Cascadia 20 vs Fast-Trac Nitro 3

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 Puma Fast-Trac Nitro 3 is a lightweight, do-it-all trail running shoe built for runners who want one pair to cover most of what the UK throws at them. It is not an ultra cruiser and it is not a stripped-out racer. It sits in the sweet spot between the two: agile enough to feel fast on rolling singletrack, cushioned enough to hold up on a longer day out. At 290g with an 8mm drop, it is nicely balanced, and the nitrogen-infused Nitro foam gives you a lively, springy return that keeps tired legs turning over. The grippy outsole is the real story here, biting confidently into wet grass, mud and loose gravel where plenty of rivals slither. If you want a versatile, well-priced trail shoe for training, mixed terrain and the odd race, we rate it highly. The closest rival is the Saucony Peregrine 16, and the Puma holds its own.