The BEST Trail Shoe EVER! 🔥 | Review Norda 001

[@tedcormier1736]

Hello, great video. I am from Edmonton and bought a pair 2 months ago... I plan on taking them to Volcanoes National Park on Hawaii Island to walk on the sharp lava rocks and lava paths around the Island. The top fabric is vitrtually indestructable. I think it is important to add for any potential buyers that they should size up half a size, and if they are a size 12 or 13, even go a full size. The Norda website suggests this and I am normally size 13 and went for a size 14 in Norda 001 and that was the right choice.

[@masoninthemountains]

Hello! Thanks for the comment and great catch on the sizing. Yes, I did forget this and I also sized up a ½ size and they were perfect for me. My wife also sized up a ½ size and they were great. Sounds like you went a full size up. Have a great time in Hawaii!

[@tedcormier1736]

@@masoninthemountains FYI, I just got a pair of Topo Athletic MTN Racer 3 last week from their Cdn website, so far really pleased. Wide toebox and low drop shoes similar to Altra (which I have owned many) but better built and more durable soles and uppers than the Altras.

[@masoninthemountains]

@@tedcormier1736 thanks Ted! Appreciate the comment on the Topos. Especially the better built and more durable outsole piece. That was always a problem for me with the Altra's. 👍

[@williethejones]

Thanks for the review! Appreciate the thorough in depth chat on it. Question, I live in the PNW and backpack a lot in the rain/snow in the winter. Usually I wear gaiters with Topo Athletic WP ultraventures. It works pretty well overall, but considering these to replace the Topo's, think they would work similarly if not better?

[@masoninthemountains]

Well, I have never tried the Topos you mention but I'm very familiar with their membrane eVent. Ok, here's a long answer so you can see where I'm coming from. I know the PNW can get a lot of rain. For me, anything with a waterproof membrane presents a couple of issues. 1. The membrane itself will inherently make the shoe warmer, this will start to create a humid environment inside of the shoe. Your foot is now getting wet from the inside due to sweat. Especially in the summer. 2. If it's raining hard enough and for long enough, eventually the water will begin to penetrate the upper of the shoe and it will move its way inside. Your foot is now getting wet from the outside. Gaitors will help keep water from getting inside the top of the shoe but not the shoe wetting out. I’m sure you’ve experienced this before? For this reason, I tend to steer clear of waterproof footwear, especially in the summer. To be fair, waterproof shoes, especially when the DWR is fresh will buy you time before the shoe wets out. You'll need to reapply the DWR though as it wears out over time. However, where I feel like waterproof footwear, whether it be Gore-tex or something similar has some benefit is in the winter. It will add additional warmth that I appreciate, especially here in the Canadian Rockies. My feet don't sweat as much in the winter. 

You might want to check out the Norda 001 G+. This shoe has a graphene membrane and a 10,000mm hydrostatic head rating. It will run warmer and give you additional protection from water if the PNW warrants it. I have not tested this shoe out but I might pick up a pair myself to test through the winter. I probably wouldn’t go with this in the summer though. Could be too warm. Bottom line: the dyneema upper is a hell of a durable upper, it definitely resists moisture, though it can’t technically be called waterproof. I can say it exceeded my expectations.

[@williethejones]

@ Brilliant, super useful summary! Thanks for the long explanation. Def agree with the wetting out. I'll check out the other Norda's you mentioned!

[@masoninthemountains]

@ you are welcome! Thanks for your comment. Good luck!

[@Davercrooks]

Love my Norda’s as well. Very well built. I am still having a few issues with the heel counter, but it could be a me problem. Good to see another Albertan on KZbin! Cheers from NW YYC.

[@masoninthemountains]

Glad you are loving them! But yeah, there's never one shoe for everybody, is there? Hope you get that heel sorted out. Cheers from Central YYC.

[@tedcormier1736]

Another great brand (Nnormal...that is right, two n) originated from famous mountaineer Kilian Jornet seems like a bit of a bulked up version of the Norda with more of a solid heel, plus they have some some great high top hikers for snow... these will be my next shoes I order from their site.

[@masoninthemountains]

@@tedcormier1736agreed. They look compelling. Same Vibram mega grip / litebase outsole with 5mm lugs, different lug pattern. Maybe slightly narrower toe box than the Norda but hard to tell. On the test list for sure. Have you had a look at the Norda 002? Regular heel on this shoe.

[@tedcormier1736]

@@masoninthemountains Hello. I looked at them but I thought the stack height was just too low…I am 6 ft 195 lbs and I need at least 25 mm under my heels, preferably closer to 30.

[@masoninthemountains]

@@tedcormier1736 ah! I get it. You’ve got me by 10 pounds but we’re the same height. More shoe fun coming from both of us!

[@lamesensei]

I'll be hiking in japan this winter -- do you think the regular 001 can hold up (temperature and waterproofing) against more snow or should i go for the g+ version?

[@masoninthemountains]

In that type of environment, I would likely lean to the G+. Given that it has the graphene membrane and rated at 10,000mm hydrostatic head, and will be a little warmer, it seems like a better choice. Where will you be in Japan? I lived on the island of Shikoku for a year and a half.

[@Valaran1]

Curious if you've tried the new VJ XTER Winter Trail Running Shoe.

[@masoninthemountains]

I've looked a these before but not tried them. A little bit more stack height than I generally like. I like to be closer to the ground. Also, I usually opt for 5mm lug depth...seems to be the magic number for me. If you try it, I'd be interested in your opinion. Thanks!

[@ilikeclothes73]

Did you find there was a break in period or heel slip?

[@masoninthemountains]

@@ilikeclothes73 for me, no. I had zero issues with breaking this shoe and I’ve never used a lace lock to secure and pull back the heel. It’s been really fantastic for me.

[@latinogar1]

I’ve been running for years and I love trail running 😎 I run ultra races as well and have been doing for a good few years 😎 as a runner that averages over the 5000km mark yearly i go through a lot of shoes so I decided to invest in a pair of Norda 001 🤓 super comfortable with amazing grip and lockdown 🤓 this shoe is awesome for running up steep slippery trails amazing for bombing down hills 🤓 they have in my opinion the best vibram grip I’ve tried so far and that vibram midsole is super comfortable 😎 all that said the heel up is a massive let down 👎 and because of this these shoes are sitting at home not being used 🤓 before you say anything I did put a few hundred kilometers of running into the shoes to try break that heel cup in but because of the blisters I had to call it a day with the Norda 001 👎 I never have foot issues and I’ve run some pretty big and gnarly ultra races with every kind of terrain you can imagine and never have I got blisters like the ones I got from the Norda!! 😅 a trail running shoe that costs €280 shouldn’t peel the skin off your heels 😝

[@masoninthemountains]

@@latinogar1 completely appreciate your comments. There’s so many things I love about this shoe and I’ve had no issues, but I understand that there is not a single shoe on this planet that works for everyone. As I always say, the only way to really know if any piece of gear works for you is to go out and try it. at the end of the day, the proof will be in your own testing. Thanks for the comment! And I’m curious, what shoe have you found that suits you?

[@reneenetzelyyc]

I love the 001s from Norda so much that I bought 2 pairs!!! I never want to hike in anything else 😀

[@masoninthemountains]

They have way over-delivered. I'm beyond impressed!

[@ernestoibarra3034]

How much ? Cheers from Brazil !

[@masoninthemountains]

$285 Canadian. Not sure what that is in Brazilian dollars? It's not cheap though.

[@Kyfried]

300 bucks , they can keep them