In production · trail · Trail / Tempo / Race day · $180
Light trail racer with SkyVault plate propulsion.
Built for trail, tempo, race day, at a target pace of 7:30–10:00 /mi on trail.
The midsole is DNA Flash, tuned balanced (3/5 on our cushioning scale). Energy return is above average: the midsole rebounds well without feeling unstable. 34 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 moderate — enough curve to smooth the roll-through without dictating your footstrike. The forefoot is stiff, so it rolls rather than bends — a lever, not a slipper. 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 350 miles from the outsole, about $0.51 per mile at $180.
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
270 g / 9.5 oz
5 g lighter than the catalog median of 275 g
Heel stack
34 mm
2 mm lower than the catalog median of 36 mm
Drop
6 mm
Level with the catalog median of 6 mm
Price
$180
20 pricier than the catalog median of 160
Responsiveness
3 / 5
Catalog median 3 / 5
Cushioning
3 / 5
Catalog median 4 / 5
Energy return
4 / 5
Catalog median 3 / 5
Durability
~350 mi
Catalog median ~400 mi
Within the Brooks line it is lighter than the brand's median (283 g / 10.0 oz) and sits lower than its median stack (36 mm).
Current shoes with the nearest combination of weight, stack, drop, foam feel and plate.
Brooks High Point 2
270 g / 9.5 oz · 33 mm · 6 mm drop · Rock · $160
Nimble mountain shoe with grippy lugs and a protective plate.
Topo Athletic MTN Racer 4
294 g / 10.4 oz · 33 mm · 5 mm drop · Rock · $155
Technical trail racer with a secure fit and Megagrip traction.
Adidas Terrex Agravic TT(2026)
285 g / 10.1 oz · 32 mm · 6 mm drop · Rock · $180
Broad, protective technical trail shoe with a fingered rock plate.
On Cloudventure 3
290 g / 10.2 oz · 34 mm · 6 mm drop · Rock · $160
Versatile trail shoe with Missiongrip and a rock plate.