Brooks Cascadia 16 vs. Caldera 5 (2022)
Historically, these two trail running shoes have always occupied different positions in the Brooks collection.
The Brooks Cascadia is a more responsive, more agile, less cushioned shoe with a superior grip for technical trails.
The Caldera, on the other hand, has a higher stack for more cushioning. Thus, shock absorption and overall comfort are better for longer distances. However, naturally, this reduces the underfoot ground feel.
Cascadia vs. Caldera: which one should you choose?
It all depends on the level of comfort you are after, the distances you plan to cover and the types of trails you’ll be running.
For very technical trails, the Cascadia is the better choice.
For long runs in comfort with optimal cushioning, the Caldera seems more suitable.
If you’re not sure which one to choose and can’t decide, then opt for the Cascadia which is more versatile with their better grip.
Also, the latest model (16) is more cushioned than ever before in the series, resulting in a softer, smoother ride that is much closer to the Caldera than in the past.
Side-by-side comparison
Very good grip on all terrains
Softer, more flexible cushioning that continues to provide a good ground feel
Durable shoe
Looser upper for wide feet, without compromising on fit for others
Effective cushioning
Great grip on most terrains
Good protection from rocks
Versatile shoe
Forefoot fit tricky according to some runners
Not so stable on very technical terrains
Brooks Cascadia 16
Brooks Caldera 5
Technical Specs
| Terrain | Trail | Trail |
| Pronation type | Neutral | Neutral |
| Drop | 8 mm | 4 mm |
| Lugs | 3.5 mm | 5 mm |
| Heel stack height | 29 mm | 27 mm |
| Forefoot stack height | 21 mm | 23 mm |
| Weight (men) | 298 g/10.5 oz | 272 g/9.6 oz |
| Weight (women) | 269 g/9.5 oz | 237 g/8.35 oz |
| Release year | 2021 | 2022 |
| Features | Gaiter attachment point, Available in GTX, Toe bumper, Wide feet, Rock plate, Vegan | Rock plate, Toe bumper, Available in GTX, Gaiter attachment point |
Technologies
| Outsole | TrailTack | PWRTRAC |
| Midsole | Ballistic Rock Shield, DNA Loft v2 | PWRRUN |
| Upper | Engineered mesh | Engineered mesh |
Cushioning
| Softness (1-5) | 4 – Soft | 2 – Firm |
| Bounce (1-5) | 3 – Moderate | 4 – Bouncy |
Use
| Speed | All | Moderate, fast |
| Distance | Mid, long, ultramarathon | Short, mid |
| Workout | Daily runs | Competition, daily runs |
Kevin is the founder and editor of Runner’s Lab. He started running in 2015 and completed his first marathon in Rotterdam in 2016. He’s also worked for Under Armour from 2016 to 2018 and helped launch their running collection in Europe (in particular the HOVR shoes). In addition, Kevin is a 300-hour certified yoga teacher (Sivananda) and uses this experience to run more mindfully with a focus on well-being over performance.