Details
Brand
Brooks
Heel To Toe Drop
4 mm
Breathability
8/10
Latest Version
No
Terrain
Road
Type
Stability
Key Features
• Smooth and inverted Ideal Heel encourages users to run with a midfoot strike• Internal Roll Bar works to slow over-pronation• Brooks DNA midsole provides adaptive cushioning for a customized fit• Eco-friendly BioMoGo adds durability, cushioning, and responsiveness to the midsole• Toe Flex allows the big toe to balance the foot and builds foot muscles• Lightweight nylon and mesh upper• NavBand across the midfoot in the upper secures the foot and creates a customized fit• Bubbled laces help the shoe stay tied• 4mm drop
Upper
The upper is made of lightweight nylon and mesh. The mesh has great breathability and the no-sew overlays provide structure without irritating the skin, creating hot spots, or taking from breathability. The NavBand runs across the midfoot to secure it and create a customized fit. The laces provide a snug fit, and they’re bubbled to help them stay tied longer. The tongue and heel collar are lightly padded. The heel counter helps stabilize the rear of the foot. Testers commented that the inside of the upper felt very smooth and sock-like. The shoe fits true to size. The upper is durable enough to last for a long time without wearing down, flexible enough to allow the foot to really push off, and responsive enough to use for speed training, races or competitions. It protects against the heat but absorbs water when it’s raining outside.
Midsole
The midsole uses a variety of technologies to cushion landings, slow over-pronation, and help runners improve their gait. The 4mm drop and the smooth and inverted Ideal Heel promote a midfoot strike. The Toe Flex helps the big toe balance the foot and build muscles to improve the form to make it more natural, reduce the chances of injury, and improve speed as the foot muscles get stronger over time. The Internal Roll Bar runs diagonally through the shoe and helps slow over-pronation. As for foam cushioning, the Brooks DNA midsole allows the foot to sink in and bounce back, creating a custom, responsive fit. The eco-friendly BioMoGo lower layer is very durable and adds more cushioning and responsiveness to the shoe. The midsole is flexible enough to allow runners to pick up speed, yet stable and supportive enough to help runners improve their form. It is durable enough to keep its shape without deteriorating or losing stability for many miles.
Outsole
The outsole is made of rubber. It has oval and rectangular treads in the heel and forefoot to grip and provide traction on roads. The midfoot has pods on either side to stabilize the foot and slow over-pronation. Grooves run not only between the treads but also through them for even more flexibility. The rubber is very durable and helps support the foot from below and protect against feeling objects on the ground.
Breathability
The PureCadence’s breathability comes from its upper. The mesh covers most of the shoe and allows air to flow in and out of the shoe and around the foot, keeping it cool and dry. The no-sew overlays and NavBand do not take away from the breathability and reduce the risk of irritation and hot spots, and the smooth interior helps prevent blisters for those who are prone to getting them. The shoe is breathable in hot weather but absorbs water when it’s raining outside.
Comfort
The Brooks PureCadence received positive reviews for comfort. The outsole, and the shoe itself, is lightweight, flexible, and responsive, which allows runners to comfortably pick up speed while maintaining their level of energy. The midsole has two layers of cushioning: the Brooks DNA midsole upper layer that forms to the shape of the foot, sinking in and bouncing back with each step, and the firmer lower BioMoGo that is responsive and absorbs shock. The upper is light and breathable and the inside is smooth like a sock. The laces provide a snug fit and the padded tongue and heel collar add some soft support. The stability features increase comfort by reducing the chances of injury for over-pronators, and the heel counter reduces the chances of rolling or sliding. The ride is firm, smooth, and bouncy, which makes running more comfortable. The fit is true to size, although there are no wide sizes available and some testers found the fit around the midfoot to be too snug. Although the shoe takes some time to break in due to its low drop, Toe Flex, and Ideal Heel, the shoe becomes more comfortable over time as users improve their gait and strengthen their foot muscles and tendons.
Style
The Brooks PureCadence looks nice. It has a modern and possibly futuristic look due to the pods on the midfoot’s outsole. Reviewers liked the look of the shoe. Although the shoe is no longer available due to having five later editions, examples of previously available colors for the men’s shoe include a blue upper with a silver midsole and logo, green logo and interior, and black outsole, or a black upper with a green midsole, grey logo, green logo outline and interior, and black outsole.
Durability
The PureCadence is very durable. The treads in the outsole are deep and pod-like so that they can go over rough surfaces and high-abrasion areas without losing their traction. The midsole is very durable: the BioMoGo is designed to last for many years without coming apart and the Brooks DNA conforms to the shape of the foot so that it lasts longer than other foams. The upper keeps its shape for many runs, and testers did not have problems with getting holes in the foam or overlays coming undone. The high break-in time and low drop mean that shoes will last longer because runners will have the ideal form that reduces the amount of stress on the shoe.
Protection
The Books PureCadence is a protective shoe. The thick treads on the outsole protect the user from feeling objects in the road, which prevents bruising on the bottom of the foot. The midsole cushions landings and absorbs shock, which protects joints from injury. The stability features protect against over-pronation and the heel counter protects against rolling and sliding. The laces are bubbled to prevent accidental untying and possible injuries due to tripping. The upper is protective against wind and hot weather but not rain or extremely cold or humid weather.
Responsiveness
The PureCadence is lightweight, flexible and responsive enough to allow users to pick up speed and use it for racing or competitions. The outsole bounces the shoe back into the air as it hits the pavement. The midsole has Brooks DNA foam that conforms to the shape of the foot and BioMoGo that absorbs shock and springs the foot back into the air. The flexible yet supportive and stable upper allows the foot to move freely and comfortably. The low drop, Toe Flex, and Ideal Heel make the shoe take longer to break in, but responsiveness improves over time as the user builds muscles. The ride is firm and bouncy with smooth transitions.
Support
Testers found this shoe to be very supportive. The outsole lifts the foot off the ground and helps support the foot from below. The midsole has Brooks DNA foam to surround the bottom of the foot with support. The Internal Roll Bar and foam provide a stability level of arch support, which slows over-pronation and works best in runners with normal arches. The upper also adds support to the shoe: the laces, the light padding in the tongue and heel collar, the heel counter, and NavBand surround the foot with support and lock it in to prevent rolling or sliding.
Terrain
The Books PureCadence is a road running shoe. The thick, pod-like treads, as well as the grooves on and between the treads, allow users to run on dirt or paved roads, paths, gravel, or concrete. The shoe gets good enough traction to go on light trails, but it’s not recommended because of the shoe’s light weight and flexibility. The PureCadence does not have the required aggressive lugs or spikes to go on heavy trails, snowy, or icy terrain.
Price
When it was initially released, the PureCadence was at the higher end of the average price range for a road running shoe. The average price was fair because it is lightweight, which usually makes shoes’ cost lower, yet has good support and some stability, which increase the price. However, because the shoe was released a while ago and now has five newer editions, it is no longer available. Potential buyers who want to try the PureCadence series should consider purchasing one of the latest editions, the PureCadence 5 or the PureCadence 6, which are around the same price or are discounted at some retailers.
Drop
The Brooks PureCadence has a drop of 4mm. This distributes the cushioning more evenly than the standard 12mm drop that has extra padding in the heel and favors heel strikers. The low drop promotes more of a midfoot strike, and along with the Inverted Heel and Toe Flex, promotes a more natural running form closer to a barefoot feel. Although shoes with a lower drop take longer to break in for runners who are used to higher drops, the 4mm drop has the benefit of strengthening muscles and tendons over time.
Stability
The PureCadence is stable enough for neutral runners and light over-pronators, but not for heavy over-pronators. The outsole rubber and midsole BioMoGo stabilize the bottom of the foot. The low stack height also makes things more stable. In the midsole, the Ideal Heel promotes a midfoot strike and the Toe Flex allows the big toe to stabilize the foot. The arch support stabilizes the arch to prevent over-pronation. The Internal Roll Bar helps slow over-pronation. In the upper, the heel counter stabilizes the heel and the NavBand secures the midfoot. The shoe’s flexibility takes away from its stability, making it not good for heavy over-pronators.
Flexibility
The Brooks PureCadence has good flexibility, which helps make the shoe responsive and allows runners to pick up speed. In the outsole, grooves are on and between the treads, allowing the rubber to bend a little as the foot pushes off, but not so much that it takes away from the firmness of the ride. The midsole’s BioMoGo has some flexibility to allow the foot to move, but its main purposes are durability and cushioning, so it also contributes to the firmness of the ride. The midsole’s Brooks DNA foam bends to the shape of the foot and the upper fits snugly and moves with the foot. The stability features take away from the shoe’s flexibility.
Traction
The PureCadence’s treads provide great traction on roads. Testers enjoyed using this shoe for speed training and racing. It is light enough to pick up speed, and the treads allow users to push off and land on hard surfaces quickly and easily and without slipping or sliding. The shoe gets good enough traction on trails, but running is not recommended due to its lightness and flexibility. The shoe does not have lugs for traction on technical trails or spikes for traction on snow, ice, or slippery surfaces.
Bottom Line
The Brooks PureCadence is a good competition shoe. It is lightweight, durable, responsive, and supportive. It is stable enough to prevent rolling or sliding in light over-pronators or neutral runners but not so heavy or stiff that users cannot pick up speed or train for their next racing event. It is breathable and protects against shock and heat. It has a comfortable level of cushioning and a smooth ride. It is good for running on roads and is fairly priced for its features. Possible areas for improvement include offering wide and/or extra wide sizes, making the shoe water resistant, and making a more stable version for heavy over-pronators. In short, the PureCadence is a good shoe for light over-pronators looking to try a lightweight shoe and who want to train for a race and/or improve their running form. Neutral runners could accomplish the same goal with an even lighter shoe and heavy over-pronators need more stability.
