Brooks Catamount 2 review

Who should buy the Brooks Catamount 2

These are a great choice for:

• Faster road runners who would want to try and take their speed and agility to the trails.
• Trail runners who want a firm and responsive shoe that is sure to keep feet locked in and supported throughout the adventure.
• Trail junkies in the market for shoes that they can take on technical terrains without the fear of slipping.

Who shouldn’t buy it

For runners who want to take their runs out in the colder weather, the Brooks Cascadia 16 GTX is an excellent option. Also, the Brooks Divide 3 is a great choice for running on muddy terrain as it received no comments on picking up and holding onto the mud.

The Brooks Catamount 2 passes the fit test with flying colors

The cushioned heel collar matched with a slimmer midfoot, and a slightly broader forefoot is a “knockout combo” according to an expert. The same expert said that the Brooks Catamount 2 is “one of the better fits [they] have experienced in a trail shoe." Another runner said that these fit true to size but are on the narrow side through the toe box. However, they found this to be “more than adequate” for their liking. 

Lace-up for a worry-free outdoor adventure

An expert loved how these shoes had the right amount of padding that aids in letting wearers keep their feet in place. “Fantastic lockdown,” was how a runner described the upper as they found it to wrap their feet securely through the midfoot. The security of the overall structure of these trail runners is what a critic loved as this made the Catamount 2 “really shine on twisty and technical trails.” 

The structure of the Catamount 2 also added to the natural stability of these trail runners which was given mad love by trailheads. One runner loved how the midfoot had “lots of stability” from the Skyvault plate. Another critic commended the raised sidewalls which provided the rear end of the shoe some stability. 

Technical terrain is made easy with the Brooks Catamount 2

Although marketed as a long-distance trail runner, these shoes are loved by many for how great they perform on technical terrain. As a trail geek mentioned, these shoes are really good at “tearing down rocky, gnarled switchbacks.” Another put these shoes up to the test on a moderately technical downhill and they said: “The Catamount can now roll with these punches nicely.” 

Another critic was even confident enough in the fun, responsive ride of the Catamount 2 that they called this “the perfect shoe for mid-distance training and racing.” 

Snappy and quick strides all the way

“Fast and fun,” was how an expert described their run in these shoes. One critic noticed the firm feeling underfoot of the Catamount 2. For them, this paved the way for these trail runners to “give lots of energy return.”  Another mentioned how they “really felt the pop” when they picked up the pace with these speedy trail runners. 

One critic appreciated how these shoes were “responsive while maintaining a good amount of ground feel.” However, a runner who took these out to the cold mentioned that “changing temperatures have a noticeable effect on the underfoot feel” as they felt the foam turn more rigid.

The confidence-boosting grip of the Brooks Catamount 2

The TrailTack outsole of the Brooks Catamount 2 is a welcome feature that adds confidence to each stride on the trails. The lug depth, shapes, and positioning make for a solid hold on various surfaces as an expert noted. Others shared their experience on this as well:

• “Zero issues when running from slushy paved roads to mountain single track.” 
• “Grippy on wet, rocky, and rooted east coast technical trails.”

However, one user was not a fan of how clumps of mud would stick to the cutouts of the outsole when tackling sloppy trails.

Light on the feet

At 275 grams (men’s size 9), the Brooks Catamount 2 is loved by a critic who was impressed with how light these shoes felt. As they mentioned, “this packs a lot of punch in a lightweight package.” 

Looks good and plays the part as well

A Catamount fan who found this model looks much better than its predecessor commented on the aesthetic, saying: “Sloppy to sleek.” As another said, “it looks really rad.” 

The upper is not just meant for looking good. According to an expert, the outer layer is water-repellent and durable enough to provide the needed protection outdoors.