The norda 001 OG has been around long enough to earn both loyal fans and harsh skeptics. You might remember our comparison article with the lower-profile norda 002. This year at UTMB, norda unveiled the 001A. Introducing a trail shoe visually identical to the original norda 001, with one small but significant change: It has a brand-new midsole.Because the 001A is more evolution than revolution, this review is part check-in on the 001 after a year of use in all sorts of conditions. It’s also a new look into the updated norda 001A midsole.
I’ve seen plenty of glowing takes popping up on the weight, performance and worthiness of this update. Some of the praise feels biased and unsubstantiated. We know this shoe is gorgeous and premium and long-lasting. Let’s try to cut the fluff. Is the 001A really worth dropping another €275? Or is the upgrade more placebo than performance?
Upper and Fit of the norda 001A
What works for me
There’s no doubt about it, the norda 001 / 001A upper is truly a work of art. Each colourway is almost its own collectible piece. 360 degree reflective details bring a stunning finishing touch. I wore this shoe for over a year on most days to teach and many days to run. The look is great, materials are premium and the overall fit is like none other. By now, I know the feel of the upper by heart and it just won’t show any sign of wear.
I think the norda 001A upper first stands out for its lack of elasticity. This is a quality that might sound limiting, but it is in fact, one of its greater strengths. As a result, the upper doesn’t budge once you tie it down, delivering a fit that borders on perfection.
Tightening the laces locks the foot in securely. The midfoot is firmly cradled, and yet the toe box still opens up to allow natural splay. It’s an unusual combination: a stiff structure paired with unmatched comfort. If I was a designer working for another brand, I’d be immediately dissecting this shoe for clues on how they get this fit.
I suppose the secret lies partly in the fully gusseted tongue. The gusset is designed more like a half sock that wraps around the foot. It’s layered with a leather-like midfoot wrap secured by four leather eyelets for added lock. Over that, the Dyneema upper is budgeless, cinching everything down so the shoe feels like an extension of your foot.
Over time, the fit relaxes ever so slightly, which could justify springing for the new 001A. That said, I find that subtle loosening had its upside. After a year of use, my 001 has broken in beautifully, the leather accents have softened, and the heel rubbing I felt initially has faded away.
What doesn’t work for me
After all the brilliance found in the upper, it’s a real letdown that the 001A still comes with the same flimsy heel tab. If there was anything I wanted to see changed on the OG 001, it was the heel collar. Sure, the flair tab looks hot, but against the heel it feels rigid and harsh. I’ve tested every sock material and thickness, including norda’s own, with no luck in the 75 first kms of my norda 001. My achilles paid the bloody price. Since my last review, I have seen at least half a dozen other testers share similar frustrations, so I don’t think it’s just me. We’re not asking for the plush, overbuilt feel of the 002. Just for those discreet cambered padded strips already lining the sides of the heel to wrap fully around the achilles. A small change that would make a world of difference.
On the OG 001, it took me about 75 km before the heel finally softened enough for pain-free running. So here I am again with the 001A, running with a runner’s knot (extra eyelet) through the burn long enough to bring you this review, nursing my pride and heels.
Midsole and Ride of the norda 001A
What works for me
norda is claiming a bold 30% added energy return in the brand new 001A Arnitel® TPEE blended midsole in a lighter package.
I would say that the midsole improvement certainly adds value.
Side-by-side, there is certainly a perceptible difference. Running one foot in the 001, the other in the 001A, I noticed a bit more give and a bit more bounce underfoot with the newer version. Running in the 001A (on both feet!) gives you just that added spring to what was a fairly unremarkable ride in the norda 001. The 001A ride is more comfortable on the joints on most terrains with some ground feel preserved.
Loyal fans will claim a major transformation to OG 001. I felt it to be a subtle, not a seismic change. There, I said it.
To fairly evaluate the new 001A midsole requires knowing what the 001A is meant for. This shoe is built for long miles but not as a maximalist cushioned shoe. And it’s certainly not a fast rocket shoe. It’s a daily do-it-all trail trainer with a 5mm drop.
The new 001A midsole fits that profile. The foam is more comfortable yet remains on the dense side of things, with a moderate rebound on a uniform platform. Even though norda has added a little Arnitel® into the foam cooking mix, you won’t be mistaking the 001A for the 100% Arnitel® fueled norda 005 race day model any time soon. The 001A runs like a stout, comfortable, reliable trainer rather than a race-day flyer.
One detail worth adding: both the old and new 001s include a removable eTPU insole that plays a big role in comfort. Pull it out, and the 001 loses a lot of its plush step-in feel. With the insole removed, the 001A reveals a bit more softness than in the OG, but still not close to the bounce the 005 delivers. Now remove the insoles of both the 001A and the 005, and the difference is even more obvious: the 005 is more springy, the 001A more dampened, more firm. The 001 now feels as hard as cardboard underfoot.
Regarding weight, any sensation of “lighter” is probably mostly psychological or tied to that extra foam efficiency. When I weighed both versions, my 001A actually gained a gram or two.
What doesn’t work for me
I don’t have much for this section. I have no complaints about the new midsole. It’s reliable, pleasant and gets the job done on most trail profiles.
Outsole of the norda 001A
Grip and Traction
The outsole on the 001A appears to be unchanged from the original 001, featuring a full layer of Vibram Litebase rubber with lugs emerging from a cool topographical map pattern. Of course, a full-coverage outsole like this has its pros and cons. Durability is excellent: you aren’t going to burn through it quickly. But it does add weight. For me, that’s fine on a daily trainer like this. This isn’t a shoe in which I am trying to save weight. For the price, I want my outsole to see me right past that 700km mark.
On the grip though, I found that over time it didn’t live up to its aggressive appearance. At first glance and first touch, the outsole looks hardcore. 4.5mm lugs with added studs for bite were simply awesome for the first 100km or so. Over time though, those small studs and lug surface texture wear down, leaving the chevron lugs to do the heavy lifting. On moderate terrain, they perform reliably, handling both dry and damp ground. But when conditions get slick (think wet roots or polished rock), I found some limitations to the outsole, less secure than its rugged looks suggested.
Durability
Aside from some outsole wear and a touch of looseness in the fit, the 001 feels almost identical to the pair I unboxed a year ago. This level of durability is pretty outstanding.
In my view, the durability of these trainers is the strongest justification for norda’s premium price tag. The Dyneema upper is virtually indestructible, and even the reflective accents remain pristine despite countless scrubbing sessions in my futile effort to restore the shoes to their original Gum White glory.
Of course, we don’t yet know how much the Arnitel® blend in the new 001A midsole will break down in time, but even with minor expected compression, I have no doubt this shoe will be runnable for a long time to come.
Conclusion
Value for Money
There’s no denying it: norda shoes don’t come cheap. The norda 001A is no exception with a salty €275 price tag. norda products are made in smaller quantities and materials are undeniably premium. Fans buy in support of the brand and believe that a norda shoe will outlast all others. I’d have to agree that this shoe is set to live twice as long as some of my lightweight springy trail shoes. So, while this one won’t be for everyone, if you indeed enjoy the ride of the 001A for most of your running and can get twice the mileage in this shoe, it’s possibly going to be worth it to you.
Fitting it into a shoe rotation
The norda 001A is a great one stop trail shoe for every day runs. Add in the norda 005 for race days and you have a durable duo. It’s hard to pair these with other brands as they are so different, but if you did have a few extra pennies left, you might spring for a lightweight, more technical trail option like the Topo Athletic MTN Racer 4, another shoe with a wider toe box, for days when you only have time to run up and down your local mountain after work.
Final Verdict
The norda 001A is less an overhaul than a subtle but important tweak to the ride of the well-loved norda 001 shoe. The upper remains a masterpiece of fit, structure, and durability. It still has one of the best uppers on the market. The outsole continues to deliver longevity, even if its grip doesn’t always live up to its rugged look. The new 001A midsole now adds more comfort underfoot, never changing the character or look of the shoe.
For many runners who already own a broken-in 001, it may be worth running them into the ground, because it’s ethically and financially worth it. But for early adopters, or those buying a norda product for the first time, the 001A offers a beautifully constructed, resilient daily trail trainer that can outlast many of its competitors. Don’t go into it expecting road-level bounce. This nice new midsole delivers something more subtle. And it’s still gorgeous, premium, and practically bulletproof.
Comparisons Against Similar Shoes
norda 001A vs. norda 001
Identical in appearance, the only giveaway between these two is the “Vibram” vs. “norda” embossed in the midsole. norda 001A has a new Arnitel® blended TPEE midsole for more propulsion. The brand claims 30% more energy return than its predecessor, the norda 001. The 001 is no longer available on norda’s website but I would consider taking advantage of the midsole tweak to lap up a discounted norda 001 if given the opportunity. 001A is a little bouncier, sure, but probably not 100 Euros bouncier?
norda 001A vs. norda 002
Both very big shoes which come with some heft. However, they are shoes which run very differently. The More v6 are an excellent recovery day cruiser which I found it hard to do much else in. The Vomero Plus, on the other hand, offers more versatility and feels lighter underfoot despite what the scales may say. They can both handle the slow, easy stuff but the Vomero Plus offers more life when the paces get a little more lively.
norda 001A vs. norda 005
Positioned as a faster alternative to norda’s 001A and 002 daily trainer models, the 005 blends premium lightweight materials for race day efforts. Performance comes at a cost, it will also set you back 75 EUR from the 001A price point..
