When Kilian Jornet moved on from Salomon there were plenty of rumours as to what he had planned. Well we didn’t have to wait long. The news that he was going to be launching his own trail running shoe and apparel company broke in March this year. NNormal was born (with a little help from Camper)!
Fast forward a few months and in September we saw Kilian winning UTMB in Chamonix wearing his own shoes. In this case he was using the Kjerag, the company’s max performance shoe for racing. Not long after that, the launch of the website and the news the Tomir would be joining the line up. The Tomir is billed as “the only shoe you need for just about every outdoor activity“. Kilian says that runners should be able to get well over 1000km from them. Given the price for an everyday shoe, this statement better hold up. So what else was there to do other than put in my pre-order and wait for the postman.
Delivery
As with so many companies these days, NNormal is pretty much an online experience only. The website shows that shoes are available in a number of stores but for most people, your first taste of the shoes will be when the package arrives.
NNormal have made some very clear statements about being 100% focused on sustainability and reducing their carbon footprint. This can already be seen with the shoe box that doubles up as the shipping package. The only bit of plastic in site is the tape which seals the box.
The above pictures are actually of the second pair of shoes I received. I had to send the first pair back due to a defect in the internal stitching in the toe box area. I couldn’t feel it when trying them on but given the cost I wasn’t going to accept them.
Now here’s where I actually got lucky to a certain degree. I typically get a size 44 and thought it should be ok with the Tomir. I was wrong. Ignoring the defect, the shoe felt too big and I knew I needed to go down a half size. As there is no size guide on the site (if there is I can find it) you’d better hope you get it right. Shipping is free but if you need to exchange for a different size you have to foot (excuse the pun) the bill. I guess this is in line with the aim to limit the carbon footprint and stop people needlessly sending packages around the world.
Anyway, in my case as there was a defect, NNormal took care of the return shipping costs. I have to say the customer service was pretty good for such a young company. Response time was good, not great, but at least my claim was processed fairly and without fuss. This did though mean I had to wait for the size 43 1/3 to arrive before being able to give them a spin.
Some details
The regular Tomir comes in two colourways, white and grey. Additionally NNormal offer the shoe in a waterproof version (Black and Purple) as well as a waterproof boot option in the same colours. I went with the regular grey version.
As already noted, I now have the size 43 1/3 (UK 9, US 9.5). I find it a much better fit than the 44 which felt too spacious in the toe box and somewhat loose on the bridge. I didn’t get a chance to run in them but I’m fairly certain there would have been some unwanted movement, especially on descents.
In my size the shoe tips the scales at 281g which compares favourably to the 310g for a size 44 Hoka Speedgoat 3 which the Tomirs will be replacing. I love the Speedgoats but unfortunately their days are numbered and will soon need to be dumped into the recycling bin.
NNormal list the drop on the Tomir at 8mm with a 31mm/23mm stack. This is difficult to verify as your foot sits considerably lower than the level of the visible midsole. Guess we’ll have to trust the marketing. Whilst we’re at it, the midsole is made of a lightweight EVA foam designed to provide “supreme cushioning, and step-enhancing rebound”. More about how it feels to run in a little later.
The outsole uses VIBRAM’s Megagrip compound for excellent traction in the wet and dry and the Litebase technology to reduce weight. The sole comes with 5mm lugs.
The upper is a proprietary blend of monofilament polyester and TPE and is actually stitched directly to the midsole. There is little to no stretch in the upper so don’t expect them to loosen up over time. Again, make sure you get the sizing right. There is a heat-welded strip running around the shoe where it meets the midsole. This offers some protection from rock nicks.
The Tomir has a gusseted tongue to hold it in place and stop it slipping about during your run. It’s lightly padded and made from what appears to a nubuck or suede type material, finished off with some of the same protective material as the upper to stop wear and tear.
Lacing follows an asymmetrical pattern with flat laces designed not to put too much pressure on the foot. The shoes come with a second set of black laces.
Finally the insole is glued in place so for anybody looking to swap it out for custom ones you’re out of luck.
Fit and feel
First of all, please bear in mind that these are my subjective views. Your feet will be different. The Tomir fits nicely around my foot without creating any pressure points. There is enough room for the foot to move and expand without the shoe feeling too big. I also have enough room to move my toes freely.
The fit of the tongue is really nice. A cut-out allows if to sit either side of the ankle joint. This avoids any rubbing which could become an issue on those long training runs. The flat laces are a nice touch. The marginal increase in surface area they gain compared to round laces means you can tighten then without digging into the foot. The modest padding in the tongue gives extra comfort albeit at the cost of making the Tomir a “hotter” shoe. After my first run of around 40 minutes in not especially warm conditions sweat patches were starting to form on the tongue. Not a big deal, but also not something I’ve noticed with other shoes.
The heel cup nicely locks the foot in place without the need to overtighten the laces. The padding seems well thought out and the shape of the heel means there isn’t excessive rubbing on the achilles. Again, very important if these are going to be your shoes for long training runs.
The final thing to say about the fit is the near complete absence of arch support. If you’re like me and have somewhat flatter feet, this should make you pretty happy. If on the other hand you have higher arches, these may not be the shoes for you. As already noted, the insole is glued in place. As such you won’t be able to use custom insoles as this will take up valuable space for your foot.
First run thoughts
My first run in the Tomir was nothing too crazy, an easy 7km on the local forest paths and trails. Clearly not enough time to draw any long-term conclusions but there was a nice mix of surfaces; stones, hard-packed gravel, mud, roots and asphalt.
The shoes are marketed as offering “supreme cushioning” thanks to the EVA midsole. I was therefore expecting a soft ride but instead what I got was a much firmer feel underfoot. It wasn’t unpleasant and perhaps as I notch up more miles, the sole will soften a touch. I guess if the midsole was too soft then it would be difficult to achieve the lifespan predicted for the Tomir.
The significant weight savings compared to my trusty Hokas was noticeable. Footswing was smooth and I didn’t get to the end of my run needing to take them off straight away. These weight savings will be welcomed by anyone doing long-distance routes where feet need to be raised to get over obstacles on the trail.
My route was not at all technical. At a few points on the trail I knew I’d be in need of extra grip and the Tomirs didn’t let me down. Wet roots and stones were tackled with confidence. There are no gaps in the outsole where stones may get stuck.
I’ve spoken about the roominess of the inner and how well my foot felt locked in place. This was confirmed during the run. On the descents, I didn’t find my foot slipping forward or my toes rubbing.
In contrast to other trail shoes I’ve used, the grippy outsole and 5mm lugs didn’t hold me back on the asphalt. In my experience this is one of the biggest drawbacks for trail shoes, especially if you have lengthy transitions on the road or a way to go to reach the trailhead. For me this really is the Tomir delivering on the promise of being an all-purpose shoe.
Next steps
One short run is clearly not enough to know whether the Tomir lives up to the lofty claims from NNormal. Thankfully I’ll have plenty of time to test them out over the winter. Until I’m back with some longer term results, why don’t you make yourself comfortable and enjoy some impressions from my first run.
If you’ve got any questions or have run in the Tomir yourself I’d love to hear from you.
For flat and normal or 2EE wide feet, very good running road and trail shoes !
whytri.ch 
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