For road: Adidas Asizero Adios 9
For trail: Nnormal Kjerag 1
Also consider: VJ lightspeed & maxx2 aren’t what I’d consider low stack, but they’re not high stack either. Very capable on highly technical terrain. VJ midsole foam in these feels awesome.
My recommendation would be the VJ Maxx2
I also really love Arcteryx Norvan SL3 for steep technical uphill stuff, but these are maybe a bit too minimal for a lot of people’s taste and I think they’re discontinued. Bought a pair of Vertex Speed Low to try as replacements? But they’re not really the same.
You could also try Nnormal Kjerag. This kind of splits the difference between the two shoes I listed above. I found the upper to be a bit too sloppy (foot will move/roll relative to the sole on off camber stuff) compared to the other two though, so I don’t trust them at speed in serious technical terrain. That’s pretty specific to my foot though, otherwise I think I’d be a big fan.
My go to for this is the Arcteryx Norvan SL3.
They might be discontinued though.
I recently picked up a clearance pair of Merrel Skyfire 2 Matryx that see very very promising. Never owned a merrel shoe before, but excited for these this year. Wouldn’t be my first choice for pure rocky trails given the lack of surface area in the lugs.
Another similar shoe is the Nnormal Kjerag. I don’t love the fit. Seem a little too sloppy in the upper midfoot for my taste on really technical terrain, but everyone’s feet are different.
Common theme among those - lightweight, matryx upper, megagrip sole. I find that to be a good recipe.
You could also check out VJ Spark. I put a few hundred miles on a pair, but honestly I wish they had more rock protection and a less bulky upper. VJ Maxx2 is a great all around shoe. It’s not heavy, but not super light either.
Another vote for the Kjerag. I have extremely narrow/low volume feet and they have been the best fitting shoe I’ve found yet. Both the 01 and 02 models are great 🤙
I’ve owned every Nnormal model to date. Both the tomir 1 and kjerag 1 didn’t fit me well. The kjerag 2 is the best fitting most comfortable shoe I’ve ever worn. The tomir 2 while really comfortable was still too much for my foot, I did however make them work for 660 miles. The kboix fits well mostly but that shoe is a hot mess. The Cadi fits like the kjerag in the heel, slightly more relaxed through the midfoot while still having great lockdown. Forward from there it opens up to something should accommodate most people. The upper is super plush with every creature comfort. The midsole is just soft enough to feel plush while still maintaining stability and good ground feel. The out sole is super wide everywhere, I think the Kjerag is really stable and the Cadi is a bit much personally but for longer treks I’m sure it’s appreciated. The grip is great per usual for VMG. The laces are really stretchy out of the box and I had to readjust my shoes multiple times on the first run. After the first descent my toes were slamming into the front and I needed a total readjust. This played out a few times but less severe each time. The laces are also comically long and just got longer. I don’t know what diabetes foot they expect to use laces this long but it’s really annoying and basically the same for every shoe I’ve ever owned. The upper is really breathable which is something that the tomir failed miserably at. The insole is a tpe or tp-whatever beaded style that doesn’t soak up water like the stupid Ortholite ones used in the tomir. The stack of the midsole is pretty high for me personally but again felt stable enough to be comfortable and confident in. As far as durability is concerned I have zero issues with the upper or the outsole. The midsole is the only place I think these may not be quite great as the tomir or the kjerag. Considering is the same foam as the tomir just softer I imagine it could lose some durability but only time can tell. Even if they lose 100 miles from th tomir id be happy with 175$ for a 550 mile shoe that’s breathable stable and comfortable for longer mellow runs. So with all that out of the way i think the Cadi is everything i wanted the tomir to be. Fits like a kjerag where it needs to but is less reactive and more protective. I would definitely recommend this shoe without hesitation as a great all arounder that’s capable in all the right ways.
Edit, I forgot to add that I wear a US men’s 12 in the kjerag, tomir and the Cadi. I’d order whatever your “Nnormal” size is.
Top Trail Running Shoes on Reddit
1
Mount to Coast
H1
85% positive of 177 users
Versatile road-to-trail, but struggles on wet, technical downhills.
7sport
