Norda
005
Norda's plateless trail racer pairs a pure Arnitel TPEE midsole with a Dyneema upper and Vibram Megagrip Elite rubber. Testers found it remarkably light, springy and fast on trails and roads, though the high-volume fit and shallow lugs didn't suit everyone.
About the 005
Norda describes the 005 as its race-day super shoe and claims it is the lightest and fastest ever made for trail runners. The brand says it is built to last across several races and hundreds of miles rather than a single effort. The midsole is pure Arnitel TPEE foam with no plate, joined to a one-piece, full-length Vibram Megagrip Elite soleplate with 4 mm lugs.
The open-mesh upper uses bio-based Dyneema and recycled fibres, with a microsuede tongue, 4 mm Dyneema laces and hi-vis reflective piping. Two insoles come in the box: a moulded 3 mm TPEE insole for training and a lighter die-cut version for racing. It has a 28.5 mm heel stack and a 7 mm drop. Within the range, the 001A is the do-everything ultra shoe and the 055 is the high-stack all-mountain model. The 005 comes in a standard width only.
Specs and features from nordarun.com and our own spec data. A factual overview, not a review.
Video reviews
Watch Norda 005 reviewsOpens YouTubeWhat the critics say
91/100 review score
- Road Trail Run 9.4/10
The reviews in briefRoad Trail Run's Mike Postaski, Sam Winebaum, Jeff Valliere and others found the Norda 005 remarkably light, springy and fast, though several flagged the price and Postaski and Valliere wanted more grip on loose or muddy ground. GearJunkie's Craig Randall, in an early review, praised its sticky outsole and cushioning but found the heel loose.
- Positive: Very light for its cushioning
- Positive: Springy, energetic midsole that also runs well on roads
- Positive: Comfortable upper with a broad toe box
- Mixed: High-volume fit and loose heel for some feet
- Negative: Runs short, so most testers sized up
- Negative: Shallow lugs struggle on steep, loose or muddy ground
Paraphrased from published reviews. Read them in full:
The numbers
- Trail
- Type
- 228 g
- Weight
- 28.5 mm
- Heel stack
- 7 mm
- Drop
- No plate
- Plate
- Neutral
- Support
Weight for a men's US 9 / UK 8.5.
What it feels like
Fit
Runs small
Road Trail Run testers found it runs short and most went up half a size; some found the fit high-volume and one had heel slippage.
What Reddit runners say
Runners on Reddit don't hold back. Jump straight into the conversations about the 005.
On TikTok
005 on TikTokShort reviews and wear tests from runnersWhere to buy the 005
RRP around £285. Tap through for today's price.
Norda 005
In short
A great choice if you race runnable trails from short distances up to around 50 miles and want a light, springy shoe. Size up half a size, and look elsewhere for deep mud.
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