Brooks Caldera 8 review

The Brooks Caldera 8 could be your next pick if you:

• Are looking for a trail shoe with standout stability and a comfortable ride.
• Enjoyed the Caldera 7 and want a familiar-feeling successor with only small, safe tweaks.
• Need a versatile trail option with dependable traction for easy and moderate terrain.

We believe the Caldera 8 is not the best choice if you want a true max-cushion experience. We found in the lab that its shock absorption and stack height fall short, and from our data, options like the HOKA Mafate 5 or ASICS Trabuco Max 4 offer a more cushioned ride.

We also think it’s not ideal for runners with wide feet. After testing, we discovered that the toebox lacks the roomy space needed for natural toe splay, and we believe the Altra Olympus 6 or Topo Ultraventure 4 are better picks in that case.

The Caldera 8 takes a path we honestly didn’t expect. In the past few years, nearly every new running shoe has gained more cushioning, but this one doesn’t follow that trend at all. It actually moves farther away from it than the Caldera 7.

We tested it in our lab and found 129 SA in the heel and 111 SA in the forefoot, and those are numbers that feel underwhelming for a shoe marketed as ultra-cushioned. For us, it's clear that the Caldera 8 isn’t a max-cushioned option by any stretch.

We tested the Caldera 8 and found that it uses the same DNA Loft v3 foam as its sibling, the Cascadia 19, so there’s no real upgrade here.

This supercritical EVA compound delivers a smooth, comfortable ride, though its energy return isn’t impressive, reaching only 56.9% in the heel and 58.7% in the forefoot. And while the Caldera 8 remains fairly priced, we’d gladly pay a bit more for a version that includes a bit of Brooks’ PEBA-based DNA Gold foam for an extra-responsive feel.

The Caldera 8 keeps the exact same heel stack height as the Caldera 7 at 36.7 mm.

Once again, Brooks needs to take action if they want the Caldera line to stay in the max-stack category. With just 36.7 mm, it no longer qualifies, and pushing closer to—or even past—40 mm is now essential, especially since the Cascadia already covers the average-stack segment.

The forefoot offers slightly more cushioning than average at 27.9 mm, yet it still falls short of today’s true maximalist standards. Nevertheless, it strikes a solid middle ground that should comfortably suit most runners.

With an actual drop of 8.8 mm, the Caldera 8 sits noticeably higher than the 6 mm claimed by Brooks. Still, this isn’t a drawback, as the shoe’s geometry clearly favors heel strikers, and this measurement only reinforces that.

We tested the nitrogen-infused DNA Loft v3 foam and found it keeps a comfort-oriented, soft-ish feel, measuring 18.0 HA on our Shore A durometer.

However, that's 16% firmer than version 7, as Brooks slightly refined the formula for better trail stability. In our view, this adjustment feels smart, giving the shoe a more confidence-boosting ride on uneven ground while keeping its usual feel.

The Caldera 8 features a moderate rocker that offers smooth transitions without feeling exaggerated. There’s no defined heel bevel, though the rear section curves slightly upward, helping heel strikers maintain a more fluid landing while keeping the shoe’s overall geometry natural and balanced on varied terrain.

Since we first tested the new Caldera, we felt the fit should accommodate most runners. As always, we prepared a fresh gel mold to analyze the interior shape in detail.

Once it solidified, our first measurement showed 94.6 mm of width, which aligns well with a dependable, average fit. But let’s keep checking additional readings.

The toebox also lands near the average at 73.0 mm, offering a fit similar to many road daily trainers. Expect only decent space for your toes, as it’s not nearly as roomy as an Altra.

Runners with high-volume feet or those who dislike toe pressure should be fine here.

At 26.4 mm, the toebox provides just enough vertical space for natural toe movement while still delivering a secure, reliable fit.

Traction is impressively solid at 0.59, a score that makes the shoe dependable even on tricky surfaces like wet rocks. It’s clear that Brooks continues to refine the TrailTack Green compound with great success.

The Caldera 8’s outsole features the same multi-directional lug pattern of version 7, which was designed for confident grip on varied terrain.

We found that the large central cutout reduces weight and tries to boost flexibility, while the angled lugs deliver steady traction on climbs, descents, and loose ground thanks to their purposeful orientation.

As the outsole is identical to v7 and the midsole remains largely unchanged, we measured a very similar, moderately high stiffness of 17.0N.

One thing that has always defined the Caldera is its high weight, and we discovered that it remains the same. At 10.9 oz (309g) on our scale, we think Brooks should explore lighter materials or even a new foam in the future.

Still, we doubt weight is a deciding factor for most runners considering the Caldera 8, though anyone chasing an light feel may find it a bit heavy.

The Caldera 8’s upper comes with a rugged design that reduces airflow compared to the average trail shoe. This tougher construction is clearly designed for protection first.

With help from our smoke-pumping machine, we measured a 3/5 score in breathability, which we consider perfectly acceptable for this category. Trail shoes rarely need the high-vent setups seen in road shoes.

Lower ventilation can actually be beneficial in cold conditions, giving runners a warmer and more secure feel during winter outings. In this case, the Caldera 8 fits that purpose well.

The lack of large ventilation holes also contributed to the result.

Under our digital microscope, we only found tiny, tightly-woven openings.

We also appreciated that the upper uses recycled materials and that the shoe carries a CarbonNeutral certification.

One of the defining traits of the Caldera 8 is its outstanding stability, driven by a super-wide midsole and tall sidewalls that limit lateral movement—though they can feel slightly intrusive especially for midfoot strikers.

Still, for trail runners who prefer a centered, planted ride and don’t mind some extra bulk, this remains a very solid option.

The Caldera 8 is nearly impossible to twist or bend, performing much like it had a full carbon plate inside the midsole and earning a 5/5 in our test.

The heel counter is also quite stiff at 4/5, yet Brooks added plenty of foam to balance it out, keeping the heel area surprisingly comfortable even during long outings.

The forefoot width isn’t extreme by any means, measuring 116.6 mm in our calipers. We think that’s actually good news, as going any wider would add little value.

Remember that most stability from a shoe’s dimensions comes from how the heel and midfoot transition into the forefoot, and in the Caldera 8 both those areas are already extremely wide as you'll see in our next test. Adding another 5 or 10 mm up front wouldn’t meaningfully change stability.

The heel is extremely wide at 104.0 mm, placing the Caldera 8 right alongside the Caldera 6 and 7 as one of the broadest shoes we’ve ever measured, and just slightly narrower than the tank-like HOKA Stinson 7.

In our view, this oversized platform may feel excessive for runners who don’t rely on heel stability, especially midfoot and forefoot strikers. That’s why we think the Caldera 8 is best suited for heel strikers who can truly benefit from all that rearfoot width.

We discovered an unconventional design in the Caldera 8’s toe bumper, using an asymmetric, highly-protective TPU layout that prioritizes the big toe while leaving more of the toebox exposed. This uneven setup proved a bit problematic when we tested it, earning only a 2/5 score.

The heel padding performed far better, earning a solid 4/5 and making it clear that this area won’t fall apart or develop a tear anytime soon.

We also found solid durability from the TrailTack Green rubber. It’s not outstanding, but with only 1.0 mm of wear, the shoe should easily reach the usual lifespan expected from a trail running model.

The outsole is noticeably thin at 1.9 mm, likely because the shoe is already quite heavy and the thick foam layer provides plenty of protection from small rocks and other trail hazards.

The insole contributes 4.9 mm of EVA foam to the shoe’s total stack height.

We found that you can swap the stock insole for a third-party option if you prefer, and we were also surprised to find a regular insole instead of a design with small perforations like in the Cascadia series.

The DNA Loft v3 midsole is EVA-based, so we expected poor performance in cold conditions—and that’s exactly what we found. It became 42% firmer, so don’t expect the same soft feel in chilly weather.

Brooks has skipped reflective elements in its latest trail models, and we find that a bit disappointing.

The Caldera 8 features a mixed-loop lacing system that improves security and adjustability. The eyelets on the top and bottom use bright yellow external loops, while the rest switches to integrated loops that pull the midfoot snug and evenly. Oh, and we loved the elastic band as it keeps the laces perfectly in place and stops them from bouncing around or getting in the way.

The tongue is another place where it's evident that this shoe has a weight issue going on, as it features just 5.0 mm of padding. It's enough for us, but compared to other models that are focused on comfort, it maybe falls a bit short.

The tongue is semi-gusseted, which works fine, but for trail shoes, we believe a fully gusseted design extending to the end would offer better protection.

The Brooks Caldera 8 maintains the same fair price as its predecessor, which feels justified. Still, we think it needs a technological leap to better stand apart from the Cascadia, even if that requires a small price bump. For once, we wouldn’t complain about paying a bit more!

The Caldera 8 features a flat finger-loop heel tab that feels practical and easy to grab. We preferred it over the one in the Cascadia, as it feels sturdier and more durable, giving us confidence that it will hold up better over time.