Brooks Cascadia 17 test
Change of course? Exactly. We tested and learned about the new Cascadia 17 in Livigno during the Livigno Sky Marathon. The differences between the previous version to this one are many, and we can say it…very good this way!
What makes it special? One clear difference: the sole. A six-microblock structure that can follow the foot in every movement, providing an especially natural fit. The TrailTrack cleat has been completely redesigned which provides stability and comfort for runners.
We spent two days during the Livigno Sky Marathon for the big launch, exploring, testing and chatting with the Brooks team, where we were able to confirm that the Cascadia 17 is an all-rounder for the trail.
Difference of the new model
Sole
Cascadia 17 has changed a lot, let’s find out in what. The most noticeable difference is the sole, we go from a one-piece design that made the shoe very stiff-from our point of view one of the main shortcomings of the 16-to a structure divided both horizontally and longitudinally into six microblocks. In this way, the sole goes along with the foot in every movement, restoring particular naturalness to the fit. In addition, the cleat has been completely redesigned: while retaining the same proprietary TrailTack compound, we have a much more stable and comfortable product.
Midsole
In the middle of the midsole (in DNA LOFT v2) we find a longitudinally tripartite pebax plate: a choice that allows thrust and protection without unnecessarily stiffening the footing by making the roll smoother, a solution that has been very much in vogue lately in several brands.
Upper
The upper remains essentially unchanged (admittedly it has undergone a slight redesign but): a soft inner and outer double layer of scratch-resistant ripstop brings us a good compromise between weight and protection thanks to TPU inserts that make this model particularly suitable for trail running newbies without, however, being snubbed by those who are at home in the trail.
What do we think
I must say that Cascadia 17 was a pleasant surprise, it is a stiff shoe, especially in relation to the rest of the market, but the big work done on the sole allows for a kind of dynamic stiffness, making it much more versatile. As soon as I put it on, I ran 3 sessions of 15km each in 3 days, and I must say that I never had the slightest problem, it went well both uphill and downhill, I liked the grip, from the point of view of grip and stability in general.
Let’s move on to the topic that is dear to me. Breathability, I tried dipping my foot in a large puddle, wetting the shoe completely, I was curious how it performed, it only took a few kilometers of running for all the‘water came out and the foot became dry again; this is because in the insole I realized that a series of small holes help this wicking process.
Between beers, we chatted with Nick Clinton, product line manager of the trail running department. He told us about new releases such as Catamount Agile (a particularly minimal and swaddling version of Catamount), out for the SS2024 season worn during LUT20K by Daniel Pattis. On his feet Nick wore the Caldera 7-due out in February 2024-which maintains roughly the same oversize shapes and geometries but with completely revised materials.
Runner’s Tips: Open the box and try the cascadia 17 absolutely a good choice for mixed trails, even with very technical sections, perfect for mountain adventure also because of its breathability.
Brooks Cascadia 17 is available and costs €150
