BackpackGearTest.org - Nike Air Zoom Cascade Trail Runners Owner Review by Jennifer Pope

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Location: I’ve used these shoes mainly for day hiking around Southern CA in elevations up to 8000 ft (2400 m). These were in mountainous terrain in temperatures ranging from 50 F (10 C) to 85 F (29 C). I’ve also used these shoes hiking in the Yosemite Valley during the winter in temperatures down to about 35 F (2 C). I used them in sunny conditions, icy conditions, and mild rain. I’ve also used these shoes occasionally as an everyday shoe just around town in heavy rain and sunny conditions.

I have not used these shoes while carrying a fully loaded backpack. These are my dayhiking shoes/camp shoes. These are low-top shoes and I have a tendency to roll my ankles (even while walking on a paved sidewalk on occasion), so these shoes were only used in a day hiking capacity. The longest hike that I've used these shoes on in a single day was approx. 6 miles (9.7 km) with an elevation gain of 1500 ft (450 m). This was a hike over mountainous terrain and the highest point along this hike was 8500 ft (2600 m). The trail was well maintained (it's part of the PCT at one point), but rocky and steep in some areas. These shoes performed well going uphill, keeping my balance and preventing my ankles from rolling even in the rocky areas. They also performed well going downhill, I didn't have any issues keeping traction on steep portions of the trail. I didn't, however, get much use of these shoes on wet trail conditions. They performed fine on wet pavement and other urban surfaces. My feet are usually tired at the end of a long(ish) hike, as they were at the end of this hike. However, I did not develop any blister, nor have I ever developed blisters in these shoes. I try to wear socks designed for hiking when I'm planning on walking a significant distance, but I have worn these shoes with regular cotton socks and still not had problems with blisters.

I bought these shoes because I wanted a shoe that was suitable for trail conditions, but that was more lightweight than traditional hiking boots. These shoes were designed to have a thinner sole for added control while on uneven terrain. I found them to be a little too thin. After a long day on the trail I started to be able to "feel" the trail more than I would like. They were never uncomfortable, just lacking a little cushion. The insole in the shoe is pretty standard. There's just a little extra soft padding under the ball of my foot (which is nice). I might try adding some aftermarket insoles to these shoes for longer dayhikes.

I found these shoes to have good traction on all different kinds of terrain. They did well on steeper trails as well (both going up and coming back down). The only time I had a problem with traction was on completely ice covered trails while hiking in Yosemite. Although I’m not sure any shoe could handle that situation. And I don’t recommend this shoe for winter wear anyway because it didn’t do a very good job of keeping my feet warm in colder weather. The shoe is not advertised as being a cold-weather shoe, I stretched its limits. It was doable for short hikes though.

These shoes had a fairly good fit straight out of the box. Not a lot of breaking in was required. And after over 8 months of almost daily use - they’re still going strong. I’ve noticed a stray thread on one of the shoes, but the seams are not coming undone. The only problem I’ve noticed with the fit is that sometimes the back of my ankle gets a little sore on long hikes. This could be due to wearing thin socks rather than the actual fit of the shoe. I never felt like the shoe was rubbing against my ankle, but on one hike, after about 4 or 5 miles the backs of my ankles started to hurt. I normally wear an 8 or 8.5 in all shoes; so I would say that these shoes run true to size. I went with the larger of my range to accommodate thicker socks than I usually wear while hiking. Overall, I’m very satisfied with the fit of the shoe.

This is not a waterproof shoe. While wearing these shoes in the rain, the toe gets wet quickly all the way down to the sock level. However, they are not advertised as being waterproof. They do dry out quickly after becoming wet. These shoes do very well in dry conditions. I’ve never noticed a problem with my feet getting overly sweaty in these shoes. Even on hot days, the shoes are pretty breathable and keep my feet dry and relatively cool.

Clean up with these shoes is very easy. The pictures I have shown of my shoes are after no clean up. There are a few small rocks in the tread of the shoe, but nothing that I can feel while walking. For the most part, the tread is far enough apart that it doesn't get rocks stuck in it. I also never had a problem getting rocks, dirt, or any kind of vegetation in my shoes while hiking. I've never had to stop on the trail to get anything out of my shoes (and I've never worn them with gaiters). I haven't ever worn them in the desert, so I'm not sure if sand would make its way into the shoes.

I tend to have problems with the toe area of shoes. On most shoes I quickly put a hole in the shoe just above my big toe. This has not been a problem with these shoes. I think this is due in part to there being leather over the area directly above my big toe. There's also some type of material between my shoe and the mesh portion of the shoe that seems to add more durability. Below is a picture of the Nike trail runners (on the left) compared to another pair of shoes I own (on the right). I developed the hole in the shoes on the right after only a month or so of use. My Nikes have not shown any wear in the toe area after many, many months of use.

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Reviews > Footwear > Trail Shoes > Nike Air Zoom Cascade Trail Runners > Owner Review by Jennifer Pope

Reviews > Footwear > Trail Shoes > Nike Air Zoom Cascade Trail Runners > Owner Review by Jennifer Pope