December 28

BROOKS CASCADIA 15, REVIEW: A CLASSIC, LOOKING FOR A NEW PLACE.

Posted by Héctor Rubio on December 28, 2020 in trail running gear, trail running spain | Leave a comment

Brooks Cascadia 15 Review: A classic that little by little losses the lead. Our section on TRAIL RUNNING GEAR arrives today with the latest look of a saga that seems to have lost its flow in our country, but not in other markets. This 2020 comes with a 140€ price, an 8mm drop, a weight of 312gr and a ground height of 15mm in front and 23mm at the back.

The Cascadia 15 contrasts with its sister and rival Brooks Caldera 4: The brand’s stone rodator, with 284gr of weight and drop of 4mm for a floor height of 29mm in front and 33mm at the back. Only if your technique is poor, you will bet earlier on Cascadia than Caldera to run long on simple terrain. Let’s go with the details to see where Cascadia 15 can fit, by Mayayo.

BROOKS CASCADIA 15 REVIEW, BY MAYAYO.
A CLASSIC THAT STRUGGLES TO CONTINUE.

Cascadia was at the time a familiar name for every mountain runner in Spain. The Brooks Cascadia saga was born by Scott Jurek. Living legend of this sport. He designed them as a “homeshoe” to roll long. Over the years the brand tried to enhance its versatility to be able to face more technical terrain, however it did not work. Neither cushioned as the new maximalist shoes, nor was it as versatile as the new Sagas Salomon Sense Ride or NB Hierro, nor did it ever manage to compete technically with special mountain brands such as Salomon, La Sportiva or Inov-8. Gradually it was shrinking in our country what at the time had a legion of followers.

In carrerasdemontana.com we have continued to keep track of them: From the Cascadia 5 with which Mayayo completed the Leadville 100 Miles of 2010 in 28 hours, passing through the Cascadia6, Cascadia7, Cascadia8, Cascadia9, Cascadia10, Cascadia11 and finally the Cascadia 12. Here you can see in the photo the recent Cascadia 10, Cascadia 11 and Cascadia 13 where as you can see above all the continuity in the concept.

CASCADIA 15: THE EVOLUTION.

This continuity in the Cascadia concept nevertheless hides many changes. Over the years the shoe has been gradually redesigned. It was born as a long distance for easy terrain shoe, which sought comfort first and foremost. Over the time it also wanted to provide protection and support in more technical terrain, thus expanding its range of use.

With the arrival of its sister the Brooks Caldera in 2017, the Cascadia saga definitely bet on being stiffer and more protected to get it into stony, leaving the long distance on compact and simple terrain for its young sister. Thus, for example, it gave up her role as Brooks’ heavyweight long runnig shoe since her sisters, both the Caldera and the Adrenaline, offered more rubber and proper support in both cases. The Cascadia 14 incorporated a lot of new features last year. This 2020 version polishes and fine-tunes details, highlighting recovering a few grams to reinforce, as well as a new upper perhaps what changes the most.

BROOKS CASCADIA 15. DATA SHEET.

Weight 312 gr. It’s still medium-high, but let’s remember that Cascadia12 weighed 350gr, the 13 down to 335gr and so… The Cascadia 14 reached a minimum of 303gr. Now we bounce a little, to reinforce some point. These are reasonable data for a protective and cushioning shoe. Lighter than rivals like NB Iron V5 even.
Structure similar to previous versions, with the same sole and midsole chassis that gives it cushioning and stability. The changes always go slowly in this shoe, seeking to respect the DNA of a bestseller.
Drop 8mm: For years it maintained a higher drop, 10mm. Now it’s adjusting to the times. with improved technique throughout the sliding platoon there is not so much need for high drops.
Low cushioning, 16 mm on toes and 24 mm in the heel. It sticks better that way to the terrain and feels better. But in exchange for that better design for the technical, it sacrificed height for cushioning and comfortable running. Now, until the average of the Salonon catalog of 18mm is above, being the French brand historically hanging around the platoon’s head on this. A lot of rubber in the back, for debutants with polishing technique or for very long races where we let go. For a correct technique, it is greatly overcome in the cushioning of her sister Brooks Caldera 4’s fore foot (29-33)
Prominent sole width, heel 9 cm and 11 cm in forefoot: It provides stability and cushioning, with a medium support surface, narrower than its sisters, to increase accuracy in technical terrain.
In the midsole, it combines BioMoGo DNA rubber and chassis. We are looking for that reinforced stability that, for example, we do not see in its sister Caldera, which with a higher ground height although with less drop, provides more cushioning but less stability. For this stabilization when we may be fatigued, the Cascadia continues to bet on its four stabilizing pivots in the mid-foot, birthmark to this day. The lugs height remains unchanged with a height of 3 mm.
Upper: Perhaps the most outstanding novelty is a new roof built with continuous mesh, which combines reducing external additions to improve ventilation and drying. It also incorporates Brooks 3D adjustment with screen printing technology to help maintain the structure without losing flexibility or adding weight.
Anti-rock plate: continues to have the Ballistic Rock Shield on the fore foot for protection. Her sister, the Caldera, doesn’t have it, for example.
TrailTack rubber sole with 3 mm lugs .The sensations since its use in Cascadia 14 were good, both in wet and dry conditions. The durability was also very healthy, so there is no reason to expect any change.

BROOKS CASCADIA 15: CONCLUSION

What do the Brooks Cascadia 15 stand out for? They want to be a companion who brings versatility and protection. They’re short and medium distance range running shoes. Well protected and stable. Its challenge in Europe is much more complex than in the USA, where shoes for medium-difficult terrain don’t abound like here.

Brands with better rubbers there are several, from Salomon to La Sportiva or Inov-8 to those who fit Vibram Megagrip. Lighter shoes to compete there are plenty, with weights of 220-275 grams as a minimum of competitiveness at the head of the peloton today. More protected shoes for the popular in delicate terrain also have left over, from the tanks La Sportiva Ultra Raptor or Trabuco to several others.

So while it’s fair to recognize that Brooks continues to polish details to update it, it’s not easy to highlight it as THE BEST for any specific use. That said, being true to her DNA and polishing details will make those who have met her before and run at ease with her last and conditions have no reason to leave her. As happened at the time with the drinkers of regulars of brands such as Sovereign or Veteran, who were faithful to them at all times. Of course, in the long run, you don’t see many already in bars….

In short, a shoe that will not disappoint the faithful of Cascadia. However, according to the technical analysis we see no reason to propose it as a new alternative to anyone who has never used them before. We’ll see how it behaves in the thorough test and hopefully give us a surprise. After all, having run with many pairs of Cascadia, since those first Hundred Miles of Leadville 2010 together, they always have one hollow in my heart for them.