Brooks Cascadia 19 review

After testing the Cascadia 19, we believe it’s a solid choice for:

• Long-time Cascadia fans who upgrade every one or two years. This is easily the best version so far.
• Runners seeking a versatile, stable, and highly durable trail shoe.
• Hikers or summer trail runners who value plush comfort paired with great ventilation.

We believe that the Brooks Cascadia 19 isn’t the best pick for runners who prefer an agile, compact-feeling trail shoe. Its new ultra-wide midsole makes it feel more bulky than before. Based on our testing, we think shoes like the Nike Zegama 2 or the ASICS Gel Trabuco 13 deliver a smoother, more quick-moving ride for those who value agility.

Additionally, we think the Cascadia 19 may disappoint runners seeking deep, max-cushioned comfort for long ultras or recovery efforts. In our lab, the midsole’s protection level was moderate, not high. For that extra cushioning and and top-tier shock absorption, we’d suggest the ASICS Trabuco Max 4 or the HOKA Mafate 5 instead.

Shock absorption is fairly average at 128 SA in the forefoot and 107 SA in the heel, which doesn’t surprise us. The Cascadia has never aimed to be a max-stack shoe, and it maintains a moderate height that perfectly matches its versatile personality.

We heavily criticized the DNA Loft v2 foam of the Cascadia 18 for its lack of energy return and dull, uninspiring ride. We even said, word for word: “Maybe, after 18 versions, it’s finally time to make the leap.”

Well, Brooks delivered. The Cascadia 19 now features DNA Loft v3, a supercritical EVA foam that feels lighter, springier, and smoother underfoot. Although this improvement comes with a slight increase in price, which we’ll discuss later.

But how much of an upgrade is it really? Version 18 reached 54.1% energy return in the heel and 57.1% in the forefoot, while this one hits 59.4% and 60.4% respectively. It’s not a revolutionary leap as we can't expect miracles from an EVA-based compound, yet the foam feels far more pleasant and soft underfoot.

Running shoes keep getting taller each year, and Brooks responded by adding a few extra millimeters of foam to the Cascadia 19. The heel now measures 34.8 mm, up from 32.6 mm in the previous version.

However, since nearly every other shoe in the market has grown as well, the Cascadia 19 ends up feeling almost identical to its predecessor.

The forefoot now rises to 27.0 mm, marking a noticeable improvement over the previous 23.8 mm. Runners who felt the front of version 18 lacked cushioning will surely appreciate this update, as it brings significantly more foam and comfort.

We measured a 7.8 mm heel-to-toe drop that feels natural and adaptable to any footstrike. It’s slightly higher than the 6 mm claimed by Brooks, but we doubt this small difference will bother most runners.

The new DNA Loft v3 foam features two distinct layers: a thinner one sitting above the plate and a larger one positioned underneath.

We measured this main slab at 20.0 HA of softness, 27% lower than version 18. This change fully explains why, beyond its slightly livelier bounce, we found the Cascadia 19 noticeably softer and far more enjoyable to run in.

The secondary layer sits above the plate and feels even softer at 18.0 HA.

It’s a clever design choice by Brooks, offering a well-balanced mix of stability under the plate and a comfort-focused touch closer to the foot.

With each rise in stack height, the Cascadia gains a slightly more curved midsole profile to balance the added foam. Still, it maintains a fairly traditional underfoot feel with a mild rocker, and it keeps the shoe versatile enough for hiking, just like always.

The Trail Adapt plate, a longtime staple of the Cascadia line, remains in place to improve stability while also adding some protection against potential hazards.

Also, our video clearly shows the midsole setup: the lower foam layer, the Trail Adapt plate, and the softer upper layer.

Brooks offers the Cascadia in both standard and wide sizes, though the wide version is only sold in select regions. We purchased a standard US 9 for our tests (as always) and created our gel mold of the interior.

Once solidified, we measured 95.7 mm in width, confirming a versatile design meant to accommodate a wide range of trail runners.

The toebox is slightly narrower than we expected at 72.5 mm, offering 2.7 mm less space than the previous Cascadia. That's a noticeable reduction in room for toe splay.

Toebox height is slightly lower than before, measuring 24.4 mm.

The difference isn’t huge and shouldn’t be a concern, as the upper material doesn’t create unwanted pressure. On the bright side, it enhances security on uneven terrain, keeping the foot securely in place.

Brooks relies on its in-house TrailTack Green compound rather than teaming up with rubber specialists like Vibram. We’re fine with that decision, as our tests showed a 0.51 score that ensures dependable grip across diverse surfaces and weather conditions.

The Cascadia has always been promoted as a versatile all-terrain shoe built for both varied trails and long hikes, which naturally rules out ultra-deep lugs. That’s why the 3.8 mm lugs make perfect sense to us.

The Cascadia 19’s TrailTack Green outsole features a multi-angled lug layout designed for all-terrain grip. The forefoot lugs point forward to maximize uphill traction, while the rear ones face backward for confident downhill braking. We also found central zigzag grooves to boost torsional flexibility and debris or water release.

The redesigned outsole and the supercritical DNA Loft v3 foam bring an unexpected yet welcome benefit for anyone seeking long-hike comfort or smooth trail running: flexibility has noticeably improved, giving the shoe a more natural feel.

Version 19 went down to 15.6N (from 17.3N in version 18) despite its higher stack and the same Trail Adapt plate.

The Brooks Cascadia 19 shows a very slight weight drop from its predecessor, now coming in at 10.8 oz (306g) instead of 10.9 oz (310g).

Why isn’t it much lighter if the new foam is? Well, that’s because it also packs significantly more cushioning in both the heel and forefoot, balancing things out. Still, the Cascadia 19 remains a touch heavier than we’d like, and it's also heavier than its dimensions suggest. There's still work to do here, Brooks.

Trail shoes benefit from having enough airflow to stay comfortable but not so much that warmth and protection are lost. That’s why we were happy to see the Cascadia 19 land at a 4/5 rating in our breathability test.

Brooks designed this upper with a lightweight, finely engineered mesh combined with more durable, comfort-focused materials in strategic zones. 

Under the microscope, we examined the mesh and found it nicely perforated for breathability, which perfectly explains the strong result we achieved in our test.

Overall, the upper makes a solid impression—not just for its performance but also for its build quality, especially considering the shoe’s price point.

The heel and midfoot are generously padded, delivering a plush feel, though airflow in these areas is naturally reduced to improve durability and maintain a secure fit.

The Cascadia 19 introduces a softer foam, which might make many assume stability has taken a hit.

However, that’s far from true. Brooks made a major adjustment to the midsole dimensions to preserve the series’ signature stable ride, though it does result in a bulkier shoe that may not appeal to everyone.

Torsional rigidity stays at a solid 4/5, which we genuinely appreciate. Even with the Trail Adapt plate, Brooks managed to maintain a flexible feel thanks to the clever outsole design and the softer DNA Loft v3 foam.

Brooks also made a subtle but meaningful adjustment to the heel counter stiffness. In the previous model, we found it overly rigid and somewhat intrusive, but it’s now reduced to 4/5, striking a far better balance between comfort and stability.

Here’s where the Cascadia 19 truly sets itself apart from its predecessor: its platform is now impressively wide.

The previous version measured 112.6 mm, close to average, but version 19 jumps to a massive 121.5 mm, giving it outstanding stability despite the softer, more forgiving foam.

The heel has also expanded to 101.3 mm, giving the Cascadia 19 proportions similar to many road stability shoes. This wider base greatly enhances stability, though it can make the shoe feel a bit bulky for hiking, where that extra width isn’t really necessary.

We found a very solid outcome in our toebox durability test, with the Cascadia 19 earning a 4/5 score. The extra-durable toe bumper played a major role here, since we tested in the same standardized spot as in every other shoe.

Heel padding was less impressive, earning a 3/5 in our test, though it still passed our standards. We believe there’s room for improvement to make it more resilient and long-lasting.

The TrailTack Green rubber truly impressed us. Using our tire tread gauge, we discovered that only 0.7 mm of material wore away, a remarkably low number that highlights its excellent durability.

The outsole measures 1.9 mm in thickness, and we believe Brooks could easily trim it slightly further if needed to shave off a bit of extra weight.

From the entire cushioning setup, we measured that 5.0 mm come from the insole itself.

The insole is removable, as we confirmed during testing. However, it’s nicely perforated to boost ventilation, a superb touch that makes it worth keeping rather than swapping for another option.

The shift from basic EVA to supercritical EVA is a welcome improvement, but at the end of the day, it’s still EVA. So we weren’t expecting standout results in our 20-minute freezer test, and indeed, the Cascadia 19 showed a 30% drop in softness.

Unfortunately, we didn’t find any reflective elements on the Cascadia 19. While it’s not a major flaw, we always appreciate to have them for low-light runs, and considering how easy and inexpensive they are...

The Cascadia’s lacing system uses a hybrid setup combining punched eyelets with two loops on each side. The slightly textured laces feel good, and we loved the elastic band that neatly keeps them in place.

When it comes to comfort, Brooks didn’t hold back. The tongue is generously padded, measuring 10.1 mm with our digital calipers. Sure, it adds a bit of weight, but we think the trade-off is worth it.

We appreciated that the tongue is fully attached to the sides, which enhances lockdown and keeps out debris for a cleaner, more secure running experience.

The Cascadia 19 sees a slight price increase over its predecessor, but we think it’s absolutely justified if that’s the cost of the foam upgrade. Brands often raise prices after major updates, and we hope this one to stay steady for the next 2-3 years.

The heel features a thin, horizontal finger-loop tab that left us a bit uncertain, as it looks less sturdy than a traditional wider loop. Still, despite our strong tugs during testing, it held up perfectly, so time will tell...