As a British (wannabe) trail runner, I was keen to put the American-designed Brooks Cascadia 20 trail running shoes to the test. I’ve long worn Brooks trainers, having been recommended the brand over a decade ago at my local running shop in Manchester due to my high in-step and pronating feet. I’ve since bought a pair of the Brooks Cascadia 17 and have worn them religiously on everything from multi-day treks to spicy scrambles. So, I had high hopes for the updates in the Brooks Cascadia 20s.

Straight out of the box, they cushioned my feet in comfort. Unlike the Cascadia 17s, which felt a little stiffer at the heel and took a few miles to soften up and mould to my feet, the Cascadia 20s were trail-ready immediately. No need to enlist the anti-blister socks early doors. The new shoe weight is similar to the Cascadia 17s at 275g (all the older Cascadia models come in at about 3g heavier) but the shoe somehow feels lighter. The materials used feel noticeably softer and thus less intrusive on and overall, a more pleasant wear.

With the Cascadia 20, Brooks have mostly moved away from the design of its predecessors, although I was pleased to see the new kid on the block still boasts a wide and roomy toe box while the midfoot feels secure and snug. Brooks also offer two widths and a wide size range so you should be able to find your fit more easily than with other brands. I usually take a UK6 but size up in Brooks trainers.

Scrambling above the sea in the Brooks Cascadia 20. Credit: Francesca Donovan

I’m not an ultra runner, nor am I chasing any FKTs, so I tend to dismiss innovations like carbon-plated shoes. The Brooks Cascadia 20 are something of a middle ground with 4mm of nitrogen-injected cushioning dubbed ‘DNA Flash’ technology. On the trail, I noticed the bounce right away. I’m prone to plodding when tired so, over many miles in the Cascadia 20s, I’ve personally found this cushioning a real comfort. I’ve experienced markedly less fatigue on longer runs of over 10 miles and notably fewer niggles in my shins, knees and hips since upgrading – although of course many factors could be at play.

The upper gives incredible flex and range. The lugs, although not as deep as some designed for more technical terrain, do work well. I felt secure and quickly learned to trust the shoe’s grip on scrambles in dry conditions. Due to a record-breakingly dry summer, I’ve been unable to test the runners’ mettle on wet scrambling sections as of yet.

The Cascadia 20 on test in the Peak District. Credit: Francesca Donovan

When we got onto less even ground, though, I did find the depth of sole resulted in a bit less balance than I’d like on mountainous trail runs where you can’t risk a rolled ankle. With every run, I’ve become a bit more accustomed to the sole and I’ve been impressed by the grip on all terrain even in wet weather, but I would still opt for the Cascadia 17s and their closer-to-trail contact on more technical jaunts.

With that said, for road or gravel runs and any work in the gym, the Brooks Cascadia 20 has become my go-to for all-round comfort and that extra spring in my step. I was particularly impressed with the wide base of support at the front foot which coped with the Peak District bog well.

Bog-trotting after a dry summer in the Brooks Cascadia 20. Credit: Francesca Donovan

Thus, onto the issue of drainage. The Brooks Cascadia 20s are available with a Gore-Tex lining for waterproofness – but, for running, I prefer to splash through any water crossing and allow the shoe to drain so I opted for the non-GTX version. They worked well. All but torrentially heavy rain was kept at bay by the upper – but any overspill from deep water I waded through drained fast.

The upper is really breathable but also is built with a mesh overlay which Brooks crafted for added durability. Certainly, I’ve seen no sign of wear on tough gritstone or through rough brambles, bracken or heather. Toecaps aren’t as tough as some but this is a fair compromise given the overall comfort in the toebox. Having tested them so far over just shy of 100 miles, I can’t say for certain whether the seams and upper will last – but my Cascadia 17s have proved incredibly hard-wearing and I’ve found Brooks to be a good bet for trail runners that’ll last as long as you.

If you don’t love the shoes, Brooks says, you can return them for free. So, once again, I won’t be taking them up on their 90-day test run guarantee.

How we tested

Francesca has had the Brooks Cascadia 20 on test for two months during which time she’s taken them on more than 100 miles of trail, gravel and road runs at home in the Peak District as well as mountain scrambles in Eryri / Snowdonia. She’s also worn them every day at the gym and on the morning dog walk in both wet and dry conditions.