The weather is finally getting to a place where you are don't need as many layers to keep warm just to go for a run, or you may just be ready to get back into running, it's the perfect time to invest in a new pair of shoes.
That's where this guide comes in handy.
We gathered testers from all over the country, including veteran runners at ACTIVE, to extensively test the shoes in this guide. All of our testers put their shoes through a minimum of 20 running miles (some way more than 20 miles) while paying attention to comfort, fit, weight, breathability, flexibility and ride.
From updates of old favorites that had our feet singing to new releases that will ensure you'll find something to motivate your miles well into summer, you're guaranteed to find a shoe you'll love. We know money might be tight, but if you can, treat yourself! You deserve it.
Spring Shoe Guides
Asics | Astral | Brooks | HOKA | Merrell | Nike | Reebok | Scarpa | Skechers | Under Armour
Why Trust Us?
ACTIVE.com's editorial team relies on the knowledge and experience of fitness and wellness experts including competitive athletes, coaches, physical therapists, nutritionists, and certified trainers. This helps us ensure the products we feature are of the highest standard. Collectively, the team has spent countless hours researching equipment, gear, and recovery tools in order to create the most accurate, authentic content for our readers. Customer satisfaction is also a key part of our review process, which is why we only feature products that are highly rated.
Brooks Caldera 7
Brooks Catamount 3
Brooks Glycerin Stealthfit 21
Brooks Catamount Agil
About: Brooks knocked it out of the park with this shoe. It’s light, nimble, incredibly breathable, and the tread pattern is perfectly executed to keep you on the trail. The shoe feels as if it were made for people running something like the Mount Marathon 5k, the Pikes Peak Ascent, Or Kendall Mountain Run. A big climbs, sub ultra distance race that is pretty technical. The responsiveness will make rock hoping easy, while still giving some protection by way of the DNA flash cushion.
The sock upper does a great job of holding the foot in place, albeit a little too well after longer distances. If you have a more narrow foot, it shouldn’t be a big issue. The laces stay put extremely well and overall Brooks made a shoe fit to really compete against something like a Saucony Peregrine.
These are very light weight shoes that make it fun to run fast on the trails.
Things We Liked:
"Blown away by how responsive and capable they felt."
"The outsole provides great traction and grip on technical terrain.
Areas for Improvement:
"A little more room in the toe box would be nice."
"The mesh upper sock came up a little too high on my ankle. This could cause rubbing issues for runners used to low rise socks."
Final Thoughts
The Brooks Catamount Agil is a lightweight trail runner meant for quicker shorter distances. Where it seems the minimum distance barrier of entry is 50-75 miles for trail races, it’s refreshing to have an alternative for shorter stints on the trail. The lack of stability and cushioning would make this a difficult pick for ultra long-distance runs. However, where it lacks stability it makes up for in responsiveness and agility not usually seen in a trail runner.
The mesh upper has an integrated tongue and sock-like feel. When first put on, it almost feels like you wouldn’t need to tie the shoe. This could be a divisive characteristic when determining if this is the shoe for you. The midfoot could feel a little too snug for runners with a wide foot. The toe box is wider and seems to give enough space to keep toes from feeling too cramped.
The Speedvault plate in the midsole provides the responsiveness of a road racing shoe but is firm enough to handle the rougher conditions of the trail. The low stack provides a connected feel to the trail and allows for a quick turnover.
The Trail Track Green outsole is possibly the most impressive part of the shoe. The knobs on the sole provide a great amount of traction and will give you the confidence to navigate the rougher terrain.
With a low drop and light weight this shoe could be mistaken for a road racer. The combination with the firm responsive plate and grippy outsole makes this a fun departure from the traditional heavy, bulky trail runners.
Specs:
- Drop: 6mm
- Weight: 7.7oz
- Price: $180
- Category: Neutral
- Type: Trail Running
- Fit: True to Fit (snug on top due to sock like fit)
- Ideal For: Speed, Trail
Buy:
Unisex
Brooks Catamount 3
About: Brooks brings us another great improvement to the Catamount lineup with the Catamount3! Great for training on the trails or looking to PR at a trail race. Get ready for top-speed trail adventures in the Catamount 3. Light, responsive cushioning plus a propulsion plate for uphill efficiency join forces to produce this fast and responsive trail-running shoe.
Great shoe for trail running, light, quick and nimble, would recommend to anyone.
Things We Liked:
"Light shoe with an excellent fit and the upper was great."
Areas for Improvement:
"Heel cup dug in and wearing shorter socks is not recommended. Even with socks it was still a bit tight and stiff wearing on the heel.
Final Thoughts
Brooks Catamount 3s are a new favorite with padding and weight, in the best possible way. The Catamounts will fit tighter, feel lighter, and be more responsive to past editions and therefore are recommended for trail running. Innovative lace design makes untied shoes a thing of the past. The Lemon Chrome / Sedona Sage is a fun Yellow that highlights the trail shoes toe box protection.
The upper is very light, and has a sock like feel type fit. The shoe fits so well you forget you are wearing it and there isn't any movement when you are locked down. However the heel cup does wear on the heel until broken in if socks are too low.
Padding is good but not obnoxious like some other brands, where you are up in the air on the huge cushion. Medium to long distance would feel good once the heel cup is fully broken in.
Get this shoe if you want good padding, responsive running, good trail protection and medium non obnoxious height and medium to small but very effective lug pattern.
Specs:
- Drop: 6mm
- Weight: 8.4 oz
- Price: $170
- Category: Cushion
- Type: Trail Running
- Fit: True To Size
- Ideal For: Trail Running
Buy:
Women's | Men's
Brooks Glycerin Stealthfit 21
About: The theme of the Glycerin StealthFit 21 is comfort. It uses DNA Loft v3 foam in the midsole and has found the ideal combination of cushioning and bounce. Make no mistake, this is a max-cushioned shoe, but it doesn't feel like running on overly soft marshmallows. And the shoe has a unique knit upper and tongue that stretches to fit the foot while also providing a bit of compression.
The Glycerin StealthFit 21 has a pronounced rocker shape that makes for a smooth toe off and the outsole appears durable. This isn't necessarily a shoe for speed work, but it's a great option for easy and recovery runs. They're so comfortable, you might even want to wear them on rest days.
They felt like they were MADE for my foot. The stretchy tongue and upper formed to my foot and prevented slipping and hot spots.
Things We Liked:
"The knit upper hugged my foot and made me feel stable upon impact; loved the stretchiness of the tongue and laces."
"The traction on these is amazing, I could really feel the road and never lost confidence in my footing. The knit upper really holds your foot nicely, almost like a second skin but not in a restrictive way."
Areas for Improvement:
"There's a bump of cushioning in the heel - it didn't bother me, but I could see this being a potential pain point for some runners."
"While its hard to find any downfalls to Brooks in general, the lack of being able to use a runners knot/heel locking was the biggest draw back."
Final Thoughts
There are several keystone running shoe models that have stood the test of time, and the Brooks Glycerin, now on its 21st iteration, is one such shoe. Back and better than ever before, the new Glycerin StealthFit 21 feels like a huge leap forward over previous generations, not just in performance, but in overall comfort and aesthetics as well.
Brooks has added two more millimeters of their DNA LOFT v3 midsole foam to make an already plush shoe that much more comfortable, but it retains the springy, responsive and lightweight feel runners have come to expect from this line. It rewards heel strikers with an ultra-smooth heel-toe transition, but mid-foot strikers will also appreciate the added protection and cushion. "StealthFit" refers to the upper, which features a compressive, knit material that has a snugger fit and feel over the traditional Glycerin 21 (not StealthFit) version. The tongue is integrated into the upper, and the heel is less structured, adding to the sock-like, flexible feel of the shoe. Together, with the plush midsole, the shoe feels broken in straight out of the box. Another bonus: Over 60 percent of the upper is made with recycled materials. Feels cushy, looks quick and is environmentally conscious? Call that a win-win-win.
Specs:
- Drop: 10mm
- Weight: 8.3oz
- Price: $160
- Category: Cushion
- Type: Road Running
- Fit: True To Size
- Ideal For: Recover, Long Runs, Cross Training
Buy:
Women's | Men'sCheck out the other shoes in the Spring Shoe Guide.