Nnormal Kjerag Full Review. Is This The Only Trail Shoe You Need?
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- Опубліковано 16 лип 2024
- This review is long overdue, so we make up for that by going mega in-depth and giving a full breakdown of the Nnormal Kjerag after a few hundred miles of testing.
Shop Men’s Nnormal Kjerag
www.runningwarehouse.com/NNor...
Shop Women’s Nnormal Kjerag
www.runningwarehouse.com/NNor...
Chapters:
0:00 Intro
1:24 Disclaimer
1:40 Stats
2:16 Upper
4:16 Midsole
6:21 Outsole
6:53 Finn testing mileage
8:55 Sizing
9:56 Fit analysis
14:00 Upper thoughts
18:39 The ride of this shoe is unique
28:07 Would you race in it?
30:27 Comparison to the Hoka Zinal 2
31:04 Value
34:04 question for the audience
Music provided by Argofox:
Noxive - Bacon Sandwiches
• Noxive - Bacon Sandwic... - Спорт
I am on my third pair of these. In my current rotation, one pair has been used almost exclusively on single track trails and has 1,300 km (800 miles) on it. The other I just used for a 105 km European trail race and it did well! Like you mentioned, I feel like this shoe really settles in after about 100 km and just kind of stays the same forever. It's not super cushioned, bouncy, etc. but it's the best all-arounder I've ever used. Looking forward to a v2 at some point.
It's a super incredible little shoe! I'm curious what changes they will make for version 2 whenever that comes out.
I have 850km in mine, still feeling the same as they did after that 50km break in period. Only races I don't use them for I'm in either carbon plates or xc spikes. They've handled everything I've thrown at them, including a 34 hour effort in the NZ backcountry, knee deep mud, and even some fourth class scrambling (I'm not capable of 5th class without a rope like Kilian).
It's truly a remarkable shoe! Thanks for your input and thanks for watching!
Recently discovered your channel. Love the detailed shoe reviews, serious content. This particular one of the Kjerag even led to me buying it!
Great work! 🙏🏻
Much appreciated and thanks for watching! One of the top shoes of the year in my opinion!
This review makes me want to buy this shoe. Your shoe reviews are the best out there, by the way. So detailed. Keep it up 👍
Thanks for watching! Detailed shoe analysis has definitely been the goal of this channel and we'll keep bringing that content!
Just crossed 500 miles in my pair and still love them! I wouldn’t race in them at this point (ordering a second pair for upcoming races), but easy runs of any distance still feel great. Definitely feels like I could get 200-300 more miles before retirement.
And for $195, that's solid value!
Wasn't 100% sure about these shoes but just bought a pair because of your review. Thank you !!!
Hope they work out for you! Definitely still loving my pair!
Bought the kjerag after your review. After a 50km break in time they felt amazing. Love this shoe for short and mid distances… i‘am just not strong enough for the long distance in them - yet :) After more than 500km in they still hold up so well. I will go for a resole of the shoe when needed. Thanx for your content guys 🫶🏻
So awesome to hear! Curious to see how many kms you end up using the shoe for after getting it resoled!
Great review guys. I've been using the Tomir and have 600km on them and they're still going strong. I went with those as I'm not Killianesq and didn't fancy the lightweight striped out shoe that the Kjerak was sold as.
Yeah the Tomir definitely looks like something you can relax into a bit more. I'm excited to see how both of these shoe models evolve in the coming years. Thanks for watching!
Great review! I love these shoes as they are and have 900km in pair one. I’d love them to intro a Kjerag max or similar with about 3-4mm more stack to their line. Having said that, they have been my ultra show of choice.
Thanks for watching! Maybe the designers at Nnormal will see all these comments that there is at least some demand for a Kjerag+!
Just tried both the Kjerag and the Tomir on my feet the other day here in Leadville, and the sizing is/was weird enough to put me off from trying either. But I have a hobbit toe-box shape need and I just couldn't risk it. I'd be more tempted by the Tomir just for its multiple use possibilities and the trail daily trainer vibe it gives off, but the Kjerag did feel awfully Salomon-esque. Great review, guys, keep on keepin' it real.
Yeah it wasn't a show I loved the first time I put it on. I had to run in it a few times to figure it out. It'll be interesting to see if they fix the sizing or not in the future or just try and get everyone to know to go a half size down.
cool to hear the affinity you have towards a lack of insole. i'm totally pro-no-insole too. the kjerag's lack of insole is a carryover from the s/lab pulsar, which just doesnt work as well with an insole (i've experimented with insoles in the pulsar, and it really compromises the shoe in a lot of ways). i feel this is the future of design not only in trail shoes but in road shoes. youre right, 1 less thing to worry about, and 1 fewer thing sitting between you and the ground which - in most cases - is better.
Yeah I'm definitely a fan of the no insole as long as the shoe was built with that in mind. I've tried just taking the insoles out of other shoes but then just run into the problem of there being too much volume. It really is nice though to have one less thing to worry about
I feel the new colors introduced some "refinement" in the shoe, different laces, little more cushion around the ankle, perforated tongue but definitely still the Kjerag
It’s definitely the only shoe I’ll ever need. It performs perfectly on trails, ultra, short trails. Only race type I would go for a Vaporfly would be a flat 10k road race. And perhaps a flat half or full marathon, if you want to PB, but for everything with either hills or trails, I would go for Kjerags.
And because of the durability, you can use them for most of the training runs as well. Also interval training on the roads or the track, no problem.
Definitely one of the most versatile shoes out there!
Excellent video! Seems to be an amazing shoe with alot of thought put into it.
I have question, so I'm new to running ( more serious about it) what is a good daily distance to run for someone in their mid 40's but healthy and fit?
What is your daily run distance?
Thanks for watching and welcome to the wild world of running! I don't actually train by distance, but instead by time. It's a much more constant variable, as some days I feel better than others. For example a flat 10km run and a hilly 10km run will take different amounts of time, but if I set out for an easy hour, it'll always be an hour.
Great review guys as always, I have 30 miles on mine. Going to be racing in the kjerack this Saturday, going to be the bulldog 50k. I love these shoes amazing grip, amazing fit and amazing durability.
The grip and fit is what won me over. The mega durability was definitely a nice bonus! 😁
I wore these for a 50 miler, ran pretty fast. Feet were sore though not really comfortable. Great shoe for speed workouts, that what i use it for now
I haven't worn them for that long, but I feel like I'd have a similar experience. Fast shoe and could handle 50 miles in it, but doesn't bring the most comfort.
I bought them recently, sizing is true,..... if an insole is inserted. Also compared them to other shoes of same size and dimension is similar, so the sizing specs are based on shoes having an insole but are sold without. Going down 1/2 or 1 size may this correct partially for that, but people with slim feet may opt to put a light insole to reduce volume and keep or reduce sizing.
That's super fascinating about putting an insole in there. I'm going to have to try that as I do still have a bit of extra room in my pair
I purchased a pair shortly after they released. I have worn a variety of shoes, but i was mainly amazed at how the shoe seemed to disappear while running. After a few miles, i just forgot that the shoe was on my foot, it became almost an extension of my body. I have never had that feeling in any other shoe. I ran a medium elevation gain 50k in them (about 6500’ gain). And they felt amazing on the technical and not so technical. My only downside of the shoe, is the sizing system. I based my sizing solely from the instructions on their website. Unfortunately the sizing ended up being a half size to large with more room that id like in the toe box. Leading to occasional blisters. With all that said…i would get another pair a half size smaller, and i would use it for up to a 100k effort.
Thanks for your feedback and thanks for watching! Yes, it's a shame about the sizing. I'm curious to see if Nnormal tries to fix the sizing issue, or just keep it as since so many people are finally figuring out how to adjust their size. Would be a bummer if they fix it, don't say anything, and then everyone buys shoes that are too small 😅
I have two pairs, this shoe destroys in techy mountain terrian. Especially downhill, It compelty shreds. Not sure, i would run an entire 100 miler in this shoe. I did run part of hundred miler in it though. This is for sure a minimalist shoe, If you're a bigger runner with more of a wide foot not might be or you. The tomimight be a little better option. He is right when he says, this isnt a blow up friendly shoe. This is a feeling strong and hammering shoe type.
Thanks for your feedback and for watching! It is truly remarkable how awesome this shoe is for descending techy terrain 🤯
I've cut the shoes apart...there is no plate. The only other material is an open-weave (like paper-thin burlap) between the midsole foam and the Vibram outsole. It seems the main thing this does is provide a mesh for glue to adhere the slick midsole to the hard/slick outsole. Tearing it off of those...it is clearly just a layer of 'fabric' that could not possibly do anything one could call a 'plate' of any sort.
Yes I've since learned that the mesh in combination with a specific type of glue created a resilient layer that will help prevent against punctures, but still maintain ground feel. A similar idea to Salomon's film that they use in some of their shoes. I'm still not really sure what to call it, as it serves a similar purpose to a rock plate, but with much more feel and flexibility, as that is what Kilian Jornet Prefers. Thanks for sacrificing your pair and confirming!
Share your vision of a third Nnormal on a Tomir last that uses a Matryx upper with a thicker Kjerag midsole. I raced the Tomir the last 75 miles of the Cowboy 200 after my feet swelled a full size and my Hoka Tectons no longer fit. The Tomir midsole EVA is a little harsh for me but can be fixed by swapping in Inov-8 Boomerang footbeds. The Kjerag is impressive for sure! But the Naked T/r is superior for technical stuff once you get it on.
Haha *once you get it on* are the key words there for the Naked T/r 😅
@@ConversationalPace they become much easier to get on after about 30 miles. The Naked midsole is sublime. My issue with the Kjerag is they are just a bit too long and don’t fit as well.
Yeah while similar, the shape underfoot is definitely slightly different
Ha, the Boomerang can fix almost any shoe...except, ironically, the Inov8 TrailFly 280s (worse shoe ever used on technical stuff, felt every rock, unstable, just crap). I end up putting the Boomerang in everything (my sub-50k shoe is the Inov8 TrailFly 270)...great in the Saucony Endorphin Edge to give it a bit more softness and excellent to reduce volume in the NB SuperComp Trail (had to size up to get width but then had too much volume above) and provide more cushioning in the forefoot.
@@magoo2434 well said! PS: The 280 is indeed terrible.
650 miles/250 miles on two pair. 100k time trial in them over mixed technical terrain - feet got a bit sore from all of the ground feel over the duration mixed with hot temps and a wet course. Great 50k racer and probably my favorite overall running shoe from a fit and ride standpoint. I am also hoping for a more stacked version in the future...there would finally be a worthy replacement for the EVO Speedgoat
Oh wow you're totally right, a higher stacked Kjerag could be the replacement to he EVO SG that we've all been looking for!
kjerag and salomon genesis are my shoe baes this year
We were thinking about reviewing the Genesis, but it's been out for quite some time and it seems like the consensus is that it's damn awesome 😅 I imagine there's got to be a Genesis 2 in the works, and we'll be sure to review that one!
@@ConversationalPace Ha was hoping for a Genesis review for the last few weeks because I was still looking for a stable cushioned shoe (too much ankle rolls in the mafate speed 4 and I get the arch blister in the SG5 which would have fitted the bill otherwise). Gave in and bought it and it is amazing - cannot believe how they got so much protection in this thin forefoot but at almost 90kg I can bomb down rocky gravel roads with a forefoot strike and my feet are not dying. Wet rock grip sucks compared to megagrip tho guess that’s just contagrip for you..give me another 2 mm in the forefoot for a 6mm drop and put the SG5 outsole on it and it would be my only shoe for the rest of my life haha
Hah yeah I figure that Genesis has to be a pretty solid shoe to have gotten the Courtney Dauwalter seal of approval for most of her races the last 2 years!
I would check out the arcteryx norvan LD. It is very similar to the Genesis given that Amer Sports owns both brands. The Norvan has a 6mil drop, and vibram outsole. Wider toe box and regular laces but still feels super secure.
I'll check it out! I've seen it online and it looks like a super solid shoe. Don't think I've ever actually seen one in person. Makes sense it would have similar DNA to Salomon, also being owned by Amer. Thanks for the rec!
i wear 10.5 as standard, my left foot is prob half size smaller than my right. i ordered these in 10.5 and had absolutely no issues and was one of the easiest shoes i have to get in. maybe i am missing something lol
I have heard of a few people going true to size and it working out. I definitely had to go a half size down.
Live in UK and trying to decide between these and MTL long sky 2 matryx. 🤔 any advice anyone?
seems like on paper they're pretty similar shoes with the biggest difference being the midsole foams. The Kjerag is a supercritical EVA, which actually packs out kind of quickly (in a good way) and makes for a low to the ground, almost dead kind of feel which is great on technical terrain. The merrell has a much higher rebound foam, which is going to feel much more responsive and give quite a bit more bounce, which will be great on less technical terrain, but perhaps a bit less controlled on the most technical of trails
The tomir as-is doesn’t interest me, but a beefier Kjerak would. Also I’m more interested in the catamount2 now, since you mention a similar midsole quality. I have the catamount1, a wonderful design *except* for an overly firm and too-thick midsole
I believe the catamount 2 got a smidge thinner and softer. I haven't put too many miles on it, so I can't comment on durability, but it is certainly a lot more comfortable than the 1st gen Catamount.
Catamount 2 is a similar, but better option for me personally. It’s the Kjerag for non-globalists
Would you recommend the Kjerags for Black Canyons 60k?
If you're looking for a low to the ground, nimble ride, these would be great!
This is the first shoe that once on and I started running I forgot about it completely. Never had this feeling before. Complete connection to any trail I was on. Wish it had just 20 mil in front and 28 in back, closer to Tomir. But I can’t really complain….it is as you described tho max but min. I don’t get it either. Had no idea it had a plate in it! Also, this doubles as a everyday shoe, love it around town LOL. So funny typing this and your talking about the Tomir 😂
Truly a swiss army knife of shoes! I would 100% purchase a Kjerag with a bit more foam underneath or a Tomir with the Kjerag foam. Thanks for watching!
And just to note, I had to go down a full size. But as you explained for a longer distance, a half size might be the better option.
I will have to say, after running 50+ miles in the Tomir, it has opened up quite a bit, but the Foam remains firm, which is actually kind of nice when I hike with it, but when I run, softens up a little bit, especially on the down hills. Toebox is a tad narrow so distance wise I wouldn’t go over 10-15 miles with it. That being said, I have a feeling it’s going to last me a really long time as well. And the outsole?????? Crazy good traction- wet, dry, snow, sleet holy crap I haven’t slipped once on any surface!!
@@ConversationalPaceyou bet, you both are absolutely killing it. Love this format!
I could see the Tomir being a great multiday fastpacking or even thu-hiking shoe for something like the PCT. Assuming the width isn't an issue.
Kjerag is not the only trail shoe you need. Kjerag is the only running shoe you need, period.
it's so fun. Definitely can check all the training boxes. Only time where I wished for a little more shoe was on easy recovery days when my legs were tired. Still manageable during a recovery run though. Thanks for watching!
Nnormal Kjerag vs cloud ultra 2… thoughts?
Kjerag is much lighter and lower to the ground. More nimble feeling and will be better on more technical terrain or faster trail running. The Cloudultra 2 is more relaxed fitting and a little more shoe. I think it's more comfortable, but it isn't as secure or protective on technical terrain. I like the Cloudultra for the longer, more mellow runs. Hope this helps!
Very light and durable. I just run noticeably slower in my pair than other options so I rarely use them. Also notably one of the worst outsoles on snow and ice that I have ever tried
You run slower in them? Due to how thin they are? I did run across some snow patches in my Kjerags and did also notice that the lug pattern didn't have much bite.
I like having an exaggerated smooth natural running form, but it’s really not super efficient. I find that I’m overly cautious on downhills and they don’t roll well like a slightly rockered shoe like the s-lab pulsar or even most other shoes would on flats.
Ahh yeah that makes sense. This shoe definitely doesn't have much of a rocker at all. That's a fair statement for sure!
A rocker shoeld not make you run faster, it shoulc be sble to make you run longer with less fatigue in the calves, the weakest muscle groep in the kinetic chain. This is oerthopedic knowledge of long ago reapplied to running shoes klaas lok alresdy used this way back when recovering from achilles issues or to prevent them.
Love these shoes except for poor laces, had to swap out eventually as I was constantly re tying them. Was it just me ? Apart from that I love it, but same thing as you guys, was recommended to try on in store, I did and said no way! Too flat and minimal feeling, but it kept nagging at me to buy it so I eventually did, no regrets!
This issue is because of the euro style lacing they mentioned before. I swapped to a more conventional lacing and that went away.
Cant help feeling that these shoes are a little bit like a golfer playing with bladed clubs rather than cavity backs i.e. you need to be good to use them.
Hah that's a good analogy for them. I guess the counter argument would be is if using this Kjerag would in fact help ones running so they can improve?
Pretty sure your pronunciation of Kjerag is a bit off. If the shoe is named after the famous cliff in Norway Kjerag would be pronounced more like: “sher-raag” with a G sound as per the spelling.
It was tough to figure out exactly what it was when almost every review out there said it differently. But I tried my best to say it like Kilian did from his Irunfar interview 🤷♂️
@@ConversationalPace I figured, maybe his Spanish accent influencing it...Thanks for the great review btw, a new subscriber from Norway here!
Much appreciated! That's a good point about the Spanish accent. I hadn't considered that 😅
No plate, but rather a mesh. It's only in the forefoot.
I would love to cut open the shoe and see what it looks like 🤔🤔🤔
@@ConversationalPace Not sure if that link works here, but it looks more like a fabric than a plate. Similar to a bullet proof vest.
@@ConversationalPace just google "secrets-chaussure-de-kilian-jornet-kjerag"