Brooks Cascadia 20 vs Brooks Cascadia 20 GTX

Brooks Cascadia 20 vs Brooks Cascadia 20 GTX, side by side on equal terms. Differences are emphasised; matching specs are dimmed.

Specification	Brooks Cascadia 20	Brooks Cascadia 20 GTX
MSRP	$160	$190
Weight	306g	323.2g
Drop	6mm	6mm
Stack (heel/forefoot)	—	—
Lug depth	4mm	4mm
Surface	Trail	Trail
Primary use	Technical	Technical
Cushion	High	Moderate
Firmness	Balanced	Balanced
Stability	—	—
Plate	Unknown	Unknown
Waterproof	No	Yes
Midsole	DNA FLASH v2 (nitrogen-infused)	Nitrogen-infused DNA FLASH v2
Outsole	Vibram Megagrip with Traction Lug technology	Vibram Megagrip with Traction Lug technology
Width availability	Standard	Standard
Best for	Runners tackling long days on varied and technical terrain who want Vibram Megagrip traction and durable protection over long distances.	Runners tackling wet, muddy, or technical trails who want a stable, waterproof shoe and don't mind the extra weight.
Avoid if	You want a light, low, agile shoe for fast technical running, or you run hot, since the upper traps heat.	You want a light, breathable shoe for fast efforts or hot, dry conditions, since the GORE-TEX upper adds weight and traps heat.
Lowest offer	—	—

Which should you pick?

head-to-head · opinion

The Brooks Cascadia 20 and Cascadia 20 GTX share a 6 mm drop and rugged technical build; the real trade-off is weather protection versus weight and breathability. Pick the GTX ($190, 323.2 g) if you run wet or muddy trails and want a waterproof GORE-TEX upper, but choose the standard Cascadia 20 ($160, 306 g, high cushion) if you run in dry or hot conditions and don't want to carry the extra weight or heat of the GORE-TEX.