NNormal - Tomir 02 Gore-Tex Shoe

2 pairs of the Superior 5, terrible traction when wet on limestone. 1 pair of the Olympus 5, much better traction but the midsole packed out around 200 miles in and that’s probably because of the inner flex thing because there’s less foam there. I’ve got some topo pursuits with 400+ miles that are great and Nnormal tomirs with 400+ miles that’s are also still great. I just don’t think altra makes a great shoe for me, especially because I have a narrow foot and would lose multiple toenails after marathon+ distances.

I can only chime in in Nnormal but figure I will. They were arguably the most durable trail shoe I’ve ever owned, but they had zero cushion/give (IMO). If you don’t mind firm shoes, they’ll last you forever (I ran several ultras in them), but I won’t buy them again because I like a little more comfort.

I have loved my Nnormal Tormirs. I have worn Altras for the last 15 years but wanted a little more cushion for long runs. They have done me well!

I have well over 200 miles in my pair, including many 20-30 mile runs. They were a bit narrower than the Peregrines, which was already snug for me. I thought it needed at least another eyelet for the laces and the one piece tongue and collar had a bit of a sloppy fit. Cranking the laces a bit and heel lock lacing helped. Cushioning-wise, felt somewhere between the Peregrine and Xodus Ultra 2. Underfoot protection from rocks was adequate. Traction was good and I liked that there was a lot of outsole material since I had a tendency to lose some outsole chunks in the Rifts, Xodus, and Endorphin Edge. Overall, I thought they were solid and I wish there was an update to address some of the common weak areas people pointed out. Currently running in the Nnormal Tomir 2.

Thanks for this! This helps in comparing the various shoes out there. I do lean towards a general purpose shoe and would use the Tomir 2 for most of my runs.

I have 200 miles on the Tomir 2s and a few runs in the Mount to Coast T1. For me, the Tomir 2s are durable medium stack shoes for runs up to around 20 miles-marathon and do uphills well. The T1s are high cushion (but not max) light, and fast. T1 cushioning is softer than Tomir 2's but not overly so like in a road shoe. I haven't used the T1 enough to say anything on durability. I like them both but they don't overlap as much in category. If I had to pick 1 I would go for the T1 because I prefer a higher stack/cushion

There isn't a best because user preferences and characteristics vary so you really gotta try them. Even then, some shoes fit and perform notably differently when new vs when you have 50 miles in them. I like the Peregrines but go for the Endorphin Edge and Rift when I want more cushioning and the Nnormal Tomir 2 when I want better grip. My Peregrines have nearly 250 miles of very rough terrain on them so they're about toast.

A lot of the things that make trail runners an attractive option also make them less durable. Comfortable, breathable uppers so often using mesh with minimal/no over/underlays. Midsole cushioning for running so they're softer but will pack down sooner. Light weight so brands are cutting materials out and giving you less outsole coverage and shorter outsole lugs. But to your point there's a lot of variation there. My NNormal Tomir 2 are around 300 miles, on track to hit 400+ easily assuming normal use. Upper is in good condition, notably better than most trail shoes I've used. Midsole started out a bit firm but has softened to a good sweet spot and has held up so far. Outsole started with good coverage and tall lugs, relatively light wear despite a lot of hard packed very rocky miles and above tree line stuff. The outsole could last beyond 500 miles for me. Main cons are the cost/availability, fit, and maybe the medium-stack no rock plate nature of it. I ordered it online, otherwise would have to drive a long way to try it and the store wouldn't respond to me. I have wide feet, Altra and Topo fit me the best. The Tomir 2 felt narrow at first, took some time for it to stretch out and for the insole to flatten to allow room. Also have to wear thin socks with it, toe socks for example would not work for me. Lastly, it is a medium-stack ish shoe when considering other shoes in its weight and stack height like the Peregrine. I'm fine hiking all day in them, but I also run a lot of trails. If you're not running often and are used to the Olympus for example, the Tomir is gonna be harsh for a little while and you'll want to get some practice/training in before your Yosemite High Route trip.

I have >200 miles in my Tomir 2s. Typically ran Saucony Peregrine, Xodus Ultra 1-2, Endorphin Edge and Rift, and now Mount to Coast T1. I'm fine in technical terrain with the Tomir 2, don't feel like I'm working extra hard to speed up like I do with the Xodus Ultras and Speedgoats, and definitely high marks for durability, I put a rougher 200+ miles on them and look way better than my other shoes with 200+ of miles in the exact same places. Comfort for longer distance may have a bigger subjective component. I'm fine out to marathon and 50K in them as long as there isn't more than a few hours of technical stuff or if I can at least maneuver around to avoid sharp things all the time. If it's above treeline and I can't avoid sharp rocks then 30km is probably my limit. However if you did technical 50+ milers with the Keraj then yes the Tomir is probably fine.

I usually have 2-3 pairs on rotation: 1 pair of road shoes and up to 2 pairs of trail shoes with one being speed/hill and up to medium distance and the other general purpose to long distance. Not so much rotation as purpose/application. I've had a decrease in joint issues in injuries in general over time but hard to say how much of it is due to my shoe rotation vs other things like carefully managing my weekly volume and intensity, strength training, and just accumulating benefits over time. My favorite road shoes are probably the Saucony Endorphin Speed since it's relatively light, well cushioned, but adequately stiff and fast feeling so I can use it for all my road running. Favorite trail shoes at the moment are the Nnormal Tomir 2s. Great traction, relatively light for a medium shoe, and a decent balance of cushioning and feeling fast. Feels ok on roads and has a lot of outsole to absorb those road miles. Often parking a mile or longer away since my trails are extremely busy sometimes.

I have >200 miles in my Nnormal Tomir 2s, spanning short steep runs to 20 mile runs with >5,000 feet of climbing at altitude. Previously ran in Saucony Xodus Ultra, Endorphin Edge, and Endorphin (g)rift. Traction and durability on the Tomir 2 are great. They are on the firm side, even with the mileage I put on them so far, and lean on fast feeling given my previous shoes. I would want more underfoot cushioning for anything beyond a marathon or 50K. To me, these are medium generalist leaning shoes, great for racking up miles and training. Fit was a touch too narrow at first, I have wide feet. Took around 50 miles for the insole to pack down and the upper to stretch and flex a bit. Fits comfortably snug now. For the long stuff I am using the Mount to Coast T1. Comfortable fit for my toes, good underfoot cushioning, yet light and fast enough that I don't feel like I'm working too hard when running uphill or picking up the pace. I have ~80 miles on them so far, really just a few long runs, they're great. Durability looks good but need to take them out to at least 200 to say more. If these still look good after 300 miles I would switch completely to them and not get another pair of the Tomir 2s.

As always it’s very personal depending on how well the shoe fits my feet and the terrain I’m running in (technical mountains, mud, rocky). I like sky running races around 20-30k and VK’s. Sometimes short road races from 5k to Half Marathon. Current rotation: - Merrell Long Sky 2 Matryx. Great allrounder. - VJ Ultra 3. Cushion. Great for easy and long runs. - NNormal Kjerag Brut (mud) - Salomon Aero Glide 3 (road and treadmill) Recently retired shoes: - Nnormal Kjerag 1. Fast but too small lugs to have good grip in mud/loose debris. Too little cushion for me. Kjerag 2 has more cushion but same outsole. - Nnormal Tomir 2. Great allrounder but didn’t fit my feet (too little big toe space). A bit heavy when wet because the insole keeps a lot of water. - Salomon S/lab Genesis. Great allrounder but worse grip on wet rocks than Vibram Megagrip and VJ. - VJ Maxx 2. Really good allrounder. But didn’t fit my feet (too little big toe space). Shoes I’m considering next: - La Sportiva Prodigio Pro - Merrell MTL Adapt Matryx - Merrell Skyfire 2 Matryx

I have tried GoreTex and Seal Skinz and found that shoes or socks that have a membrane end up just as wet by the end of the run because my feet get all sweaty and maybe even heavier because they don't drain for shit. As far as brands go, here is a quick review NNormal (Tomir) started falling apart after 30km. Not impressed with fit, look or durability. Hoka: SG4 fantastic shoe, had 3 pair SG 5, never felt stable in my foot ran maybe 20km before I retired them to leisure shoe. Tecton/x V1 and V2 Super comfortable shoes, dog shit in the mud but I love them on the dry days. V3 blew apart in the forefoot after only two runs. I fixed them but they are not super stable either... we see how much I end up using them in the future. Altra: Lone Peak and Olympus...meh OnClouds went straight to goodwill, Saucony: Peregeine / Endorphin Rift again not impressed with durability and no good for mud and wet roots. Speedland: GL-PDX I looove them, just yesterday I was heading up the mtn and caught my foot on some hidden rebar, this would have destroyed the toe on any other pair of shoes that I own and I was sure I would look down and see a hole... nope, not even a mark. I am greatly impressed. They drain well and have nice traction as good or better than Vibram. GS:RAR Initial impression is that they fit well and after some minor adjustments to lugs are comfortable to run in on the treadmill, nothing outside yet as I will use them in the snow with crampons and in the summer. when it is dry. No experience with Norda, I don't like how they look imo Keep in mind that wool insulates even when wet and if you are going in a long run maybe bring a dry pair along for a pit stop ✅ I recommend this over membranes any day. For reference I run in Southwest Norway where we get around 300 days of rain yearly. Happy Trails 🤙🏼

I currently have about 7 pairs in rotation but four of those are road shoes and they’re getting minimal use as I’ve been doing trail almost exclusively lately. Saucony exodus ultras do well road to trail, I’m only warming up about 1K to get to the trail though. nnormal tomir 2 on the trails/racing are amazballs…especially in mud and snow and some zero drop topo for a strength change. Mostly new balance plateless road shoes and a pair of mizuno neo vistas for training over 25K on the road.

If you enjoy the S/Lab Genesis from your list the best fit will be either the NNormal Kjerag or the Satisfy Rocker. Both are fast shoes. Norda has higher volume, 001 has heel issues, 005 is a very fast shoe but higher volume and 002 is stack than the Genesis but doesn't feel as fast. NNormal Tomir has a higher volume mid foot Adidas Agravic Speed Ultra probably the fastest shoe on the list but very unstable and the heel is problem for a lot of people. Hoka Tecton X2 would be a fast shoe but has been been produced in over 2 years. Will be hard to find but if you can find one slightly used and or half off it will be worth the money. Asics MetaFuji trail doesn't feel fast in my opinion.

Got these and the new Tomir 02 NN (straight laces) yesterday. Only used them for two walks in the forest (some short running to test as well) to get a feeling of them / trying to dial in lacing etc. The midsole is really great, and has a lot of bounce, but I think that with my weight these won't be shoes for the long distances, even with the increased stack. Definitely more volume in toe box compared to Kjerag 01 (or just a more forgiving upper?), which I couldn't buy because they were -too- tight for me over the arch. When I tried on the Kjerag 01 I had to size up a full size for them to fit at all, and even then it was slightly uncomfortable. Almost two thumbs width of spare length in the front is just not doable. With the Kjerag 02 I only sized up half a size, which is what I often have to due to slightly wider feed than average. I find the shoes to be slightly longer than I prefer for me feet, but that's about it.

My Hierro v7 were pretty great (V8 has ruined them). Now onto nnormal tomir which for me is excellent.