While 2004 was a year of many things — including the launching of Gmail, the end of the television show “Friends,” and everyone wearing the yellow LiveStrong bracelets — it was also the year Scott Jurek won his sixth Western States 100 in a Brooks Cascadia prototype and set a new course record of 15:36:27, which stood for six years. Soon after the 2004 Western States, the brand officially launched the Brooks Cascadia 1, which has become a long-standing favorite shoe in the trail running world. After 21 years, the Brooks Cascadia 1 is now back!
Scott Jurek during his 2021 Appalachian Trail speed attempt. Photo: Luis Escobar/@luis_escobar
Leading up to racing that first Western States in the Cascadia, Jurek had been instrumental in designing the shoe, using his deep knowledge of shoes, running mechanics, and race experience to start a shoe line that has now been around for more than two decades. Jurek, who won Western States seven consecutive times, the Badwater 135 Mile twice, and the Hardrock 100, as well as setting a fastest known time on the Appalachian Trail, is nearly synonymous with the Cascadia line.
Now, with the Brooks Cascadia 19 as the latest in a long line of well-loved shoes — with the 20th edition coming later this year, along with an elite version, which Chris Myers wore during his second-place finish at last year’s Western States, slated to come to market soon — Brooks has taken a step back and relaunched the Cascadia 1, with a few modern upgrades.
The appearance of the relaunched Brooks Cascadia 1 embraces the retro vibes. Photo: Brooks
Much like Hoka’s relaunch of the beloved Speedgoat 2 last year, Brooks’ revival of the Cascadia seems rooted mostly in nostalgia, or what the brand dubbed “its lifestyle proposition” in a press release. Retro is cool again, and Brooks released the shoe in some classic colorways with upgraded midsole foam for comfort, as well as a rock shield for protection. With its crafted overlays and old-school design, it looks like it was unearthed in a time capsule. The shoe still features the Pivot Post system for stability, 12 millimeters of drop, and the HydroFlow cushioning system, which uses silicone oil moving through interconnected chambers in the midsole to absorb shock.
So much has changed in the world of trail running since Jurek’s dominating run nearly 22 years ago — including the rise of super shoes, a plethora of run nutrition products, and diverse training methodologies — that the relaunch of the Cascadia, to some, could feel refreshing, like a return to the sport’s simpler roots.
The relaunched Brooks Cascadia 1 ropes 2004 straight into 2026. Photo: Brooks
It might not be the exact shoe that was released in 2004, but if you want the chance to relive the glory days of the mid-2000s when we weren’t worried about the lateral stability of carbon plates in our trail shoes or whether high built-in gaiters would ever become popular, here’s your chance to turn back the clock for an iconic trail shoe.
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