Brooks Catamount 3 Review
The latest trail running shoe from Brooks is billed as the speed shoe for the trails, and this week we’ve brought together our experience in a Brooks Catamount 3 review. Considered the trail running equivalent of their Hyperion road running range, this description doesn’t actually do the Brooks Catamount justice. Generally trail shoes are split into two types. The soft ground shoes that can also be described as fell or cross county shoes and the hard ground shoes. The latter being designed for bridleways and other firmer tracks and trails. In the UK we are lucky that we have a big variety of trails and it is common to run on lots of different trail surfaces within one run. For this reason a more versatile trail running shoe that can cope with a variety of terrain is the most useful. The Brooks Catamount 3 drops into this category for me.
The outsole lugs are only 3.5mm in length, which are short and not enough to give you any traction in the sticky mud. However, I didn’t find this an issue, as when it is really wet and muddy like it frequently is in the winter in the UK, a stud that is a little bit longer still won’t give you any traction in really wet and sloppy mud! You won’t set off into a foot of mud with the Catamount 3 on.
You need a lug length of 7mm-8mm to gain good traction in the extreme mud and this length of stud doesn’t ride well on firmer tracks and trails. In extreme muddy conditions you’re best staying on the mud and selecting a shoe that is flexible, with long lugs. Most of us stick to the firmer trails and look for a slightly stiffer shoe with shorter studs that rides well on firmer trails.
The new Catamount’s outsole is made from Brooks’ Green TrailTack. This is a sticky but durable rubber that gives good traction on wet and dry rock. I have confidently used the shoes on wet stepping stones without issue and find that the traction is generally good. The outsole also rides well on tarmac and is durable enough to not wear down too quickly, which makes the Catamount 3 a suitable shoe for road to trail use. In my experience a lot of trail shoes that are designed for firmer tracks and trails feel a bit ‘ploddy’. They lack the smooth ride of road shoes and hinder you when you try moving quickly, taking away the feeling of being nimble and keen to tackle obstacles on the trail like fallen trees, routes or rocks. The Brooks Catamount 3 feels light and fast. Yet it is also cushioned enough to be comfortable to wear for longer runs.
The midsole is 22mm thick in the heel and 16mm thick in the forefoot and made from Brooks Nitrogen infused DNA Flash. This is the same midsole material used for the previous model and the shoes have the same 6mm heel to forefoot drop, making them versatile enough for the heel or midfoot striker. Nitrogen infused midsoles are essentially ‘sealed’. This means that the air can’t get out of the midsole and gives them a more bouncy, responsive feel. This process also prevents water and grit from getting into the midsole, increasing lifespan and avoiding soaking up water and getting heavy. Although the midsole feels cushioned and there is some bounce to it you do still have some feel for the ground, allowing your feet to respond to the terrain. This makes the Brooks Catamount 3 feel like a nimble, light and cushioned trail shoe.
The women’s weighs 238g in a UK5 and 275g in a men’s UK 8. They feel very light on your feet. This lightness isn’t just because of the weight of the shoes, but the ride. The midsole of the Catamount 3 is curved and this rocker shape means that when the foot touches the ground it doesn’t stop moving. Your foot is rolled through the gait. This encourages the runner to use their glutes and hamstrings and maintain a quick cadence. You are indeed lighter on your feet. It also reduces the chance of you leaning forward at the waist as you get tired, which is a less efficient running style, compared with upright. This rocker shape to the midsole is common in a lot of road shoes. On trails the rocker shape midsole can make the midsole stiff, giving you less important ground feel on technical terrain. In my experience the Brooks Catamount 3 has struck a good balance between being stiff enough to ride well on the firmer tracks and trails but is still nimble enough for more broken trail.
In the forefoot there is a protective plate. This stiffens up the forefoot to give some extra propulsion when running uphill. Brooks have called this the Sky Vault Trail Plate. In my experience the Catamount 3 gives a nice smooth ride on all terrains. I haven’t noticed any increase in my speed during hill repetitions when wearing this compared with other shoes but it is easy to maintain a quick cadence and upright running style. This isn’t easy to do in very flexible shoes or more bulky trail shoes with thicker midsoles.
The main difference between the Brooks Catamount 2 and the Brooks Catamount 3 is the fit of the upper. The Catamount 3 has a bit more space in the upper and the upper material is a touch softer. This makes it feel a bit more comfortable especially on longer runs. The Catamount 3 doesn’t have the Velcro attachment on the heel cup for a gaiter.
In Summary it is easy to dismiss the Brooks Catamount 3 as a shoe designed only for running quickly on the trails. Personally I find them the best of Brook’s trail shoe offering because it has struck a balance between the large super-soft offering out there and the super-responsive trail shoes for trail racing. I was happy on mixed terrain at a mixture of paces, and intend to run more in the Catamount 3.
Other Consideration
Hoka Zinal 2: A very similar shoe in terms of the terrain it is designed to be used on. The Zinal 2 also has a rocker and a nice smooth ride. The midsole doesn’t have the same bounce and won’t be as durable. The grip level is similar the fit is narrower. https://www.northernrunner.com/blog/hoka-zinal-2-review/
Altra Superior 6: A broader more rounded toe box and zero drop gives this a more natural ride. The Superior is also more flexible so it moulds to the curvature of the ground more effectively. https://www.northernrunner.com/blog/altra-superior-6-review/
Nnormal Kjerag: A nitrogen infused midsole but, firmer with a bit less bounce. The lack of a rocker gives these a more natural feel but, takes away the smooth ride feel that you get from the Catamount especially on firmer terrain. https://www.northernrunner.com/blog/nnormal-kjerag-review/
New Balance Summit Unknown: Available in a soft and hard ground version as well as two width Men’s and Women’s. This has a good level of cushioning but still feels nimble. Better suited to the firmer ground as it doesn’t flex enough for really rough ground. https://www.northernrunner.com/blog/new-balance-fuelcell-summit-unknown-sg-review/
Comments are closed here.