RW Takeaway: The Norvan SL is an ultralight climber-inspired shoe for trail runners who want a minimal racer with excellent grip on steep and technical terrain.
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- Folds down to stow in a pack for mixed-sport adventures
- Vibram Megagrip outsole provides stable ground contact
Price: $150
Type: Trail
Weight: 6.4 oz (M 8.5)
Leave it to climbers to inspire the lightest trail shoe we’ve ever seen. After all, these are people that cut the tags out of their clothing just to shave grams. The Arc’teryx Norvan SL weighed in at 6.4 ounces for my men’s size 8.5. I’ve even had a hard time finding road flats lighter than this shoe.
The Norvan SL (Arc’teryx code for “superlight”) was originally designed for rock climbers as a compact and lightweight shoe to quickly traverse between climbing routes. As you can imagine, there’s visibly not a whole lot to the shoes but the brand’s minimalist aesthetic comes packed with tech.
Snug Fit
Like climbing shoes, expect the SL to fit snug. It's narrow through the midfoot and heel, while the forefoot widens up to provide more ground contact and better traction when toeing off on steep inclines. The shoe is even narrower underfoot, especially under the arch. Removing excess foam and rubber wherever possible helps keep the shoe nimble and give runners more sensitivity and control when the trail turn into more of a scramble.
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To put just how light these shoes are in perspective, quickly browsing online retailers, I found only a handful of road flats listed as being under 6 ounces. You’re probably not going to run ultras in these shoes, but you can really fly over shorter miles.
The paper-thin TPU mesh upper is see-through, so here’s your chance to wear some flashy socks. It even made crinkling sounds the first couple times I wore them. Of course, those holes also provide a lot of breathability in the summer, and drainage for wet days. Structure and support come from strategically placed welding and additional TPU material, but the whole upper is designed to pack down flat for stashing in a pack when you’re on belay. There’s also a slit in each heel to throw them on a carabiner for extra badass points when you roll up to your next trail race.
No ultralight shoe exists without a cost in cushioning. After spending a lot of time recently on the max-cushion end of the spectrum training for 100-milers, I found the firmness of the SL almost tear-inducing. With no rock plate and minimal cushion, you know immediately when you’ve taken a bad step.
Excellent Grip…Most of the Time
Keeping with the whole climbing theme, the Norvan SL wants to spend time on rocks. A full-length sheet of Vibram’s Megagrip rubber provides some serious traction on big slabs. I felt confident dancing across glacial rock fields, as well scrambling up some more vertical hand-over climbs. The 3mm lugs provide a bit of extra bite when you need it, but don’t count on them to sink into dirt and mud like a shoe twice its weight.
The Norvan SL isn’t going to replace your 10-ounce trail trainers anytime soon, and at $150 the high-tech racer is definitely a premium shoe. But if you subscribe to the “light equals fast” school of thought for race day, it’s a great aggressive shoe to throw on for short trail races.
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