Norda 001A Performance Review

The 001, and now the Norda 001A, has arguably had some of the best staying power in the history of the industry. These days, it’s almost unheard of for a shoe model to receive no updates. Released around 5 years ago, the model has stayed relatively the same until now. 

In terms of looks and geometry, the Norda 001A stayed completely the same. However, Norda updated the midsole in a big way, with their own proprietary foam. Although this is a major change, virtually the rest of the shoe stayed the same, maintaining the DNA. Some other little updates were made here and there to improve the overall comfortability.

I’d argue it’s less of a model change, and more of a model upgrade. This should be a welcome sign for Norda fans, as they won’t see their shoe be gutted for a new model that completely changes the shoe experience (I’m looking at you, Hoka Speedgoat 5).

If you managed to get your hands on a pair of the Norda 005, you’ll be happy to know the same technology from that ultralight midsole is now injected into the 001A.

What is the Norda 001A?

The Norda 001A is a highly engineered trail shoe. It’s a high-cushion, technical and durable shoe with subtle technology improvements to elevate performance.

Cushion/Midsole/Support

The biggest and most notable change (or, er, update) to the Norda 001A is the midsole. The OG midsole was an EVA compound in collaboration with Vibram. It was great; sturdy, stable and enough foam to protect your foot. If you had a pair, I’m sure you noticed that the shoe hit its stride around the 150 mile mark, as the whole thing, including the midsole, softened up. It was a good and solid midsole; dependable and sturdy.

Enter the 005 earlier this year, which featured Norda’s first go at its own midsole. They introduced a compound called Arnitel, a TPEE foam that is super light and bouncy. For the 001A update, they’ve taken Arnitel and made a denser version for the 001A. What you get is a softer, bouncier, and lighter ride.

I liked this midsole update. I don’t think there was necessarily anything wrong with the old one, but this one is more bouncy and softer fitting better with modern trends. Right out of the box I found the most difference, and I’m interested to see how this midsole will hold up around the 200 mile mark. I don’t notice it making huge differences, but you can feel the weight savings and the extra energy return.

All in all, this is a more approachable and inspiring midsole than the OG version, and I think it’ll appeal to more people. As always, Norda uses a eTPU insole that also adds bounce and comfort. Combining those, you have an energetic ride that protects your foot from rough ground feel. Over long hours, this midsole is going to be slightly nicer to your feet than the previous version. That can make a big difference for some runners.

As with the first version, I find this shoe very stable and supportive. Although it offers ultra-distance cushioning, it’s relatively low stack with a conservative drop. It’ll keep you feeling close to the ground and in control.

Traction

To my knowledge, we saw no update to the outsole on the Norda 001A. This is Norda’s patented Soleplate, with 5mm Vibram Litebase and Megagrip rubber. The outsole is super durable and will last you for a long time. Like, a long time. 500-600 miles and maybe further. It’s reliable in almost any situation. No notes about the outsole. It’s been great and will continue to be great.

Upper

Okay, onto the most polarizing part of this shoe, both the 001 and 001A alike. Dyneema, the material that makes up Norda’s bombproof uppers, is extremely strong and durable. It’s likely to be the last thing alive when you’ve stripped down the outsole and blown out the midsole on your pair. It’s why you can continue to run in these shoes well past the typical 300-400 mile range, when other shoes start to unravel. 

With this great strength, however, can come great rigidity. [Editor’s Note: I see what you did there] The Dyneema upper takes a little bit to soften up (and it will soften up), but still can be too stiff for some people. To my knowledge, Norda made this upper slightly lighter than the previous version. I never had an issue with the upper, but I can understand someone feeling like it’s too rigid. Hopefully the small changes here offer you a little more comfort.

Unfortunately, to many runners’ chagrin, not much padding was added to the heel cup. I never had an issue with the heel, but if it’s your first pair of Norda shoes you may want to try a pair on, as some people can experience rubbing due to the starchy feel of the Dyneema. I also see many trail runners wear long socks in the 001 to help mitigate the lack of padding.

Is the Norda 001A wide foot friendly?

I think so. I like the shape of Norda’s footprint, and it maintains a lot of space from the forefoot back to the heel. It’s quite accommodating.

Is the Norda 001A worth $295?

The price for the Norda 001A was upped slightly, which hurts. Here’s the thing: it’s always hard to say something that costs $295 is what you should buy. That’s a lot of money. I’d rather pose this: you should get 1.5 – 2x the use out of this shoe compared to the typical $160-180 shoe. Doing that math, it makes sense.

I’d also urge you to just wear the shoes everywhere, not just the trails. They look good, so why not? If you get all that use out of the shoe, then yeah, $295 would make sense.

How to use the Norda 001A

This is an ultra-distance and ultra-durable trail shoe that can be used anywhere. I think it’s a fairly universal shoe, meaning you can take it just about anywhere or use it however you want. It’s at home on the trails, in and out of technical terrain and stamping away for hours.

Norda 001A Summary

The Norda 001A is a seamless upgrade from the original version. On the cover, the shoe looks unchanged, save for a couple reflective features and a “Norda” on the midsole instead of “Vibram”. When you put it on, however, you’ll notice a softer ride and slightly more accommodating upper. Shoe updates can be scary or bad or disappointing, but I’m pleased to say that Norda nailed it here. They took a great recipe and sprinkled in a bit more bounce and energy. What you get is the same old dependability with a slightly peppier ride.

How does the Author Run?

Sam Lohse (age 28, 6’0″, 170 lbs): Runs daily, sometimes morning/night doubles, with one rest day a week (typically). Hangs right around 40-50 miles a week in general unless in race-specific training. Races distances from 50K to 100 miles, almost always on the trails.

Disclosure

While Norda did provide pairs of the Norda 001A to facilitate this review, the company had no involvement in this review, didn’t receive an advance look at it, and has not attempted to influence it.