Compared new balance hierro 8 and brooks cladera 7
I recently took a trip to Yosemite and took both Brooks Caldera 7 and New Balance Hierro 8. The new balance are softer and more flexible but do not have the traction that the caldera has.The caldera was comfortable but a bit more rigid with a thicker sole and they propel you forward. Also The caldera had much better traction on wet and dry surfaces. The hierro wasnt as good on the wet surfaces but good on the rocks. I like both brands for different reasons. I see they have a ghost 17 off road and eventually I will purchase those to review. I hope this helps
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Great cushion and traction I use them for both work and weekends
I purchased these for work as I am constantly on concrete. So far, they are holding up fantastic and the cushioning is great. I wear them every day.I like the tread and traction of the shoes. I have used them on trail runs on the weekends and they work great.Very good quality, no rips or seams pulling apart and no problems with the stitching coming apart.A bit pricey, however they are worth the money.I purchased my daughter the exact same women's pair of this shoe and she loves them as well.
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Comfortable, Cushioned and Stylish
I'm on a never ending search for cushioned running shoes. I had been wearing NB trail running shoes until recently when they have become un available. I find these Brooks shoes to be very good. They are not quite as cushioned as the NB (more than adequate), but they have a "lower" foot bed or sole which I'm finding I like, less chance of turning my ankle. They run a little small I ordered a half size larger. I use them for walking and working around the yard. Happy with the switch to Brooks.
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J
Jack-of-All-Trades
May 11, 2025
Great shoes and excellent value.
This is my second pair of the Brooks Trail shoes series. At 64 I do a 5K walk 6 days per week. You don’t have to run if you want to preserve your knees and ankles for later. 😀 I have found that Brooks hold their support as well as other brands at a higher cost. The key is to only use them for exercise purposes and not for fashion. Very happy with the toe box width and laces that never come untied. Happy consumer.
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Great Trail Shoe
I've become a big fan of these shoes. I tried the Caldera 6. They were okay, but felt heavy/clunky. Even though this is still a large shoe, it has a different feel. Plenty of cushion and padding, but I still have a good feel/sense of the ground (proprioception). I've used these in distances up to 50 miles without any issues. They are comfortable and don't move around a lot on my foot. New favorite trail shoes.
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C
Chris Huch
October 12, 2025
Cushion equals comfort with longer runs
Got these on a friend’s recommendation! Broke them in cold on a 3 mile trail…. Then used them on 2 7 mile trails! Great support on the ankles & a bit wider base. Best part was the extra cushion on the heels. Shopping for 2nd set now
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Not that great
I’m sure these would be good for well-groomed trails but if you have sharp rocks, roots, sticks, thorns, etc. I’d pick something different. The soft foam is exposed quite a bit on the bottom and will allow thorns and sticks to go right on through and stab your foot. I wear orthotics so it might be different for others but my ankles felt very unstable on rough or sloped terrain. They are good looking shoes though and seemed true to size.
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