Price: $140
Type: Trail
Weight: 9.7 oz (M), 8.0 oz (W)
The Right Shoe For: Dirt-dancing on twisty, rooty trail runs
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The Mazama 2 is Brooks’s lightest trail shoe, geared for runners who aren’t afraid to take their speed workouts off-road. A lightweight mesh upper combined with minimal, targeted cushioning keeps the weight down on the Mazama 2, and testers said that the responsive feel made navigating even the most technical trails a breeze. Add in the fact that the outsole packs enough grip for tough terrain, but also has the versatility for road running, and you’ve got a shoe ready for any starting line, anywhere.
Besides the shoe’s lightweight feel and responsiveness, other favorite features among testers were its overall fit and durability. The comfort of the Mazama 2 impressed nearly every tester, despite its sparse cushioning, and many applauded the shoe for giving them that fast, race-ready feel on their runs. Plus, the Mazama’s sturdiness and solid build convinced testers that it was a shoe to be reckoned with for many miles to come.
“Brooks has done it again—this is a superior shoe,” one tester remarked. “It is lightweight, but has the right amount of stability and cushioning. My feet and legs felt fresh even on longer runs.”
Midsole
Designed for runners who don’t require added support, the Mazama 2’s midsole is light on cushion with moderate stability features. Two overlapping layers of cushioning in the midsole encourage a natural transition through each stride, and continuously adapt to the foot from heel strike to toe off. Testers appreciated that the Mazama 2 sat close enough to the ground that they could feel the trail underfoot, which helped them navigate roots and rocks better than a heavily cushioned shoe would allow.
“The cushioning was good. I wouldn’t want too much cushioning for trail running because it minimizes the ability to feel the trail surface,” explained one tester. “But the cushioning was better in the forefoot than the heel.”
While some testers thought there was just enough cushioning to handle the pounding of the trails, others really would have preferred a softer shoe. The Mazama 2 delivers a decidedly firm ride with a good earthy feel, and won’t fit the bill for those wanting a plush trail shoe.
Outsole
The studs on the Mazama 2’s outsole are not as deep or pronounced as those in other trail shoes, but grip and traction were still strong points. Many testers liked this, as it made the shoe feel less clunky and gave them an unexpected zippy feel on runs—some even went as far to say that their overall impression was reminiscent of running in track spikes. The general agreement among testers was that the Mazama had no problem handling dry trails, but fell a tad short when things got too sloppy or slippery.
“There’s really nice traction on normal, dry trail surfaces,” one tester said. “But I still slipped on muddy and icy surfaces.”
Upper
A cool, sneaky feature of the Mazama 2 is the shoe’s lace garage, which allows wearers to tuck their laces within a small flap on the tongue. Testers liked that it kept their bunny-ears clean and secure, instead of dragging through mud on the trails. Another bonus was the shoe’s 3D-printed stretchy, rubber reinforcements throughout the upper. The ruggedized patterns add extra support around the heel and the toe area, with a wraparound bumper to shield against sticks and stones. Rubber enhancements in all the right places lets the Mazama 2 keep a light and breathable upper construction, without sacrificing overall protection. Plus, testers liked the bright colors for staying visible on heavily wooded routes.
All the Stats You Need!
Men’s
- Weight: Moderate | 9.7 oz.
- Summer Running Gear
- Heel Height: Low | 26.9 mm
- Heel Cushioning: Very Firm
- The Best Basic Running Watches for Minimalists
- Forefoot Cushioning: Firm
- Flexibility: Very Stiff
- Download Your Training Plan
- Energy Return: Moderate
Women’s
- Weight: Moderate | 8.0 oz.
- How Can Pronation Affect Your Shoe Choice
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- Heel Cushioning: Very Firm
- Forefoot Height: Low | 20.2 mm
- Forefoot Cushioning: Firm
- Flexibility: Very Stiff
- Download Your Training Plan
- Energy Return: Moderate
We put each shoe through real-world usage and a battery of mechanical tests in our lab to provide you with objective—and exclusive—data. In addition to measuring a shoe’s weight, we measure sole thickness (everything that sits between your foot and the road), how well the foam cushions your stride, and the flexibility of the forefoot. All this is taken into account in our reviews of each shoe.
a bygone version of the daily Runner’s World Forefoot Height: Low | 21.7 mm The Warmup, a bygone version of the daily RW newsletter. Now, she tests and reviews anything you might find on runners’ feet-from crew socks and compression boots to carbon-plated super shoes.
A lifelong runner and shoe geek, Morgan has been chasing the perfect pair of kicks since she joined her grade school cross-country team. Since then, she ran as a Division I walk-on for the cross-country and track & field teams at the University of Delaware, where she studied English and Biology. She has one full marathon under her belt, and has raced more halfs and 5Ks than she can count.
