Cascadia 20 vs Speedgoat 7

Twenty versions in, Brooks has put Vibram Megagrip on the Cascadia, and it's the one change every review we read liked. iRunFar's tester trusted it on wet rock, talus and snow. The foam is new too: DNA Flash v2 replaces the old midsole, the heel stack goes up to 37.9mm from 35mm on the Cascadia 19, and the weight drops a little to 306g. It's still a stable, protective daily trail running shoe for mixed terrain and long days out, with more cushioning and far better traction than before. Fit and feel are less settled. Two reviews found the upper narrower and several found the midsole firmer, while one tester thought it slightly roomy and softer. Meta Endurance, the most critical of the bunch, missed the 19's ground feel on technical descents. UK RRP is £140, the same as the 19, and we'd call it a modest step up.

The Speedgoat 7 is Hoka's do-everything trail running shoe, the one most runners reach for when the ground turns rough. It is a max-cushion daily trail trainer built for long days, technical footing and steep descents, not a stripped-back racer. The headline change this year is the switch to a supercritical EVA midsole, which gives a livelier, more resilient feel underfoot than older Speedgoats without adding weight. At 257g it stays reasonable for a shoe with this much stack. Underneath sits a full Vibram Megagrip outsole, still the benchmark for grip on wet rock, mud and loose gravel. With a 5mm drop and 37mm of heel stack it plants you in a cushioned, stable trail platform rather than a snappy one. If you want one trail shoe for everything from muddy local loops to an ultra, this is the safe pick. The step up from the Speedgoat 6 is the new foam more than anything dramatic.