Brooks Catamount 2 Review

My first thoughts on this shoe is it fits great! I am in my true size women’s 8. There is no slipping in the heel or warping in the toe box. The shoelaces are snug enough and lay flat. On all the runs I have had with this shoe, they haven’t come untied. 

First feature to notice is the toe cap. This lays great across the top of the shoe and protects your toes from rocks. The SkyVault propulsion plate it what you can see from the outside lateral side of the shoe. This plate is what gives you that pep in your step. Along with the SkyVault plate is the DNA Flash cushioning. This is nitrogen infused and gives you that premium cushion feeling. With these two features together - you will feel a serious rebound that isn’t found in other trail shoes. My road shoes are the Launch GTS and the Glycerin GTS so the Catamount 2 is the PERFECT combination of those two shoes but for the trail. The decoupled heel gives you added stability as it shifts with you. Lastly, the hydrophobic upper is great for any creek crossings you may have. While not fully waterproof, it still protects you if you step in a little water. One of the cons I listed was tough to clean. I understand that these are trail shoes and they’re meant to get dirty. If you see a pair in person, you will notice the upper is not really a mesh. It is a weird overlay. So my shoes got muddy water splashed on them and it soaked into the material underneath the top layer, which makes it basically unclean-able or able to be brushed off. I wouldn’t care too much if it wasn’t my second run in the shoes. I guess I will have to get another pair :)