Brooks Catamount 2 Review

Upper

Grace: "The upper had a nice secure hold on my foot, and I felt confident with the lockdown on any terrain. It's rare that my shoes don't have the runner's loop added for a better hold in the heel because of my narrow feet, but I never had to do that with this shoe. It fits true to size, but it's on the narrow side from the midfoot through the toe box. I've never looked at a Brooks shoe and thought 'Ooh that's a good looking shoe,' but I should note that I think the HOKA Bondi 8 looks cool, so maybe I just have weird taste. I still found myself grabbing the Brooks Catamount 2 each day because it's comfy and it's fast. The new dual-layer air mesh upper features an abrasion-resistant and hydrophobic TPEE outer layer that helped keep my feet dry during any wet sections during my runs."

Liz: "The Catamount 2's upper was comfortable and secure. The first version felt less built up and a bit more breathable, but it also lacked structure, which affected the shoe's stability on tight turns and uneven terrain. Version 2's upper offers a more secure fit, especially in the heel. It feels like it has lost a bit of breathability with the more structured upper design, but the compromise comes with a more secure fit and added durability, both of which provide greater confidence on rough and technical trails. My one complaint about the Catamount 2 is that it runs a bit on the narrower side for my wide feet, especially through the ball of the foot. I had no issues on shorter trail runs, but I started feeling a bit constricted on runs longer than an hour where my feet started to swell."

Midsole

Grace: "The DNA FLASH nitrogen-infused foam midsole combined with the SkyVault Propulsion Plate is ultra-responsive, I couldn't believe how easy it was to pick up the pace while feeling like I was cruising. On my first uphill, I got a PR on one of my favorite trails in the area. If it weren't for the heat and some hurdles over a couple of snakes, I think I would have gotten a similar result for the downhill section as well, which surprised me as I was just getting back to training after a quad injury. The SkyVault Propulsion Plate also works as a rock plate, so this shoe has a good level of overall protection. My legs still felt fresh after my runs, whether they were short, long, or speedy."

Liz: "I really enjoyed the midsole of the Brooks Catamount 2. It still has a light, nimble, responsive underfoot feel, but version 2 is much more versatile in my opinion. The addition of the SkyVault Plate adds that extra bit of protection that is needed for longer and more technical trail runs. The DNA loft foam offers a nice amount of softness and bounce while the plate protects against sharp rocks and roots underfoot. I don't know if I experienced any extra propulsion from the plate, and to be honest, the shoe didn't feel as fast as version 1 since it doesn't have that light and minimal feel on foot. That said, I would happily trade the super-lightweight feel of the first version for the added protection and security that version 2 offers. I think that Brooks made a great choice with the updates to this model."

Outsole

Grace: "The TrailTrack rubber has everything I want in an outsole, and the lugs have just enough structure to grab onto wet surfaces, rocky terrain, and technical trails. The outsole is highly durable as well. I ran on all sorts of surfaces in these shoes, and there is no sign of them wearing down anytime soon."

Liz: "The outsole lugs of the Catamount 2 are a bit low for my taste. This allowed the shoe to feel smooth on groomed trails and on the road while headed to the trail, but I would have loved deeper lugs for more technical runs in the mountains. The rubber was grippy, and I had no issues with slipping during my testing runs, but an extra millimeter or two of lug depth would give me extra confidence when choosing this shoe for more mountainous trail runs."

Comparable Models

Grace: "I would compare the Brooks Catamount 2 to the Nike Terra Kiger or the HOKA Zinal. The Nike Terra Kiger, HOKA Zinal, and Brooks Catamount 2 are all fast, nimble, and stable trail running shoes with a good amount of protection underfoot; the fits are very similar, and all have a narrow midfoot. The Nike Terra Kiger is lower in volume, and both the Terra Kiger and Zinal have more room in the toe box. All of these shoes have heel-to-toe drops that are on the lower side as well.

I love all of these shoes and think they each have a specific place in my shoe rotation. Starting off with the Nike Terra Kiger, this shoe works great for me as a road-to-trail daily trainer that I can use to pick up the pace when needed, but it's not as responsive as the Zinal or Catamount. Next, the HOKA Zinal is a perfect shoe for shorter trail efforts when I want to go fast. The Zinal is ultra lightweight, has a low profile for a connected-to-the-ground feel, and a responsive foam with an early-stage meta-rocker to tie it all together. The Zinal is the least protective underfoot, while the Terra Kiger and Catamount are much better for rocky terrain.

Lastly, the Brooks Catamount 2 has a great mix of features of the Terra Kiger and the Zinal. The Catamount 2 is highly responsive thanks to its DNA FLASH super foam and SkyVault Propulsion Plate. And the Propulsion Plate also doubles as a rock plate, making it a perfect option for rocky terrain. Because of the protection I get from this shoe, I love using the Catamount for longer distances from 10 to 35 miles, and it can help me go fast if I want a speedy and fun long run."

Liz: "In my opinion, the Brooks Catamount 2 compares closely to the HOKA Zinal. Both shoes have a lower, more connected-to-the-ground feel while still offering a good amount of underfoot protection that keeps me from feeling the harshness of the trail underfoot.

For me, the Catamount 2 feels slightly more stable and connected to the ground. Additionally, the plate gives it both a touch more rock protection and a slightly nimbler, faster feel. Meanwhile, the Zinal has a slightly softer underfoot feel with more trampoline-like bounce to the midsole instead of the firmer bouncy responsiveness of the Catamount 2's nitrogen-infused DNA Flash midsole. For me, I would choose the Catamount 2 for shorter more technical runs on rocky terrain, and the Zinal for longer runs on smoother trails, as the upper is more accommodating and the midsole has the traditional HOKA plushness to it."