How Norda Made the Ultimate Trail Running Shoe for Racing

“Our vision is always the same: It’s the lightest, fastest, strongest, most durable. That’s what performance is about,” says Martire. Matching those standards to a race-ready design necessitated raising the bar on the ingredient list. Like Norda’s other shoes, the 005 has an ultralight, ultra-durable Bio-Dyneema upper made with an adjusted weave that’s more breathable and allows for more water drainage. It’s also extremely durable—something the brand has become well known for.

Though for the all-new 005, this racecar’s engine is what’s underfoot. “It’s all about the midsole,” says Martire. The 005’s is made of Arnitel, a branded version of thermoplastic polyester elastomer (TPEE) foam. Norda sources it from the same factory that makes the so-called super shoe foams for the likes of Adidas and Hoka, but they came with a unique request. While most shoe companies use a blend of foams to create a particular feel and ride, Norda wanted 100% unblended foam. “I’m talking to the best factory in the world and they said, ‘You know, we’ve never done 100%, we don’t even know if it’s possible,'” says Martire. It was. And after about a year, they figured it out.

Source: https://www.fieldmag.com/articles/norda-005-trail-running-shoe-history