Since its launch in 2021, Canadian footwear company, norda, has been consistently pushing the boundaries of trail-running footwear by blending high performance with sustainable materials. With their latest revolutionary release, the 005, they’ve created a race-day shoe that is not only lightweight and soft, but also designed to last you 1,000 kilometres (a racing season or two)—a concept virtually unheard-of in the industry.
As norda’s founder and CEO, Nick Martire (who is fond of car analogies), puts it, “We are here to build Lamborghinis. If it is not the finest, it cannot bear the norda name.”
The inspiration behind the norda 005 stems from a glaring issue: most super (racing) shoes are not designed to last–they perform well for one, or possibly two, races. This approach didn’t sit well with norda, a company committed to creating products that prioritize both performance and longevity. By leveraging revolutionary materials like bio-based Dyneema—the strongest and lightest fibre on Earth—and incorporating Arnitel’s cutting-edge super foam midsole cushioning, norda aimed to craft a shoe that would redefine what’s possible in trail running.
The 005 took nearly two years to develop, and involved countless iterations, athlete feedback and a commitment to perfection. The 005 was built from scratch, featuring entirely new technology and design elements. “Everything was new,” explains Louis-Martin Tremblay, norda’s head of design. “We wanted it to be the lightest, strongest and most durable shoe ever made.”
The 005 has already proven its speed and capability on the global stage. Canadian ultrarunner Ray Zahab and American ultrarunner Jason Schlarb were the first athletes to test the 005 extensively, with Schlarb achieving podium finishes at the UTMB Oman and Hardrock 100 while wearing the prototype. And Quebec’s Jean-François Cauchon wore the 005 en route to his course-record-setting performance at the 2024 Quebec Mega Trail 100-mile race.
Superior materials make a superior product
The shoe’s strength begins with the upper, which is made almost entirely of bio-based Dyneema, an ultra-strong and super lightweight polyethylene fibre used in bulletproof vests, motorcycle helmets and fishing lines. Weight for weight, Dyneema is about 15 times stronger than steel and is designed to allow natural foot splay while providing exceptional durability and breathability–perfect for tackling some of the toughest ultra-trail races in the world like Hardrock 100, Western States 100 or Badwater 135. With Dyneema, there’s no need for overlays, because the material is incredibly strong. It’s highly abrasion-resistant and won’t puncture or tear, giving racers the confidence that the upper won’t let them down halfway through their 100K race.
When Martire and Tremblay began designing the midsole, they knew Arnitel’s TPEE foam would be perfect for the project. (Arnitel is a super foam that delivers the highest rebound and resilience in the industry. While most traditional racing shoes involve some compromise between energy return and longevity, the 005 excels in both, thanks to the Arnitel midsole.) Rather than a carbon-fibre plate embedded in the midsole, Martire decided to make the 005’s midsole 100 per cent Arnitel. (Previously, the highest percentage of Arnitel used in a racing midsole was 30 per cent.)
The reason brands haven’t made a shoe of 100 per cent Arnitel in the past comes down to two things: cost and availability. Arnitel foam is more expensive compared to traditional materials like EVA, which many brands use due to lower production costs. Arnitel foam might also not be as readily available or widely used in the industry as other foams, making it harder for some brands to source. Similar to shoes with a midsole plate, the 005’s midsole is highly responsive, and also protective: “Our athletes have never felt rebound like this,” says Tremblay. “And the recovery time after racing with a shoe like this is much faster.”
In a trail shoe with the most advanced upper and midsole in the world, the outsole had to be equally good. The 005’s outsole features Vibram’s most advanced rubber compound to date–Vibram MegaGrip Elite. “We wanted the outsole to be as trustworthy as a seatbelt,” Martire says. This innovative material provides excellent, reliable traction, particularly on descents and in unpredictable conditions. As Martire puts it, “When you’re so confident that you won’t slip or slide, that’s where the 005 changes things.” Lab tests by norda show that this outsole is 15 per cent grippier than the 002’s.
The 005 combines three of the most advanced technologies in the running shoe industry—Dyneema, Arnitel and Vibram MegaGrip Elite—for the first time. When you combine three of the best, you get a shoe that delivers on performance, durability and sustainability.
Challenges and breakthroughs
Developing the 005 did not come without hurdles. The team encountered significant challenges, particularly with the Dyneema upper, which had never been used in a performance running shoe. Tremblay tells Canadian Running they wanted to work with the world’s strongest material to develop a seamless and blister-free upper that could withstand tough conditions and terrain. But the process required extensive trial and error: “We had to scrap almost everything a year into development,” Tremblay reveals. “We were learning as we were building it, so we had to get back to the roots and figure out what we were trying to accomplish.”
The midsole also presented a unique challenge; Tremblay says it went through more than 100 iterations before they found the perfect formula, balancing rebound, density and durability. The team wanted trail runners to be able to feel the terrain under their feet, which meant they didn’t want a stack height that was too high. It was challenging to find the sweet spot between cushioning and ground feel.
But they evidently hit the sweet spot; Martire recalls asking Schlarb to use the prototype while training in Oman, without racing in it, so as not to spark curiosity about the shoe before it was ready for market. Schlarb ignored Martire’s request–and finished on the podium. “I had a rocket in my bag,” Schlarb texted. “So why not use it?”
The design philosophy
The development process for the 005 involved seven prototype iterations before the team agreed on the final design. Tremblay knew the shoe didn’t need to be flashy; its cutting-edge features would speak for themselves and make it stand out in the world of trail-running footwear. “When norda designs a shoe, we aren’t just looking at what is in front of us in the trail industry,” he says. “We are aware of what other leading brands are doing, but we are mostly inspired by adjacent industries and do not look to footwear, because our innovation goal is so much higher than what currently exists from the major brands.”
Norda’s commitment to sustainability is also evident in the 005’s design. While Martire notes that no shoe can be entirely recycled into another, the Arnitel midsole uses up to 30 per cent recycled compounds, and the materials’ durability ensures the shoe lasts significantly longer than anything else on the market. With a lifespan of more than 1,000 kilometres, the 005 offers unmatched value, allowing most serious ultra-trail runners to get through a year of racing with just two pairs.
Norda’s broader mission is to create performance products that leave a positive legacy. “There are 22 billion shoes sent to landfills every year,” says Martire. “The best thing we can do at norda is create a product that lasts longer.”
The market
Designed primarily as a race-day shoe, the norda 005 can help any trail runner reach new heights. “This shoe is for anyone who wants to achieve their full potential,” says Martire. “Whether you’re competing at elite levels or pushing personal limits, the 005’s combination of cutting-edge technology and durability makes it up to the task.”
More than just a trail shoe, the 005 is a statement from the Montreal-based brand—a bold proclamation that performance, sustainability and design excellence can all coexist in a shoe that looks like a piece of art.
For runners who are ready to take on the pinnacle of innovation, the 005 will be available worldwide in mid-March on norda’s website (nordarun.com), priced at US$325 and C$325—a nod to the brand’s Canadian roots. This is a “top of the line” shoe; Martire says the price reflects a brand that’s pushing performance and responsibility, premium materials and premium craftsmanship.
The launch of the 005 signals a pivotal moment for the running footwear industry and invites other brands to rethink their approach to sustainability and performance. By setting new standards, norda not only enhances the athlete’s experience but also contributes to a more conscientious future for footwear design.
Produced in partnership with norda
