001 Series

On the other hand, I had a brutal experience with the sg6 - blisters and a lack of cushion.  Went to the 001, and I found them to be a far more comfortable shoe. I would disagree with you on the max of 25km - having used them for a few races now I would say they would be good up to 100km.  I found them to be far more comfortable, but as always, ymmv

I'll take out my 002s over my 001s any day. They're a much better shoe IMO. I don't have and haven't tried the 001A.

Love the way the 001s feel but don’t work great for narrower/lower volume feet, lockdown is an issue. Went a 1/2 size up in the 001 and seems spot on. Tried my typical size in the 002 and it’s too small so I just ordered a 1/2 size up. Side wall stuff came unglued fairly quick, I used seam glue on them and it’s kinda holding up. Definitely go for a stitched one like mentioned before. heel cup has given friends issues with rubbing but not for me. After about 60-80 miles they feel like they soften up a bit. If you want a softer ride I can’t recommend the Nnormal Tomir 2.0 enough. 400+ miles and still doing great.

I am 6'3 200 lbs and have put over 1300km on technical trails, gravel, dirt, ankle deep mud, ice and snow on my first pair of Norda 001... and this was a "deffective" pair! 001s are now my goto shoes and I sprinkle a few runs in 002 too. The fit is particular so I strongly recommend trying them on before buying them. On a side note, I am curious to hear why you want to drop weight? In my opinion, trying to cut weight while training for more volume and longer races is a dangerous game and the risk of underfueling is greater than the potential benefits or losing a few pounds.

Although the Salomon Sense Ride 4 has a special.place in my heart for being the shoe I used for my first 50k, the Norda 001 is by far my favorite shoe ever and the one I now go to 95% of the time...

Norda 001 has been absolutely amazing so far for me too

I tried these and they felt so awkward and just didn’t work for the kind of trails I run on. Norda has since been the replacement and nothing but gold from the 001

My SG5 was cooked at only 250 miles, midsoles were dead and uppers started to tear. La Sportiva prodigio lasted around 260 before both uppers torn on both sides of both shoes and midsoles were dead Norda 001 is at 300+ miles of the same and even worse trails and have zero signs of wear except the sole

I can’t speak too much for speedgoats but I can for Norda and LS. Both the 001 and 001A as well as the prodigio feel firmer, but still well cushioned. On all three pairs if you step on a sharp rock you will feel it, but they’re all super precise and feel great on technical terrain. I ran 2 50k’s in my Prodigios and that’s just about the limit for them, they did super well though especially since I’m 180lbs and tall. Norda is supremely comfy though, never once been blistered by them anywhere at all, they’re nice and roomy but not clunky. Even if you get them wet the insole doesn’t absorb water like the open celled foam in the Prodigios. Prodigios are comfy if you have light socks and avoid water, if they get wet they quickly start sucking and gave me blisters and gnarly nasty toes after 50k. Speedgoat was very comfy during my training runs, but felt a little too high up and often time clunky. Overall I’d give it to Norda, my 001 have 550 miles and the uppers are still mint while the outsole is getting pretty worn with at least another 100 miles of running left. 001A is also solid, definitely more responsive under foot

I can’t speak too much for speedgoats but I can for Norda and LS. Both the 001 and 001A as well as the prodigio feel firmer, but still well cushioned. On all three pairs if you step on a sharp rock you will feel it, but they’re all super precise and feel great on technical terrain. I ran 2 50k’s in my Prodigios and that’s just about the limit for them, they did super well though especially since I’m 180lbs and tall. Norda is supremely comfy though, never once been blistered by them anywhere at all, they’re nice and roomy but not clunky. Even if you get them wet the insole doesn’t absorb water like the open celled foam in the Prodigios. Prodigios are comfy if you have light socks and avoid water, if they get wet they quickly start sucking and gave me blisters and gnarly nasty toes after 50k. Speedgoat was very comfy during my training runs, but felt a little too high up and often time clunky. Overall I’d give it to Norda, my 001 have 550 miles and the uppers are still mint while the outsole is getting pretty worn with at least another 100 miles of running left. 001A is also solid, definitely more responsive under foot

Worth it to spend the couple extra bucks to go from the 001s to 005s in my opinion!

I second this! One tip though I would consider staying away from the super squishy shock absorbing shoes like a Norda 001 or Speed goat 5. With a back pack the higher stack height might make you more prone to rolling ankles. I’ve done some long 100km plus fast packs in a few pairs of trail runners and do recommend it, you’ll just want to keep your pack weight down. Hiking is much more fun with a light pack anyway!!

I absolutely love my Nordas for snowy conditions. I have the 001A and, especially in fresh snow, it’s like un-velcroing myself from the ground. Norda does have a 001G (gortex) version, but I find the base model more than fine for everything but the heaviest snow and mud. That said, they’re expensive so I save them for when I’m further north at my parents and running on rail trail/less reliably ploughed streets.

I absolutely love my Nordas for snowy conditions. I have the 001A and, especially in fresh snow, it’s like un-velcroing myself from the ground. Norda does have a 001G (gortex) version, but I find the base model more than fine for everything but the heaviest snow and mud. That said, they’re expensive so I save them for when I’m further north at my parents and running on rail trail/less reliably ploughed streets.

I ran in their standard 001 version last winter in Michigan and it worked fine. Traction was sufficient for the most part and the upper is already not breathable so helped keep moisture out.

001s are worth it if you can find them for $150 (I got mine for $100). I was able to stack over 500 miles on them before I retired them to be my golf shoes. I went a full size up and the fit was ok. Not overly spacious but accommodating. They also run very warm but made for a great winter running shoe since they don't let water in (or out). A very boring and firm shoe that just kept going. 005s not worth it. They are light and the upper is more generous than the 001 but the lace bite through the tongue is miserable and the heel cup jabbed into my achilles like a dagger. The midsole was smoked after about 200 miles for me. I'm not big by any means at 5'9" and 170lbs, so the midsole flattening this early left me pretty disappointed. I only got 260 out of them before tossing them in the trash. I logged 100 training miles in them before running a full 100 miler in them. After those 200 miles I tried logging runs as little as 5 miles and rock hits were piercing through the shoe and my feet would kill me afterwards. So it's hard for me to recommend or justify them at their insane price tag of $325. For half the cost, the Mount to Coast H1 seems like a superior buy in almost every aspect. Heck I ran my latest 100 miler in a pair of cheap ($80) Merrell Nova 4s and they were an excellent shoe. A brand that gets slept on in the trail running space.

Mine never felt the same after running a 100 miler in them. I retired mine at 250 miles as I could feel every little rock hit underfoot. Never enjoyed the heel cup fit either and the tongue design created a nasty lace bite situation. I say this as someone who got 500+ miles out of a pair of 001s that now serve me as golf shoes.

I've ran three 100 milers and was a die hard for the Altra Olympus on the trail but got sick of blowing out uppers and having a one dimensional shoe. I got my first pair of 001s in January second hand for $100. They were brand new and I was too curious to pass up the deal. They've been a great investment. They currently have over 330 miles on them and wear like they did day 1. Grip is phenomenal and while the upper is stiff it wraps my foot like a glove. If you're coming from the superior I think you'll like the fit of Norda, while it'll be a little more snug there's some room. As others mentioned, durability is top tier. I washed and scrubbed mine down recently and they look good as new. Some outsole wear but pretty minimal for 330 miles, minimal midsole creasing, no upper wear. I liked the 001 so much that I decided to splurge on the 005s and let me tell ya, it's a game changer. The upper is more accommodating, light as a feather, the midsole is truly unbelievable, and the outsole works. I'm saving them for big efforts and racing. I took them out of the box and ran a 50k in them. Three runs so far, 72 miles and I like them more each time I lace them up. Minimal outsole wear so far fortunately and I believe the midsole is plenty protective to go long. I'll be using them in my 100 miler late May. The midsole is bouncy and probably the perfect stack height, any less and it wouldn't be a 100 miler shoe, anymore it'd likely be wildly unstable. If you can try nordas on somewhere, do it. But my recommendation is to make the move, you'll be happier. I know I am and it's not even close.

Take your time with this, try on a bunch, and work with your salesperson. More likely than not, you’ll probably go through a few pairs before you settle on one. Are you only looking online right now? You really should go into a store and try them out at the store, and try the ones that you take home with you, *at home* (so you can still return them if necessary). Of the ones you’ve listed, Hokas have always been a favorite of mine, as they typically fit the width of my feet nicely. Salomons are far too narrow for me. These two pairs alone are going to feel vastly different no matter what foot shape you have. Are you a pronator/supinator/neutral? All questions that need to be answered through trial and error and working with someone that knows how to do a proper assessment. Also, are you looking for a trail runner or more of a hiking shoe? The ones you’ve listed include both. I would suggest a trail runner might be more suited to do double duty as a hiker, rather than a hiker being used for trail running, particularly if you are concerned about weight. Lastly, I know everyone has a favourite, most awesome shoe that they recommend. The one brand I might suggest in that regard is Norda. It’s a Canadian company, which is nice. And although the shoes are eye-wateringly expensive, the majority consensus seems to be that they last, and last, and last. I did multiple demos in the Norda 001, and they felt so, umm, reassuring I guess is the word I would use to describe robe them.