Brooks Caldera 7 100 Mile Review. The Trail Minivan Gets A Full Rebuild!
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 16 ก.ค. 2024
- The Brooks Caldera 6 was the very first shoe review on the Conversational Pace channel, so this model lineup will hold a place close to our hearts. The Caldera 7 is here and Brooks has made sure to update just about every element of this shoe without changing it's DNA (that's a midsole joke). Let us know what you think of this one!
Shop Men’s Brooks Caldera 7
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Shop Women’s Brooks Caldera 7
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Chapters:
0:00 Intro
0:25 Disclaimer
1:30 Shoe Stats
2:55 Upper
5:14 Midsole
6:06 Outsole
6:29 Finn testing mileage
6:51 Brett testing mileage
7:49 Upper and fit analysis
12:34 Cushioning and outsole analysis
19:56 Where does this shoe work best?
20:50 Value
24:04 Competitor shoes
25:33 Would you race in it
26:20 Question for the viewers
Music provided by Argofox:
Noxive - Bacon Sandwiches
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Midsole clarification! DNA Loft v3 is the same name of the midsole of the Caldera 6, but the Loft v3 of the Caldera 7 got tweaked slightly. So slightly different underfoot feel, but still retains the same name as last years foam.
Any idea if this tweaked midsole and exoskeleton carries over to the Catamount 3?
The catamount 3 does have a similar exoskeleton type upper, but has the DNA Flash midsole foam, which is a direct carryover from the Catamount 2, so no changes underfoot for the 3.
@@ConversationalPace Thanks for the info! Still keen to check them out since I missed the v2.
I think the Catamount 3 is going to be one of the sneaky good picks of the year. the 2 just flew under the radar for some reason, but this upper update really helps complete the shoe
@@ConversationalPace Fingers crossed for a review!
Just bought these based on your review for backpacking. It felt like butter. I know some people think its ugly but I love the chonky look.
Hi, great channel. I'm based in the Lake District in the UK where it's always wet... Just my opinion but I use the Cascadia when I know I'm running over technical (above the tree line) terrain and the Caldera when I'm not. I feel more confident in the Cascadia when it's knarly terrain. I'm sure the Cascadia has slightly deeper lugs and performs a little better in the wet and mud. Love both versions, they both cover everything I ever need in an off-road environment. But that is just my opinion, others may disagree.
I'm sure you'll find many who agree with you on that. Being lower to the ground and having a dedicated rock plate in the Cascadia are all going to contribute to better control and protection on technical terrain. Sounds like you've got a good rotation to cover it all!
I used to love Brooks 10ish years ago in the Pure Flow 2 era. I felt like Brooks sold out and started making shoes for the masses instead of the runner. I went in to buy some Altras or Topos for my upcoming 50k and I ended up leaving with the Caldera 7. It is an unbelievably comfortable and stable shoe. I'm a big and slow runner with a wide foot. 10-12 minute pace on long runs usually. These seem like the perfect shoe for me.
I loved the flow series! Was so sad to see those go. It does seem that Brooks is doing quite a bit more innovating than they have in the last few years, and it's taking them in a fun direction! Glad you found the Caldera 7 and thanks for watching!
best trail shoe. so strong.
Waiting for your Altra Timp 5 review
Just took mine out for a short run today. Felt like the Speedgoat 4- nice and stable - perfect for an ultra run.
Agreed on that comparison. Definitely a very direct competitor to the Speedgoat. Thanks for watching!
I ran in -10 and the midsole was totally good. I have the Tam and they are similar for sure but the foam in the Tam is still better IMO….that foam after broken in is just plain amazing. BUT, for 150 you can get a very similar shoe to train in and on those long days jump into the Tam or PGH. The lugs have been awesome in the snow tho, so that trumps the GS in that use case.
Agree with all of this. Durability wise, I bet miles per dollar it comes out pretty similar, as long as the GS:TAM outsole doesn't wear out. I've definitely enjoyed the Caldera outsole in snow more than any previous Caldera I've run in. Thanks for watching!
This is a great shoe….if the toe bumper works for you. It is very stout and firm. It rubs the medial side of my big toes and cause blisters/pain. I had a similar experience with the Cascades. It’s important to note that you’ll realize this quickly and the bumper does not soften or loosen (at least not yet at close to 50 miles). Really wanted this shoe to work. Great traction, midsole and upper materials. Drys quickly. The wide platform not only descends great (and actually holds its own on pretty tech trails) but it also climbs really well. Hope they work for you, this would be an awesome 100 miles shoe or easy day cruiser.
I totally agree with all of this. I had this toe bumper problem more on the Caldera 6 than this 7, but it's definitely not a part of the shoe that breaks in (for better or worse)
I run in Western NC.
So, gnarly, steep, rocky, roots etc.
The flex in the midsole does really well and obviously you can’t bomb downhills in this shoe.
(You can’t in most max stack here to be fair)
But, I have mildly rolly ankles and have had no issues with these.
With that being said,
I did throw a pair of boomerang insoles in the catamount 3’s and that transforms them into one hell of a ride and long distance race shoe.
That's an awesome idea to throw that boomerang insole in the Catamount! We might have to do an episode dedicated to shoes with the best insoles. The Norda 001 and 002 have a great insole as well that I will absolutely be transferring to other shoes
@@ConversationalPace I’m assuming brooks has sent you the 3’s!
The new upper is phenomenal,
You couldn’t dream of adding an insole to the 2’s. The one piece upper is super flexible and even with the added insole stack you have absolutely no tightness around the foot.
(Or at least my feet haven’t)
They have, and I'm just starting to log some miles in them now. Will definitely be giving it a try!
I cut 3 inside lugs and 2 outside lugs of the outsole, forefoot.
Now the shoe stops cutting in, pushing back.
Makes the shoe bareable for a wider forefoot. 0 width problems with the Max 2 btw.
If they would make the shoe wider in the forefoot area and add a snappy carbon plate (not the carbitex thingy that Speedland has) this would be pretty close to the dream shoe.
It is the best value for money trail shoe though
a plated max 2 would definitely be intriguing to try!
I appreciate you first putting in some time in the shoe before offering opinion. I also enjoy hearing you nerd out on the tech specs. I'm currently in speedland pdx's and love them. They are pricey, but it's high enough on the goldilocks factor to warrant the expense. I like your hat... Brand etc..? Thanks for offering well produced and detailed content, your honesty goes a long way-
Appreciate you watching and enjoying our content! The hat is a Trails & Tarmac Hat that was made by Boco. We're all sold out of the trucker, but have the same design in a more running friendly style here trails-and-tarmac.myshopify.com/collections/trails-and-tarmac-gear/products/boco-t-t-5-panel-hat
Spikes! Spikes! Also Inov-8 Speedfly when it comes out ;-)
I need some snow to run on! 😅
What do folks think of the volume in this shoe? I'm right on the edge of standard width, but have a thicker foot (high volume). Best fit for me in the last couple years (and my only 50k shoe) is the Hoka Speedgoat 5 in wide.
As a Cascadia user, good question. But they are a good entry level shoe (should
Be priced a tad closer to that $130)
Yeah being just $10 cheaper than the Caldera makes it a tough buy for me. The Brooks Divide for $100 is an incredible entry shoe for trail. Only thing it's missing is the rock plate that the Cascadia has.
What is a trail running shoe that you would recommend for some short distance running ~5miles ?
The 6s were the perfect amount of basically everything for me. The last thing they needed was more stiffness. Painted foam is always a bad idea too.
The 6s toebox is roomy it's just a harder feel that can be annoying if your toes are bumping the end of the shoe. It's almost bulbus. I am out on this one. good luck with your channel, how hard woudl it have been to wear the 6s before you started talking about them? Neither of you remember them at all.
It would have been easy to wear the 6s before this review video if I still had them in my possession
I wear the Cascadia because it has a 2E width and it fits my foot. That’s the only reason. The real question is why do brands offer so few wide options? I’d go Caldera in a flash if it was wide enough for my annoying wide and high foot shank.
The new balance more trail v3 offers wide. I would recommend
That's definitely a fair point. The Caldera 7 in a wide would be a great addition to their lineup for sure.
I am at about 315km (200 miles) in these, longest run was 50km - they do run like they are on train tracks or bumper bowling - but I love them and think they are beautiful. Just came back here to say that after watching the Cocodona 250 eps. Oh and to answer the question about comfort - they are so comfy, no weird issues - I am coming off of 3 pairs of Speedgoats for comparison. I think this shoe will be a sleeper shoe. I don't know anyone else who has some.
Yeah I definitely don't see Calderas in the wild as much as we should!
@@ConversationalPace Hoka and Salomon (and altra I guess) are synonymous with trail, Adidas is picking up all the fast kids and Nike grabs the cool crowd. Speedland has the niche runners and brooks has a good shoe but isn't yelling out as loud as they should. The only reason I think I ended up in brooks was because my local running store is a preferred retailer and always pushes brooks on me. But I'm glad they did. I actually went in thinking 0 drop altras and came out with these 8mm minivans.
Brooks is definitely very popular in the run specialty world. They are definitely making a much more active push into trail and competitive trail, which is super cool to see.
@@ConversationalPace sorry, let me rephrase - brooks was a huge player and seemed to have dropped off the map in the early 2010s, and I still don't see them advertising much. But it is cool to see and I'm loving these shoes. I hope you wear them in the 250 next week and they are good to you - kick some ass out there Finn.
Have you guys got a chance to run in Trabuco Max 3? The only video I found is a preview in Spanish from Trail Running Review channel.
We haven't yet, but I have a buddy who just got a pair and it is just an upper update with what appears to be a stronger material for better lockdown. Underfoot feel remains the same though 👍
You guys mentioned that the drainage was good. I have a pair of the previous Caldera's and the drainage is really poor. Has Brooks changed the upper materials from the 6? I ran 10 miles the other day in my 6's in warmer but shady conditions and the sweat build up was annoying. It had nowhere to go and it was like I was running through puddles in socks.
Yes the upper material for the Caldera 7 is different. The thin, soft mesh right against the foot isn't going to hold as much moisture due to how thin and light it is, and the more plastic exo-mesh doesn't hold any moisture at all 👍
I'm watching this after watching the Cascadia review, and that question you pose has me thinking which shoe to get. Does the Caldera truly overshadow the Cascadia in its niche?
For me, it does because of the softer cushion, and broad platform. I thought the fit of the Cascadia was also great, but I much prefer the underfoot experience of the Caldera to a point where I just didn't have a place in my shoe closet for the Cascadia
Hi! I am from South Africa and we are doing a part of the Camino (Spain) in June. I prefer a shoe more than a boot. What will you suggest for the Camino? It is not technical and no need for speed, but terrain varies from cobble to paving to tar to rocks etc uphill and downhill. Looking forward to hearing from you.
I think the Caldera would be a fantastic choice for the Camino! Lots of cushion, but also a great outsole for if the cobbles ever get wet. Having a very wide base, it's going to be very stable. Probably not as stable as a full boot, but the tradeoff is that you get a lighter shoe that is more breathable and still moderately stable.
With Brooks' return policy, it's a no-brainer to try the shoe. If it's not working for you, return it within the 90 "trial" period then purchase something else. Looking forward to running in the C7
Definitely a fair point!
Hi from Australia. Has anyone used these with orthotics? Also I'm hoping to use them for artificial turf field hockey. Anyone here used them for that as well?
Where did you get the Wasatch map that is in the background?!
Perhaps @runsingletrack would be able to answer this one!
Tres bonne video comme d habitude , et je viens donner mon point de vue apres 150 km dans les C7 , j ai attendu ces chaussure , et quand j ai su qu elles sortaient le 1 er janvier .....j ai commandé sur le site Brooks le ....1er janvier !!! elles rentraient en competition avec les merrell agility peak 5 , mais j aimes faire confiance a la technologie de chez Brooks et je ne voulais pas me retrouver aux pieds avec une copie quasi parfaite des Hoka speedgoat 3 , mais passons , j ai dans ma rotation , des nike zegama , des hoka speedgoat 4large , des nike wildhorse 8 , et j etais pressé de voir ce que cette Brooks C7 avait dans le ventre , la premiere chose qui m a frappé est qu il y a de la place a l avant pied , ayant un nevrome de morton il est tres important pour moi que mon avant pied ait de la place pour avoir les doigts de pieds bien ecarté , c est aussi pour cette raison que je prenais la version large des hoka speedgoat , mais a present je ne peus plus porter de Hoka car j ai une sensation de drop negatif avec elles , et leur mousse s affaisse trop rapidement et cette marque a present me fait mal au tendon d achille , pire que chez altra , c est pour dire !!! , mais revenons aux caldera C7 , le look , qui est important , est bien plus sympa que les C6 , il faut l avouer , mais nous ne sommes pas encore au niveau de chez Nike , qui pour moi reste le top a ce niveau , puis est venu le moment de mettre les pieds dedans , ce qui m a frappé est la place a l avant pied , tres tres confortable , ensuite , la longueur des lacets , qui ne sont pas comme dans la majorité des chaussures , trop court , ensuite j ai sorti mon arme secrete pour tester le degres de protection contre l agression du terrain et des cailloux , c est a dire une cheville en plastique dure , chose que vous mettez dans le mur apres l avoir percé , pour y visser une visse , et je dois dire que je n ais pas ete surpris , c est pour moi dans le standart de ce genre de chaussure , mais passons au test terrain , je donnerais mon ressenti apres un bon 150 km , car je rode toujours mes chaussures avant d ecrire une critique dessus , jamais quand elles sont neuve , meme si la majeur partie du temp , je n ais pas de soucis avec des chaussures neuve . Le drop de 6 est parfait , la place a l avant pied et la taille correspondent , c est a dire un 44 , parfait en tous points , pas besoin de prendre une taille en dessous ou au dessus comme avec certaines marque , la chaussure avec une 150 km a pris sa forme deffinitive , tous s est mis en place , le mesh meme si un peu rigide s est un peu detendu , le pied a bien pris sa place , mais ce qui n a pas bougé et qui ne bouge pas pendant toute la durée de la sortie est l amorti et le confort , cela me fait un peu penser a la mousse react de chez Nike , qui ne perd pas ses propriété au cour des km , et ca c est tres tres appreciable , pour le maintient du pied et la stabilité , aucuns soucis pour moi , le pied ne bouge pas , meme dans les forte descente , pour la coque derriere le talon qui est tres rigide elle ne me pose pas de soucis particulier . Venons en a l accroche , en sachant que ma toute premiere sortie s est deroulé sous la pluie et le froid , je l ais trouvé tres bonne , sur toutes les surface , on se sent en securité , pas de glissade , les crampons s en sortent tres tres bien dans la boue , bien mieux que les speedgoat , sur la route c est tres bien aussi , pas de problemes , l usure des crampons est abscente , donc c est tres positif , je dirais juste que la gomme vibram et continental on encore une petite avance sur roche humide , mais de pas grand chose , ca reste vraiment tres tres correct sur les C7 , je me sent en totale securité , la ou avec les Nike zegama il m est impossible de courir sur de la roche humide sans avoir peur de tomber . je n ais pas parler du dynamisme , pour moi il est tres bon , juste un peu derriere Nike , mais l avantage chez Brooks c est qu il y a zero affaissement de semelle , l azote tenant parfaitement son role apparement . evidement je n ais pas eu le moindre frottement parasite , ou le moindre echauffement , j aivais dailleur eu un soucis sur mon petit orteil dans les caldera 3 a l epoque , mais aussi au niveau de la maleole avec les la sportiva ultra raptor , les deux seule chaussure m ayant posé probleme sur le nombre incalculable que j ai eu aux pieds !!! j esperes ne pas avoir été trop long , mais c est a peu pres ce que je peus dire sur ces C7 pour le moment .
Et le prix du commentaire le plus long revient à 🤣
Merci pour vos réflexions ! On dirait que le Caldera 7 a certainement atteint le point idéal pour toutes les catégories. J'espère que vous en tirerez de nombreux kilomètres de qualité !
(Translated with Google)
@@ConversationalPace merci 😁
Merci.. para quienes no hemos probado la zapatilla agradecemos tu comentario. Gracias x compartir tus sensaciones
@@marcoantoniomanjarrezdiaz9976 j ai pu tester ce matin les caldera 7 dans une combe faite de roche humide , avec des racines et de la mousse , a la montée et a la descente , cette combe faisait 4 km et 600 mètres de dénivelé, terrain très technique , les caldera 7 se sont très très bien comporté , excellente stabilité, même si elles sont pas faite pour ça , et une accroche irréprochable, aucune glissade , vraiment une très très bonne accroche , une chaussure en qui on peu avoir confiance
Have about 300mi in 6’s and the foam feels dead. Is that normal with these super foams? That being said the sole is still grippy and plenty of life left
With this DNA Loft v3 still being an EVA based foam, it is going to have durability limitations, because there's only so much that they can do to retain the soft cushion. The softer these foams get, the higher percentage of air there is in between the foam cells, and for the EVA material, it just starts to pack out around that mark. With new blends and materials, these softer foams can get more durable. It'll be a matter of if these companies decide to prioritize cushion and rebound vs durability. Hopefully they continue to work on and improve durability!
@@ConversationalPace many thanks for the thoughtful and insightful response. The cheapskate in me hates throwing away shoes just because they are packed out, but with the forefront so dead, its almost impossible to not have some hell striking which is less than ideal. Thanks again. Love what you guys do!
I’m trying to decide between this shoe, the trabuco max 2, and the new NF altamesa 500. What would you recommend for a bigger runner who needs a wider forefoot
altamesa 500. I tried all 3. ASICS shoes have a weird smell and the fit was okay. Caldera 7 is a bit tight around the toe box. With Runner's knot is too tight. Not doing runner's knot my feet slides forward too much. Altamesa 500 checks all boxes. No complaint about fit for me at all. The toe box is wide and comfy. I love those so much.
@@youling1997 thank you!
I just got the Altamesa 500 today and haven't run in them yet, but just wearing them around the house, the overall fit and volume in the forefoot seemed very similar to both the Asics and Brooks. I thought that the Asics felt the softest, the Brooks was the most stable with the raised midsole sidewalls (had the best grip too), and the Altamesa had the most rockered shape. So perhaps one of those other features will help sway your purchase decision. Thanks for watching 👍
Does anyone know if the Altamessa has a wider fit than the Vectiv Enduris 3?
@@antidepressants9232 slightly wider. Enduris 3 was too tight and I had to return them
Do you think that the Caldera 7 could handle technical trail better than the Cascadia 17?
I think it depends a bit on what you are looking for in a technical running shoe. The Cascadia is a little narrower and lower to the ground, so on paper it should allow one to be a little more nimble and agile over technical terrain. I've run for so long in maximal cushion shoes, that I tend to still prefer those (like the Caldera 7) over technical terrain, even if I can't feel the ground as well. The higher volume of cushion protects my feet better. So on paper, I'd say Cascadia, but much of that decision is going to be personal preference. Thanks for watching!
IM running in the Caldera 6......these are now on sale. Is the 7 a good buy or should I go for the discounted 6. worth the upgrade?
Caldera 6 is still a super solid shoe. It feels a little more protective and has a beefier outsole. I prefer the ride of the 7 and like the fit of the upper a little better. Definitely could go either way! I'm a sucker for new and shiny things though 😂
I've still got 2 pairs of the 6's. Not worth the upgrade IMO. But when the 8's come out it might be a different story.
Get them both, i got the 7 for 110 and the 6 for 80 something. I will use the 6 if I need more protection
Just came back from a 2.5hr trail run with a lot of steep ups and downs. My third run on them and I love them with a but..
Summary: In A/B test between the 6 and the 7 you feel a lot of difference.
Way more ground feel, and a slight aiii today hitting a pointy stone. Never any pain with the Cladera 6.
Outsole is more grippy, this is the fastest descending shoe I have (max 2, goat 5, caldera 6, fresh foam 3, S Edge etc)
This shoe lets me blast down with confidence without poles.
It feels slower than the Max 2, but in my standardized runs I see a higher BPM on the Max 2. And hardly any faster segments.
This shoe is fast fast on the trails.
Downside is that is too narrow and the Max 2 is just right.
Speedlands arrive mid next week but I worry for their outsole grip.
Having full confidence downhill is a precious thing..
Will tweak the insole, the lacing and perhaps even the midsole to see if I can get the 7 into perfection.
Thx again for a great review!
Thanks for your input! Definitely agree with the more ground feel of the 7, which seems to be a pro and a con. Love the outsole, for sure. Hopefully with a few more tweaks, you're able to make it the perfect trail shoe for you!
A friend of mine is getting the Cascadia because it comes in Wide sizes; but the Caldera does not.
That's definitely still a very valid point for the Cascadia. Sounds like Brooks needs to start making the Caldera in wide!
I run daily for about 4 km and walk for about 2-3 km...... On college campuses ground made up of red soil..... Can i use these shoes for daily basis to run and walk on that surface??????
Oh absolutely! I've taken this Caldera on both dirt, gravel, rock, and paved road, and it actually did really well on all of it
The Cascadia is now relegated to the Thru-Hiker shoe for Brooks.
Yes I agree, I much prefer long, hike oriented days in the Cascadia over any sort of running
Hey! Thru hiking is an honor, not a relegation! 😂
Would you go up +1 or -1 or 0.5 to your true sizing #’s
Finn and I both went true to size this one and would recommend it. Im a 10 in running shoes and he's a 12 and that size in this shoe was correct
I came here to post that I suspect that the Fresh Foam More Trail V3 is probably a better shoe for those who want a softer midsole aaaaaand - you beat me to it.
😂😂 Well glad to see we're both in agreement with that!
Regarding the mystery signs: you can run the shoe above the clouds, day and night and even when it’s foggy. Simple as that.
Genius!!
TBH the only reason I clicked on this video was to see if you'd recommend it as a thru hiking shoe, lol. Glad you did! I'm looking for a new shoe, I've worn Altras (did NOT work for me), Salomon, and Topo. Do you have any recommendations specifically for the Pennsylvania section? Which has a solid rock guard? TIA!
Thanks for watching! So I know my question at the end of the video was why does the Brooks Cascadia still exist, but for more burly, technical terrain as a thru hiker, the Cascadia might be worth looking into!
I haven’t backpacked in Cascadias, I’ll try them out, thanks! Maybe that’s why they exist. Cue “What was I made for” 🎶😁
😂😂
Ok so I have never bought a pair of sneakers for more than 30 bucks. I’m more a doc martin kinda girl but that being said I’m about to do a 1000km walk on the Camino De Santiago. That’s 1.5 months of walking non stop. So I just bought the Brooks Caldera 7 today and I feel like they look like orthopedic shoes😳😂 At any rate I do like the look of the all black Caldera 6 ones but I know looks aren’t gonna matter. So my question to you guys is is there a big enough difference between the 2 and which shoe would you prefer for what I’m about to take on in May? Cheers
Either the Caldera 6 or 7 is going to be great for the Camino. Depending on weather, it can be wet and slick at times, so the outsole of the Caldera 7 might give you better grip. For something that long, I'd pick comfort of an ugly orthopedic shoe 😂 Thanks for watching!
Nonstop? You’ll be sleepwalking? 😅
I hope it went great!🎉
@@pearlosibu 😂 I haven’t started yet, but I’m surely going to be sleep walking😂😂
@@ConversationalPace 😂 I ended up painting the soles so it wasn’t so bright😂 Since I’ve been traveling the paints coming off and they are even more ugly! I’ve decided I don’t care and I’m happy to have the comfort😁
@@treasurehiding9 Haha. Wishing you the best with it.
Ow and one of these days Finn needs to come clean with his love for the Fresh Foam 3.
I love the upper and how roomy it is, but the midsole is a hot mess, the shoe is off camber, it is not straight, I had to cut lugs to stop it supinating.
I like walking in it, but I now have this nagging feeling I missed something.
If he ends up wearing it at Cocodona, we'll do a follow up review for sure!
250 miles.. that's just scary. I'll do a run again in them, just too curious. @@ConversationalPace
Still scarred by experiences from the 6, a genuinely terrible shoe imo. Brooks will have to produce something truly special to win me back after those
If the 6 was scarring, the 7 likely isn't different enough to win you back, IMO. It does feel better, but at the end of the day, still feels like a Caldera
It’s such an ugly shoe 😂
Not winning many style points, that's for sure 😅