Brooks Caldera 2 Meets Bozeman, Montana

I live and train in Bozeman, Montana. Which, of course, means I train on snow 6 months out of the year – sometimes packed powder, sometimes freshies, sometimes ice, more often than not a combination of all three. I had the opportunity to run our local trails in the Brooks Caldera 2 and at first I was skeptical to how this more minimalist shoe than I’m used to, would perform on our aggressive lack of switchbacks, Montanans prefer a more linear straight up approach, combined with slick snowy trails. But, as I settled into the groove of my runs, I was stoked to find these shoes handled the Montana wilds just fine.

I received the Brooks Caldera 2 in the mail and was initially grateful to see the cool tones color scheme – navy, plum, and ice blue are certainly a fiery ginger’s compliment. Plus, cool and dark tones just age well on shoes as they acquire more and more dirt, sludge, and icy mix. These shoes have simple clean and cool lines, when my running partner saw them, she exclaimed, “Those are beautiful shoes!” And, they truly are.

I ran in Brooks in High School and College, so returning to them on the trails felt like a coming home but I appreciated the evolution of sleekness Brooks has taken on. I ordered a women’s 9 and they fit perfectly to size, snug and great stability in the mid foot and heel, and a wide enough toe box to provide space and flex in the toes and forefoot. I’m not sure what type of magical science they’ve used on their plum laces but one tie up and the laces stayed snug without pinching, never loosened or came undone on a run, and where easy to untie afterwards. This simple lace structure brought me lots of joy.

Out on the trails I was amazed at how these shoes handled. I took my first snowy descent turns a little conservatively but soon learned to trust my footing and the lugs. I generally run in Bozeman with shoes that have a pretty aggressive lug structure to accommodate our trails but I was able to flow and not fret in the Caldera’s.

The midsole provides wonderful cushioning and the inside ‘guts’ of the shoes were soft, sleek, and moisture wicking. Overall, a very comfortable and supportive shoe that held up over extended miles.

A special feature of the Caldera is a small pinch of velcro at the back heel, this is to accommodate gaitors and hold them in place. I could have used this shoe with it’s breathable double layer of fabric that keep small debris out and velcro gaitor pinch at the Antelope Canyon 50K, those who who have raced are familiar with the sand!

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed the miles I shared with the Caldera 2’s, they were snug, offered great cushioned support, held traction, and as the miles unfolded, I wasn’t thinking about my feet – a perk for me when it comes to shoes and enjoying miles. I’m looking forward to taking these out on some mud trails in Spring and up mountain tops in the Summer.

Quick Stats:

Weight: 9.0 oz (women’s)

Midsole Drop: 4mm

Price: $140

Read more Trail Sisters Gear Reviews.