Step 02 — The lineup
6 shoes scored across eleven metrics · Any purpose
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Brooks Cascadia 19 — The stable, protective all-terrain workhorse of trail running.
Sizing note
Everything here fits true to size. Leave a thumbnail of space at the toe.
Durability
Expect roughly 392 miles before the midsole flattens out.
Step 03 — Every metric
| Metric | New Balance Fresh Foam Gobi Trail v3 | New Balance Summit Unknown v4 | Merrell MTL Long Sky 2 Matryx | Salomon Pulsar Trail | Saucony Peregrine 15(2025) | Merrell MTL Skyfire 2 Matryx | Hoka Torrent 3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weight | 255 g / 9.0 oz | 280 g / 9.9 oz | 250 g / 8.8 oz | 280 g / 9.9 oz | 275 g / 9.7 oz | 200 g / 7.1 oz | 247 g / 8.7 oz |
| Drop | 6 mm | 6 mm | 6 mm | 6 mm | 4 mm | 6 mm | 5 mm |
| Stack (heel) | 26 mm | 32 mm | 28 mm | 33 mm | 28 mm | 25 mm | 23 mm |
| Cushioning | |||||||
| Flexibility | |||||||
| Stability (5 = most guidance) | |||||||
| Rocker geometry | |||||||
| Energy return | |||||||
| Responsiveness | |||||||
| Toe-box | Standard | Standard | Wide | Standard | Standard | Wide | Standard |
| Plate | — | Rock | Rock | Rock | Nylon | Rock | Rock |
| Intended pace | 8:30–11:00 /mi | 8:30–11:30 /mi | 7:00–10:00 /mi | 8:30–12:00 /mi | 8:00–12:00 /mi | 6:30–9:30 /mi | 8:30–12:00 /mi |
| Purpose | Trail, Tempo | Trail, Tempo, Daily | Race day, Trail | Trail | Trail, Tempo | Race day, Trail | Trail |
| Sizing | True to size | True to size | True to size | True to size | True to size | True to size | True to size |
| Durability | ~350 mi | ~400 mi | ~350 mi | ~450 mi | ~400 mi | ~300 mi | ~450 mi |
| Price | $100 | $130 | $200 | $150 | $145 | $220 | $150 |
Your reference shoe is shown first for context. Cushioning, flexibility and stability are rated 1–5, where 5 stability means the most guidance and 1 means fully neutral.