Just purchased these shoes. Great water drainage and light weight even after being fully submerged! Good for swimrun. Reminds me of Salomon S/lab sense8 quite a lot.
Due to boot issues, I just completed the West Coast trail (75-90 km) using these shoes with a 45 lbs pack. Absolutely 0 complaints with them for something that they were absolutely not designed for. Yes, you feel things a bit more but even sharp rock was still comfortable. Just don't step on ladder rungs on the arch. Grip was great, and they kept rocks and sand out. They seem to have come out relatively unscathed despite the 7 days of hiking. Longest day was 24 km. 5 Was walked with the pack on the beaching included a significant amount of boulder gardens. The rest was at a fast walk/jog afterward in the forest without the pack. I definitely had pain, but that's also the longest distance that I've covered in a single day in years, without training so I feel safe in saying that no footwear would have made a difference there. These shoes actually changed my mind on the boot/shoe debate.
How’s the upper compared to the Norvan SL 2? I got the v1 and 2, but any run over 10k and I start getting blisters on my heels. Yet, I think these are such bold shoes. They were not designed for the average trail running in mind. Weirdly enough they’re meant for climbers that want to run downhill after climbing.That’s why they’re lightweight and have a “cut” for hooking them to a carabiner. I’d love to see Arc’teryx tweaking then for trail runners but keeping some of the original characteristics
That would explain why they are so incredibly lightweight! They’d have to be for climbers to want to carry them while climbing! Don’t have experience with the SL 2 unfortunately so can’t make a comparison there!
Thanks for this very timely review. I have ran in the SLAB Pulsar and Pulsar SG. I enjoy them very much but they are not the most stable shoes for steep descents as they are very narrow. Does this new Norvan have the same issue? Seems to me that the midsole of the SLAB Pulsar is thicker and softer… will likely stick to them and my Adidas Speed Ultra, which perform great on hard trails.
Yeah the Norvan SL 3 is quite narrow in the midfoot (similar to the s lab pulsar 2), and you’re right, the pulsar does have a bit more cushion. I’d recommend trying the Hoka Zinal 2
Thank you for the review! It looks like a really interesting shoe. I am considering adding it in my rotation next to Nnormal Kjerag and S/Lab Genesis. Do you have any experience with how durable it is? The upper looks like it would last forever and the outsole would be similar to the Kjerag. I wonder how fast the midsole would give up.
Hi. Great looking shoe. I have a question. Which one is more narrow. This or the Zinal 2? Loved the Zinal OG and currently in a Catamount 2, but i need a more short distance shoe beside the Catamount 🧐
Just purchased these shoes. Great water drainage and light weight even after being fully submerged! Good for swimrun.
Reminds me of Salomon S/lab sense8 quite a lot.
Yes, they’re quite similar to the S/lab Sense8. What a great shoe!
The norvan sl 3 may be compromised as a trail running shoe, but as a hiking shoe for the barefoot/minimalist community, it`s absolute perfection.
I agree, it’s the same for the barefoot/minimalist trail running community
Due to boot issues, I just completed the West Coast trail (75-90 km) using these shoes with a 45 lbs pack. Absolutely 0 complaints with them for something that they were absolutely not designed for. Yes, you feel things a bit more but even sharp rock was still comfortable. Just don't step on ladder rungs on the arch.
Grip was great, and they kept rocks and sand out. They seem to have come out relatively unscathed despite the 7 days of hiking.
Longest day was 24 km. 5 Was walked with the pack on the beaching included a significant amount of boulder gardens. The rest was at a fast walk/jog afterward in the forest without the pack. I definitely had pain, but that's also the longest distance that I've covered in a single day in years, without training so I feel safe in saying that no footwear would have made a difference there.
These shoes actually changed my mind on the boot/shoe debate.
How’s the upper compared to the Norvan SL 2? I got the v1 and 2, but any run over 10k and I start getting blisters on my heels. Yet, I think these are such bold shoes. They were not designed for the average trail running in mind. Weirdly enough they’re meant for climbers that want to run downhill after climbing.That’s why they’re lightweight and have a “cut” for hooking them to a carabiner. I’d love to see Arc’teryx tweaking then for trail runners but keeping some of the original characteristics
That would explain why they are so incredibly lightweight! They’d have to be for climbers to want to carry them while climbing! Don’t have experience with the SL 2 unfortunately so can’t make a comparison there!
Thanks for this very timely review. I have ran in the SLAB Pulsar and Pulsar SG. I enjoy them very much but they are not the most stable shoes for steep descents as they are very narrow. Does this new Norvan have the same issue? Seems to me that the midsole of the SLAB Pulsar is thicker and softer… will likely stick to them and my Adidas Speed Ultra, which perform great on hard trails.
Yeah the Norvan SL 3 is quite narrow in the midfoot (similar to the s lab pulsar 2), and you’re right, the pulsar does have a bit more cushion. I’d recommend trying the Hoka Zinal 2
As always great perspective on trail shoe, and how they perform on trails. Much appreciated 🤙🏽
Thank you! ✌🏼
Thank you for the review! It looks like a really interesting shoe. I am considering adding it in my rotation next to Nnormal Kjerag and S/Lab Genesis. Do you have any experience with how durable it is? The upper looks like it would last forever and the outsole would be similar to the Kjerag. I wonder how fast the midsole would give up.
Hope you enjoy it! It’s a very durable shoe 👍🏼
Hi. Great looking shoe. I have a question. Which one is more narrow. This or the Zinal 2? Loved the Zinal OG and currently in a Catamount 2, but i need a more short distance shoe beside the Catamount 🧐
Hey 👋🏼 this one is more narrow. The Zinal 2 is medium width 👍🏼
www.trailandkale.com/gear/hoka-zinal-2-review/
@@trailandkale perfect thx. Than it's the Zinal for me 👌
It’s a great shoe 👍🏼
What are your thoughts on using it as a cycling shoe?
How is the sizing compared to Slab Pulsar 2 or 3 or Hoka zinal2?
Pulsar 2 and 3, and normal sl 3 all have a narrow fit in the midfoot area. Zinal 2 has a more normal fit in the width
But so GD pointy.