The original Brooks Catamount was one of the first trail shoes I tested that used a nitrogen-infused midsole foam. It was a light and responsive shoe that felt like a road shoe with extra grip as a result, and one of the best trail-running shoes available.
That was in 2020. Since then many brands have started to use foams and tech from their road shoes in their trail-running options, including carbon plates in trail-racing shoes. The updates to the Brooks Catamount 2 improve the shoe, but they aren’t enough to make it stand out from the competition. It’s a great option for trail runs on firm ground—but there are more versatile and faster shoes available.
