appreciate that. For me, it was bothersome because of the pressure and my sock would slide down due to the extra friction. Since it is a trail shoe, my expectation was that the rubber grip on the bottom would hold up well enough to ensure I don’t slip and fall, which it hold up well! I felt comfortable and secure while running. The fabric also held up well in the rain and my feet were not soaked after a run.
[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] This shoes are the most comfortable I have ever worn. I used to suffer from feet pain and it has been reduced to a 90%. They are perfect for hiking and running and I love using them for work since I walk a lot. They are true to size. The thing I love the most is its comfort and how well designed they are. The thing I would change is that they are not too breathable so my feet get a little warm throughout the day. But I will definitely continue to buy specially for winter time.
[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] I am very pleased with these shoes and intend to make them my primary choice. They are comfortable for extended walking on hilly terrain and are suitable for running. As someone with semi-wide feet, the fit is just right. I appreciate the black and blue design on the sole. The fit around the heel is slightly snug, but I anticipate that it will loosen with continued wear. Overall, I believe this is an excellent shoe and would recommend it to others.
[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] For reference, I am a casual runner, mom of two, trying to prepare for my first mud running race in 9 years. These appear to be great trail shoes. I haven’t had much opportunity to test them in wet conditions yet because it’s been dry and hot here, but so far they have held up great. For a waterproof shoe, they seem very soft and pliable which is a huge win for me. It’s amazing because they feel like a traditional tennis shoe material. The shoes are slightly narrow for me, but I have extremely wide feet for a woman (10 cm) and they just squeeze my toes a bit. They are wide enough in the midfoot just not quite in wide enough for my toe splay. Otherwise fit seems very true to size. I also removed the insoles because I have high volume feet and there was plenty of room with the insoles removed. They are very lightweight as well which is important to me. As I’m just slowly getting back into running I haven’t put too many miles on them, but it makes it easier when you have a comfortable shoe to wear and your feet don’t hurt! I love the look of these shoes; black is my preference anyway but especially for trail running as all my other trail shoes always end up dingy brown. The only thing I would change is I like a little more flexibility and ground feel in my shoes, but I know this is a personal preference. Overall, love these and would recommend.
[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] Out of the box, my first impression was that these shoes looked comfortable even before I put them on. The soft liner, along with the plushly padded tongue and heel, offers a nice, cushioned feel. There's no need to break them in; I was able to run 5 miles right away without any soreness. The fit is true to size for me, providing a little extra room in the toe box without being too snug. The subtle arch support is definitely a bonus! What first drew me to these shoes was the contrast between the slim upper and the sturdy, cushiony sole. Surprisingly, they are one of the lightest pairs I've ever owned. The tongue is well-designed and padded, while the laces are straightforward and effective, keeping everything securely in place. I also appreciate the subtle colorway they've chosen—it’s stylish yet understated. The fabric is advertised as waterproof(Gore-Tex), which is huge for me since the muddy trails in California can get quite wet, depending on the weather. This feature allows me to walk with ease, without having to avoid wet patches along the trail. My feet stay dry, which makes a world of difference during my runs. What I love the most is the Gore-Tex material used in these trail walker/runner shoes. It allows me to walk or run without worrying about getting wet, and it contributes to the sleek design, especially in the toe box area. The heel is hands down the best part of the shoe and is one of the main reasons I choose to wear these more often than any other pair.
[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] Upon opening the box, I was excited to get out on the trails and run in these shoes. Not only are they stylish and can easily transition from the trail to the town, and they looked comfortable and supportive enough to conquer any trail run. It is evident that Brooks put a lot of research and development into creating this shoe and I was excited to take them out for a spin. When I finally took them out for their first run, I was impressed with the high level of cushioning and stability; I felt stable, supported, and comfortable on even the most uneven terrain. The traction on the sole of the shoe provides excellent grip in muddy and wet conditions. I truly enjoy running in these shoes and look forward to the many miles we will traverse together.
[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] When I got these I expected more formed comfort because I’ve always heard good things about Brooks; my husband, my aunt, mom and sister all have them and have nothing but good things to say including how they are more focused on real foot support and comfort. Unfortunately I wasn’t super impressed, maybe it was just too much hype vs. reality. They are comfortable for the most part but my semi-high arches were not no at all supported which lead to excess pressure on the rest of my foot, so for long distance running or all day wear they don’t hold up for me. By the end of the day or a moderate run the balls of my feet were not pleased. I like them for more short term use, they hug the sides of my feet well and support my heel all the way around and under like a cloud. I think it’s just not an ideal shoe for people with high arches. I haven’t tried them with arch supports yet, that’s my next test, but I’m hopefully with arch assist these could be a really comfortable stable shoe. The quality of materials seems great and my families brooks have held up well for years. I like the flat laces and the fine mesh side that allow my feet to breath a bit without being an uncomfortable rough mesh. The tred and sole work great for all terrain as I’ve run with them across trails, gravel and roads and they never wavered. I also like that these came in a sleek black that looks clean and I can pair with my more colorful running outfits well. Overall it’s a nice shoe just not the insoles I was hoping for and doesn’t hold up comfort on long days because of that. I’d recommend trying these on because they may work better if you have good insoles to put in or just don’t have as much of an arch as I do.