ShoeGeometry

Brooks Cascadia Elite vs NNormal Kjerag 02

Two popular shoes in the same category, compared on measured geometry. Each cell carries a provenance badge; open a shoe for sources.

heel boneBrooks Cascadia Elite: heel 40 mm, forefoot 34 mm (drop 6 mm); toe rocker 38 % of length, radius 47 % of length; heel bevel 12 % of length, 19 mm high at the back, ending about under the heel bone.Brooks Cascadia Elite: toe rocker 38 % of lengthNNormal Kjerag 02: heel 26 mm, forefoot 20 mm (drop 6 mm); toe rocker not measured, typical shape drawn.
  • Brooks Cascadia Elite40/34 mm · toe rocker 38 % · heel bevel 12 %
  • NNormal Kjerag 0226/20 mm · toe rocker not measured
Illustrative profiles, not photographs: drawn from published stack heights and photo estimates of the unloaded shoes on a common length (300 mm), heels aligned, toe to the left; dots mark where each toe rocker starts; the dotted vertical line is under the heel bone (12 % of length), so a heel curve reaching past it is a bevel in front of the heel bone. Dotted lines use typical values where a shoe has no measurement. Exact values are in the table below.

Which suits you

If you wantPickBecause
A smoother roll at toe-offBrooks Cascadia Elite46.4 vs 38.6 mm toe tip
More cushioning under the heelBrooks Cascadia Elite40 vs 26 mm heel stack
More under the forefootBrooks Cascadia Elite34 vs 20 mm forefoot stack
A lower dropAbout the same6 vs 6 mm drop
Less weightNNormal Kjerag 02266 vs 230 g

From the values below, with differences inside measurement noise shown as about the same. This describes the shoes, not what is right for your feet; comfort in the first few runs decides.

MetricBrooks Cascadia Elite
Trail · Trail
NNormal Kjerag 02
Trail · Trail
Heel-to-toe drop6 mmDerived6 mmStated
Heel stack40 mmStated26 mmStated
Forefoot stack34 mmStated20 mmStated
Weight266 gStated230 gStated
Toe rocker38 %est.—
Rocker radius47 %est.—
Rocker rise angle28 degest.—
Rocker angle at toe59 degest.—
Toe tip over ground46 mm*est.39 mmest.
Visible rocker lift onset73.9 %est.—
Toe spring (relative)20.8 %est.16.5 %est.
Heel bevel length12.4 %est.—
Heel bevel height19 mm*est.—
Midsole width (forefoot)116.9 mmMeasured—
Midsole width (heel)100.9 mmMeasured—
Toe box shape79 %est.—
Interior forefoot width92.6 mmMeasured—
Toebox width71.6 mmMeasured—
Longitudinal stiffness39Derived—
Midsole firmness23Derived—
PlateCarbon compositeNo plate
Primary foamDNA Gold (PEBA)EExpure+ (supercritical TPEE)
List price$275$215

Key differences

  • Heel-to-toe drop is about the same: 6 mm for Brooks Cascadia Elite, 6 mm for NNormal Kjerag 02.
  • Brooks Cascadia Elite's heel stack is 40 mm, 14 mm thicker than NNormal Kjerag 02's 26 mm.
  • Brooks Cascadia Elite's forefoot stack is 34 mm, 14 mm thicker than NNormal Kjerag 02's 20 mm.
  • Brooks Cascadia Elite's weight is 266 g, 36 g heavier than NNormal Kjerag 02's 230 g.

Read more about both shoes

We measure the shape. For how they feel over many miles, and for lab tests of cushioning, grip and fit:

Brooks Cascadia Elite

NNormal Kjerag 02

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Brooks Cascadia Elite details · NNormal Kjerag 02 details · Add more shoes