Arc’teryx Norvan LD 3 – £150 
Tested by Nicola Iseard

First impressions

What initially struck me when picking up the Arc’teryx Norvan LD 3 was the sleek and seamless look. I think it looks quite futuristic, as if it has been hewn from one piece of some new-fangled material. Indeed, looking at its construction there are materials with names I have never heard of!

As it happens, that quick once-over revealed that the clean form of the exterior carries over to the interior of the shoe, where there are no discernible seams at all. So, is there more to the Norvan 3 LD than super-clean lines? 

To quickly look at the specs of this trail shoe; the test pair in an EU39 1/3 is, notably, the lightest trail shoe I have tested or that I own so far, coming in a shade under 240g, and without sacrificing any features as far as I can see. 

As for the stack height and heel-to-toe drop, you are talking 29mm-23mm, meaning a drop of 6mm. These numbers are pretty middle-of-the-road for a long-distance trail shoe I reckon, so it should appeal to a broad range of runners and running techniques. I am toying with the idea of trying a more minimalist shoe for some runs, but I keep coming back to the extra cushioning a stack such as this provides on the rocky and rooty terrain where I typically run. 

So, the Norvan, so far, is sleek, light and well-cushioned. It also features a grippy Vibram sole with 4mm lugs, which are slightly less-pronounced than some rivals. For me, 4mm is ample for almost all scenarios, and where it is snowy or muddy enough to require more then I will get the crampons out.

The upside, of course, is that the shoe doesn’t feel squirmy on paved roads. In fact, it feels light and fast. It feels stable enough to run loads of miles on roads, whereas more aggressive lugs can get a little ‘wandery’ on firm surfaces. 

Fit

Moving onto the fit, the shape of my feet are pretty slender, but I could tell the toe-box was ample enough to accommodate a wider foot print than mine. I wear an EU39 generally across most shoes and brands, and the 39 1/3 was bang-on. Only on the steepest descents did I experience a little toe-bang, requiring me to lace the shoes a bit tighter. The traditional lacing system is no-frills but works perfectly. There are no proprietary ‘fast-lace’ toggles, which could end up finishing your run or week’s training if they were to snap of get blocked with dirt. 

Slipping the Norvan on, I immediately noticed how the tongue is elasticated and sort of cocoons or wraps down across the top and sides of my foot. I have no idea how Arc’teryx achieved this without creating seams that would create pressure points. The inside of the shoe is so smooth and this is a big plus for me and my sensitive skin. 

As for the fit around the heel, I can attest that it feels secure and well-padded without being restrictive. I had sprained badly my ankle during a winter race wearing a GTX shoe from another brand and metal crampons, and the swelling on the outside of the ankle prevented me from wearing my previous favourite shoe; however the Norvan 3 was cut low enough at the lateral malleolus (outside ankle bone) to avoid any pressure point.