Trail-Running Shoes Buying Guide
Valyermo, California
NNormal Kjerag 02 Trail-Running Shoes
$195.00
Members get an est. $19.50 in rewards
Made for runs when you want to feel fast, these NNormal trail-running shoes have a plush feel on tough terrain. Their medium rocker profile gives you effortless propulsion on the trails.
Key Details
Trail-Running Shoe Type
Light-Trail
Heel-to-Toe Drop (mm)
6
Running Shoe Cushioning
Moderate Cushion
Rock Plate
Yes
- Uppers have been updated from a double-layer to a single-layer jacquard knit Matryx® for a lighter, more breathable and more forgiving feel with great foothold and durability
- Updated stretch 3D knit tongues offer additional comfort
- The EExpure+ foam midsoles sit in direct contact with your feet for best-possible propulsion and compression, less slippage and way fewer blisters
- Midsoles utilize a new generation of foam engineered specifically for trail-running shoes and have a 6 mm overall drop
- Updated with 2.5 mm more foam and a new foam compound that is lighter, softer and offers more rebound with the same durability of the prior model
- Snowy boulders, wet roots, muddy paths—whatever you're tackling, the Vibram® Megagrip soles are both super sticky and extra durable
- Soles offer ground adaptation that makes your feet, muscles and joints one with nature
- Vibram Litebase outsoles drastically reduces 30% of the overall sole weight, through a reduction of the sole thickness by 50%
- 3.5 mm lugs
- Weight (half pair): 7.5 oz.
Imported.
View all NNormal Men's Trail-Running Shoes| Best Use | Trail Running |
|---|---|
| Trail-Running Shoe Type | Light-Trail |
| Running Shoe Cushioning | Moderate Cushion |
| Heel-to-Toe Drop (mm) | 6 |
| Heel Stack Height (mm) | 26 |
| Forefoot Stack Height (mm) | 20 |
| Footwear Height | Ankle |
| Footwear Closure | Lace-up |
| Upper | 50% polyamide 66 yarn/39% polyethersulfone /10% polyurethane/1% Kevlar |
| Midsole | Supercritical PPE |
| Outsole | Vibram Megagrip Litebase |
| Rock Plate | Yes |
| Weight (Pair) | 15 ounces |
| Gender | Unisex |
NNormal Footwear - Unisex Adult
| 5 Mens/6 Womens | 5.5 Mens/6.5 Womens | 6 Mens/7 Womens | 6.5 Mens/7.5 Womens | 7 Mens/8 Womens | 7.5 Mens/8.5 Womens | 8 Mens/9 Womens | 8.5 Mens/9.5 Womens | 9 Mens/10 Womens | 9.5 Mens/10.5 Womens | 10 Mens/11 Womens | 10.5 Mens/11.5 Womens | 11 Mens/12 Womens | 11.5 Mens/12.5 Womens | 12 Mens/13 Womens | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. Men's | 5 | 5.5 | 6 | 6.5 | 7 | 7.5 | 8 | 8.5 | 9 | 9.5 | 10 | 10.5 | 11 | 11.5 | 12 |
| U.S. Women's | 6 | 6.5 | 7 | 7.5 | 8 | 8.5 | 9 | 9.5 | 10 | 10.5 | 11 | 11.5 | 12 | 12.5 | 13 |
| UK | 4.5 | 5 | 5.5 | 6 | 6.5 | 7 | 7.5 | 8 | 8.5 | 9 | 9.5 | 10 | 10.5 | 11 | 11.5 |
| EU | 37 1/3 | 38 | 38 2/3 | 39 1/3 | 40 | 40 2/3 | 41 1/3 | 42 | 42 2/3 | 43 1/3 | 44 | 44 2/3 | 45 1/3 | 46 | 46 2/3 |
| Foot Length (in.) | 9.17 | 9.33 | 9.49 | 9.65 | 9.84 | 10 | 10.16 | 10.31 | 10.51 | 10.67 | 10.83 | 10.98 | 11.18 | 11.34 | 11.5 |
Sizing Notes
Measurements are stated in inches unless otherwise indicated.
Buying Advice
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Alex
Colorado
Disappointing
4 weeks ago
Unfortunately have to leave a bad review. I really wanted to like these shoes. 7 miles in the sole started separating from the midsole. On top of this, the sole width is oddly narrow for the stack height. Any small movements off the hair trigger balance point causes some serious ankle supination. I was doing longer distances in these and had many close calls on my ankle rolling. Eventually my luck ran out and I got a pretty bad ankle sprain. On buttery smooth trails, these run well. Any thing remotely technical and they are prone to ankle rolling. Will be returning them.
Age:35–44
Weight:150–175 lbs.
Height:6'0"
Average Weekly Mileage:11–30 miles
Typical Shoe Size:Mens 10
Running Experience:Competitive
No, I do not recommend this product
KevMac
South Carolina
Like this shoe
2 months ago
43 yrs, 165 lbs, 1:30 HM / I run a mixture of trails and roads and prefer non maximalist or minimalist shoes. Have run in mostly Salomon shoes for 15 years but wanted to try this brand. Fit is similar to Salomon but did size down half size (purchased a 10 instead of 10.5). Love the full coverage outsole and like that there is no insole to slip or move around. Ran some paces down to 4 min/mile and felt great. Will purchase in more colors as they are released.
Age:35–44
Weight:150–175 lbs.
Height:5'9"
Average Weekly Mileage:30+ miles
Typical Shoe Size:Mens 10.5
Running Experience:Competitive
Yes , I recommend this product
nathan
Austin
best non plated low stack “super shoe” available.
2 weeks ago
Male, 43yo 173 pounds. Feet are on the narrow side and I tend to like lower volume shoes. . Every part of this shoe is well thought out and executed well. The upper: the Matryx upper fits extremely well throughout the entire foot. I can tie them tight and get amazing lockdown while the forefoot still has room to keep my toes happy. Keeping them laced a little looser allows for a relaxed fit while my foot stays relatively locked down for side to side movement. Descending with the shoe like this does allow for my foot to slide forward but if I need to I can loosen them up for flat sections and climbing and still feel like I’m in the shoe. The midfoot and heel fit my foot really nicely. They come euro laced (laces go in the eyelets down towards the tongue) and this really helps keep each section tensioned throughout your run vs the laces sliding around and it all equaling out. The laces are also the serrated style and this also keeps them out as well as staying tied. The new matryx upper is more breathable than the gen 1 kjerag but I find them to still be a little less breathable than desired. They grain well and dry pretty quickly although the 360° overlay does hinder drainage. The new sock style tongue is my favorite style of tongue. Keeps debris out then after lacing you can grab the corners and give it a small tug to pull any wrinkles out. The midsole: this is where the “super shoe” comes in, the TPEE is bouncy and the rocker keeps me propelling forward. It’s firm but has enough squish to keep feet happy and doesn’t feel like marshmallows. The bathtub style (midsole comes up around foot) lends itself to a more secure fit and really makes you feel like you’re IN the shoe vs ON the shoe. I feel like the shoe is an extension of me and have absolute confidence with my foot placement. The midsole also comes up higher in the arch area and keeps the foot locked in with an almost custom arch that can flex and move with your foot. This was a bit stiff on the first runs but has loosened up and now I don’t “notice” it other than my foot is locked in. I prefer lower stacked shoes for their stability and am fine with the trade off of losing protection but this midsole seems to strike a nice balance of stability and protection. If you’re stomping around on sharp rocks you’ll still feel them but it’s enough for anyone mindful of where they’re stepping. The forefoot the the shoe flexes a more than the midfoot and heel but I wouldn’t call it stiff, I don’t think there’s anything other than the foam in the midfoot and think the maybe the bathtub construction gives it a bit more rigidity. The movement of the midsole seems to follow the movement of a foot doesn’t feel unnatural. I’ve ran 120 miles in them and I have no noticeable creasing or breakdown of the foam. The outsole: Vibram megagrip is pretty much as good as it gets. It sticks as well as any to wet rock, lasts a really long time and just works. I wish the lugs were 5mm, that’s my complaint. I’ve had a few times while descending on loose gravelly rocks where I’ve “skied” a bit and feel like a bit more bite would have kept that from happening. The 3.5mm lugs are great for everything else but I still plan on resoling them before a mountain race next year. It’s a full coverage outsole so the foam is protected and no strange peninsulas or islands of tread to start peeling off.
Age:35–44
Weight:150–175 lbs.
Height:6'1"
Average Weekly Mileage:30+ miles
Typical Shoe Size:Mens 12
Running Experience:Experienced
Yes , I recommend this product
Alex
Ohio
Least Sustainable Shoe
1 month ago
It's ridiculous that this company wants to gloat and pride about how durable this shoe is and how sustainability matters to them when it feels like the complete opposite. I've had the Kjerag 2.0's for less than 70 miles and the bottom began to peel from the midsole. They refuse to provide assistance for customers in the United States for repairs. They would rather you just spend more money on more shoes instead of helping to be more "sustainable" like they try to claim as their company motto. The worst part is in April of 2024 they said this service would be coming "in the next few months" to North America. Fast forward to August 2025 and when I contacted their Customer Service they again told me the service will be "coming soon." They are NOT making a genuine effort to help their customers and fans abroad so I CANNOT recommend that you buy this shoe.
Age:25–34
Weight:150–175 lbs.
Height:6'1"
Average Weekly Mileage:30+ miles
Typical Shoe Size:Mens 10
Running Experience:Competitive
No, I do not recommend this product
Gus
Missoula, Montana
Kjerag 02: Precision, Cushioning, and Speed
1 month ago
When the snow isn’t flying, I spend my free time trail running in and around Western Montana. My racing focus is mountain 50Ks (e.g., The Rut, Speedgoat), and for the past few years, I’ve relied on the Kjerag 01 for all my training and racing. This year, I decided to give the La Sportiva Prodigio Pro a try. It’s a sweet shoe, but I managed to pierce and slice up the exposed foam where the rubber sole doesn’t cover it. On top of that, the shoe rides a bit higher and dulls ground feel more than I prefer. I love bombing technical downhills in precise fitting, nimble trail shoes, and those qualities are nonnegotiable for me. I finally got my hands on the Kjerag 02, and I’m happy to report that it’s the perfect blend of everything I loved about the 01 and the Prodigio Pro. The 02s have noticeably more cushioning than the 01s, while the upper is even more refined: breathable, form-fitting across the midfoot, locked in at the heel, and roomy enough up front for natural toe splay. I love the Kjerag 02 so much that I no longer feel the urge to run in the Prodigio Pros. The Kjerag 02 is fast, stable, and both rewards and reinforces efficient form. It disappears on your foot like nothing else, embodying a refined simplicity that only someone with Kilian’s depth of experience could deliver. If your approach to mountain running is to bludgeon your way up and down, this might not be your shoe. But if you value precision, stability, low weight, and just enough responsive cushioning to get the job done while having fun, the Kjerag stands in a league of its own.
Age:35–44
Weight:150–175 lbs.
Height:5'10"
Average Weekly Mileage:30+ miles
Typical Shoe Size:Mens 11
Running Experience:Experienced
Yes , I recommend this product
Daniel
San Diego
Durability issue
1 week ago
I have never returned a shoe after running in it but I might with this one. After less than 50 miles of training and racing in the Kjerag 2 the narrow overlay that "protects" the area connecting the sole and upper has started to separate and pucker. This will only get worse with more wear. For a shoe at this price point and reputation for sustainability this is tough to accept. I'm bummed to write this because this shoe has so much going for it. First, it is IMO one of the best looking shoes on the market right now. The fit at first seems too narrow but the shoe just disappears on my foot. It breathes nicely. It has a cushion and propulsion mix that makes it fun to train in and makes a slow person like me feel fast on race day. Did I mention how cool it looks in the burgundy and green color way? I hope I just got a lemon and that others get as many miles out of their Kjerag 2s as have been reported.
Age:45–54
Weight:125–150 lbs.
Height:5'6"
Average Weekly Mileage:11–30 miles
Typical Shoe Size:Mens 8
Running Experience:Experienced
Charlie
Boise, Idaho
Not NNormal For My Feet
1 month ago
Really Disappointed!....wanted them to work for me but the overall narrow fit and tongue elastic supports rubbed uncomfortably on my feet making them completely Unwearable.
Age:55–64
Weight:150–175 lbs.
Height:5'11"
Average Weekly Mileage:30+ miles
Typical Shoe Size:Mens 12
Running Experience:Experienced
No, I do not recommend this product