It’s fair to say that Norda is singlehandedly pushing the boundaries of trail running shoes the hardest. That is evident in every release they make and the Norda 005 is testament. Norda’s third trail shoe combines a bomber upper, and ultra cush and bouncy Armitel midsole with the lightest and grippiest outsole compound on the market with the Vibram Megagrip Elite.
The Norda 005 Review
- Upper: Open Mesh Bio-based Dyneema
- Midsole: Arnitel TPEE midsole
- Outsole: Vibram Megagrip Elite
- Lug Depth: 4mm
- Drop: 7mm
- Stack Height: Heel 28.5mm, Forefoot 21.5mm
- Size Tested: 10
- Weight: 240 grams
- Origin: China
Super traction meets Super cushion
Every time Norda releases a shoe, you know it’s going to shake up the running shoe world and the Norda 005 is no exception to this rule. Ultra breathable Dyneem upper, the world’s first 100% Armitel insole and Vibram Megagrip Ultra rubber compound. The Norda 005 is designed for long race days on the trail, and for multiple races.
I don’t race, but I like to think I move fast on the trail for a fastpacker putting upwards of 2,000 km a year on dirt. I took the 005 with me for a summer on European trails and the following sums up my experience with the 005.
Sizing
Norda shoes tend to run in the middle of the width spectrum, and the 005 is no exception. They have a mid-wide toe box that is wider than a Sportiva but narrower than an Altra, offering more toe splay than a typical Italian trail runner but not so wide that you are swimming in them. I enjoy the wider splay offered by the Norda 005 despite not needing it.
Norda recommends that you size up 1/2 size from your normal fit. For me, this would’ve been a good idea. I often feel between sizes with most shoe companies, so this time I opted for my true size, 10.5. While I am fine on the flats and uphills, at the end of a long downhill I find myself wishing for an extra 1/4 size. As it stands, I deal with minor toe pain in exchange for a snugger fitting shoe.
Norda Fit System
The Norda Fit System comprises a new tongue / lace design and heel counters. The tongue, attached via elastic, creates a snug fit, but not so much so that you can get away without tying the shoes. Between the tongue and the bio-dyneema is an anchor that attaches directly to the midsole. This anchor captures the second and third eyelets up from the toe of the shoe, so exactly over the arch of my foot. This creates a nice hold over the arch and connects directly to the midsole without putting any extra pressure on the outer.
The tongue is thin and perforated, yet it still manages to disperse the pressure of the overlying laces. Perforations ensure the tongue breathes well on hot days. Speaking of laces, Norda slimmed won their Dyneema laces from teh 5mm offerings on the 001 and 002 to save even more weight. Nothing has been overlooked on teh quest to lightness with these shoes.
Heel hold is fantastic thanks to the addition of heel bolsters on both sides of the shoe. The heel itself is incredibly soft and so the bolsters do the heavy lifting of keeping your heel in place. They also provide a small amount of cushion while giving your heel a secure, locked-in feel. As is traditional for Norda, there is no heel pull tab.
I did not notice any splay of the collar so saw very little debris enter the shoe. On steeper descents where I was concerned I may be up against the toe box I would use the extra eyelet to lock in my feet.
The best version of Bio-Based Dyneema
The Norda 005 takes their signature bio-based Dyneema upper to a whole new level of ventilation. This iteration utilizes an open-weave construction specifically designed to maximize airflow—a feature that is immediately noticeable on the trail.
Billed as a race day shoe, the 005 assumes you’re going to be pushing hard and generating heat. I can confirm the breathability is exceptional; the layer of trail dust on my toes at the end of a long run is a direct testament to just how much air is moving through that weave. While the upper remains as abrasion-resistant as ever, it’s important to note the trade-off: you gain massive airflow at the expense of water resistance. However, when they do get wet, they dry very fast.
I tested the Norda 005 in mid-summer alpine conditions with temperatures climbing to 35°C. Even in that heat, my feet never felt hot, especially when compared to the stifling feel of a Gore-Tex lined shoe. Rounding out the upper is a TPU rand that wraps around the entirety of the shoe. Though it is not a dedicated toe bumper, mine shows no wear at all. The rand remains flexible, allowing the shoe to flex naturally with your movement.
Armitel Midsole
The Norda 005 sports the first 100% Armitel midsole. With a Heel thickness of 28.5mm and a forefoot of 21.5mm, there is an incredible amount of cushioning. So much so that Norda has eschewed the use of a rockplate therefore trail feel is fantastic. Small sharp rocks are easily ignored but larger contours and ridges can be easily adjust for.
Where Armitel really starts to shine for most is its 86% rebound rate. Typical rebound rates for competing trail shoes is around 70%. This is a massive difference. It truly does feel as though you have springs in your shoes. Heel strikers will be happy with the impact absorption
It must be noted that you have to be a little more conscious with your foot placement on trails that are rugged, thinking fairly rocky or alpine scrambling. with the Norda 005. The Armitel is, for lack of a better word, loaded. Once or twice I placed my foot slightly off pitch and it felt as though the shoes were trying to rebound away without me. As these are designed for folks who are already planning fast long days,
With proper foot placement these shoes will propel you forward, save energy and reduce joint pain.
Traction: Vibram Megagrip Elite
The Norda 005 uses the newest Vibram compound, Megagrip Elite. This stuff is seriously grippy. When worn on cement (I have to get to the trail first!) I almost feel like I am going to trip as the shoes do not want to slide at all. Each foot lift sounds like tape being pulled off.
On dry rock and gravel the Megagrip Elite performs spectacularly. Grip is so good that occasionally I would plan for a small slide on light rock moves, and the shoes would stick like glue causing me to lunge forward.
The lugs of the Norda are 4mm deep, the sweet spot of the trail running world. However, the Norda 005 differs from typical lug shape and size. Most trail shoes have some form of chevron shaped lug. The 001 and 002 have a mix of Chevron and T shaped lugs. The 005 eschews the chevron lugs that its elder brethren have, for solely very widely spaced T lugs.
Uphill and flat on rock, gravel and dry forest paths traction is great. The rubber is so grippy that it’s business as usual despite the lack of lugs. However, when the going gets a little muddy then attention has to be paid to keep your foot as flat as possible maintaining as much lug on the ground as possible. Likewise, braking lugs in the heel are sparse so on steep loose descents you might start to glissade a little sooner than planned.
The Norda 005 on the Trail
The Norda 005 are built for long-distance speed, there is no doubt about that. They are ultralight, packed with the most durable materials found on a trail runner, and perform at a level few other shoes can match. However, these are not an all rounder that you will wear for any and every trail experience. They are purpose built for long distance sped over moderate trails.
I’ve put roughly 200 kms on the Norda 005 on Swiss and Italian trails. They have grip for days given the right conditions; gravel, forest paths, light rock, and rock slabs are all gobbled up by the 005. When the trail gets technical or wet, I would like there to be a few more lugs to add to the traction.
The look is unique; with the white open-weave Dyneema, it looks like I could be headed to go sailing instead of to the mountains. On the train to the trailhead, I was told by a guest that he assumed we were looking at an easy day because of how the shoes looked. Afterwards, he knew these shoes meant business, and when he saw them later in the trip, he knew we were out for a long distance adventure.
The grip is spectacular in the right conditions. The MegaGrip Elite makes easy work of dry rock slabs and smooth trails, whereas mud and loose rock descents need care or the tires break loose. The cushioning of the Armitel is otherworldly.
I like to think of the Norda 005 as a Lamborghini. They are incredibly fast but need a good driver to make the most of them. Have a heavy foot in the wrong place and they will break loose. Keep these shoes in their powerband and you’ll be at the front of the pack with ease.
If you are interested in a pair of super cushioned, grippy trail runners then head here for the Norda 005
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BlackSheep was provided with a free sample of the Norda 005 for this review. This in no way affected our editorial stance. This post also contains affiliate links; if you choose to purchase gear through these links, we may earn a small commission which supports our independent testing at no extra cost to you.
