The Brooks Cascadia 18 are stable, trail-gripping shoes with plenty of cushion for hikes in any terrain
Overview: Brooks Cascadia 18
MSRP: $140
Weight (per shoe): 9.9 ounces
Stack Height: 33mm/25mm
Drop: 8mm
About the Cascadia 18
The Cascadia 18 are a beast on trail, gripping rocks and mud while providing a stable cushion. The comfort where foot meets trail is superb, and the neutral support means my feet don’t rock and roll when landing. The 18s have been upgraded from the Cascadia 17 with softer midsole foam, improved outsole traction, and a reinforced upper for increased durability. I’ve worn the Cascadia 16 for years and am beyond happy to find that the 18s are just as comfortable and trail-worthy, and maybe a bit more durable.
Cascadia 18 Comfort
Fit: Comfortable out of the box, with no break-in needed. The Cascadia 18 come in medium and wide widths, and the size 12 medium width are a good fit for my slightly narrow size 12 feet.
Stack Height: 33mm at the heel, 25mm at the toes. Enough cushion to absorb the pounding of rocks under my feet, but not so much that I’m disconnected from the trail.
Foot Support: Neutral. My feet hit the ground with a stable stride.
Heel to Toe Drop: 8 mm is a lot of drop in a world dominated by zero-drop shoes, but for someone like me with flat feet a higher drop with arch support is more comfortable. And the Cascadia 18 arch support is just right for me.
Cascadia18 Trail Performance
New Outsole: Brooks’ TrailTack Green outsole rubber grips the trail on mud, rock, and wet surfaces. I hiked through all those conditions without slipping or sliding.
More Durable Mesh Upper: Breathable and quick drying after hiking on wet trails. The mesh has been upgraded from the Cascadia 17 with overlays in high-wear areas, which is good to know because my 16s have a small hole in the mesh after years of use.
Updated Midsole: Brooks says its Trail Adapt System, with what it calls DNA LOFT v2 cushioning, combines a rock plate and strategic zonal pods to provide stability on uneven surfaces. That’s a lot to digest, but the result is a stable shoe on rocky trails.
Lugs: 4.5mm. Deep enough for a good grip on the trail.
Good to Know
GORE-TEX Lining: The Cascadia 18 GTX have a GORE-TEX lining with water resistant protection. The GTX are $170, $30 more than the basic Cascadia 18.
Gaiter Connection: Velcro strips at the back of the shoes to attach gaiters.
More Sustainable: The Cascadia 18 are made with recycled materials equivalent to 10 plastic water bottles. And Brooks says the PrintDyed uppers save 66 percent of the energy and 75 percent of the water required for the traditional dye process.
Cascadia 18 Pros
Grip: The Cascadia 18 perform well on wet rocks and through mud.
Stable: My feet stay balanced while on trail or striding from rock to rock.
Cushion: A moderate level of cushion, with 33mm under the heel and 25mm under the forefoot.
Foot Protection: A rock plate to buffer my feet from rock-pounding.
Arch Support: The right amount of support for my flat feet.
Cascadia 18 Cons
Durability: My Cascadia 16 have a small hole in the upper mesh after years of use, but Brooks says it strengthened the mesh in the 18s.
Overall Value
The Cascadia 16 were my go-to shoes for years, and I’m pleased that the updated Cascadia 18 don’t mess with the shoe’s comfort and on-trail stability. They shine for all trail conditions when I’m carrying a backpack. The shoes I tested aren’t water resistant, but I found that they dry quickly, and a GORE-TEX version is available. The shoes also comes in medium and wide widths. The price is comparable to similar trail runners.
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This product was donated for purpose of review.
