Brooks Caldera

The Brooks Caldera is a trail running shoe and serves as a great max-cushion option. Its DNA Loft V3 foam cushioning makes it harder than the less-cushioned Cascadia. If you've worn that shoe then you know that you can expect a shoe that can stand up to miles of abuse.

In terms of its relation to other trail running shoes, Caldera stands out for its lightness and responsiveness. The design also provides surprisingly easy transitions—an area that other cushioned trail running shoes tend to come up short in.