TREKKING
Product 2017
Woman, Man
The high quality brand Arc’Teryx (group Amer: Salomon, Atomic, Mavic…) whose headquarters is in Vancouver has a mountain/ski culture has for several years has been launching products on the trail running scene.
Up until now we have tested their clothing line, now Arc’Teryx has released the Norvan VT GTX, and is attacking the technical shoe. The developers are positioning it as a trail running shoe and even an approach shoe for covering technically difficult and steep terrain. That’s the marketing theory, how does it prove itself on the terrain?
The Norvan VT GTX adopts an original concept on the terrain (also developed with the approach shoe, tested here: https://www.test4outside.com/en/produit/arcteryx-acrux-2-fl-gtx/ )
it consists of an outer shell (soft) that ensures the foothold and inside there’s an inner sock. The inner sock is stretchy and envelops the foot like a sock. Only around the heel and under the forefoot have foam padding. Last but not least the lacing system starts very far forward above the toes using eyelets that are situated a couple of centimeters from the shoe extremity.
Because of its technical choices you could almost list this shoe as “radical” or “original”, yet the Norvan makes you stand up and take note.
Choose your size very carefully, with Arc’Teryx it’s a science, no room for error or pressure points will appear. Better to buy at a competent retailer’s who know their products.
Next slide the shoe on by using the two tabs at the top of the inner sock designed for this maneuver. Once all the folds are flattened out you can tighten the laces from the front to the top of the tongue. Be careful not to over tighten because the Norvan has no tongue. Once tightened the shoe is snug and precise with firm comfort. There is no forward foam and so has a very snug fit. After several kilometers this “virile” feeling dissipates as the materials soften. Depending on how you have tightened the shoe or the shape of your foot you can feel the presence of the last eyelets at the front of the foot. Some testers had no problems at all.
The stability is excellent, a very solid shoe that holds fast to the ground. In fact the grip is excellent on all surfaces. Vibram® is as always faultless. The lugs don’t hold onto the mud either. The Norvan doesn’t become drenched in water crossings and dries very quickly.
The forefoot filters most stones despite the fact that the cushioning is minimal. Mid-foot running there is coherent cushioning for a shoe of this category that is designed for gripping technical terrain.
The heel cushioning is good, well balanced and heel hold is good.
The rigidity and torsional twist is well dosed for traversing slopes. The 9mm drop is pleasant and actually feels like it’s less.
Due to the eyelet positioning the stone guard is “rock solid” ;-).
This shoe has original sensations. It is tough with an unrelenting grip on technical terrain and at ease doing fast hiking to trail running.
17 mm9 mm 
We used this equipment over a long period of time
These are our thoughts after intensive use:
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