At first glance, it would seem as though we are dealing with a genuine "cruiser" - but unlike many other shoes in this category, you are not simply getting a soft shoe. The new midsole gives you a fun and responsive running experience. Read about it all here in the article.
How the shoe performed
Even before putting the shoe on, it is plain to see that the shoe offers a solid shock absorption foundation! This is affirmed when putting the shoe on the foot, and I was particularly aware of the midsole's bouncy feeling. When running, the bouncy feeling continues, which combined with its 6 mm drop, provides a natural want to keep up a high tempo and "run effortlessly". Even when running longers distances, this feeling remains, where the midsole bounces just as much on the last kilometer as the first.
The large amount of midsole provides a fantastic level of comfort on all surfaces ranging from asphalt roads to the forest floor, even providing a feeling of stability when landing, due to the extra wide footprint the shoe leaves. The bottom of the shoe is significantly wider than on many other trail shoes!
A grippy outsole
On the outsole it says "Trailtack"; this is a rubber compound that is made to provide extra good grip, and it certainly lives up to this in the Brooks Caldera 6! I have used the shoe on both dry asphalt, dry gravel road, stones, forest paths, fallen trees, as well as slightly muddy stretches. I have been exceedingly happy with the shoe's ability to grip on all surfaces. The rubber compound grips incredibly well, and it sounds almost sticky when I run on asphalt wearing it.
TrailTack
The lugs are 4 mm long and the shoe is therefore not completely ideal for very muddy conditions - but on all other surfaces the outsole grips very well!
Midsole material
The large midsole in the Brooks Caldera 6 consists of "DNA Loft V3". The nitrogen-injected foam provides a great level of comfort, but without "sinking" into the shoe. The shoe is 26 mm thick under the heel and 20 mm under the forefoot.
DNA Loft V3
According to Brooks, DNA Loft v3 is their most shock-absorbing material, made from a combination of EVA, rubber and air. Brooks has added extra air to optimize the weight, as well as rubber to increase durability.
According to Brooks, the difference between DNA Loft to DNA Loft V3 is the following:
- 28% lighter
- 17% more energy return
- 9% softer
If your current shoe features DNA Loft in the midsole, then you should definitely expect to notice the difference when wearing this shoe!
Upper - Brooks Caldera 6
The mesh works solidly, and is protected by an extra layer of thin rubber material - especially around the toes. On the upper side, the mesh is thinner, although this part also seems to do well in terms of durability and strength.
Brooks Caldera 6 mesh
Both the tongue and heel cap feature good padding. The heel cap due to the soft and comfortable cushion all the way around the foot, and the tongue, seeing as its comprised of a layer of foam inside, all of which help to improve the level of comfort. The tongue is also sewn into the actual upper, thereby providing both a good fit and stability.
As a fun detail, they have designed a "laces holder" into the Brooks Caldera 6; an elastic band that you can keep the laces underneath, so they do not hang and move about when running. However, I have not had problems with the laces being too long, but I still think its a great detail - there is less of a risk that the laces will get stuck in the mud.
A tip for lacing up
With normal lacing designs, I have found that the shoe is often a little difficult to lace up very close to the foot. However, I have solved this challenge by using the extra lace hole.
Below you can see how I have laced them - I have not placed my foot in a typical "heel lock", since otherwise I find the laces sit a little too high up on the foot.
With the lacing on this shoe, it sits very snugly around the ankle and provides a good hold of the foot; a very important property for a wide trail shoe.
Brooks Caldera 6 – a geunine cruiser?
The Brooks Caldera 6 is a cruiser in the sense that the comfort of the shoe is fantastic. If you want a pair of trail shoes that gives you both a stable and comfortable landing, then the Brooks Caldera 6 is a really good option.
When taking a first glance at the Brooks Caldera 6's specs, it would seem as though the shoe is most suitable for long trail runs or more leisurely sessions. However, the midsole material is so bouncy that you actually feel like increasing the pace, and the shoes feel surprisingly light on the feet! For this reason, I can quite easily imagine wearing the shoe for trail running where speed is required, and where the Brooks Caldera 6 can contribute to a maintaing a stable running rhythm.
The width of the shoe means that it is not very suitable for the highly technical trail routes, across slopes etc. On the other hand, the width gives really good stability on more regular surfaces, and if you have, for example, a long gravel road or even a downhill forest path, then the shoe gives you a fantastic rolling motion.
All in all, the Brooks Caldera 6 is a trail shoe that is really fun to wear for running regular trail routes. The shoe provides good shock absorption, and if you are planning a long trail run, then the shoe is definitely worth checking out!
