Arc’Teryx Norvan LD 4 GTX Review

Article by Jen Schmidt

Arc’Teryx Norvan LD 4 GTX ($200)

Introduction

The Norvan LD 4 is Arc’teryx’ long-distance path shoe, “designed to encourage confidence for mountain coaching and adventures.” A average 29 mm full stack top, moderate-to-firm journey, and adventure-ready Vibram outsole with 4mm lugs ship on that promise with a shoe that’s most at house on technical terrain. The Gore-Tex model is totally water resistant and prepared for moist, muddy mountain trails this spring.

Execs:

Grippy Vibram outsole with 4 mm lugs

Sturdy laminated Invisible FitGore-Tex liner underneath non-PFAS higher retains toes dry

Non-GTX model’s mushy suede-like higher is comfy as a way of life shoe as nicely

Beneficiant lace storage is straightforward to make use of and safe

Lowered stack top (29/23 mm) in V4 supplies a decrease journey

Cons:

Trip is pretty agency – some would possibly need extra cushion for a long-distance shoe

Low-volume toes might expertise heel slippage in your common measurement

Higher typically led to strain factors

Most comparable footwear (see comparisons on the finish of the evaluation)

Salomon Sense Trip 5 & GTX

Saucony Peregrine 13

Stats

Pattern Weight: girls’s 9.0 oz / 255 g US 8.5

Stack Peak: males’s 29 mm heel / 23 mm forefoot (6 mm drop spec)

Platform Width: 86 mm heel / 70 mm midfoot / 115 mm forefoot

Word: I initially acquired the non-GTX model in a half measurement up from my ordinary 8.5, however discovered that true-to-size was a significantly better match. (Arc’teryx recommends sizing down a half measurement for a “efficiency” match and a full measurement for a “technical” match.) I reviewed the GTX model in my ordinary US W8.5 with images of each fashions proven.

First Impressions, Match and Higher

The recent white colorway of the Norvan LD 4 GTX makes a hanging first impression. A daring transfer, maybe, for a Gore-Tex shoe designed to courageous moist and muddy situations, however one which positions it properly throughout the rising class of light-colored engaging path/way of life footwear.

The Invisible Match Gore-Tex membrane is laminated to the woven polyester higher (as a substitute of being a conventional Gore-Tex bootie development) and feels skinny however sturdy, with taped laces that make it as water resistant as marketed.

Arc’teryx notes that the woven higher is made with out PFAS, a pleasant sustainability function. I examined it by standing in a shallow stream in addition to splashing via puddles, and so long as the water didn’t come over the ankle, my toes stayed dry. A layer of laminated TPU reinforcement extends all the best way across the base of the shoe to extend safety.

The built-in lace storage is a pleasant contact. It’s wider and deeper than Salomon lace garages, for instance, with a strengthened entrance that retains laces from slipping out. The looped pull tab on high of the lace storage is a pleasant contact too, if a bit bigger than it must be. Whereas the gusseted tongue is mild and well-padded over the arch, I discovered that the padding didn’t totally stop strain factors underneath the agency lace grommets, particularly on the medial facet. These strain factors led to ache on the highest of my foot on longer runs particularly, which is likely to be an issue for a shoe branded as “LD” (lengthy distance), however others may not have the identical difficulty.

The common model of the Norvan LD 4 has a mushy, suede-like higher that may clearly assist it double nicely as a way of life shoe – I virtually felt responsible taking it on muddy trails.

Midsole & Platform

The Norvan LD 4 has a decrease profile than the earlier model, with the complete stack top listed at 29mm / 23mm for six mm drop. This stack top is a bit decrease than the Salomon Sense Trip 5 (31 mm / 23 mm) and the Saucony Peregrine 14 (28mm / 24mm), two in any other case related path footwear. This average stack top is very well-suited to extra technical trails the place higher-stack footwear sacrifice some stability.

The twin-density compression EVA midsole is primarily 45C foam with a higher-density 55C foam within the medial heel space. The LHR (light-weight, excessive resiliency) 55C zone is meant to help with heel-to-toe transition.

Underfoot, the mix of compression EVA plus low-to-moderate stack top supplies a comparatively agency journey and a few floor really feel with out feeling each rock. This mixture makes for a stable every day coach or future shoe for runners or hikers who don’t thoughts the firmness underfoot, however those that favor a bit extra cushion would possibly attain for different choices for lengthy runs or ultras.

Outsole

The Vibram Megagrip outsole with 4mm lugs is clearly made to grip any path you can throw at it. I examined it totally on muddy singletrack and had zero points with traction.

Arc’teryx describes the customized lug sample as “mud-releasing”, and I didn’t have any points with the outsole trapping mud or particles. The Megagrip toe cap extends at the very least midway up the toe field for added safety and sturdiness in addition to a bit of additional grip.

Trip, Conclusions and Suggestions

Even billed as a long-distance shoe, the LD 4 is clearly a part of a mountain model’s path shoe lineup, and it shines extra on rocky vert than easy singletrack. There’s nonetheless some rigidity to the platform that may sometimes really feel unstable in technical sections. The LD 4 is nicely value a search for mountain runners and hikers on the lookout for a water-proof journey shoe.

General: 8.75/10, 😊😊😊😊

Trip (30%): 8.5/10 (personally, I’d favor a contact extra flex within the platform and only a bit extra cushion for lengthy days on path)

Match (30%): 8/10 (-2 for strain factors and heel slip)

Traction (15%): 10/10

Rock safety (10%): 10/10

Worth (10%): 8/10 ($200 is steep, however mountain runners who want a water-proof shoe would possibly discover it value the associated fee)

Model (5%): 10/10 on the coloured model or in the event you like white footwear!

Comparisons

Salomon Sense Trip 5 and GTX (RTR Overview)

The Sense Trip 5 is equally agency underfoot regardless of the next stack (31mm vs. 29mm within the LD 4), and sports activities a a lot narrower match, particularly within the toe field. Due to the Vibram outsole and 4mm (vs. 3.5mm) lugs, the Norvan LD 4 is superior with regards to traction. The lace storage is far bigger and simpler to make use of on the LD 4 as nicely. At 8 mm drop vs 6 mm, the Sense Trip 5 has a bit bit extra of a rockered really feel.

Saucony Peregrine 13 and GTX (RTR Overview)

The Peregrine 14’s updates take it farther away from the LD 4, however the 13 is comparable in weight and stack top (28 mm/24 mm for 4 mm offset). The Peregrine could also be a bit softer underfoot with its PWRRUN midsole, however the LD4 is grippier and better-suited to technical terrain. If the Peregrine had a extra mountain-ready outsole and barely higher-volume match, although, it might be pretty related.

Index to all RTR opinions: HERE

Procuring at our companions under for the Norvan LD 4 is far appreciated and helps help RoadTrailRun

REI

Norvan LD4 and LD4 GTX

Samples have been supplied at no cost for evaluation functions. RoadTrail Run has affiliate partnerships and will earn fee on merchandise bought by way of purchasing hyperlinks on this article. These partnerships don’t affect our editorial content material. The opinions herein are completely the authors’.

Tester Profiles

Jennifer Schmidt discovered path operating in her mid-20’s and commenced dabbling on the roads just a few years later. Path 50k’s are nearest and dearest to her coronary heart, and he or she just lately took the win on the 2025 Manner Too Cool 50k and positioned sixth on the 2025 Black Canyon Ultras 50k. Lately, yow will discover her totally on the candy California singletrack round Auburn, chasing aggressive and private objectives over quite a lot of surfaces and distances. Relying on the season, she additionally competes within the USATF highway and XC circuits for Sacramento Working Affiliation’s racing crew, with a marathon PR of two:41.

Feedback and Questions Welcome Under! Please tell us mileage, paces, race distances, and present most well-liked footwear