December 08

BROOKS CALDERA 6: MAXIMAL COMFORT. +150 KM TEST BY HÉCTOR RUBIO

Posted by Héctor Rubio on December 8, 2022 in trail runing, trail running shoes, trail running spain | Leave a comment

BROOKS CALDERA 6: MAXIMAL COMFORT. +150 KM TEST BY HÉCTOR RUBIO. Our TRAIL RUNNING SHOES section brings us today the in-depth analysis of these BROOKS CALDERA 6.

Let’s remember that these Caldera 6 they arrived with a price of € 150, a weight of 310gr and a drop of 6mm, with a stack height of 31mm in front, 25mm behind and the midsole as the soul of this shoe: made out of nitrogen infused foam for high durability, with excellent compressibility and outstanding energy recovery. Let’s go with the in-depth test of our #patroncarrerasdemontana Héctor Rubio.

BROOKS CALDERA 6: MAXIMAL COMFORT.
+150 KM TEST BY HÉCTOR RUBIO

Born to go far and keep you comfortable on the trails. The Brooks Caldera 6 came with this new premium cushioning, nitrogen-infused DNA LOFT v3, and a reconfigured outsole.

As a first impression, I must say that new updates provide maximum comfort and a stable ride to run kilometers and kilometers in many different mountain terrain.

The big shoe volume is one of the things that keeps our attention at first, but once wearing them they do not feel heavy and give a very good fit, being the long run in compacted terrain with not many elevation gain meters the perfect playground for them.

Before entering in many more details, let’s remember the technical data and after that analysing the performance in this 150 kms around the Dolomites and the Ammergauer Alps.

BROOKS CALDERA 6: DATA SHEET

Price: 150€
Weight: 310 g.
Stackheight: 31mm/25 mm
Drop: 6 mm
Midsole: Nitrogen-Infused DNA Loft V3 Cushioning
Outsole: Full length Trail Tack Outsole Rubber Compound
Sandwich Air Mesh
3D Fit Print
Widened Base
Split Outsole In Heel
Internal Midfoot Saddle
Ariaprene Tongue

BROOKS CALDERA 6:150 KM TEST BY HÉCTOR RUBIO

As mentioned above, i have mainly run in the Dolomites and the Alps with this Brooks Caldera 6 as part of my normal trainings during end of October and now in December, even on snow as you will see below.

The main terrain where I have run with them are the different mountain trails around the area where the shoes have behave much better than expected for a not so technical oriented shoe. However, the toe box in combination with the great grip of the outsole have revealed as a great positive surprise.

In the other hand, the volume and reactivity of the shoe, make them difficult to use when the terrain goes really up (stiff climbs) and downhill technical terrains.

As for the size, the number 43 that I usually wear, together with the space of the forefoot has made that in some descents a more closed adjustment is missed, but I insist, it has to do with the shapes of the foot of each one.

UPPER

The upper is made with a sandwich Air Mesh for breathability, quick drying, and long-wearing comfort. The 3D Fit Print offers flexible structure without compromising breathability and provide reinforcements to give greater support and fixation on top of protecting us from possible rocks.

The design of the tongue with a thin design adapts really good to the feet form to avoid any additional pressure at a particularly sensitive point due to the passage of tendons and fascias.

As you can see in the picture below, i have also used during the recent snows for about 15 km and it had a good performance, not been completely wet since the first minute.

Obviously, the upper has been designed for long, long runs where there es a need of a toe box that will not generate too much compression, so the feet can naturally get swollen without generating pressure/trigger points.

MIDSOLE

Featuring nitrogen-infused DNA Loft v3, Brooks’ softest cushioning optimised for light weight, responsive, and durability with plush comfort:the midsole is the soul of this shoe.

And I have to say, that in a first impression, this nitrogen infused DNA has achieve high durability, with excellent reactivity and outstanding energy recovery closely resembles the comfort and return of energy of shoes such as the Hoka Speedgoat, or the New Balance More perhaps not with such a soft touch, but at the same time it is appreciated in certain more technical areas.

IN the other hand, as mentioned above this great comfort gives us less advantages when climbing stiff trails as the reactivity of the soul makes the feet being in tension the whole time in order to apply enough pressure to flex the misdole.

However, as also mentioned the original design of the shoe is intended for long runs in less technical terrain, so a perfect asset for ultratrails with less technical terrain, like for example the Mozart 100, UTMB

OUTSOLE

Full length Trail Tack rubber outsole compound provides great durability, whilst being sticky and grippy on uneven terrains. The widened base keeps you stable when your form starts to break down over time, and offers support during uphill/downhill descents.

After 150 km, the lugs are still in perfect condition, providing good grip even in wet and snowy terrain.

Obviously, the wet behavior is different but it is very close to more specific soles in wet such as Vibram Contragrip of the Hoka Speedgoat 5.

BROOKS CALDERA 6: CONCLUSIONS

The numbers of the shoe give a clear message: comfort to run miles and miles on the trails, thanks mainly to the new premium cushioning, nitrogen-infused DNA LOFT v3, and the reconfigured outsole.

It is a great shoe for ultrarunning in not very technical terrain, however the new outsole gives great adherence in any kind of surface even on wet surfaces.

What it is clear is the fact that maximalism seems to be more and more popular among all the big brands in the game: Salomon, HOKA , INOV8 or Saucony

Maybe the only thing to improve a little would be the space in the toe box and the fact that is still a shoe above the 300 grams range which many would consider a heavy shoe, however in this specific case I do not think it penalizes the runner as the other aspects such reactivity, durability and comfort are above those 310 grams.