Brooks Catamount 4 Review: Speed-Obsessed Trail Shoe

Introduction

The all-new Catamount 4 dropped this month, bringing significant upgrades over its predecessor. With a revamped midsole foam, a repositioned carbon plate, and a reworked lug design, the Catamount 4 is a whole new beast. In this new iteration, Brooks promises reduced leg fatigue and more joy on the uphills with this lightweight, responsive trail shoe. Can it truly live up to the hype?

Locked and Loaded: A nearly perfect fit

Esther: The first thing that stood out when I laced up the Catamount 4 was its dialed-in fit. The fit is true to size, on the snug side of things. Forget your winter socks, these shoes shine with thin socks.  

The tongue is thin yet padded where the laces sit. The semi-gusseted design gives it that locked-down feel, similar to what you’d get with, say, a Salomon S/Lab Ultra. This might not be the best for those with higher foot volume, but for the rest of us, it’s a lockdown that feels nearly perfect.

These Catamount laces are crimped, much like on the Asics Metafuji, likely to prevent unraveling. While I’m not the biggest fan of this design (I always end up double knotting anyway), the short length works well, even if mine don’t quite reach the lace pull tab. Guess it’s double knotting time, again.

At first glance, I was a bit skeptical about the amount of exposed mesh on a trail shoe. There’s a decent amount of TPU overlays for protection, but the mesh makes it look more like a road shoe than something you’d take through rocky terrain. Thankfully, Brooks has used the same breathable, abrasion-resistant TPEE mesh seen on the Caldera 8. This fibrous TPEE mesh is lightweight and tear-resistant. We’ll see how it handles brambles and rocky trails. As for the hydrophobic claim? I’m not totally sold, but it’s definitely comfortable, breathable, and easy to clean after a muddy run.

From Harsh to Heavenly: The Midsole

Esther: Brooks overheard all your complaints about the Catamount’s harsh midsole on long runs and downhill stretches. The old Catamount was made to be fast, but let’s be honest, never really designed for comfort. Enter the new and improved midsole with a 2mm cushion upgrade. The supercritical, nitrogen-infused DNA Flash v2 foam works alongside a repositioned carbon plate for a pretty astounding blend of bounce, responsiveness, and stability. The curved plate now sits further back, giving the forefoot more cushion and placing the plate closer to the ground (we never wanted it right under our toes, did we?).

The Catamount 4 is a fun, zippy, neutral ride: proof you don’t need an overbuilt, stability shoe to tackle trails. What exactly makes it such a fun ride? The new Catamount is protective enough yet lightweight (210 grams in my size!) and rides comfortably without losing that precise, confident ground feel. You can feel it underfoot, the Catamount 4 is made for fast transitions, zigzagging single-tracks and for vert.

In fact, the real magic happens when you’re climbing. The Skyvault plate gives you a noticeable lift through the gait cycle, helping mid to forefoot runners power uphill with minimal effort. I found myself breezing past a running buddy, amazed at how much the plate was boosting my stride. The propulsion is remarkable, especially with tired legs.

As for Brooks’ promise to ease leg fatigue? They nailed it. After a 20km uptempo run in the Catamount 4, I finished with zero soreness. The best part has got to be that this shoe isn’t just for your fastest runs. It’s your trusty BFF, ready to take on any terrain, any pace. The faster, the better, obviously.

Outsole: Not Aggressive, But Effective

Esther: At first glance, the Catamount 4’s outsole doesn’t look particularly aggressive with its 3.5mm lugs and some exposed foam, but it gets the job done. The real strength on the flatter outsole profile is possibly the stability you’ll notice on the downhill. I have yet to be convinced that more trail shoes should be inspired by gravel bikes, but the multidirectional and varying sized lugs paired with Trailtack green rubber works for the most part.

This may not be your go-to on a muddy day. That said, for light rain, gravel, or wet rocks, it’s a solid performer. Reliable grip when you need it most.

A Fast, Confident Investment

Esther: The Catamount 4 is a stunning product of innovation, resulting in a trail shoe that’s as light and nimble as it looks, without sacrificing protection or precision. It delivers a responsive yet comfortable ride that thrives on uptempo running and conquering vert. Ideal for mid- to forefoot strikers looking to push the pace and tackle any trail, this shoe helps you go the distance without leaving your legs crying for mercy. Whether you’re aiming for top performance or just need that extra push on technical terrain, the Catamount 4 ensures you feel fast, confident, and supported every step of the way. At $170, it’s a solid investment for anyone serious about performance.