SHOE REVIEW: The Norda 001

The Norda brand’s flagship product, The Norda 001, uses a bio-based Dyneema, a patented gel spinning process in which the fibres are drawn, heated, elongated, and cooled to enhance performance and sustainability with lightweight construction. Norda’s mission was to design an ultra-strong and durable high-performance trail running shoe and do it sustainably.

Category: Neutral/Trail

Drop: 4 mm 

Weight: 8.71 oz./247 g (men’s size 9) 

Available: Now

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MSRP: $285

The upper

What makes the Norda 001 unique is the upper, which is woven with bio-based Dyneema, set for the highest performance and delivering the lightest carbon footprint. Dyneema is sourced from renewable, bio-based feedstock. This uses the mass balance approach, which hopes to reduce the reliance on fossil-fuel-based resources.

The laces and tongue feature a diamond design pattern with Dyneema and recycled polyester and Hi-Vis reflectivity from the top to bottom, for 360-degree visibility.

The midsole and outsole

The brand’s aim was to create a shoe with a light and highly responsive midsole for the trails. The Norda 100’s midsole is infused with lightweight Norda EVA foam and a custom-designed thermoplastic unit, for maximum responsiveness with each step.

The shoe’s Vibram Megagrip outsole, with 5 mm lugs, provides unbeatable traction on wet or slippery surfaces.

The verdict

The Norda 001 is for runners looking for a shoe with excellent grip in various conditions, and is excellent for easy and long runs on the trails, all season. The Vibram Megagrip outsole provides excellent traction on wet and muddy surfaces, while retaining excellent lightness. The renewably sourced, water-resistant upper fits comfortably and securely, providing stability as you run through ever-changing conditions.

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Norda 001 X Ciele Cooper’s Hawk collection

Norda released a special limited edition collab of this shoe with the Ciele’s Cooper’s hawk hat collection. This joint adventure from Montréal-based Ciele Athletics is a reminder of the communities who continue to make Parc Mont-Royal home and is inspired by the return of the Cooper’s hawk to the park. Check out more about the collab, here.