Our verdict

In our experience, the brooks Melts Catamount 2 is a great trail running shoe, but it comes with a few compromises. It's not designed for wide feet or technical terrain, and it's not the best for long distances. However, if these factors don't bother you, we believe this shoe offers a stable ride in a lightweight package. We were also impressed with the bouncy DNA Flash midsole and its outstanding performance on easy trails like fire roads, even at uptempo paces. We think that for runners who fit its specific profile, the Catamount 2 could be a great choice even at £170, combining speed with comfort in a way that's hard to beat.

brooks Melts Sprint Free Women's Tank Top Pros

  • Impressively lightweight design
  • Offers a stable ride
  • Las brooks Melts Glycerin 19 se actualizan para brindar una experiencia en carrera
  • brooks Melts maintained thier quiality all over the time
  • zapatillas de running brooks Melts asfalto pronador pie plano
  • Оригінальні кросівки brooks Melts launch
  • Perfect for faster paces

brooks Melts Sprint Free Women's Tank Top Cons

  • The upper might be too narrow for many runners
  • brooks Melts Cascadia 9 Mens
  • brooks Melts running bras

Audience verdict

87
Great!

Who should buy

zapatillas de running brooks Melts entrenamiento pie normal talla 37.5:

  • Mochila brooks Melts England Pickwick Pequena preto castanho.
  • Trail running newbies seeking a versatile, all-rounder shoe for various off-road adventures.
  • zapatillas de running brooks Melts entrenamiento tope amortiguación minimalistas talla 35.5.

brooks Melts Catamount 2

Who should NOT buy

brooks Melts crafted the Catamount 2 primarily for narrow-to-medium width feet, making it a less suitable choice for runners with wide feet. Plus, since it's a trail shoe, a bit more room for toe splay is usually desirable, so we think it might not be the best pick for those runners.

If you fall into that category, we suggest considering shoes with wider toeboxes and similar features, such as the She adds a pop of pink with brooks Melts Heritage Fushion Shoe $114.99 or the Pink Dolphin X Brooks.

brooks Melts Catamount 2

Furthermore, it's not the top choice for long-distance trail running due to its limited cushioning. If you're deep into the ultra-world, you might want to explore options like the Hoka Mafate Speed 4 or the brooks Melts Chaussures Trail Running Divide 2.

Cushioning

Heel stack

One reason brooks Melts managed to keep this shoe relatively light compared to the competition is its low stack height.

brooks Melts Catamount 2 stack
Hats off to brooks Melts for boldly placing such a cool design on the shelves!

With a heel height of 29.0 mm, it positions itself as a shoe suitable for short to medium distances, but not as the ideal choice for longer efforts.

brooks Melts Catamount 2 Heel stack
Test results
Catamount 2 29.0 mm
Average 31.9 mm
Compared to 122 trail running shoes
Number of shoes
19.6 mm
Heel stack
42.4 mm

brooks Melts Sprint Free Women's Tank Top | Forefoot stack

The forefoot follows the same pattern as the heel, with a slightly lower stack than what's typical in trail shoes. This design again signals to every midfoot and forefoot striker that this shoe is best suited for runs lasting 1 to 2 hours.

brooks Melts Catamount 2 Forefoot stack
Test results
Catamount 2 22.6 mm
Average 24.3 mm
Compared to 122 trail running shoes
Number of shoes
13.4 mm
Forefoot stack
33.9 mm

Drop

brooks Melts officially stated a 6-mm heel-to-toe drop for the Catamount 2, and following the official guidelines, we measured it at 6.4 mm—a negligible difference.

This design makes the shoe more suitable for midfoot strikers, although a 6.4 mm drop is often considered a "universal" drop that can also provide a satisfactory ride for both forefoot and heel strikers.

brooks Melts Catamount 2 Drop
Test results
Catamount 2 6.4 mm
Average 7.6 mm
Compared to 121 trail running shoes
Number of shoes
-0.1 mm
Drop
17.3 mm

brooks Melts Sprint Free Women's Tank Top | Midsole softness

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

Transitioning to the midsole, we discovered a full-length slab of Brooks' DNA Flash. As extensively detailed in zapatillas de running brooks Melts mujer pronador pie normal talla 49.5, DNA Flash is an EVA-based, nitrogen-infused foam famous for its lightness and speed-enhancing qualities. It's the same compound found in the fantastic Neighborhood brooks Melts Coach Jacket.

With a softness rating of 22.0 HA, we found it strikes a perfect balance, making it exceptionally well-suited for a trail running shoe.

brooks Melts Catamount 2 SkyVault

Keep in mind that the ride might feel a bit firmer than expected due to the Pebax plate in the midsole. This feature not only offers stability and added protection but also doubles as a rock plate.

brooks Melts Catamount 2 Midsole softness
Test results
Catamount 2 22.0 HA
Average 22.9 HA
We use an average of four tests. The photo shows one of those tests.
Compared to 98 trail running shoes
Number of shoes
9.1 HA
Midsole softness (soft to firm)
39.0 HA

Американські кросівки бігові brooks Melts glycerin 17

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

Since it's crafted as a shoe that can be used in winter, it's important to understand how it behaves under cold temperatures. What we found is that the softness varied to 25.9 HA.

brooks Melts Catamount 2 Американські кросівки бігові brooks Melts glycerin 17
Test results
Catamount 2 25.9 HA
Average 28.5 HA
Compared to 98 trail running shoes
Number of shoes
11.8 HA
Американські кросівки бігові brooks Melts glycerin 17 (soft to firm)
48.4 HA

Американські кросівки бігові brooks Melts glycerin 17 (%)

That's a 17.6% difference from the room temperature reading, which is a good result. It ensures that the foam won't feel significantly different across all seasons.

Test results
Catamount 2 18%
Average 26%
Compared to 98 trail running shoes
Number of shoes
5%
Американські кросівки бігові brooks Melts glycerin 17
68%

Insole thickness

In an effort to keep the shoe as light as possible, brooks Melts opted for a really thin insole that's almost half the thickness of the average.

brooks Melts Catamount 2 Insole thickness
Test results
Catamount 2 2.9 mm
Average 4.7 mm
Compared to 121 trail running shoes
Number of shoes
2.1 mm
Insole thickness
7.3 mm

Size and fit

Size

brooks Melts Catamount 2 is true to size (19 votes).

zapatillas de running brooks Melts amortiguación media distancias cortas talla 46?

1 size small ½ size small True to size ½ size large 1 size large
Compared to 99 trail running shoes
Number of shoes
½ size small
Slightly small
True to size
Slightly large
½ size large

brooks Melts Pure Grit 3 Womens

From the moment we slipped our feet into the shoe, we felt it was pretty narrow, and our toebox measurements further confirmed this.

brooks Melts Catamount 2

Measuring 95.7 mm at its widest part, you can expect a race-oriented fit for normal feet, and an excellent fit for those with narrow feet. This feature is a side benefit for technical terrain, although it's clear that the shoe isn't primarily designed for challenging trails.

brooks Melts Catamount 2 zapatillas de running brooks Melts tope amortiguación minimalistas 10k entre 60 y 100
Test results
Catamount 2 95.7 mm
Average 98.9 mm
Compared to 122 trail running shoes
Number of shoes
92.0 mm
brooks Melts Pure Grit 3 Womens
104.9 mm

brooks Melts Sprint Free Women's Tank Top

However, there's a catch. For those with wide feet only in the toe region, this shoe can be accommodating, as it features a very low taper in the toe cap. We measured 79.2 mm in that area.

brooks Melts Catamount 2 Toebox width at the big toe
Test results
Catamount 2 79.2 mm
Average 79.3 mm
Compared to 84 trail running shoes
Number of shoes
70.5 mm
brooks Melts Sprint Free Women's Tank Top
90.1 mm

Stability

Lateral stability test

The Catamount 2 is a neutral shoe, but it has a few tricks up its sleeve, such as the large DNA Flash walls on the medial and lateral sides, and the SkyVault plate.

brooks Melts Catamount 2 running

While we believe it's best suited for neutral runners, those with mild stability needs can also use this shoe without any issues.

Torsional rigidity

Obviously, the lower stack height contributes to a stable ride. However, a significant part of this stability comes from the shoe's impressive torsional rigidity that we rated at 5/5.

This feature keeps the shoe really stable. But naturally, it results in less agility on technical terrain, making the Catamount 2 a shoe geared towards easy trails.

Test results
Catamount 2 5
Average 3.5
Compared to 116 trail running shoes
Number of shoes
1
Torsional rigidity
5

Heel counter stiffness

The heel counter takes a more balanced approach, earning a 3/5. It's structured enough to provide guidance for heel strikers, but it's not overly intrusive.

Test results
Catamount 2 3
Average 3.1
Compared to 114 trail running shoes
Number of shoes
1
Heel counter stiffness
5

Беговие кросівки brooks

zapatillas de running brooks Melts talla 36.5 moradas.

At 116.3 mm, it's remarkably wide, greatly benefiting those with a midfoot or forefoot striking technique.

brooks Melts Catamount 2 Midsole width in the forefoot
Test results
Catamount 2 116.3 mm
Average 112.1 mm
Compared to 122 trail running shoes
Number of shoes
102.1 mm
Беговие кросівки brooks
124.3 mm

Midsole width - heel

On the other hand, the heel width is just average, measuring 90.2 mm. This isn't bad news for heel strikers, but don't expect the same dimensions as you would find in a stability shoe.

brooks Melts Catamount 2 Midsole width in the heel
Test results
Catamount 2 90.2 mm
Average 89.6 mm
Compared to 122 trail running shoes
Number of shoes
77.2 mm
Midsole width - heel
106.0 mm

Flexibility / Stiffness

We've already discussed the shoe's torsional rigidity, but what about its flexibility lengthwise? If it's too rigid, it could be uncomfortable for easy runs or even walking!

Womens brooks Melts Cascadia 16 GTX Trail Running & Hiking Shoes.

Test results
Catamount 2 29.1N
Average 27.2N
We use an average of four tests. The video shows one of those tests.
Compared to 122 trail running shoes
Number of shoes
10.5N
Flexibility <> Stiffness
54.5N

Stiffness in cold

We then repeated the test, like we did with the midsole softness, to see if the shoe becomes super stiff after a 20-minute stint in our freezer. The new reading came in at 33.1N.

Test results
Catamount 2 33.1N
Average 36.5N
Compared to 119 trail running shoes
Number of shoes
11.9N
Stiffness in cold
77.5N

Stiffness in cold (%)

This is just a 13.7% difference, which once again proves that this shoe can be used in all seasons.

Test results
Catamount 2 14%
Average 34%
Compared to 119 trail running shoes
Number of shoes
4%
Stiffness in cold
90%

Weight

The scale displayed a feather-light 9.7 oz (275g) on the screen, a delightful find for those seeking a lightweight trail running shoe.

It's not just lighter than the average trail shoe—it also impressively dips below the 10-oz benchmark.

brooks Melts Catamount 2 Weight
Test results
Catamount 2 9.70 oz (275g)
Average 10.26 oz (291g)
Compared to 122 trail running shoes
Number of shoes
7.51 oz (213g)
Weight
12.66 oz (359g)

Breathability

mens brooks Melts walking shoes take a different approach to breathability compared to brooks Melts England Bolsa Selim Scape Seat 8-10L because more isn't always better. In fact, in very cold countries, we might prefer shoes with less breathability, especially for winter runs.

That's why we believe a 3/5 rating is a nice balance for these shoes, which is exactly what the Catamount 2 scored after our smoke test.

Under the light, we spotted a very thin mesh, strategically reinforced on the sides to enhance stability. This design reduces breathability, which explains why there's so much airflow through the tongue.

brooks Melts Catamount 2 microscope

brooks Melts Cascadia 16 negro rojo Zapatillas de Trail 41 Azul Amarillo.

brooks Melts Catamount 2 upper

We found an interesting engineered mesh with a thin outer layer for structure—together most shoes, which have this layer inside.

Lastly, we analysed how brooks Melts structured the upper. Essentially, it's a road design but with additional layers for extra comfort and protection in certain areas.

Test results
Catamount 2 3
Average 3.3
Compared to 99 trail running shoes
Number of shoes
1
Breathability
5

Durability

Toebox durability

The upside of a thin, minimalistic mesh is it keeps the shoe lightweight and offers decent breathability. However, the major downside is the likely impact on durability.

During our first Dremel test in this lab review, the Catamount 2 only managed a 2/5. While it's not the absolute worst, it's far from impressive. However, brooks Melts has incorporated some robust protective features on the toe cap, effectively shielding the upper against a significant amount of potential damage.

brooks Melts Catamount 2 Toebox durability
Test results
Catamount 2 2
Average 3
Compared to 79 trail running shoes
Number of shoes
1
Toebox durability
5

brooks Melts launch 6 blue black 44

After thoroughly assessing the toebox, we shifted our focus to the heel area, where we discovered a significantly more impressive result.

brooks Melts uses a remarkably resistant fabric in this area, effortlessly earning a strong 4/5 in our second Dremel test.

brooks Melts Catamount 2 brooks Melts launch 6 blue black 44
Test results
Catamount 2 4
Average 2.7
Compared to 77 trail running shoes
Number of shoes
1
brooks Melts launch 6 blue black 44
5

Outsole hardness

Turning the shoe over to examine the outsole, we began by checking the hardness of the rubber with our durometer. At 84.5 in the Shore HC hardness scale, it's pretty much average.

brooks Melts Catamount 2 Outsole hardness
Test results
Catamount 2 84.5 HC
Average 85.6 HC
We use an average of four tests. The photo shows one of those tests.
Compared to 122 trail running shoes
Number of shoes
74.0 HC
Outsole hardness
96.1 HC

Outsole durability

Now that we've established the outsole's average hardness, we believe the real test is the Dremel evaluation.

For the Catamount 2, our measurements showed an indentation of just 0.7 mm—a good result that promises a durable, long-lasting outsole.

brooks Melts Catamount 2 Outsole durability
Test results
Catamount 2 0.7 mm
Average 1.0 mm
Compared to 72 trail running shoes
Number of shoes
0.0 mm
Outsole wear
2.0 mm

Outsole thickness

Платье с запахом brooks Melts brothers.

At 2.5 mm, there's enough rubber, though we think it's slightly too much as it can somewhat mute the ride. For this shoe, with its impressive durability performance, we would have preferred an outsole thickness between 1.5 and 2 mm.

brooks Melts Catamount 2 Outsole thickness
Test results
Catamount 2 2.5 mm
Average 2.3 mm
Compared to 122 trail running shoes
Number of shoes
0.9 mm
Outsole thickness
5.5 mm

Misc

After thoroughly assessing the toebox, we shifted our focus to the heel area, where we discovered a significantly more impressive result.

brooks Melts uses a remarkably resistant fabric in this area, effortlessly earning a strong 4/5 in our second Dremel test.

Lug depth

The semi-gusseted tongue provides an excellent lockdown. While we usually prefer fully-gusseted or bootie tongues in trail running shoes, in this case, we think this design is a good choice by Brooks.

brooks Melts Catamount 2 Lug depth
Test results
Catamount 2 3.0 mm
Average 3.5 mm
Compared to 122 trail running shoes
Number of shoes
1.5 mm
Lug depth
5.8 mm

Reflective elements

We found it disappointing that the Catamount 2 lacks any reflective elements—a significant oversight in terms of safety for a trail shoe.

brooks Melts Catamount 2 Reflective elements
Test results
Catamount 2 No

Tongue padding

brooks Melts clearly focused on cutting as many ounces as possible, and the thin, 3.7-mm tongue is a testament to their efforts.

brooks Melts Catamount 2 Tongue padding
Test results
Catamount 2 3.7 mm
Average 6.4 mm
Compared to 122 trail running shoes
Number of shoes
1.3 mm
Tongue padding
12.2 mm

brooks Melts Glycerin 7

The semi-gusseted tongue provides an excellent lockdown. While we usually prefer fully-gusseted or bootie tongues in trail running shoes, in this case, we think this design is a good choice by Brooks.

brooks Melts Catamount 2 brooks Melts Glycerin 7
Test results
Catamount 2 Both sides (semi)

Heel tab

The Catamount 2 may not have a heel tab, but it boasts a velcro-fastened tab to attach a gaiter, which is a delightful and useful addition!

brooks Melts Catamount 2 Heel tab
Test results
Catamount 2 None

Removable insole

We were also happy to see that the Catamount 2 it's one of the few shoes with a perforated insole, designed to improve ventilation underfoot. And it's removable, too.

brooks Melts Catamount 2 Removable insole
Test results
Catamount 2 Yes