Brooks Catamount Review
Precision and Performance
Likes
- Lightweight
- Responsive cushioning
- Gusseted tongue
- Performance fit
- Great protection
Dislikes
- Shallow lugs
What's New
The Brooks Catamount is a high-performance trail running shoe that blends the brand's best technologies with a simple yet practical design. The result is a nimble, fast, and lightweight trail shoe that offers versatile protection for a variety of distances. The star of the shoe is the DNA Flash midsole, first featured in the Brooks Hyperion Tempo. This nitrogen-infused foam offers a lightweight and extremely responsive ride, and it pairs well with the Catamount's ballistic rock plate for protection from stones and roots underfoot without losing its nimble feel. The simple mesh upper features minimal overlays and a gusseted tongue, and the outsole uses TrailTack rubber for sticky grip on a variety of surfaces. With its shallow lug design, the Catamount is designed to offer a smooth ride no matter the terrain.
The Bottom Line
As the first trail shoe to feature Brooks's new DNA Flash midsole, the Brooks Catamount is built for ultimate performance when running fast on the trails, but don't let that dissuade you from looking at the Catamount for everyday trail runs as well. Our testers loved the shoe's balance of cushioning and protection for everything but their longest runs. The rock plate kept their feet feeling protected from sharp objects underfoot, and the secure upper snugly held their midfoot and heel while offering roomy comfort in the toe box. Despite its lightweight design, the Catamount feels secure and supportive on technical terrain, and the bouncy DNA Flash foam is soft enough for comfort while also being bouncy and nimble.
Our team's only complaint was the shallow depth of the lugs. Although the TrailTack rubber provides a sticky grip on bare rock, our testers felt that it was lacking on loose terrain. If you want a versatile shoe that feels smooth and responsive while running city streets on the way to the trail, and while tackling technical terrain deep in the backcountry, the Catamount offers the protection, comfort, and performance that you need.
Shoe Performance
Shoe Softnessi
FirmSoftRide/Energy Returni
Less SpringyMore SpringyUnderfoot Protectioni
LowHighFlexibilityi
RigidElasticUpper Supporti
StructuredAdaptableSpecifications & Fit
How It Fits
| Toe Box | Width: Medium to Wide | Height: Medium |
| Midfoot Volume | Medium to Low |
| Heel Width | Medium to Narrow |
| Arch Height | Men's: Medium to High | Women's: Medium |
Shoe Specs
| Weight | Men's: 9.5 oz (size 9) | Women's: 8.3 oz (size 8) |
| Stack Height | 32 mm (Heel), 26 mm (Forefoot) | 6 mm Heel-Toe Offset |
| Terrain | Trail |
| Stability | Neutral |
| Sizing | True to Size |
Our In-Depth Look
Shoe Softnessi
Our team found the DNA Flash midsole to be very comfortable for all types of trail runs. Although the testers noted that it wasn't particularly soft, they agreed that it should be comfortable enough for most types of runners all the way up to the 50K distance.
Kaitlin: "The cushioning in the Catamount is comfortable without being squishy. There is plenty of protection from the ground, but I never felt like it hindered my stability in any way."
Liz: "While I found the DNA Flash foam to be a little too firm for my liking in the Hyperion Tempo, it has the perfect amount of softness for comfort on the trail without feeling dead, mushy, or unstable."
Ride/Energy Returni
Our testers loved the bouncy ride offered by the DNA Flash midsole. They felt that it quickly responded to changes in pace and kept their legs feeling fresh, even deep into their runs.
Kaitlin: "The underfoot feel is responsive and very nimble. The midsole adapts to how you land. It feels firmer and more responsive the faster you go, but it still offers cushioned support at a slow and steady pace."
Erik: "The Catamount is cushioned but still very responsive. While responsiveness is a necessity on the roads, it is still nice to have a responsive shoe on the trails as well."
Underfoot Protectioni
Although runners who prefer a highly cushioned trail shoe may find the Catamount to be lacking in protection, those who value nimbleness on technical terrain will love the combination of responsive DNA Flash foam and ballistic rock plate for everything but the longest distances.
Kaitlin: "The Catamount keeps me feeling connected to the ground while still being protected from impacts and elements. The rock plate guards against harsh rock edges, and the midsole cushioning makes landing on anything comfortable — from hard-packed dirt to slabs of stone."
Liz: "I love how nimble this shoe feels while still allowing me to run through rougher terrain without having to watch every step. I never found myself wanting more cushioning when running in the Catamount."
Flexibilityi
Using its Ballistic Rock Shield, the Catamount pairs a stiffer midfoot with a more flexible forefoot to create a smooth running experience. Our testers enjoyed the shoe's fluid ride and natural flexibility.
Kaitlin: "Most of the flexibility for this shoe is in the forefoot; when you touch down, it feels very snappy. It provides a smooth and effortless transition to your next foot strike."
Liz: "I really love how natural this shoe feels on both the road and the trail. The design allows for a smooth takeoff, yet there is enough rigidity to the shoe that it doesn't feel like your feet have to work super hard to stabilize on uneven terrain."
Upper Supporti
The Catamount's durable open mesh allows the upper to be highly breathable and quick-draining, while its thin gusseted tongue helps to hold the foot securely in place while keeping out debris. Our testers appreciated that the Catamount delivered a snug performance fit without being too restrictive through the toebox.
Kaitlin: "The gusseted tongue hugs my arch, and it feels like the upper is hovering just above my forefoot. This shoe feels like an extension of my foot without being too tight in the toebox."
Liz: "I have a bunion and experienced some pressure points on the outside of my foot during the first few runs, but the upper quickly broke in for a comfortable and secure fit."
Brooks Men's Catamount
Brooks Women's Catamount
Individual Thoughts
The Brooks Catamount fits my foot like a slipper. This shoe contoured to my heel and midfoot but gave me a little bit of room for swelling in the toebox. Overall, the shoe feels agile but still very comfortable. It's the combination of the fit and weight, as well as the midsole, that accomplishes this performance-like feel. This would be a great trail racing shoe for 25K or 50K, but I do not see this as a 100-miler for most runners. While I did like the underfoot protection, I think it might need a little more cushioning for the longer distances. Also, I would have liked some added structure in the heel collar for a slightly more supportive feel.
Shoe Softness
FirmSoftRide/Energy Return
Less SpringyMore SpringyUnderfoot Protection
LowHighFlexibility
RigidElasticUpper Support
StructuredAdaptable
It took me a couple of runs to really enjoy the feel of this shoe. At first, it seemed to feel a little sloppy and bland, but by my third run, I loved the fit and feel on all types of terrain. It had plenty of cushion and protection while keeping a responsive ride. It felt comfortable for 4 to 5 hours on the trails but still had enough for a quick pickup over technical terrain. Overall, I found the Catamount to be a great all-around trainer or racer in a variety of conditions, and it will definitely be a staple in my rotation.
Shoe Softness
FirmSoftRide/Energy Return
Less SpringyMore SpringyUnderfoot Protection
LowHighFlexibility
RigidElasticUpper Support
StructuredAdaptable
For me, the Catamount offers the perfect balance of nimbleness and protection on the trail. Where highly cushioned shoes like the Speedgoat start to feel unstable on technical terrain, the Brooks Catamount keeps a low profile and lightweight design without completely sacrificing underfoot protection. Although this shoe isn't very soft underfoot, it provides comfortable cushioning that is also responsive. I never felt like the Catamount was sucking energy from my stride. The upper offers a roomy toebox and secure midfoot, and the gusseted tongue holds the foot gently without any irritation or pressure points. Although it would be nice if the Catamount had slightly deeper lugs, my only real disappointment with the shoe is that the lower offset doesn't really work for my feet. I find that shoes with less than an 8-mm drop strain my old arch injury, and I am so sad that this will keep me from using the Catamount on my longer trail runs because I absolutely LOVE this shoe.
