Our verdict

The Brooks Glycerin 20 GTS enhances the tried-and-true features of its neutral sibling with special consideration for overpronators. With substantial DNA LOFT v3 cushioning and a GuideRails system, it ensures a stable ride. While its cost may be on the steeper side and its weight could limit speedwork, we see it as a reliable companion for easy and moderate-paced runs.

Brooks and Dunn Pros

  • zapatillas de running Brooks competición constitución ligera talla 40.5
  • Provides protective cushioning
  • Media suela y amortiguación Brooks Bedlam
  • Ensures smooth transitions
  • Features a secure heel counter
  • Salomon talla 39
  • Good breathability
  • Brooks walking shoes for plantar fasciitis

Brooks and Dunn Cons

  • Midsole may feel overly firm for some runners
  • Pricier than many alternatives
  • Brooks has put together prior to Global Running Day its Global Run Happy Report

Audience verdict

90
Great!

Who should buy

In our view, the Brooks Women's Brooks Cascadia 16 Trail Running Shoes stands out as an excellent stability shoe, tailored to meet the needs of:

  • Runners looking for a versatile shoe with massive support in both the heel and midfoot areas.
  • Incluso las Ghost de Brooks.
  • Heel strikers who want a well-cushioned stability running shoe and don't mind the $160 price tag.

Brooks Women's Brooks Cascadia 16 Trail Running Shoes

Who should NOT buy

If you're on the hunt for a lightweight yet stable running shoe, the Women's Brooks Cascadia 16 Trail Running Shoes might not be your best bet based on our lab tests. Consider a lighter and more affordable option like the Saucony Tempus.

In our view, this shoe might also not be the best choice for midfoot or forefoot strikers due to its significant heel-to-toe drop. For runners who strike with this part of their foot, a flatter shoe with stability features, such as the zapatillas de running Brooks pista talla 45, brooks womens adrenaline gts 19 black purple coral.

Brooks Women's Brooks Cascadia 16 Trail Running Shoes

Brooks and Dunn | Cushioning

Heel stack

Brooks took a conservative approach here, providing a generous amount of foam in the heel. They are aware that most overpronators are heel strikers who need extra cushioning in this area.

With 36.5 mm of nitrogen-infused DNA LOFT v3, there's no possibility of feeling the ground through this shoe.

Brooks Women's Brooks Cascadia 16 Trail Running Shoes Heel stack
Test results
Women's Brooks Cascadia 16 Trail Running Shoes 36.5 mm
Average 34.1 mm
Compared to 385 running shoes
Brooks and Dunn
22.5 mm
Heel stack
46.3 mm

Forefoot stack

This explains why the forefoot cushioning is fairly typical, measuring at 25.5 mm. Not many forefoot strikers are likely to single out this shoe as their top choice.

Brooks Women's Brooks Cascadia 16 Trail Running Shoes Forefoot stack
Test results
Women's Brooks Cascadia 16 Trail Running Shoes 25.5 mm
Average 25.5 mm
Compared to 385 running shoes
Brooks and Dunn
13.7 mm
Forefoot stack
37.1 mm

Drop

This results in an 11-mm heel-to-toe drop, which is 1 mm away from the official numbers provided by Brooks (10 mm).

This slight discrepancy is perfectly acceptable.

Brooks Women's Brooks Cascadia 16 Trail Running Shoes Drop
Test results
Women's Brooks Cascadia 16 Trail Running Shoes 11.0 mm
Average 8.6 mm
Compared to 385 running shoes
Brooks and Dunn
0.0 mm
Drop
16.1 mm

Midsole softness

Note: a low durometer measurement equals a soft material, whereas a high measurement means it's firm.

DNA LOFT v3 is a nitrogen-infused midsole, making it lighter and more responsive than the standard DNA LOFT.

But don't anticipate a super-plush experience like in a Nike Invincible 3. With a softness measurement of 23.4 HA, this foam delivers a balanced, comfortable feel that's well-suited for stability-focused shoes like this one.

Brooks Women's Brooks Cascadia 16 Trail Running Shoes Midsole softness
Test results
Women's Brooks Cascadia 16 Trail Running Shoes 23.4 HA
Average 20.9 HA
Brooks Cascadia 9.
Compared to 312 running shoes
Brooks and Dunn
8.5 HA
Midsole softness (soft to firm)
38.9 HA

Compra las Brooks Ghost 14 GTX en Brooks (%)

Following a 20 minutes exposure to freezing temperatures, the foam continues to strike a very balanced note—it's neither too soft nor too firm. Our subsequent round of measurements yielded a 28.9 HA value.

This represents a 23.5% increase, a result that aligns nicely with the average. It's precisely what we anticipate from a foam based on EVA. Things could indeed have been worse...

Brooks Women's Brooks Cascadia 16 Trail Running Shoes Compra las Brooks Ghost 14 GTX en Brooks
Test results
Women's Brooks Cascadia 16 Trail Running Shoes 24%
Average 26%
Compared to 312 running shoes
Brooks and Dunn
0%
Compra las Brooks Ghost 14 GTX en Brooks
63%

Insole thickness

Brooks understands that the Glycerin line needs to epitomize comfort, and that means including a plush, thick insole.

Ours measurement came at 5 mm, which seems solid to us.

Brooks Women's Brooks Cascadia 16 Trail Running Shoes Insole thickness
Test results
Women's Brooks Cascadia 16 Trail Running Shoes 5.0 mm
Average 4.4 mm
Compared to 381 running shoes
Brooks and Dunn
1.5 mm
Insole thickness
7.3 mm

Size and fit

Size

Brooks Women's Brooks Cascadia 16 Trail Running Shoes is true to size (193 votes).

zapatillas de running Brooks trail talla 46.5 entre 60 y 100?

1 size small ½ size small True to size ½ size large 1 size large
Compared to 356 running shoes
Brooks and Dunn
½ size small
Slightly small
True to size
Slightly large
½ size large

Чоловічі кросівки brooks ghost 9

When we shifted our attention to the toe box, we didn't find the shoe particularly spacious or restrictive—it just felt average to us.

This impression was confirmed by our measurements, which showed a maximum width of 97.9 mm, firmly in the average range.

Brooks Women's Brooks Cascadia 16 Trail Running Shoes Toebox width at the widest part
Test results
Women's Brooks Cascadia 16 Trail Running Shoes 97.9 mm
Average 98.5 mm
Compared to 370 running shoes
Brooks and Dunn
91.6 mm
Чоловічі кросівки brooks ghost 9
104.9 mm

Toebox width - big toe

Nonetheless, we found our toes enjoying a touch more wiggle-room than expected. This extra space was substantiated by a 78.9 mm measurement.

Brooks Women's Brooks Cascadia 16 Trail Running Shoes Toebox width at the big toe
Test results
Women's Brooks Cascadia 16 Trail Running Shoes 78.9 mm
Average 78.4 mm
Compared to 244 running shoes
Brooks and Dunn
67.6 mm
Toebox width - big toe
89.2 mm

Stability

Lateral stability test

Living up to its reputation, the Brooks Women's Brooks Cascadia 16 Trail Running Shoes indeed proves itself as a stability shoe, and we're absolutely delighted to confirm that it truly delivers in this aspect!

Brooks Women's Brooks Cascadia 16 Trail Running Shoes GuideRails

Brooks England Seient B17 Standard Brooks deploys across a range of stability shoes Brooks cascadia 15 uomo.

Brooks and Dunn | Torsional rigidity

Stability in any shoe necessitates at least a moderate level of torsional rigidity, and the GTS 20 confidently embodies this trait. Our assessment scores it a solid 4 out of 5, a rating that unquestionably surpasses the average result.

Test results
Women's Brooks Cascadia 16 Trail Running Shoes 4
Average 3.4
Compared to 364 running shoes
Brooks and Dunn
1
Torsional rigidity
5

Heel counter stiffness

The rigidity of the heel counter plays an essential role too. Despite the potential discomfort some might feel with a firm heel counter, it becomes almost indispensable in stability-focused shoes. It helps prevent the shoe from lateral collapse, especially crucial for heel strikers.

In the GTS 20, we've discovered a built-like-a-tank 5/5 heel counter. While we might have preferred a bit more flexibility, we comprehend and support Brooks' whole-hearted commitment to this design, being their ultimate goal to ensure top-tier stability for heel strikers.

Test results
Women's Brooks Cascadia 16 Trail Running Shoes 5
Average 2.9
Compared to 348 running shoes
Brooks and Dunn
1
Heel counter stiffness
5

brooks ghost 14 electric cheetah run wild black purple

An additional stability-boosting tactic often employed by brands involves expanding the shoe's landing base. Quite intuitive, isn't it?

Brooks has opted for an ultra-wide design in this case. With a forefoot width of 119.5 mm, it ranks among the widest shoes we've ever analyzed in our lab!

Brooks Women's Brooks Cascadia 16 Trail Running Shoes Midsole width in the forefoot
Test results
Women's Brooks Cascadia 16 Trail Running Shoes 119.5 mm
Average 114.1 mm
Compared to 386 running shoes
Brooks and Dunn
103.3 mm
brooks ghost 14 electric cheetah run wild black purple
126.9 mm

zapatillas de running Brooks constitución media voladoras minimalistas talla 45.5

This concept extends to the heel as well. With every stride, the widened shoe naturally provides stability. Our measurement for the heel came in at 98.9 mm, surpassing the usual standards.

Brooks Women's Brooks Cascadia 16 Trail Running Shoes Midsole width in the heel
Test results
Women's Brooks Cascadia 16 Trail Running Shoes 98.9 mm
Average 90.7 mm
Compared to 386 running shoes
Brooks and Dunn
73.0 mm
zapatillas de running Brooks constitución media voladoras minimalistas talla 45.5
106.6 mm

Caratteristiche Brooks england Borsa Sella Challenge Large Tool 1.5L

High torsional rigidity is almost a given for any stability shoe, but this isn't necessarily the case when it comes to stiffness. Indeed, it wouldn't make sense for a shoe designed for daily runs to be super stiff.

In alignment with this, our measurement for the 90-degree bend test came in at only 24.9N, which falls below the average result. This explains why the shoe provides such a comfortable ride during easy aerobic runs.

Test results
Women's Brooks Cascadia 16 Trail Running Shoes 24.9N
Average 28.1N
We use an average of four tests. The video shows one of those tests.
Compared to 368 running shoes
Brooks and Dunn
2.2N
Flexibility <> Stiffness
72.1N

Stiffness in cold (%)

After placing the shoe in the freezer for 20 minutes and repeating the test, we found that it became stiffer. However, this change was consistent with the results we've seen from other shoes tested under the same conditions.

The increase we measured in the lab is a substantial 41.2%, a change that you can clearly feel underfoot. Yet this is a typical outcome that we anticipate from a shoe with an EVA-based foam.

Test results
Women's Brooks Cascadia 16 Trail Running Shoes 41%
Average 33%
Compared to 368 running shoes
Brooks and Dunn
0%
Stiffness in cold
101%

Weight

A significant disappointment with this shoe is its excessive weight. The scale reveals a 10.9 oz (309g) reality for a US size 9—just too much by contemporary standards.

We are eagerly looking to the next release, hoping that Brooks will take the necessary steps to bring this shoe's weight under the 10 oz benchmark.

Brooks Women's Brooks Cascadia 16 Trail Running Shoes Weight
Test results
Women's Brooks Cascadia 16 Trail Running Shoes 10.90 oz (309g)
Average 9.35 oz (265g)
Compared to 386 running shoes
Brooks and Dunn
5.61 oz (159g)
Weight
12.59 oz (357g)

Breathability

Even though the engineered mesh upper that Brooks incorporates doesn't offer the ultimate ventilation, we gave it a respectable 4/5 in our breathability test. 

The results show that even in warmer climates, the shoe maintains its cool. Yet an added advantage of not being overly breathable is that it can keep your feet warm during winter when paired with thick socks.

Upon testing with light, it's clear that Brooks prioritized ventilation in the toe box. This strategy is one of the most effective for maintaining good airflow and ensuring adequate ventilation.

Brooks Women's Brooks Cascadia 16 Trail Running Shoes microscope

This focus on ventilation becomes even more apparent under a microscope, right? We strive to examine the ventilation holes as closely as possible, and we seem to have succeeded in that.

Brooks Women's Brooks Cascadia 16 Trail Running Shoes airflow

Test results
Women's Brooks Cascadia 16 Trail Running Shoes 4
Average 3.8
Compared to 315 running shoes
Brooks and Dunn
1
Breathability
5

Durability

Toebox durability

Our initial impressions of a shoe often come from the feel of it in our hands, before we even start the tests.

For the Glycerin 20 GTS, it was evident early on that the upper might not be sturdy at all. Of course, we always hold out hope that we might be surprised.

Regrettably, our concerns were confirmed once we the Dremel met the upper. The engineered mesh from Brooks couldn't withstand the pressure—it disintegrated instantly.

With such disappointing results, we had no option but to assign the Glycerin 20 GTS a score of 1/5.

Brooks Women's Brooks Cascadia 16 Trail Running Shoes Toebox durability
Test results
Women's Brooks Cascadia 16 Trail Running Shoes 1
Average 2.5
Compared to 249 running shoes
Brooks and Dunn
1
Toebox durability
5

Heel padding durability

The trend continues with the heel counter. When we subjected it to the same force using the Dremel, the results were equally disappointing.

Ténis Brooks Cascadia 15 azul marinho bordô branco.

Brooks Women's Brooks Cascadia 16 Trail Running Shoes Heel padding durability
Test results
Women's Brooks Cascadia 16 Trail Running Shoes 1
Average 3.2
Compared to 245 running shoes
Brooks and Dunn
1
Heel padding durability
5

Outsole hardness

Daily training shoes typically register hardness values above 75 HC, so we were genuinely surprised when we obtained a measurement of only 69.4 HC.

Softer rubber often leads to premature wear in the outsole, but could this be the case here?

Brooks Women's Brooks Cascadia 16 Trail Running Shoes Outsole hardness
Test results
Women's Brooks Cascadia 16 Trail Running Shoes 69.4 HC
Average 79.9 HC
Brooks Cascadia 9.
Compared to 366 running shoes
Brooks and Dunn
57.3 HC
Outsole hardness
93.0 HC

Outsole durability

Luckily, that doesn't seem to be the case. We put the Brooks rubber to the test again with the Dremel, and it held up quite well.

We were only able to create a 0.49 mm indentation in the outsole, which, by any measure, is an impressive result.

Brooks Women's Brooks Cascadia 16 Trail Running Shoes Outsole durability
Test results
Women's Brooks Cascadia 16 Trail Running Shoes 0.5 mm
Average 1.0 mm
Compared to 227 running shoes
Brooks and Dunn
0.0 mm
Outsole wear
2.0 mm

Outsole thickness

At a solid 3.3 mm, it appears there's sufficient rubber, which should hold up for as long as the foam maintains its cushioning.

Brooks Women's Brooks Cascadia 16 Trail Running Shoes outsole

There's some exposed foam in non-important parts, yet nothing to worry about.

Brooks Women's Brooks Cascadia 16 Trail Running Shoes Outsole thickness
Test results
Women's Brooks Cascadia 16 Trail Running Shoes 3.3 mm
Average 3.2 mm
Compared to 385 running shoes
Brooks and Dunn
1.0 mm
Outsole thickness
6.0 mm

Misc

Reflective elements

Finally, it's quite disappointing that a $160 shoe like this lacks reflective elements, a trend we're seeing in many brands.

Brooks Women's Brooks Cascadia 16 Trail Running Shoes Reflective elements
Test results
Women's Brooks Cascadia 16 Trail Running Shoes No

Tongue padding

Brooks designers likely decided a gusset wasn't necessary for the tongue because of its massive padding. With a thickness of 9.9 mm, it's like a pillow for your instep, enhancing a snug lockdown.

Brooks Women's Brooks Cascadia 16 Trail Running Shoes Tongue padding
Test results
Women's Brooks Cascadia 16 Trail Running Shoes 9.9 mm
Average 5.8 mm
Compared to 383 running shoes
Brooks and Dunn
0.5 mm
Tongue padding
14.2 mm

Tongue: gusset type

The lack of a gusseted tongue in this shoe disappoints us, especially given its $160 price tag.

While this doesn't pose major problems, it could affect the perfect lockdown some of us might seek. For a more secure fit, we'd recommend considering the zapatillas de running Brooks neutro minimalistas as an alternative.

Brooks Women's Brooks Cascadia 16 Trail Running Shoes Tongue: gusset type
Test results
Women's Brooks Cascadia 16 Trail Running Shoes None

Removable insole

The GTS 20 welcomes the use of custom orthotics or third-party insoles.

Brooks Women's Brooks Cascadia 16 Trail Running Shoes Removable insole
Test results
Women's Brooks Cascadia 16 Trail Running Shoes Yes