Yesterday, I ran a 7 mile race in Western NC with 2800 ft of elevation Gain and drop over technical and slippery terrain. I had about 12 miles of break in the week before which did open up the foam a bit. They felt very secure and nimble and was able to bomb down the trail with little worry about grip or rocks poking through. Very glad I had these.
3 runs in the shoe so far. A little bit stiff and high on the outside (ankle). Beside this the lockdown and fit is brilliant. Also like the speedy feeling. I love shoes like this. Was running in the Hoka Zinal before.
Glad to see the reviews coming in fast, just like the Catamount! Is it weird I’m already looking forward to Summer Shorts Showdown 2023 and it’s still March?
The Catamount 1s are my absolute favourite shoe for less technical terrain. I am stoked they’ve improved on it. I thought they were already perfection. Ran a 100k last summer and not a single blister.
They work on technical terrain too. Very protective, just not exactly grippy, but being confident in my footing, I’ve taken those through some gnarly terrain
Hey! I´m big fan of Catamount 1 and I have recently bought a pair of C2. And I am little bit sad because I was excited for update drop since autumn. I would like to bring my points of view to your review which I enjoyed. I can name 3 things in which C2 is better htan first: fit (was not issue in C1, but C2 are more comfortable in forefoot/instep), grip (it´s a new pattern, i tested that it can solve "muddy meddow" or unstable downhills in forrests. I have to agree that the grip helps in ascents a lot, I was very surprised.), and weight. But the essential things for me get worse and that´s why I write this comment: midsole (Yes, it is softer than C1 but the overall feeling from this build isn´t "race ready" nor "long distance" - please consider it if you are not sure that you want to spend 170 € just to make oppinion. I have the feeling that C2 steps down strikingly from perfect responsive cushioning like C1 just to softer version. I can´t understand how this issue happened - Brooks declare that the foam is the same DNA FLASH but it feels differently.) So if your C2 concept is "race ready", I warn you that C2 is not as responsive as C1 (that is my issue). If your C2 concept is "long distance shoe" be aware that the stack high is not comfortable, C2 does not protect underfoot 100 % from sharp rocks or roots, you have to be very carefull in fast downhills not to twist ankle. I was very surprised that Ethan marked these Brooks as BUY for 170 €. I would reccomend it to die hard fans like me ... but 170 €, man, you can buy much cheaper long distance or should choose different weapon for race days. I don´t know for me it was a nostalgia buy :D Thanks for your vids Ethan! Wish you fast power hiking miles :D
Great review. Looks like a great shoe. I'm interested 😁.....but I bought the Cascadia 16's for $130. 😬 I cannot justify another pair of Brooks that are $170. Too much $$$. I will wait til next year when they are on sale.
Great review! Just ordered them and looking forward to train in them and race the Jungfrau Marathon in Switzerland in September. Though I do train on trails for longer runs, I normally only race flat road marathons and do most of my running on road. So I've never tried a tril shoe before and with the hundreds of models out there it was impossible to choose the right one. But I do prefer a lighter more responsive shoe and by the sound of it there's a chance I will like this model. Here's hoping. Anyway, first time I've come accross your channel, but you're great - keep it up! And thanks!
I’ll give them a try on in the store. Getting kjerag’s(had to return first order, needed to go down a full size) this Tuesday in the mail so will see how they do first. Currently running in Torrent 3’s and loving them so far. (Long time Torrent 2’s runner)
Update: bought them! Love them so far. Enough protection without being mushy or unresponsive. Really good balance of what I used to run in and my building quiver for this season.
Liked this a lot! But it'll be priced something in the range of $205 here in India (if they make it available at all), and don't be surprised as ultra boost 23 sells for $230 here. I'll look out for discounted Salomons and Sauconys. BTW how's your experience with Puma's trail running line?
did any of you get a weird feeling / "pain" in the middle to the front part of your heel within the first couple of miles? I took them for a quick run (about 6 miles at about 9 min/mi) and at the end of the run I felt "tired"... but mostly the odd feeling by my heel? I'm trying them out for a 50k race coming up and debating whether to keep running on my LP7 or start breaking these bad boys... All comments are welcome. Thank you so much for your attention and participation.
Brooks was killing me when they started sinking the upper below the guide rails. I don't even know the technical term for that. Their entire company is pointless to bunion issues.
The midsole is EVA so it will be responsive for about 100 miles. Then it will begin to lose cushion and response. Brooks needs to catch up and start using PEBA.
Have you used this shoe? I used the Catamount 1 for 450 miles until it actually felt flat. I have had 3 pairs of that one and I have the new one. What you’ve said is simply not true.
Thank you for the transparent and detailed review! Keep up the great work 🙏
Yesterday, I ran a 7 mile race in Western NC with 2800 ft of elevation Gain and drop over technical and slippery terrain. I had about 12 miles of break in the week before which did open up the foam a bit. They felt very secure and nimble and was able to bomb down the trail with little worry about grip or rocks poking through. Very glad I had these.
3 runs in the shoe so far. A little bit stiff and high on the outside (ankle). Beside this the lockdown and fit is brilliant. Also like the speedy feeling. I love shoes like this.
Was running in the Hoka Zinal before.
Glad to see the reviews coming in fast, just like the Catamount! Is it weird I’m already looking forward to Summer Shorts Showdown 2023 and it’s still March?
The Catamount 1s are my absolute favourite shoe for less technical terrain. I am stoked they’ve improved on it. I thought they were already perfection. Ran a 100k last summer and not a single blister.
They work on technical terrain too. Very protective, just not exactly grippy, but being confident in my footing, I’ve taken those through some gnarly terrain
Other than price, how would you say this compares to the Texton X (2...if you've tried that yet)? Best reviews on the web! Thanks GR!!!
I just got them for $80 at nordstrom rack, so these should be great!
Never tried Brooks. Might give them a go. Best wishes from Lancashire, England.
Hey! I´m big fan of Catamount 1 and I have recently bought a pair of C2. And I am little bit sad because I was excited for update drop since autumn. I would like to bring my points of view to your review which I enjoyed.
I can name 3 things in which C2 is better htan first: fit (was not issue in C1, but C2 are more comfortable in forefoot/instep), grip (it´s a new pattern, i tested that it can solve "muddy meddow" or unstable downhills in forrests. I have to agree that the grip helps in ascents a lot, I was very surprised.), and weight.
But the essential things for me get worse and that´s why I write this comment: midsole (Yes, it is softer than C1 but the overall feeling from this build isn´t "race ready" nor "long distance" - please consider it if you are not sure that you want to spend 170 € just to make oppinion. I have the feeling that C2 steps down strikingly from perfect responsive cushioning like C1 just to softer version. I can´t understand how this issue happened - Brooks declare that the foam is the same DNA FLASH but it feels differently.)
So if your C2 concept is "race ready", I warn you that C2 is not as responsive as C1 (that is my issue). If your C2 concept is "long distance shoe" be aware that the stack high is not comfortable, C2 does not protect underfoot 100 % from sharp rocks or roots, you have to be very carefull in fast downhills not to twist ankle.
I was very surprised that Ethan marked these Brooks as BUY for 170 €. I would reccomend it to die hard fans like me ... but 170 €, man, you can buy much cheaper long distance or should choose different weapon for race days. I don´t know for me it was a nostalgia buy :D
Thanks for your vids Ethan! Wish you fast power hiking miles :D
Do you think the toebox is wide enough to accomodate toe socks on a standard width foot?
Very little mention of the “sky vault” that’s supposed to be the exciting part lol
Great review. Looks like a great shoe. I'm interested 😁.....but I bought the Cascadia 16's for $130. 😬
I cannot justify another pair of Brooks that are $170. Too much $$$. I will wait til next year when they are on sale.
I’m with you on wanting just a bit more softness out of the catamount. The 1 would start to feel harsh after about 1.5 hrs the fit wax dialed tho
Great review! Just ordered them and looking forward to train in them and race the Jungfrau Marathon in Switzerland in September. Though I do train on trails for longer runs, I normally only race flat road marathons and do most of my running on road. So I've never tried a tril shoe before and with the hundreds of models out there it was impossible to choose the right one. But I do prefer a lighter more responsive shoe and by the sound of it there's a chance I will like this model. Here's hoping.
Anyway, first time I've come accross your channel, but you're great - keep it up! And thanks!
I’ll give them a try on in the store. Getting kjerag’s(had to return first order, needed to go down a full size) this Tuesday in the mail so will see how they do first. Currently running in Torrent 3’s and loving them so far. (Long time Torrent 2’s runner)
Update: bought them! Love them so far. Enough protection without being mushy or unresponsive. Really good balance of what I used to run in and my building quiver for this season.
I'm ready and waiting for the Wildhorse 8 review Ginger!!
Liked this a lot! But it'll be priced something in the range of $205 here in India (if they make it available at all), and don't be surprised as ultra boost 23 sells for $230 here. I'll look out for discounted Salomons and Sauconys. BTW how's your experience with Puma's trail running line?
Curiosity piqued. But I still miss, MADLY, the Pure Grit 1. The original. That would blow S-lab stuff out of the water!
Literally had exactly the same thoughts about this shoe, although I had the blue colour way which I thought was a bit bleh! Great review as always!!
did any of you get a weird feeling / "pain" in the middle to the front part of your heel within the first couple of miles? I took them for a quick run (about 6 miles at about 9 min/mi) and at the end of the run I felt "tired"... but mostly the odd feeling by my heel? I'm trying them out for a 50k race coming up and debating whether to keep running on my LP7 or start breaking these bad boys... All comments are welcome. Thank you so much for your attention and participation.
Do you highly recommend it for hiking too?
looks really similar to Solomon
Interesting - the second version feels noticeably narrower than the first to me.
I agree. I had 3 of the first one.
Never understood why they marketed the Catamount for WS100..I would not want to run anywhere near 100 miles in that.
I would. Cushioning is not necessarily comfort to everyone
Agree. In fact, I can't think of ANY Brooks I would even run a 5k in...
@@RodRanDusted why’s that Matt?
Brooks was killing me when they started sinking the upper below the guide rails. I don't even know the technical term for that. Their entire company is pointless to bunion issues.
Great review!! I’m excited to try and review these for WeeViews. I’ve been running in the La Sportiva Kaptiva and sense that it’ll be a similar feel.
Better then Kaptiva by a long shot IMO. Ran kaptivas years ago but we’re too thin and stiff.
These are recommended as good shoes for people with diabetes
Salute !!
The midsole is EVA so it will be responsive for about 100 miles. Then it will begin to lose cushion and response. Brooks needs to catch up and start using PEBA.
Have you used this shoe? I used the Catamount 1 for 450 miles until it actually felt flat. I have had 3 pairs of that one and I have the new one. What you’ve said is simply not true.
I could not really think of a worst idea than puting PEBA foam into a responsive TRAIL shoe