norda have built their brand on a no compromise ethos of quality and construction. While their shoes come at a premium, the design, materials and durability ensure the value is there. Up until now, norda have focussed on trail running. Their 005 wowed our testers and the 001 and 002 made a great pair for daily running.
However, life isn’t always about running. I know this will come as a shock to some of you, dear reader, but there is more. For this, norda bring us the 008, their take on premium recovery footwear. Thankfully for me, the summer holidays have arrived so I have had plenty of time to put my recovery game to the test. How did they fare? Read on to find out!
Upper and Fit of the norda 008
What works for me
Firstly, the upper is a single strap of the soft foam compound in a very traditional slide style. In fact, the 008 does look a lot like a traditional slide. However, as with all norda footwear, the difference comes in the materials.
The soft foam compound of the upper strap is very comfortable across the foot. Unlike some slides, there are no sharp edges or rough cuts to irritate the foot. In all honesty, there isn’t much to write about the upper. It is a piece of soft foam which is about 9cm wide and covers only about a third of the foot.
That said, it does hold the foot well and in comfort. I have worn it pretty solidly over the past month and not had a single moment of discomfort. norda suggest going a half size up and I fully agree with this. If I had bought the size I usually wear, my foot would’ve overhung the end and been squished by the band. The larger size fits well and the “lockdown” is surprisingly good.
While they are obviously easy to get on and off, they never feel like they will fall off at an inopportune moment. Overall, they are a very comfortable slide which feels luxurious against the foot.
What doesn’t work for me
Despite the lack of an upper, the top foam strap can get a little sweaty when the temperatures rise. Along with this, there is a rather loud squeak when they are moist and the foot is nude.
Now, this brings us to sock politics. I am of an age where wearing socks with flip-flops or slides would see you mocked from the beach and back into hiding. However, younger generations seem much more keen on wearing socks with their slides. Admittedly, I did traverse to the dark side and added socks to the outfit. I must admit it did feel good. It also removed the sweating and squeaking issues. Perhaps my whole life to this point has been hampered by fear of public opprobrium for sock choices.
Let’s not get into the appropriate length of sock. Crew, ankle, no-show. From my journeys through social media, I have learned that this is an absolute generational identifier and there are sock extremists on all sides. We shall keep this to safer ground.
It is probably also worth noting, on a more serious note, that as there is no lacing system or way to change the fit of the 008, the fit may not be perfect for all foot widths. While I had no issues, I think I have pretty average width feet. If your feet are particularly wide or narrow, it may be worth checking the fit first.
Midsole and Ride of the norda 008
What works for me
As soon as the foot settles into the footbed, the softness soaks you in. The foot sinks deep and it is very forgiving. After both hard sessions and for lazy days, the comfort is outstanding. There isn’t as much arch support as other recovery slides and flop-flops on the market but I can’t say this was an issue for my feet.
One week of my testing was at a holiday park in Belgium with my incredibly active 18 month old. While the 008 is not designed for speed days, it was certainly capable of toddler gathering reps when he decided to sprint towards geese, lakes, roads and very large dogs.
As a daily shoe, it gives soft pillowy comfort and is able on beach, road and grass. They are much heavier than any other slide in my collection but this really isn’t an issue in use and adds to the feel of quality build. You know that they will not fall apart during the day and do offer protection from stones, sticks and rubbish left by less considerate campers.
What doesn’t work for me
This is going to be a very short section. There’s nothing about the midsole and ride which doesn’t work for me. They are super comfortable and incredibly easy to kick on and wear.
Outsole of the norda 008
Grip and Traction
Now, this really sets the norda 008 apart from the pack. The Vibram® ECOSTEP soleplate offers incredibly good grip. Wet floors, poolside tiles, sandy pavements are all conquered with ease. norda’s trail pedigree shows through here. These are easily the grippiest shoe of this sort which I have ever worn.
The quality really shines through here and sets the 008 apart.
Durability
I’ve had very little else on my feet for the majority of the month I’ve had these. There is no evidence of wear anywhere on the 008. I have no doubt that these will last a very long time. I would imagine that the top is more susceptible to being ripped by rocks or branches than the sole is to wear out.
Conclusion
Value for Money
Now, this is the real sticking point for me. These are excellent slides. They are super comfortable. I love sliding my feet into them after a hard session or just for a jaunt to the shop for a pint of milk. They have become my go-to shoes when I am not running. However, they are slides which cost £130.
The quality is undeniable, I believe that I will get a huge amount of wear out of them before they degrade. Over time, I am sure I will get a huge number of miles and minutes out of them for my money. On the other hand, I would find it hard to hand over £130 for slides.
This is a time where I am sure you will not be disappointed with your purchase but I can understand why many people would choose not to make the initial outlay.
Fitting it into a shoe rotation
These are for those moments when not running. They are built for the beach, the pool and early morning when you’ve realised you have forgotten to put the bins out. The norda 008 are for the moments of relaxation and roaming between runs. They come on and off with ease and live by my front door to get a huge amount of wear.
You won’t be running reps in them but your feet will thank you for putting them on after the reps are run.
Final Verdict
Without doubt, these are a fantastically built and sourced pair of slides. I have enjoyed wearing them for hours and hours. They have become an almost daily part of my wardrobe since work has broken up for the summer. Quality and materials wise, these are streets ahead of their competitors. They are basically a trail walking shoe without a substantial upper.
The sticking point is the price.
If you want a no-compromise pair of slides to treat your feet, go right ahead! If cost is your main concern, which is entirely understandable, you might want to leave these on the shelf.
Comparisons Against Similar Shoes
norda 008 vs. Oofos Recovery Flip Flops
I’ve had my Oofos for a while now and they have had plenty of use. They offer more arch support than the norda, so if that is something you are looking for, they are a good bet. Whilst the Oofos and norda offer a similar level of softness, the norda wins overall on build quality and versatility. While the Oofos are very comfortable, they are lacking the grip of the 008 and can get a bit slippy on wet floors and poolside.
norda 008 vs. Crocs
I am a late convert to Crocs. For years, I foolishly declared I would never wear them. Then I tried some on and my life improved. Kick on, kick off and just get about the day. Before the arrival of the 008, my Crocs were the shoe of summer. Put them in comfort mode and lounge, engage sport mode and get after the day. Now they have a new companion, the norda are very much vying for my affection every day. Comfort wise, I would say that it is a close run thing. The footbed of the 008 has much more sink in, deep comfort. Meanwhile, the gulf in build quality is apparent. Again, the norda wins the grip contest hands down. That said, I do find the Crocs deal better with hot days and un-socked feet.
norda 008 vs. Nike ACG Moc
The Nike ACG Moc and norda 008 might not seem like similar shoes but they do find a similar place in my rotation. Both are shoes for lazy days and gentle mooching. If you are looking for a shoe which protects the upper of your foot more on evening strolls, the Moc wins. If you are looking for midsole comfort, the norda 008 takes the crown.
