Brooks Catamount 3 Review - A nice surprise?

[@JamesBond-wh5mc]

Bought same ones soon as they released and happy with them.Owning Catamount 2 as well,both holding feet well 👌

[@seekingultra4333]

Glad you like them! They are a lot better than I first expected.

[@makb5354]

Great points as far as what could be improved. I have version 2 and will for now stick with it , since 2 is still available. I feel that overlay on version 2 was enough and 3 is bid overkill and it will restrict my toes on hot days when feet swell up. Sliver of additional cushion would be nice touch as you already noticed. I love my V2 for shorter runs with hills due to great responsiveness and I like how breathable they are compare to all my other running shoes. I recently was gifted Hoka Speedgoat 5 and have not tried them yet because I was never a Hoka person (it was always too much cushion for me). I am thinking that Hoka may end up being my longer distance Faspacking shoe but I love V2 for fast pace shorter under 20km runs. It's a great racing shoe. Thanks you for your review on V3.

[@seekingultra4333]

I have been using my Catamounts for shorter runs too, and since I got the Adidas Terrex Agravic Speed Ultras, I use those for longer runs and Ultras for the added cushioning. Would be nice if Brooks could maybe make a max version, like they have with their Hyperion road shoe.

[@vacher45]

Good to see you back. I've been to a podiatrist and have 'flat feet' and a collapsed arch. Can you recommend a running shoe?I've been advised and from personal experience that i should avoid anything with a stack (i.e. cloudsurfers that gave me awful pain) and more towards a zero drop! Hope that you can help me out - cheers

[@seekingultra4333]

Thank you! Have you tried any strengthening exercises like arch raises? You could also try some insoles, I used to have some stability issues and you can get some custom ones made which will support your arch. Or shoe wise, my go to shoe back when I needed support was the Brooks Glycerin GTS series. Those are all options. Hope some of it helps!

[@offroadagain]

Good review. I have around 100k on my pair now and I really like them. I do agree that they are not the most cushioned shoes and I would not choose them for distances exceeding 20k (I am 85kg). Especially compared to the smooth ride of my Speedgoat 5. For faster paces the Brooks are fantastic-

[@seekingultra4333]

Thanks! Glad you are enjoying them. I really like the cushioning on the speedgoats, but I can't get on with the narrow toebox.

[@offroadagain]

@@seekingultra4333 There is a wide version of the Speedgoat 5, isn't there? The 6 is coming in June. Maybe worth a try.

[@seekingultra4333]

There is, but I think the whole shoe is wider, its only really the toebox i need to be wide, the rest of my foot isn't that wide! I have strange feet.@@offroadagain

[@gillygwilly]

I ran my first 100 mile last summer in the Catamount 1 and 2. I do prefer the original version.

[@seekingultra4333]

I am glad to hear they got you to the finish line! What do you prefer about the first version?

[@gillygwilly]

Crossed the finish line without a blister! I started out with the V1, went to V2, back to another V1, then finished off with the Salomon S-lab Ultras (they've always been a little too big but they came in handy at that moment:). The snug fit of the original Catamount fits my narrow foot a little better, and the original is slightly more cushy under foot. Out of the box they're a shoe I don't notice on my feet - that's the best way to describe it. V2 just didn't do it for me.

[@seekingultra4333]

It would be interesting to see what you think of version 3s if you ever get your hands on them!

[@gillygwilly]

Will report back!@@seekingultra4333