The new Black Diamond x Norda 000 mountain running shoe is agile, durable, protective and surprisingly versatile.
A few new trail running shoes dropped during the mayhem that was this year’s Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc festival of trail running, but the swanky and capable Black Diamond x Norda 000 shoe was the only one launched as a collab with a bounty of related trail running gear.
While this review only focuses on the fit and performance of this proficient mountain running shoe ($295), the collection also included a Distance 15 running pack ($300) and 30-litre duffel bag ($330) made from lightweight/durable Challenge Sailcloth Ultra 100D material, a pair of Black Diamond Distance Carbon Z FKT Poles ($280) with an ultralight glove strap and magnetic quick-connect system and Black Diamond lightweight Deploy Down 1.0 Hoody ($449) and a carabiner ($10) for good measure.
That $1,700 motherlode of gear is the real flex of this collab, but not because it’s pricey. That package is a collection of the essential tools you need to play on long days in the mountains, but it’s really the embodiment of what the Black Diamond/Norda connection represents—technical mountain prowess manifested through smart, lightweight and very durable products.
Black Diamond brings a long history of trusted technical climbing gear to the table—ropes, harnesses, ice tools, and alpine equipment built for rugged alpine terrain. Norda, by contrast, is an upstart on the footwear side, having built its name on rugged, long-lasting shoes made specifically for mountain running. Bringing these two together means the resulting gear comes from people with real experience in serious alpine settings, not just designers working from a running-shop perspective.
As for the BD x Norda 000 shoe, it’s a very good one for running technical terrain and rocky ridgelines, but it also holds its own pretty well as a do-everything generalist trail shoe.
Having run in each of the Norda shoes since its launch in 2021, the BD x Norda 000 is at first glance a shoe that combines the upper of the 002 on the 001 platform with an innovative Vibram midsole. (Yes, a Vibram midsole.) If those other Norda models don’t ring a bell for you, the collab shoe includes an upper made from rip-stop bio-circular Dyneema (a remarkably tough and inherently hydrophobic woven fabric built from plant-derived ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene fibers) and a midsole/outsole chassis (26mm/21mm) that serves up a relatively low-to-the-ground vibe with exceptional feel for the trail while also providing top-tier traction.
For trail runners, seeing a brand like Black Diamond put its name behind a running shoe lends a level of technical credibility that’s harder to earn through running-industry marketing alone. (As an interesting side note, Black Diamond had considered launching its own trail running shoe line a few years ago but then decided against it, and honestly, this seems to be the next best thing.) Black Diamond athlete Joe Grant was one of the key consulting wear-testers of this shoe before it was launched.
Black Diamond x Norda 000 Specs
Price: $295
Approximate Weights: 8.9 oz (women’s size 8), 10.3 oz (men’s size 9)
Heel-Toe Offset: 5mm; 26mm (heel), 21mm (forefoot)
Lug Depth: 5mm
What’s New: The BD x Norda 000 is a one-of-a-kind shoe made from a rather unique grouping of materials. Underfoot, there is an all-new Vibram Stream Flow midsole (the compound’s first appearance in a running shoe) while a custom Norda x Vibram Megagrip with Litebase “soleplate” handles energy transfer and absorption with 5mm lugs that both dig into loose dirt and adhere to rocky surfaces. Up top, a seamless rip-stop bio-circular Dyneema upper made from renewable waste by-products of the wood and pulp industries and secured by Dyneema-infused laces keeps things light and durable.
Fit/Feel/Ride: The BD x Norda 000 fits true to size with a spacious interior, especially in the midfoot and forefoot. I had to cinch it down extra tight to get the fit I wanted around my narrow feet, but I suspect runners with moderately wide and wide feet will think it fits great. Once laced up, the shoes felt compact and comfortable, thanks to the combination of an eTPU insole, a nicely padded heel collar and a fully gusseted tongue that creates a bootie-like structure.
The ride is where the magic of this shoe all comes together. The Vibram Stream Flow midsole feels both appropriately soft without feeling mushy and appropriately firm without feeling stiff. What I mean by that is that it offers a great blend of cushion, proprioceptive feel for the trail and torsional stability, allowing me to move confidently and comfortably on rocky trails and running with a smooth and easy-flexing stride cycle on dirt paths and fire roads. While a 26mm stack height in the heel is lower than many trail runners out there, the depth and makeup of the compound are enough to provide long-haul cushion and comfort.
Why It’s Great: Vibram’s first crack at a running midsole compound is impressive. The Stream Flow’s ground feel is excellent. It allowed me to feel the trail through my feet instead of guessing or vaguely feeling it through a higher-stack midsole and then reacting to it. It’s not a plush, bouncy ride, and it’s not trying to be. But there’s enough underfoot protection from the midsole/outsole that a rocky descent doesn’t turn into a punishment.
Why You’ll Love It: The BD x Norda 000 provides exceptional traction on all types of mountain surfaces I have run on. The Vibram Megagrip/Litebase outsole pairs an exceptionally grippy rubber formula with a slimmed-down base construction, boosting grip while trimming excess weight from the sole. On loose rocky and off-camber broken terrain, the Norda x Vibram Megagrip Litebase outsole does exactly what it’s supposed to do—it bites, it holds, and it lets you commit to foot placements you’d normally hesitate on as you anticipate or manage slipping off a rocky face.
Why You Might Not Like It: It’s hard to imagine why you might not like this shoe, unless you just want more bouncy cushioning under your feet or lighter shoes. If that’s the case, it might not be the shoe you don’t like, but you just might not like running on technical terrain. There are many lighter and more fluid shoes for running smooth dirt singletrack, but they lack the technical abilities of this collab model.
Pros: This isn’t just a technical-terrain specialist. It doesn’t feel out of place at all on smooth, basic dirt singletrack, and it even feels OK on gravel roads. The ride smooths out, the grip becomes a non-issue, and the shoe just disappears under you. That kind of range matters if you’re not always running above treeline or if the terrain varies on the trails you typically run.
Cons: Aside from the sizing for narrow-footed runners, the price might be the biggest detractor. Although it’s a tad less expensive by Norda standards, the $295 price tag is still double what you’d pay for most trail running shoes. That said, if durability and technical acuity are high on your priority list, then the price might be justified.
Shop: Women’s Black Diamond x Norda 000, $295
Shop: Men’s Black Diamond x Norda 000, $295
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