Discontinued · trail · Trail / Long run · $150
Brooks Caldera 7: 39 mm heel stack, 6 mm drop, 305 g — specs from independent lab testing.
Built for trail, long run, at a target pace of 8:30–12:00 /mi on trail.
This model is no longer in production. The closest shoe you can buy today is Brooks Caldera 8.
Brooks tuned this midsole soft (4/5 on our cushioning scale). Energy return is moderate — comfortable and predictable rather than bouncy. 39 mm of heel stack is the modern daily-trainer sweet spot — enough foam for long miles without losing contact with the road. Combined, the ride reads as lively at 3/5 responsiveness.
A rock plate sits between the foam and the outsole to spread the load of sharp stones and roots. It is protection, not propulsion — it does not add pop, but it keeps the underfoot bruising out of long days on technical ground.
A 6 mm drop is the mainstream middle — familiar to almost anyone coming from a standard trainer. The rocker is aggressive: the sole is curved and stiff enough to tip you into the next stride on its own, which saves the calf on long runs but feels strange when you slow right down. Forefoot flex is middle of the road. It is a neutral platform with no built-in correction.
The toe-box is standard width — comfortable for most feet without swimming. It fits true to size. Expect roughly 450 miles from the outsole, about $0.33 per mile at $150.
For the foams and plates Brooks uses across its line, read the Brooks brand guide.
Measured against the 542 currently-available shoes in the catalog. The bar shows where this shoe sits in that range.
Weight
300 g / 10.6 oz
25 g heavier than the catalog median of 275 g
Heel stack
39 mm
3 mm taller than the catalog median of 36 mm
Drop
6 mm
Level with the catalog median of 6 mm
Price
$150
10 cheaper than the catalog median of 160
Responsiveness
3 / 5
Catalog median 3 / 5
Cushioning
4 / 5
Catalog median 4 / 5
Energy return
3 / 5
Catalog median 3 / 5
Durability
~450 mi
Catalog median ~400 mi
Within the Brooks line it is heavier than the brand's median (283 g / 10.0 oz) and sits taller than its median stack (36 mm).
Current shoes with the nearest combination of weight, stack, drop, foam feel and plate.
Asics Trabuco Max 5(2025)
300 g / 10.6 oz · 41 mm · 5 mm drop · Rock · $170
Max-cushion trail cruiser, lighter than the 4, with water-repellent mesh.
Brooks Cascadia 20(2025)
306 g / 10.8 oz · 38 mm · 6 mm drop · Rock · $150
Stable, protective trail workhorse for rough ground.
Brooks Cascadia 20 GTX
306 g / 10.8 oz · 38 mm · 6 mm drop · Rock · $180
Waterproof Cascadia for sloppy, cold and wet trail conditions.
Hoka Speedgoat 6(2024)
277 g / 9.8 oz · 40 mm · 5 mm drop · Rock · $155
Vibram grip and a tall cushioned stack — road comfort translated to dirt.