Yep, the Cascadia is back…again! The Cascadia enters round 19. Before you roll your eyes thinking “meh, time to move on” hold that thought. The Cascadia 19 is a whole new animal. Just as Brooks re-launches the OG Cascadia 1 created with Scott Jurek as a fashion accessory, trail runners are gifted with a new Cascadia release. One loaded with innovation and punch. It’s the perfect plot twist: one shoe for the runway, one shoe for the ridgeline. Keep reading to see how 20+ years on, the Cascadia can still be climbing its way up our favourites shelf. This trail tale’s not over yet.
Upper and Fit of the Brooks Cascadia 19
What works for me
The fit of the Cascadia 19 is comfy and fairly true to size. It slips on like a trail-ready slipper. Plush, zero break-in needed, no rubbing even straight out of the box. None after hours on the trail either. Freshly back from a multiple hour run including 700m straight down a local rocky mountain, I can say that the extra padding kept hotspots at bay nicely, which is not a given!
The new toebox feels roomier than the Cascadia 18, the fewer overlays not constraining the foot quite as much. The lace chain is pretty standard and a little lace tab is still there to keep laces out of the way. Gone is the gaiter Velcro and heel loop that begged to get caught on roots. A clean little corded hook replaces it for the days you want to hang a shoe up. Brooks has decided life is too short for gaiters. Agreed! Otherwise, it receives bonus points for the looks. We just fast-forwarded about 10 years in terms of its design and colourway. My version went from sad grey and barbie pink to neon yellow and fuchsia.
What doesn’t work for me
For all its great comfort, I do wish there could be a way to have kept elements of the Cascadia 18 upper in the new release. The new tongue that is way too plush for my liking. It acts like a sweat sponge on warmer days. The tongue also prevents the perfect lockdown the previous iteration did have which was second to none in its way of wrapping over the top of the foot. From my second run onwards in the Cascadia 19, I was already using the extra eyelet to create more ankle stability, which wasn’t needed in the previous iteration. There was something really secure about the fit you got with thicker laces in v18. This is admittedly a small payoff for the major upgrade in the midsole.
Midsole and Ride of the Brooks Cascadia 19
What works for me
The midsole is where the Cascadia 19 stands out from all the Cascadias that have come before. A radically different and peppy Nitrogen Injected DNA Loft v3 has replaced the previous firm DNA Loft v2 for a far bouncier and dynamic ride. This is a significant upgrade for the Cascadia, making the shoe so much more playful even in spite of the fact the shoe isn’t the lightest on the market. This midsole transforms a forgettable Cascadia to something I would seriously consider using on a medium to long distance trail race.
The main selling point of previous iterations was stability (yawn). The Cascadia 19 now strikes a perfect balance between cushion and responsiveness. The trail adapt system is still present for added stability ( the lower drop of 6mm probably helps with that stability), but gone is the stiffness. According to Brooks, that’s thanks to a process that doesn’t require the rock plate to be glued in, but co-moulded into the midsole. This is brilliant innovation over a previously dull midsole. It completely transforms the ride for mid to heel strikers especially.
What doesn’t work for me
The midsole is the star of the show in this shoe. It’s bouncy, energetic, and fun to run in. No complaints there. The one question mark will be the durability of the killer midsole. 100 km in, mine is holding strong, but can it last the long haul? Only time and more trail miles will tell.
Outsole of the Brooks Cascadia 19
Grip and Traction
The Cascadia 19 outsole is grippier than before with a brilliant new detailing on the 4.5mm lugs that I absolutely love! The multidirectional chevrons are split down the centre. That means that the outsole doesn’t just give grip on the up and downs. It allows for good splay, suction and adaptability to rocky terrain. Imagine a mountain ibex’s soft hooves moulding to sheer rock. A similar idea is used in the soft grooved chevrons. The result is reliable traction on the most technical terrain. The outsole is still Brooks’ proprietary recycled Tailtrack Green, but the lug design is clearly the shining star. Finally decoupled grooves give a really natural and intuitive toe splay, reminiscent of an Altra outsole but with more of a curved geometry. The Cascadia 19 has one of the best outsoles I have ever tested.
Durability
100km of sharp rocks and roots later and my Cascadia 19 outsole is almost intact. The outsole rubber shows only minor degradation on the heel but is holding up remarkably given how soft the outsole rubber is.
Conclusion
Value for Money
The Cascadia 19 is releasing at €150 which is an absolute bargain for all of the innovation that you are getting in this new shoe. This is a solid buy in my opinion and a shoe that will be flying off the shelves this Autumn.
Fitting it into a shoe rotation
A lot of folks get confused in how each of the new Brooks trail shoes fit within the lineup. While the shoes share a similar platform, the underground feel of each one is vastly different. If I had to sum it up, the Cascadia 19 is made for the most rugged, technical terrain, with a rockplate and good ground contact for more precision. The Caldera 8 is a max stack comfort shoe for long miles with less ground contact but more overall plushness. The Catamount 4 is a stripped back, lighter trail shoe, sitting closer to the ground and has a Skyvault plate for added propulsion. You can read all about the Caldera 8 here and the Catamount 4 here.
The Cascadia 19 is going to be a solid companion for anything from daily trail runs to multi-day outings and long races in technical areas.
Final Verdict
Nineteen versions in, and the Cascadia’s got its groove back. Brooks has taken a trail stalwart and injected it, quite literally, with new life. The DNA Loft v3 midsole is an absolute joy to run in. The outsole grips like hooves of a mountain goat, and the updated upper finally looks like it belongs in this decade.
The plush tongue is a little overkill, and I miss that old secure lockdown from the Cascadia 18. But overall, this is the first Cascadia in years that feels fun, and not just stable.
The Cascadia 19 has edge, bounce, and confidence at a really competitive price. It’s a Cascadia that’s not just kicking dust, but bouncing along all your favourite ridge-lines too.
Comparisons Against Similar Shoes
Brooks Cascadia 19 vs ASICS Trabuco 13 by Esther
While the platform of the Cascadia 19 is wider and the fit more casual, the midsole of the Cascadia 19 reminded me a lot of the recently released Trabuco 13. It’s similarly bouncy, rugged and able to tackle uptempo trails in a similar way. The Cascadia 19 lugs offer more traction than the Trabuco 13, especially on muddy terrain. The ripstop mesh of the Trabuco may however outlast the Cascadia 19’s upper given the lack of overlays.
Other Opinions
Theo’s Take on the Cascadia 19
After my disappointment with the Cascadia 18, I was a little sceptical about the enjoyment I would find in the 19th iteration. However, I was in for a very pleasant surprise! Firstly, I found the upper to be a whole new world. Gone was the scratchy upper of old. Here, it is replaced by a wider, softer upper which works with the tongue to create an excellent fit. This comes in particularly handy on downhill sections where there may usually be found some pressure on the foot. I’d go as far as saying that this is one of the most comfortable uppers on the market today. My only concerns come with the weight and a slight doubt about the potential durability of the material.
The midsole was my biggest worry when trying the Cascadia 19. Sadly, the 18 really lacked fun for me. While this is no PEBA powered midsole, it gives a super smooth and well cushioned ride. One which I could happily take on every one of my runs. Surprisingly, I have also found it to be a top contender when the trails get technical. It offers a real preciseness. While it may be found lacking in the super tricky alpine sections, it will do a great job for 99% of trailers out there. That said, the outsole could do with a little improvement in the mud.
My biggest reservations about the Cascadia 19 come in terms of durability. If you live in rocky terrain, you may find the super soft upper material is not ideal. Overall, while this won’t become my race day companion, it will remain one of my most trusted shoes on my easy runs and some longer efforts. Let’s hope that Brooks keep making leaps like this with future versions of the Cascadia.
