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Created page with "{{DISPLAYTITLE:Brooks PureCadence 3 Review}} The [http://www.zappos.com/brooks-purecadence Brooks PureCadence] 3 is an acceptable, though not great, shoe. It has good longevit..."
{{DISPLAYTITLE:Brooks PureCadence 3 Review}}
The [http://www.zappos.com/brooks-purecadence Brooks PureCadence] 3 is an acceptable, though not great, shoe. It has good longevity due to the extensive hard rubber outsole and firm foam, but these features also mean that it's rather heavy for the cushioning it provides. The PureCadence has 4mm of drop and some anti-[[Pronation]], but neither caused me any problems.
{| class="wikitable"
|- valign="top"
|[[File:Brooks-PureCadence-3-top.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Brooks PureCadence 3 top]]
|[[File:Brooks-PureCadence-3-bottom.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Brooks PureCadence 3 bottom]]
|[[File:Brooks-PureCadence-3-inside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Brooks PureCadence 3 inside]]
|[[File:Brooks-PureCadence-3-outside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Brooks PureCadence 3 outside]]
|}
=Characteristics=
* {{H:WhyBuy}}. The PureCadence would make a good shoe for someone looking to transition from a more traditional shoe, though I'd suggest the [[Saucony Kinvara]] instead, as it's lighter and more softly cushioned. If you're not looking for a transition shoe, then the [[Hoka Clifton]] is lighter and much better cushioned, or the [[Altra One2| Altra One<sup>2</sup>]] lot lighter and more softly cushioned.
* {{H:cushioning}}. The PureCadence is nicely cushioned, but a little on the firm side, especially given its weight.
* {{H:drop}}. The PureCadence has 4mm of drop, which did not impact my foot strike unduly. Swapping between the PureCadence and a zero drop shoe highlights the difference that 4 mm makes, and it does create tend to move the foot strike towards the heel, but I was able to adjust.
* {{H:structure}}. This shoe uses multiple densities of foam, with firmer foam on the inside (medial) of the heel. (This is intended to reduce [[Pronation]], but these features don't actually reduce pronation significantly and are likely to cause problems.) This is quite mild and I didn't find it interfered with my biomechanics at all. There are some moderate grooves to improve flexibility. The area under the arch is slightly raised, which could put pressure on the arch and cause problems. (Arches are strong structures when loaded from above, but can be broken easily by pressure from below.)
* {{H:flexibility}}. The PureCadence is nicely flexible due to the midsole groves and the gaps in the outsole.
* {{H:outsole}}. The hard rubber outsole overs the contact areas of the shoe, which improves longevity and grip, but adds to the weight. As you can see from the pictures, the outsole is in patches. This helps keep the shoe flexible, as the harder rubber of an outsole is quite inflexible, so a continuous layer is not only heavier, but less flexible as well. The outsole rubber used is a nice combination of hard wearing and grippy, and is fairly thick. Of course this is also the Achilles' heel of the shoe, as the outsole is probably the reason the shoe is quite heavy when compared with the [[Hoka Clifton]], or [[Saucony Virrata]].
* {{H:shape}}. The shoe of the shoe is closer to the human foot than many designs, but it's not quite right. It's like someone described the shape of a human foot to the designers, but they couldn't picture it. I'd recommend [[Shoe Dissection| cutting open the toe box for comfort]].
* {{H:upper}}. The upper is inflexible and overly complex, with quite a number of seams. The seams did not cause me any problems, but I think they could be an issue for some runners. The ankle opening is well padded, but the rest is thin and breathes reasonably well. The PureCadence has Brooks' "Nav Band" which is an elasticated band over the middle of the shoe, going from where the upper meets the arch of the foot, over the top and down to the outside edge of the midsole. This elasticated band is intended to keep the shoe secure, but it just puts extra pressure on the top of the foot. I didn't like this band at all, but it's easy to cut it open where it crosses the tongue. Overall the shoe is slightly less comfortable than average.
* {{H:tongue}}. The PureCadence has a tongue that is attached to the inside of the upper, with the outside free, a combination that I like. It keeps the tongue in place without the problems of a sock style upper. The tongue has a slight degree of soft padding which should be enough for most runners.
* {{H:lacing}}. The laces are bumpy, which helps them stay tied, but also makes it trickier to get the tension right when tying the shoe. The laces also have an asymmetric pattern, which I didn't find made any difference when compared with other shoes.
* {{H:heelcounter}}. The heel counter is quite solid, with hard edges that might cause some people problems.
{{BuyNow|url=http://www.zappos.com/brooks-purecadence|product=Brooks PureCadence|store=Zappos.com}}
=Comparisons=
Here are some direct comparisons with its potential competition.
==PureCadence and Hoka Clifton==
Comparing the PureCadence and the [[Hoka Clifton]], the Clifton wins out due to its lightness and cushioning.
* Similarities
** {{H:shape}}. Neither has a good toe box.
** {{H:drop}}. Both are around 4mm drop though the softer cushioning of the Clifton makes the drop far less noticeable.
* Advantage PureCadence
** {{H:flexibility}}. The PureCadence is a bit more flexible.
** {{H:grip}}. The PureCadence has slightly more grip.
** {{H:price}}. The PureCadence is cheaper.
** {{H:availability}}. The PureCadence is widely stocked.
** {{H:longevity}}. The extra outsole on the PureCadence improves longevity.
* Advantage Hoka Clifton
** {{H:cushioning}}. The Clifton has far thicker, softer cushioning.
** {{H:weight}}. The Clifton is lighter.
** {{H:trails}}. The Clifton has a little more protection on rocky trails.
{| class="wikitable"
|- valign="top"
|[[File:Brooks-PureCadence-3-top.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Brooks PureCadence 3 top]]
|[[File:Brooks-PureCadence-3-bottom.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Brooks PureCadence 3 bottom]]
|[[File:Brooks-PureCadence-3-inside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Brooks PureCadence 3 inside]]
|[[File:Brooks-PureCadence-3-outside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Brooks PureCadence 3 outside]]
|- valign="top"
|[[File:Hoka-OneOne-Clifton-top.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Hoka OneOne Clifton top]]
|[[File:Hoka-OneOne-Clifton-bottom.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Hoka OneOne Clifton bottom]]
|[[File:Hoka-OneOne-Clifton-inside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Hoka OneOne Clifton inside]]
|[[File:Hoka-OneOne-Clifton-outside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Hoka OneOne Clifton outside]]
|}
==PureCadence and Altra One2 ==
Comparing the PureCadence and the [[Altra One2| Altra One<sup>2</sup>]], the Altra wins on weight and cushioning, but the PureCadence will last longer:
* Advantage PureCadence
** {{H:price}}. The PureCadence is cheaper, especially when longevity is considered.
** {{H:grip}}. The PureCadence has more grip.
** {{H:availability}}. The PureCadence is widely stocked.
** {{H:trails}}. The PureCadence has more protection from rocks.
** {{H:longevity}}. The PureCadence lasts longer.
* Advantage [[Altra One2| Altra One2]]
** {{H:cushioning}}. The Altra is a lot more softly cushioned.
** {{H:weight}}. The Altra is a lot lighter.
** {{H:drop}}. The Altra is zero drop, the PureCadence has 4mm.
** {{H:shape}}. The Altra has a much better toe box.
** {{H:flexibility}}. The Altra is more flexible.
{| class="wikitable"
|- valign="top"
|[[File:Brooks-PureCadence-3-top.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Brooks PureCadence 3 top]]
|[[File:Brooks-PureCadence-3-bottom.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Brooks PureCadence 3 bottom]]
|[[File:Brooks-PureCadence-3-inside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Brooks PureCadence 3 inside]]
|[[File:Brooks-PureCadence-3-outside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Brooks PureCadence 3 outside]]
|- valign="top"
|[[File:Altra-One2-top.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Altra One2 top]]
|[[File:Altra-One2-bottom.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Altra One2 bottom]]
|[[File:Altra-One2-inside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Altra One2 inside]]
|[[File:Altra-One2-outside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Altra One2 outside]]
|}
==PureCadence and Saucony Virrata ==
Comparing the PureCadence and the [[Saucony Virrata]]:
* Similarities
** {{H:shape}}. Neither has a good toe box.
** {{H:availability}}. The both are reasonably easy to find.
* Advantage PureCadence
** {{H:grip}}. The PureCadence has more grip.
** {{H:longevity}}. The PureCadence lasts longer.
** {{H:trails}}. The PureCadence has more protection from rocks.
** {{H:cushioning}}. The PureCadence is more softly cushioned.
* Advantage [[Saucony Virrata]]
** {{H:drop}}. The Virrata is zero-drop, the PureCadence is 4mm.
** {{H:weight}}. The Virrata is a lot lighter.
** {{H:price}}. The Virrata is a little cheaper.
** {{H:flexibility}}. The Virrata is more flexible.
{| class="wikitable"
|- valign="top"
|[[File:Brooks-PureCadence-3-top.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Brooks PureCadence 3 top]]
|[[File:Brooks-PureCadence-3-bottom.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Brooks PureCadence 3 bottom]]
|[[File:Brooks-PureCadence-3-inside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Brooks PureCadence 3 inside]]
|[[File:Brooks-PureCadence-3-outside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Brooks PureCadence 3 outside]]
|- valign="top"
|[[File:Saucony-Virrata-top.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Saucony Virrata top]]
|[[File:Saucony-Virrata-bottom.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Saucony Virrata bottom]]
|[[File:Saucony-Virrata-inside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Saucony Virrata inside]]
|[[File:Saucony-Virrata-outside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Saucony Virrata outside]]
|}
=A Comparison with other Recommended Shoes=
{{:Shoes-include}}
The [http://www.zappos.com/brooks-purecadence Brooks PureCadence] 3 is an acceptable, though not great, shoe. It has good longevity due to the extensive hard rubber outsole and firm foam, but these features also mean that it's rather heavy for the cushioning it provides. The PureCadence has 4mm of drop and some anti-[[Pronation]], but neither caused me any problems.
{| class="wikitable"
|- valign="top"
|[[File:Brooks-PureCadence-3-top.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Brooks PureCadence 3 top]]
|[[File:Brooks-PureCadence-3-bottom.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Brooks PureCadence 3 bottom]]
|[[File:Brooks-PureCadence-3-inside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Brooks PureCadence 3 inside]]
|[[File:Brooks-PureCadence-3-outside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Brooks PureCadence 3 outside]]
|}
=Characteristics=
* {{H:WhyBuy}}. The PureCadence would make a good shoe for someone looking to transition from a more traditional shoe, though I'd suggest the [[Saucony Kinvara]] instead, as it's lighter and more softly cushioned. If you're not looking for a transition shoe, then the [[Hoka Clifton]] is lighter and much better cushioned, or the [[Altra One2| Altra One<sup>2</sup>]] lot lighter and more softly cushioned.
* {{H:cushioning}}. The PureCadence is nicely cushioned, but a little on the firm side, especially given its weight.
* {{H:drop}}. The PureCadence has 4mm of drop, which did not impact my foot strike unduly. Swapping between the PureCadence and a zero drop shoe highlights the difference that 4 mm makes, and it does create tend to move the foot strike towards the heel, but I was able to adjust.
* {{H:structure}}. This shoe uses multiple densities of foam, with firmer foam on the inside (medial) of the heel. (This is intended to reduce [[Pronation]], but these features don't actually reduce pronation significantly and are likely to cause problems.) This is quite mild and I didn't find it interfered with my biomechanics at all. There are some moderate grooves to improve flexibility. The area under the arch is slightly raised, which could put pressure on the arch and cause problems. (Arches are strong structures when loaded from above, but can be broken easily by pressure from below.)
* {{H:flexibility}}. The PureCadence is nicely flexible due to the midsole groves and the gaps in the outsole.
* {{H:outsole}}. The hard rubber outsole overs the contact areas of the shoe, which improves longevity and grip, but adds to the weight. As you can see from the pictures, the outsole is in patches. This helps keep the shoe flexible, as the harder rubber of an outsole is quite inflexible, so a continuous layer is not only heavier, but less flexible as well. The outsole rubber used is a nice combination of hard wearing and grippy, and is fairly thick. Of course this is also the Achilles' heel of the shoe, as the outsole is probably the reason the shoe is quite heavy when compared with the [[Hoka Clifton]], or [[Saucony Virrata]].
* {{H:shape}}. The shoe of the shoe is closer to the human foot than many designs, but it's not quite right. It's like someone described the shape of a human foot to the designers, but they couldn't picture it. I'd recommend [[Shoe Dissection| cutting open the toe box for comfort]].
* {{H:upper}}. The upper is inflexible and overly complex, with quite a number of seams. The seams did not cause me any problems, but I think they could be an issue for some runners. The ankle opening is well padded, but the rest is thin and breathes reasonably well. The PureCadence has Brooks' "Nav Band" which is an elasticated band over the middle of the shoe, going from where the upper meets the arch of the foot, over the top and down to the outside edge of the midsole. This elasticated band is intended to keep the shoe secure, but it just puts extra pressure on the top of the foot. I didn't like this band at all, but it's easy to cut it open where it crosses the tongue. Overall the shoe is slightly less comfortable than average.
* {{H:tongue}}. The PureCadence has a tongue that is attached to the inside of the upper, with the outside free, a combination that I like. It keeps the tongue in place without the problems of a sock style upper. The tongue has a slight degree of soft padding which should be enough for most runners.
* {{H:lacing}}. The laces are bumpy, which helps them stay tied, but also makes it trickier to get the tension right when tying the shoe. The laces also have an asymmetric pattern, which I didn't find made any difference when compared with other shoes.
* {{H:heelcounter}}. The heel counter is quite solid, with hard edges that might cause some people problems.
{{BuyNow|url=http://www.zappos.com/brooks-purecadence|product=Brooks PureCadence|store=Zappos.com}}
=Comparisons=
Here are some direct comparisons with its potential competition.
==PureCadence and Hoka Clifton==
Comparing the PureCadence and the [[Hoka Clifton]], the Clifton wins out due to its lightness and cushioning.
* Similarities
** {{H:shape}}. Neither has a good toe box.
** {{H:drop}}. Both are around 4mm drop though the softer cushioning of the Clifton makes the drop far less noticeable.
* Advantage PureCadence
** {{H:flexibility}}. The PureCadence is a bit more flexible.
** {{H:grip}}. The PureCadence has slightly more grip.
** {{H:price}}. The PureCadence is cheaper.
** {{H:availability}}. The PureCadence is widely stocked.
** {{H:longevity}}. The extra outsole on the PureCadence improves longevity.
* Advantage Hoka Clifton
** {{H:cushioning}}. The Clifton has far thicker, softer cushioning.
** {{H:weight}}. The Clifton is lighter.
** {{H:trails}}. The Clifton has a little more protection on rocky trails.
{| class="wikitable"
|- valign="top"
|[[File:Brooks-PureCadence-3-top.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Brooks PureCadence 3 top]]
|[[File:Brooks-PureCadence-3-bottom.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Brooks PureCadence 3 bottom]]
|[[File:Brooks-PureCadence-3-inside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Brooks PureCadence 3 inside]]
|[[File:Brooks-PureCadence-3-outside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Brooks PureCadence 3 outside]]
|- valign="top"
|[[File:Hoka-OneOne-Clifton-top.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Hoka OneOne Clifton top]]
|[[File:Hoka-OneOne-Clifton-bottom.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Hoka OneOne Clifton bottom]]
|[[File:Hoka-OneOne-Clifton-inside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Hoka OneOne Clifton inside]]
|[[File:Hoka-OneOne-Clifton-outside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Hoka OneOne Clifton outside]]
|}
==PureCadence and Altra One2 ==
Comparing the PureCadence and the [[Altra One2| Altra One<sup>2</sup>]], the Altra wins on weight and cushioning, but the PureCadence will last longer:
* Advantage PureCadence
** {{H:price}}. The PureCadence is cheaper, especially when longevity is considered.
** {{H:grip}}. The PureCadence has more grip.
** {{H:availability}}. The PureCadence is widely stocked.
** {{H:trails}}. The PureCadence has more protection from rocks.
** {{H:longevity}}. The PureCadence lasts longer.
* Advantage [[Altra One2| Altra One2]]
** {{H:cushioning}}. The Altra is a lot more softly cushioned.
** {{H:weight}}. The Altra is a lot lighter.
** {{H:drop}}. The Altra is zero drop, the PureCadence has 4mm.
** {{H:shape}}. The Altra has a much better toe box.
** {{H:flexibility}}. The Altra is more flexible.
{| class="wikitable"
|- valign="top"
|[[File:Brooks-PureCadence-3-top.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Brooks PureCadence 3 top]]
|[[File:Brooks-PureCadence-3-bottom.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Brooks PureCadence 3 bottom]]
|[[File:Brooks-PureCadence-3-inside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Brooks PureCadence 3 inside]]
|[[File:Brooks-PureCadence-3-outside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Brooks PureCadence 3 outside]]
|- valign="top"
|[[File:Altra-One2-top.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Altra One2 top]]
|[[File:Altra-One2-bottom.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Altra One2 bottom]]
|[[File:Altra-One2-inside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Altra One2 inside]]
|[[File:Altra-One2-outside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Altra One2 outside]]
|}
==PureCadence and Saucony Virrata ==
Comparing the PureCadence and the [[Saucony Virrata]]:
* Similarities
** {{H:shape}}. Neither has a good toe box.
** {{H:availability}}. The both are reasonably easy to find.
* Advantage PureCadence
** {{H:grip}}. The PureCadence has more grip.
** {{H:longevity}}. The PureCadence lasts longer.
** {{H:trails}}. The PureCadence has more protection from rocks.
** {{H:cushioning}}. The PureCadence is more softly cushioned.
* Advantage [[Saucony Virrata]]
** {{H:drop}}. The Virrata is zero-drop, the PureCadence is 4mm.
** {{H:weight}}. The Virrata is a lot lighter.
** {{H:price}}. The Virrata is a little cheaper.
** {{H:flexibility}}. The Virrata is more flexible.
{| class="wikitable"
|- valign="top"
|[[File:Brooks-PureCadence-3-top.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Brooks PureCadence 3 top]]
|[[File:Brooks-PureCadence-3-bottom.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Brooks PureCadence 3 bottom]]
|[[File:Brooks-PureCadence-3-inside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Brooks PureCadence 3 inside]]
|[[File:Brooks-PureCadence-3-outside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Brooks PureCadence 3 outside]]
|- valign="top"
|[[File:Saucony-Virrata-top.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Saucony Virrata top]]
|[[File:Saucony-Virrata-bottom.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Saucony Virrata bottom]]
|[[File:Saucony-Virrata-inside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Saucony Virrata inside]]
|[[File:Saucony-Virrata-outside.jpg|none|thumb|150px|Saucony Virrata outside]]
|}
=A Comparison with other Recommended Shoes=
{{:Shoes-include}}