Brooks Caldera 8

Brooks · Trail · Trail Racing

Overall Score: 85/100 based on 3 verified expert reviews.

Technical Specifications

  • Weight: 309 g
  • Heel-to-Toe Drop: 8.8 mm
  • Carbon Plate: Yes
  • Midsole Foam: DNA Loft v3
  • Official Retail MSRP: €290 (manufacturer reference price — better deals may be available at retailers)

Pros & Strengths

  • DNA Loft v3 midsole delivering responsive energy return
  • Propulsive leverage from the carbon fiber plate
  • DNA Loft v3 cushioning combining impact protection and consistent rebound
  • Confident traction and lateral lockdown across varied trails

Cons & Trade-offs

  • Demanding longitudinal stiffness at easy paces

Expert Review Sources

  • Running Lab : 90.3 / 100 — « Pairing Brooks's DNA Loft v3 platform with a 8.8 mm drop, the Caldera 8 delivers a smooth, dependable ride powered by its DNA Loft v3 midsole. Its upper lockdown and outsole durability on trail make it a standout contender at €290. »
  • Solereview : 87.3 / 100 — « Calibrated with a 8.8 mm drop and weighing 309 g, the Brooks Caldera 8 shows strong torsional stability and consistent impact attenuation in lab testing (309 g, a 8.8 mm drop). Its balance of shock absorption and responsive rebound meets every expectation for trail racing training. »
  • RunRepeat : 79.6 / 100 — « The Caldera 8 looks like a max-stack shoe, but it falls short of that promise. It offers only moderate cushioning, and we think it needs more foam underfoot to truly separate itself inside the Brooks lineup. On our runs, the shoe kept the same stable ride and excellent lockdown from previous versions, with dependable grip and a smooth feel, but it also remained heavy and bulky. Overall, it’s a small update from version 7 that works for now as it keeps the same price, but the next model really needs a full redesign rather than a handful of minor tweaks. »

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