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Running shoes, like eggs, have skyrocketed in price. For $325, you can purchase about a week’s worth of eggs (kidding, maybe) or the Norda 005, Norda’s bid to build a highly durable trail “super shoe” without a plate.
The Norda 005s may be the most anticipated trail racing shoe to date—and not just because of its head-turning, $325 price tag. In quintessential style for this brand from the rugged Canadian backcountry, Norda seems to have taken a leaf out of the ultralight backpacking cottage industry’s playbook when building the 005. That is to say, it spared no expense on materials and made no compromises on craftsmanship.
The result: a durable, feather-light trail shoe that transitions seamlessly from long runs to racing, loaded with revolutionary technology and the highest-end materials, and put together by hand and lasers.
Coming in at just 214 grams (7.5 ounces) for a men’s U.S. 8.5, it’s one of the lightest trail running shoes on the market. A Biodyneema upper makes it both durable and highly breathable. A slick of Vibram “Megagrip Elite” rubber renders the outsole ultra tacky on the trails while rolling over the roads. And, perhaps most importantly, the midsole is made completely from a proprietary Mouse Arnitel TPEE—a supercritical foam generally only used in small amounts because of the cost—making the shoe featherlight, energetic, and highly durable.
But is one pair of Norda 005s worth the cost of two pretty decent pairs of something else? I’ve been running in the Norda 005s for the past several months to find out.
Norda 005
Price: $325
Weight: 7.5 ounces (men’s 8.5), 6.2 ounces (women’s 8)
Stack Height: 28.5–21.5 mm
Heel-to-Toe Drop: 7 mm
Pros
- Fast and springy
- Weightless feeling underfoot
- Durable
- Good groundfeel
- Super sticky outsole
Cons
- Heel a little loose
- Runs small (go half a size up)
Norda 005: First Impressions
When I started racing on the trails about a decade ago, there were two types of trail running shoe options. Option one: heavy clunkers with a rock plate, which would have been equally suitable for entering a construction zone as they were for running. And option two: flimsy, featherlight racing shoes that provided about as much protection and bounce as ballet flats.
Wearing the former, I broke my wrist eight miles into a 50K and actually welcomed the pain because it was a distraction from my aching feet. Racing a 25K in the latter, I broke my foot.
The kids—and OK, all of us—have it so easy now. And that’s thanks to shoes like the Norda 005.
Using some mysterious combination of witchcraft, the highest-quality materials, and careful craftsmanship, the Norda 005 has the robustness of those rock-plated shoes of yesteryear with the weightlessness and spring of a carbon-plated road racing shoe. The energetic feel was immediately apparent upon slipping these shoes on my feet.
I’ve put the Norda 005 to the test on the trails, dirt paths, and roads around my home in Boulder, Colorado, for several months and have been delighted by how seamlessly it transitions from technical trails to pavement. It feels propulsive and stable over rocks, roots, and stairs—minus a little slippage in the heel, which could use a little more structure and is my only gripe with this shoe. It’s got good groundfeel. And it rolls and pops over asphalt.
That elusive combination is thanks to the midsole, which is made from Norda’s “Mouse Arnitel TPEE.” It’s tuned to be slightly firmer than the superfoam in road racers and thus provides an energetic, bouncy ride that doesn’t trampoline you in wild directions off the trail. While the lack of a plate may disqualify the Norda 005 from being a true trail “super shoe,” don’t mistake semantics for inferiority.
I didn’t miss a carbon plate, and its absence allowed for enhanced ground feel and adaptability to varied terrain. The foam and rocker deliver a smooth roll and plenty of precision. The agile ride also stems from the rocker, which provides a smooth roll, and outsole, which is covered in “Megagrip Elite” Vibram for a tacky-yet-light grip.
The weight-saving measures extend to every element of this shoe, including the Biodyneema upper, a fabric revered in ultralight backpacking circles thanks to its lightness and durability. An open mesh weave pattern makes it extra breathable and allows water to drain quite effectively. And shout out to the uber-soft microsuede tongue, which sits comfortably on the foot and is also perforated to allow for maximum airflow. The laces are also made from extra durable Biodyneema, in case you were worried about fraying them before the rest of the shoe wears out.
Over the past year or so I’ve grown moderately obsessed with working on my foot strength and toe splay, and my tolerance for narrow shoes has plummeted as a result. I want a shoe in which I can grip the ground with my toes. The Norda 005 has a wide enough midfoot and forefoot to allow this, while also conforming quite well to the foot. The upper is light and minimal, but hugs comfortably. It isn’t, however, snug and controlling enough in the midfoot and front of the heel collar for super technical trails, or even sloped surfaces. But that relatively roomy fit also makes the Norda 005 a strong candidate for long runs and very long races, despite its lineup in the Norda fleet as the light and fast racing shoe.
Norda 005: Who is it For?
If Norda was a car, it would be the Mercedes AMG E63S Wagon. That is to say: it’s quiet performance luxury. IYKYK, as the kids say. The simplicity of the design lets the quality shine. As such, it’s a light, fast trail running shoe for those looking for a high-quality option that can do it all. I’d turn to this shoe for anything from easy days on mixed surfaces, to “fast” trail 100-milers like Western States or Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc, and, as we’ve seen this year at the Cocodona 250, even an ultra-ultramarathon over a diversity of terrain.
I am not going to tell you to spend $325 on a pair of running shoes. But I will say that I think the versatility of this shoe means it could replace (and surpass) two different models in your lineup. And I have yet to wear my pair out after a couple hundred miles.
Thanks to the cost, the quality, and the snowy “neve” colorway, it’s just a matter of time before we see a trail-loving bride run down the aisle in it.
Similar Shoes
- La Sportiva Prodigio Pro
- Salomon SLAB Ultra Glide
- Adidas Terrex Agravic Speed
- Speedland GL series (without optional plate)