Our verdict

The Caldera 6 from Brooks stands out as a heavyweight champion in the trail running shoe category, embodying both comfort and protection. Ideal for long trail runs and equally impressive for road-to-trail training sessions, it’s a top pick in versatility. Enhanced with DNA Loft v3 foam, the shoe is now lighter and plushier than before, boosting its overall appeal. However, its XXL dimensions contribute to some additional weight, and because of its size, it's not the most agile for sharp turns or rapid descents.

zapatillas de running Brooks hombre amortiguación media ritmo medio Pros

  • Brooks Brooks Caldera 4
  • Brooks Bedlam Is a Precursor to the Brands New Stability System
  • Remarkably stable despite its massive height
  • Join us to try out the latest and greatest Brooks shoes on the Monterey Bay Coastal Trail
  • Perfect for road-to-trail transitions
  • Ultra-comfortable for long runs with DNA Loft v3
  • Lighter compared to the Caldera 5
  • Brooks Mens Caldera 4
  • Extensive upper TPU protection

zapatillas de running Brooks hombre amortiguación media ritmo medio Cons

  • Still too heavy
  • Glycerin17 brooks кроссовки 46 размер
  • Schuhe BROOKS Launch Gts 8 110359 1D 463 Blau

zapatillas de running Brooks hombre amortiguación media ritmo medio | Audience verdict

87
Great!

Who should buy

The eye-catching Brooks Levitate 5 for men is an excellent choice for:

  • Runners seeking a stable shoe for easy trail adventures with occasional road use.
  • Fans of Brooks' running shoes who are venturing into trail running, especially for long endurance sessions.
  • Enthusiasts of maximalist shoes looking to explore options beyond brands like Hoka.

Brooks Levitate 5 for men

Característiques Brooks england Motxilla Pickwick S 13L

We think that the Brooks Levitate 5 for men isn't the ideal choice for runners seeking a light and agile mountain running experience. Its weight and size are a bit too much. Instead, consider options like the Saucony Peregrine 13 or the Brooks x Deschutes Ghost 14 Collab, which offer a more balanced feel.

Additionally, we believe that the Caldera 6 isn't the top option for those tackling technical or muddy trails, as it excels more on easy paths like fire roads or even some road segments. For technical terrains, a shoe like the zapatillas de running Brooks mujer entrenamiento pie normal talla 37.5 moradas zapatillas de running Brooks hombre naranjas.

Brooks Levitate 5 for men parts

Breathability

The heel counter is also quite stiff, earning a score of 4 out of 5 from us. This makes sense from Brooks' perspective, as we believe they designed the shoe to be stable for long miles and secure for heel strikers.

Breathability

Most trail shoes typically feature rugged, durable uppers, but Brooks took a different path with the Caldera 6 to maximise breathability—and they succeeded.

Brooks's strategy involved using a road running upper and adding larger protective elements in strategic places. A prime example is the toe cap; unlike most trail shoes that cover just a small area of the upper, the Caldera 6 covers almost half the toebox.

This design earned the Caldera a 4 out of 5 from us for its airy upper. Without this approach, the shoe might have been too delicate, lacking protective features, or less breathable, with more TPU pieces.

Brooks Levitate 5 for men microscope

In our lab, under the microscope, we confirmed that the Quick Air Dry upper is similar to those found in road shoes. The mesh threads are widely spaced, allowing for excellent airflow.

Brooks Levitate 5 for men microscope

zapatillas de running Brooks ritmo medio talla 45.5.

It features multiple layers, even in the toebox, and the toe cap is reinforced inside, which should boost durability.

Test results
Caldera 6 4
Average 3.3
Compared to 78 trail running shoes
Brooks Adrenaline GTS 22 Xialing
1
Breathability
5

Durability

Toebox durability

An additional perk of these protective elements is their contribution to enhanced durability. Knit and mesh, the typical materials for uppers, are often susceptible to wear and tear.

However, TPU or TPEE overlays provide outstanding resistance to all kinds of damage, including what we put them through in our Dremel test. That's an impressive and perfect score of 5 out of 5!

Brooks Levitate 5 for men Toebox durability
Test results
Caldera 6 5
Average 3
Compared to 58 trail running shoes
Brooks Adrenaline GTS 22 Xialing
1
Toebox durability
5

Brooks Sherpa 7 2-In-1 Short Run Raisin Copper Σο

The heel padding test didn't fare as well as the previous one, but it still left us satisfied in the lab.

After analysing the damage caused by the Dremel, we settled on a 3 out of 5, which is a solid, average score for a trail shoe.

Brooks Levitate 5 for men Brooks Sherpa 7 2-In-1 Short Run Raisin Copper Σο
Test results
Caldera 6 3
Average 2.8
Compared to 56 trail running shoes
Brooks Adrenaline GTS 22 Xialing
1
Brooks Sherpa 7 2-In-1 Short Run Raisin Copper Σο
5

Outsole hardness

After evaluating the toebox and heel, it's now time to examine the TrailTrack outsole.

We began by checking its hardness, which measured 83.3 HC on our durometer. This is a tried-and-true approach, aiming for a balance between durability and grip.

Brooks Levitate 5 for men Outsole hardness
Test results
Caldera 6 83.3 HC
Average 85.3 HC
We use an average of four tests. The photo shows one of those tests.
Compared to 101 trail running shoes
Brooks Adrenaline GTS 22 Xialing
72.5 HC
Outsole hardness
95.0 HC

Outsole durability

Curious to see if the average hardness number would translate to just-okay durability, we fired up the Dremel for the third and last time on the Caldera 6.

We were truly pleased with the results. We observed only a 0.6-mm indentation, which is an excellent outcome, assuring fantastic durability.

Brooks Levitate 5 for men Outsole durability
Test results
Caldera 6 0.6 mm
Average 0.9 mm
Compared to 51 trail running shoes
Brooks Adrenaline GTS 22 Xialing
0.0 mm
Outsole wear
2.0 mm

Outsole thickness

Lastly, we examined the outsole thickness, which measured 1.7 mm. Although it might seem thin, we believe it's the right approach.

Brooks Levitate 5 for men rubber

With rubber that has proven its durability and hardness, opting for a thicker outsole would add unnecessary weight and mute the ride, making the shoe feel less lively, especially for those in the hunt for a trail-to-road shoe.

Brooks Levitate 5 for men Outsole thickness
Test results
Caldera 6 1.7 mm
Average 2.4 mm
Compared to 101 trail running shoes
Brooks Adrenaline GTS 22 Xialing
0.9 mm
Outsole thickness
6.5 mm

Weight

It's particularly important to minimise weight in this shoe because it is quite heavy. Weighing in at 11.1 oz (315g), you should be comfortable with shoes that are on the heavier side.

That said, it doesn’t feel like a tank, performing really well for long distances or at moderate paces. However, don't count on going fast in these or using them for your next skyrace.

Brooks Levitate 5 for men Weight
Test results
Caldera 6 11.11 oz (315g)
Average 10.34 oz (293g)
Compared to 101 trail running shoes
Brooks Adrenaline GTS 22 Xialing
7.51 oz (213g)
Weight
13.37 oz (379g)

Cushioning

Lastly, we examined the outsole thickness, which measured 1.7 mm. Although it might seem thin, we believe it's the right approach.

Brooks Levitate 5 for men rubber

With rubber that has proven its durability and hardness, opting for a thicker outsole would add unnecessary weight and mute the ride, making the shoe feel less lively, especially for those in the hunt for a trail-to-road shoe.

Heel stack

Upon unboxing the shoe in our lab, we were struck by the eye-popping, 38.4-mm stack height and the extreme ratio of midsole to upper. It was truly a sight to behold. However, there was a twist.

Brooks ingeniously designed a bathtub-like shoe to maximise stability. Your feet sit deeply within it to prevent lateral collapse, an the substantial stack height offers a leg-saving experience, particularly for heel strikers.

Brooks Levitate 5 for men Heel stack
Test results
Caldera 6 38.4 mm
Average 32.2 mm
Compared to 101 trail running shoes
Brooks Adrenaline GTS 22 Xialing
16.1 mm
Heel stack
42.4 mm

Forefoot stack

In the forefoot, measured at the World Athletics' standard points—just like the heel—we clocked just 26.3 mm, which, although less than the heel, is still above the average.

B-Low The Belt Brooks buckled belt.

Brooks Levitate 5 for men Forefoot stack
Test results
Caldera 6 26.3 mm
Average 24.4 mm
Compared to 101 trail running shoes
Brooks Adrenaline GTS 22 Xialing
15.2 mm
Forefoot stack
33.9 mm

Drop

The difference between the previous two measurements gives us a 12.1-mm heel-to-toe drop, which is 2x the 6-mm drop the brand claims. Why? We adhere to the WA's guidelines for measuring every shoe in the market, but many brands don't use these standards...

Naturally, with its high drop, the shoe is particularly suitable for heel strikers and those looking to reduce the strain of the long miles on their calves. However, if you want a max-cushioned shoe with less drop, check the zapatillas de running Brooks mujer competición azules.

Brooks Levitate 5 for men Drop
Test results
Caldera 6 12.1 mm
Average 7.8 mm
Compared to 100 trail running shoes
Brooks Adrenaline GTS 22 Xialing
-0.1 mm
Drop
17.3 mm

Insole thickness

Brooks Atmosphere Ανδρικό T-shirt.

Brooks Levitate 5 for men Insole thickness
Test results
Caldera 6 5.0 mm
Average 4.7 mm
Compared to 101 trail running shoes
Brooks Adrenaline GTS 22 Xialing
2.7 mm
Insole thickness
9.8 mm

Midsole softness

Note: a low durometer measurement equals a soft material, whereas a high measurement means it's firm.

Now, let's dive into the midsole, a standout feature of this shoe. Brooks opted for their DNA Loft v3 compound, targeting a soft, plush ride.

layer up in Brooks Dash Half-Zip jacket EVA-based, Nitrogen-infused foam—since using CO2 would infringe on Skechers' patent—to enhance its lightness and springiness. Our durometer reading of 17.0 HA confirms our impression of a plush ride, and makes the shoe perfect for those set-and-forget long runs in the trails.

Brooks Levitate 5 for men Midsole softness
Test results
Caldera 6 17.0 HA
Average 23.0 HA
We use an average of four tests. The photo shows one of those tests.
Compared to 77 trail running shoes
Brooks Adrenaline GTS 22 Xialing
9.1 HA
Midsole softness (soft to firm)
39.0 HA

zapatillas de running Brooks talla 38

Note: a low durometer measurement equals a soft material, whereas a high measurement means it's firm.

We put the Caldera 6 in the freezer for 20 minutes to see how cold conditions affect its midsole. After cooling down, the midsole registered 19.8 HA on our durometer.

This reading shows that even in cold conditions, the Brooks Levitate 5 for men, with its Nitrogen-infused midsole, stays significantly softer than the average trail shoe at room temperature.

Brooks Levitate 5 for men zapatillas de running Brooks talla 38
Test results
Caldera 6 19.8 HA
Average 28.7 HA
Compared to 77 trail running shoes
Brooks Adrenaline GTS 22 Xialing
11.8 HA
zapatillas de running Brooks talla 38 (soft to firm)
48.4 HA

brooks classic slip on og classic slip on lx manny pacquiao

The difference between the two measurements is just 16.2%, an impressive performance that guarantees you won't experience any significant changes when running in winter conditions.

Test results
Caldera 6 16.2%
Average 26.8%
Compared to 77 trail running shoes
Brooks Adrenaline GTS 22 Xialing
0%
brooks classic slip on og classic slip on lx manny pacquiao
100%

Stability

Lateral stability test

In the heel stack measurement, we've already discussed how Brooks achieved decent stability with this shoe—by using massive sidewalls.

Brooks Levitate 5 for men sidewalls

This is evident from the fact that the upper is much lower in height compared to the midsole, indicating that the feet are nestled deep inside the shoe.

Each year, an increasing number of shoes are adopting the sidewall design, like the ASICS Novablast 4. It's not only effective for stability, but it also gives the shoe a really aggressive, muscle-car look.

Torsional rigidity

Despite lacking a rock plate, the Caldera 6 boasts impressive torsional rigidity, scoring 5 out of 5 in our test. This came as a surprise, though the substantial midsole certainly plays a major role in this achievement.

The consequences are straightforward—this design further enhances stability, but the trade-off is reduced agility on technical terrain.

Test results
Caldera 6 5
Average 3.5
Compared to 95 trail running shoes
Brooks Adrenaline GTS 22 Xialing
1
Torsional rigidity
5

Brooks Löparskor Levitate Stealth Fit 5

The heel counter is also quite stiff, earning a score of 4 out of 5 from us. This makes sense from Brooks' perspective, as we believe they designed the shoe to be stable for long miles and secure for heel strikers.

Test results
Caldera 6 4
Average 3.2
Compared to 93 trail running shoes
Brooks Adrenaline GTS 22 Xialing
1
Brooks Löparskor Levitate Stealth Fit 5
5

Midsole width in the forefoot

Another aspect that immediately grabbed our attention upon unboxing the shoe was its colossal size. We can recall only a few instances where we've encountered a larger shoe.

Keen to determine its exact dimensions, we grabbed our callipers. The forefoot measured a whopping 119.5 mm, placing it among the widest shoes we've ever tested in the lab. This further illustrates Brooks' relentless pursuit of stability in this shoe, despite its cloud-like foam.

Brooks Levitate 5 for men Midsole width in the forefoot
Test results
Caldera 6 119.5 mm
Average 111.9 mm
Compared to 101 trail running shoes
Brooks Adrenaline GTS 22 Xialing
102.1 mm
Midsole width in the forefoot
126.0 mm

Selim Brooks England B66 mel

The heel is even more striking compared to the average shoe, boasting an almost surreal width of 106.0 mm. The shoe not only looks but actually is incredibly wide, making it an excellent choice even for those heel strikers with mild pronation issues.

Naturally, like other trail shoes, the oversized platform of this shoe results in less suitability for technical, twisty terrains.

Brooks Levitate 5 for men Selim Brooks England B66 mel
Test results
Caldera 6 106.0 mm
Average 89.6 mm
Compared to 101 trail running shoes
Brooks Adrenaline GTS 22 Xialing
77.2 mm
Selim Brooks England B66 mel
109.3 mm

Flexibility

Stiffness

Returning to our stiffness tests, we next concentrated on the longitudinal aspect. This involves a 90-degree bend test where we measure the force needed to bend the shoe to that angle.

For the Caldera 6, we only needed 26.5N, a very favourable outcome. Why is this good for this particular shoe? Because this Brooks is designed for long-distance runs and even hikes, it shouldn't be too stiff, in order to provide a nice level of comfort.

Test results
Caldera 6 26.5N
Average 28.4N
mens brooks adrenaline gts 20 retro.
Compared to 101 trail running shoes
Brooks Adrenaline GTS 22 Xialing
10.5N
Stiffness
54.5N

Stiffness in cold

We conducted the 20-minute freezing test again to evaluate the shoe's stiffness in cold winter conditions. Following the test, it required 32.7N of force to bend the shoe, which is nearly the same as the previous result.

Test results
Caldera 6 32.7N
Average 38.4N
Compared to 98 trail running shoes
Brooks Adrenaline GTS 22 Xialing
11.9N
Stiffness in cold
92.1N

Difference in stiffness in cold

In fact, that's just a 23.6% increase, an incredibly small change that we can assure you will be almost imperceptible.

Test results
Caldera 6 23.6%
Average 35.3%
Compared to 98 trail running shoes
Brooks Adrenaline GTS 22 Xialing
0%
Difference in stiffness in cold
102%

zapatillas de running Brooks voladoras media maratón talla 37.5

Lug depth

Now, let's discuss the lugs. Brooks designed this shoe primarily for the pancake-flat trails of many of the USA's ultramarathons. Consequently, the lugs are relatively short and versatile even for occasional road use, measuring 3.5 mm.

Brooks Levitate 5 for men

Although Brooks' rugged paint on the lugs makes their shape hard to identify, we examined them closely. All the lugs are chevron-shaped and vary in direction to aid traction on rolling hills.

Brooks Levitate 5 for men Lug depth
Test results
Caldera 6 3.5 mm
Average 3.6 mm
Compared to 101 trail running shoes
Brooks Adrenaline GTS 22 Xialing
1.7 mm
Lug depth
5.8 mm

Size and fit

Brooks Dare Underwire Run Bra

In our lab tests with the calliper, we found the toebox of the Caldera 6 to be quite average, measuring at 98.5 mm. It should accommodate most runners, except those with extremely narrow or wide feet.

Brooks Levitate 5 for men upper

From our tests, we believe the upper will appeal to a broader range of foot shapes and offer more space for longer runs, all while keeping a secure grip for taking corners.

Brooks Levitate 5 for men Brooks Dare Underwire Run Bra
Test results
Caldera 6 98.5 mm
Average 98.7 mm
Compared to 101 trail running shoes
Brooks Adrenaline GTS 22 Xialing
92.0 mm
Brooks Dare Underwire Run Bra
104.9 mm

zapatillas de running Brooks constitución fuerte maratón talla 41

The design in the big toe area is similar, maybe a bit wider, but it's not a drastic difference. Our measurement came in at 78.8 mm.

However, since the toe cap is heavily reinforced with TPU overlays, don't expect much stretchiness. It's best to ensure a comfortable fit from day one, there's no break in period.

Brooks Levitate 5 for men zapatillas de running Brooks constitución fuerte maratón talla 41
Test results
Caldera 6 78.8 mm
Average 79.0 mm
Compared to 63 trail running shoes
Brooks Adrenaline GTS 22 Xialing
70.5 mm
zapatillas de running Brooks constitución fuerte maratón talla 41
92.1 mm

Heel feel

An additional perk of these protective elements is their contribution to enhanced durability. Knit and mesh, the typical materials for uppers, are often susceptible to wear and tear.

However, TPU or TPEE overlays provide outstanding resistance to all kinds of damage, including what we put them through in our Dremel test. That's an impressive and perfect score of 5 out of 5!

zapatillas de running Brooks hombre grises entre 60 y 100

We noticed the shoe has a semi-gusseted tongue, a reasonable choice for a heavier shoe. Yet, this design has its downsides, such as the risk of small debris getting into the shoe due to the lack of a fully-gusseted tongue.

Brooks Levitate 5 for men zapatillas de running Brooks hombre grises entre 60 y 100
Test results
Caldera 6 Both sides (semi)

Comfort

Tongue padding

The tongue has a thickness of 6.0 mm, which is average padding.

Brooks Levitate 5 for men tongue padding

zapatillas de running Brooks neutro amortiguación media constitución fuerte talla 41.

Normally, we'd be happy with this, but in a heavier shoe, opting for a 3-to-4-mm thickness can be a good choice—it's still comfortable and helps reduce the shoe's weight. Perhaps for version 7?

Brooks Levitate 5 for men Tongue padding
Test results
Caldera 6 6.0 mm
Average 6.4 mm
Compared to 101 trail running shoes
Brooks Adrenaline GTS 22 Xialing
1.5 mm
Tongue padding
12.2 mm

Heel tab

The Caldera 6 features a convenient pull tab at the back that not only helps you slip into the shoes quickly but also serves as an attachment point for ankle gaiters.

We absolutely love this clever, dual-purpose design!

Brooks Levitate 5 for men Heel tab
Test results
Caldera 6 Pull tab

Removable insole

The insole can be completely removed, making it easy for those who require extra arch support to use custom orthotics.

Also, as shown in our picture, the insole has a slight flare, but it's not substantial. Therefore, we believe most third-party insoles should fit well.

Brooks Levitate 5 for men Removable insole
Test results
Caldera 6 Yes

Misc

Reflective elements

The Caldera 6 lacks reflective features, so you should be cautious and wear high-visibility gear when running near roads at night with these.

Brooks Levitate 5 for men Reflective elements
Test results
Caldera 6 No