Arc'teryx  Norvan LD 4 Trail-Running Shoes - Women's

A trail runner that can handle it all. The Norvan LD 4 has become my daily adventure driver from dog walks to day hikes, to short runs, long days on shoots and even my backpacking partner. I'm blown away by the versatility of this shoe to show up in all environments, pack loads, trail conditions and the amount of days I've already stacked on them. A quality designed supportive weapon of a shoe.

I got these shoes right before a two week trip to Paris and Lisbon, spent some time running and walking around both cities and found them to be extremely comfortable. The slick cobblestone tiles in Portugal (especially during the rainy season) proved to be tricky to navigate, but these shoes kept me upright. I've ran pavement and trails in them and found them to be both comfortable and grippy. I went canyoneering and hiking in Utah at Blarney in them and they also proved to be super comfortable and had high traction. At first they took a bit to break in width-wise, but I found them to be perfect once they had some wear to them.

I use trail runners for everything - hike, run, walk, work - I was excited to try out the Arc'teryx Norvan as it checks a lot of the boxes in what I look for in a trail shoe. I did listen to the review and tried on a size down from what I normally wear and that proved true - they do run a bit big - I normally wear a 8 and in the Norvan I tested out a 7.5. My first test was to take it on a run down by my river trail, loose sand/dirt, mild elevation change and roots galore. I was pleasantly surprised - first reaction was that it was so light and nimble. It did take an initial 2-3 wear break-in period as there was some pressure around the ankle but after two wears that was gone and it was extremely comfortable. Next test was to go for a hike with sandy rocky granite up at Folsom Lake - great grip, nice snug feel and kept dust/dirt out of the inside of the shoe while being breathable. Easy to rock-hop and keep up with my dog! As for fit It had a wider than expected toe-box and no heal slipping- things I get from others I have worn. It is really light and airy on your foot. Solid traction and grip on all surfaces. The Vibram lightbase with 4mm really gives it traction. Definitely noticed it on the wetter raiy day conditions. One of the last challenges was to wear it on an 8 hour shift at work, selling footwear at REI. This really surprised me as my feet were comfortable all day. No fatigue or aches - things that happen if I don’t wear solid supportive shoes. I did get a lot of questions while wearing it and it was so nice to be able to give honest feedback and on the shoe Other than the initial break in the only thing to get used to was when putting it on the stretchy tongue can gather at the instep if you don’t loosen - easily resolved by loosening the laces and pulling it up firmly. Once on and adjusted the sock-like tongue/midfoot really felt secure and custom. As far as aesthetics I expected it to be narrower than it was due to the color variation on the toe box, optical illusion as it fits really nice and roomy in the toe box. I have an average width foot and have worn everything from Hokas, Altras and Topos so I know toe boxes. (I currently wear the Hoka Speedgoat but have also worn Topo Terraventure, Brooks Cascadia and Altra Timp) I really would have loved to take this out on a backpacking trip but due to time of year that wasn’t an option but I could see it being a strong contender - I am curious on how it would do with extra weight. I took it on loose dirt trail runs, hikes on rocky granite and a rainy day walk with wet muddy conditions and really felt like it tackled all those ventures with ease. The Norvan proved to be nimble, light and grippy on all various terrain. “I received this product for free in exchange for my honest review”

Shoes are incredibly lightweight - perfect for longer runs where weight really matters. Good cushion balance for trail purposes. Spacious around the toes, I would consider sizing half a size down for my more narrow feet. I am also always looking for more neutral shoe colors, so I love the sleek black!

I've logged just under 200km in the new Arc'teryx LD4s and have been really impressed with their performance. Based in Squamish, I’ve tested them across a variety of terrain, and they’ve handled it all exceptionally well. The grip is solid—both on rock slabs and in muddy conditions. Compared to the LD3s, these feel sleeker and more dialed in. My feet feel secure, especially on technical terrain, which has given me a lot of confidence on more demanding routes. My longest run so far in them has been 30km, and I found the cushioning to be nicely balanced, it offers comfort over distance without completely muting ground feel. I’d recommend the LD4 as a versatile all-trail shoe that really shines on technical terrain.

Absolutely love the new Norvan LD 4 shoes!! These are my go to shoe for long runs on the trails. They are lightweight, breathable, and responsive. They are built with Vibram Megagrip on the bottom to ensure you dont slide off those slippery rocks. One of my favorite features is the shoe lace garage. This allows the laces to stay secure so they don’t get in the way! Overall these are my absolute favorite trail running sneakers!! They are true to size and run a bit narrower.

The Norvan LD4 has some thoughtful updates that long-distance trail runners will appreciate. Right away, the improved heel fit stands out and it locks in more securely than previous versions and gifts a more confidence and stability on technical terrain. The redesigned lug pattern is meant to offer better grip, and while it’s not a night-and-day difference on shorter runs, the added traction really comes through when needed. There’s also a noticeable change in cushioning — it feels a touch more forgiving underfoot. The LD4 stays true to the Norvan DNA - light, reliable, and built for distance.

This is the best trail running shoe ever! They’re versatile on all kinds of terrain, whether smooth or technical, comfortable, and lightweight. This year, with the Norvan LD4, I ran my first 100 km trail race, hiked 120 km to Everest Base Camp, and climbed 7000 m of elevation gain in Europe in just one week. They’ve never let me down.

Not the same shoe as my original Norvans. These are uncomfortable to put on because of the elastic tongue, which grips the foot awkwardly and adds to a too-tight feeling around my foot. Additionally the tongue seems to have a spine in the middle that bunches up and looks strange. I wish I had kept my old shoes!

These have been a great addition to the shoe quiver. Toebox feels roomier, and the cushion is just enough for harder-packed gravel and concrete between softer trails. I swapped out the original beds for superfeet to support a high arch (like all of my other shoes) and they work great. I also have a narrow foot, so I make sure to lace them up as tight as I can. The only thing I've noticed is that the tongue is a lighter, stretchy material, similar to the gaiter on other styles. This feels a bit thick/long on me, but I think it will be totally fine on a more medium-sized foot. Still plenty comfy/adjustable. This is my 2nd pair of Norvans (loved my LD 3's!), so excited to continue to put these to the test!