OVERVIEW

Norda was founded in Montreal in 2020 by husband-and-wife shoemakers Nick and Willa Martire, joined at launch by Louis-Martin Tremblay on design and Gerard Cleal on brand. The 001 shipped in January 2021 at 285 USD — the most expensive trail shoe on the market that year, and made the case that Dyneema, the polyethylene composite best known for yacht sails and bullet-resistant panels, could be the right upper material for a trail shoe. Five years in, Norda is the Canadian brand the global ultra community wears at UTMB, Western States and the Boréalys Mont-Tremblant by UTMB. Quiet confidence over loud claims.

The 003 is Norda's trail-approach hybrid: a laceless, slip-on shoe with an elasticised Bio-Dyneema upper that stays secure whether you are scrambling a rock slab, hiking an alpine ridge or running back down. A Vibram Megagrip Litebase outsole and a 5 mm eTPU insole make it a long-day-on-feet shoe that happens to run well - the one shoe in the kit for trips where you can only pack one. The 003 is Norda's laceless trail-approach - elasticised Bio-Dyneema upper, Vibram Megagrip Litebase outsole, 5 mm eTPU insole, 275 g, built to hike, scramble and run in a single shoe.

DETAILS

Best for:

Hike-run days in the Chic-Chocs and Gaspesie

Approach miles to an alpine route

Rest-day trail walks and recovery shake-outs

One-shoe travel kits

Runners who dislike tying laces mid-run

Post-hike town days

Specs:

Elasticised Bio-Dyneema upper, laceless slip-on construction

Vibram Megagrip with Litebase outsole, 5 mm lugs

Custom Vibram SLE midsole plus 5 mm eTPU insole

360-degree reflective detailing for low-light visibility

5 mm drop, 26/21 mm stack, 275 g M US 8.5

Padded heel collar with pull tab for pack attachment

Colourways:

Cinder, Warm grey-beige that reads like packed Laurentian trail dust after a dry week.

Black, The trail-running house black; stealth on any surface.

Ash, Soft silver-grey of weathered driftwood and winter birch.

Sizing: 6 / 6.5...