NNormal Tomir 2.0 Performance Review

NNormal is a relatively new brand created by world class trail runner Kilian Jornet in partnership with a family-owned footwear company named Camper. Together they envision a brand that creates long-lasting but high performing shoes built tough enough to handle even the craziest mountain adventures. The NNormal Tomir 2.0 is an update to NNormal’s second shoe, the Tomir. It’s more focused on daily training than NNormal’s other race centric shoe model, the Kjerag.

Needless to say, the NNormal Tomir 2.0’s heritage and reputation are very good. But now we need to find out how it performs on the trails for ourselves.

Midsole

NNormal is back with an updated midsole on the Tomir 2.0, replacing the firm EVA midsole on the first version with an “EExpure supercritical” foam (a nitrogen-infused foam) that’s meant to be a little softer and bouncier.

I haven’t tried the first version, so I’ll end comparisons here. For me, the NNormal Tomir 2.0 required a break-in period. I’ve found that over 50 or so miles, the midsole has molded to my foot and softened just enough to feel supportive, yet not lose the zip you occasionally get with the supercritical foam. It’s certainly got enough cushion for long days on the trail, yet is clearly engineered for performance, akin to what I’ve felt in the La Sportiva Prodigio (review coming soon!) and the Brooks Catamount 3 (Why Does Everyone Hate Team Jordans). 

Everything I’ve read on the NNormal Tomir 2.0 points to the fact that it will get better after 100 miles, which is what I’ve found with well-engineered shoes that use a supercritical foam, like the Norda 001 or Best Neutral Running Shoes. I like that the Tomir 2.0 offers a stable ride and the energy return is never too much. To cap it off, NNormal has made the Tomir 2.0 more rockered, providing an energy-efficient stride.

Upper

The upper on the NNormal Tomir 2.0 is secure and cozy, consisting of a ripstop TPE and 360 degree nylon stitching. The lace/tongue pattern on this shoe is asymmetrical, following the contour of your foot rather than a traditional structure right down the middle.

It’s the first time I’ve run in a shoe with that construction and I would agree that it will lead to less pressure on the top of your foot, while also allowing for the tongue lockdown to contour more naturally. I laced through the ankle lockdown loops to give myself a secure fit and I did find the upper wrapped around my foot well. It’s a comfortable, but durable upper that will last for as long as the midsole holds.

The fit of the shoe is spacious in the toe box, but quite narrow near the midfoot. I’ll touch more on that later. The heel cup is padded and secure, and I didn’t have any issues locking my foot in. This upper was redesigned for technical terrain and it should hold up to that promise. 

Outsole

NNormal used a Vibram Megagrip Litebase outsole with a 5mm lug pattern. The Litebase is reportedly thinner by 50% than a traditional outsole, and up to 30% lighter. My only thought here is that a shoe like the Tomir 2.0 may benefit from a slightly thicker outsole as you don’t want to be feeling those 5mm lugs through the shoe.

The lug pattern is equipped with Vibram’s Traction Lug technology, increasing the overall surface area of the outsole, and improving grip. The Tomir 2.0 has a larger sole surface area than the Tomir 1.0. This outsole is a beast and is equipped for all sorts of terrain. It feels more in the direction of a La Sportiva, which is known for their extra technical footwear. I like it for the trails I frequent, as I can quickly get into more technical and alpine terrain. As I always say, it’s hard to beat a Vibram outsole. Brands can never go wrong using one.

Is the NNormal Tomir 2.0 wide foot friendly?

This one is hard for me. I know NNormal wanted to make this shoe better for wide feet, and although the toe box is roomy, the midfoot is too narrow for me to say it’s truly wide foot friendly.

Is the NNormal Tomir 2.0 worth $170?

Yes, the Nnormal Tomir 2.0 is worth the money, especially considering it’s a shoe that’s designed to last well beyond the industry standard. I must give a nod to the NNormal team for their efforts on sustainability. Not only do they use eco conscious and recycled materials, they approach their marketing similar to Patagonia with “buy our brand and use less” messaging.

Cons

Not a ton to say negative, but I do need to touch on the midfoot. My foot is fairly wide, and I had a hard time in the initial miles with the breadth of the midfoot. The toe box was plenty roomy, but the inside pad on my left foot was rather constricted by the narrow midfoot. In true NNormal fashion, the shoe is constructed so well that I’m not sure I’ll experience a ton of stretch. In recent miles, I haven’t noticed it as much, but for my first handful of runs I experienced a hot spot on my left foot.

If you have wide feet, consider trying the NNormal Tomir 2.0 on at a local running store or ordering from somewhere with a generous return policy like Running Warehouse.

Also, as note for the summer…I can’t say for certain yet as it’s only just heating up here in Salt Lake City, but I’ll be interested to see how the upper breathes in warmer temps.

NNormal Tomir 2.0 Summary

To quote legendary Cardinals coach Dennis Green, the Nnormal Tomir 2.0 is what we thought it was: a technical, durable, and impressive trail shoe. NNormal continues to validate itself as a top producer in terms of quality and footwear innovation.

The Tomir 2.0 is a good choice for anyone who needs one shoe to do it all. NNormal Pro Dakota Jones says he’ll use this shoe for every race in 2024, and I can see why. Quite literally, if this shoe fits (your foot), I can’t imagine you can go wrong.

How does the Author Run?

Sam Lohse (age 28, 6’0″, 170 lbs): Runs daily, sometimes morning/night doubles, with one rest day a week (typically). Hangs right around 40-50 miles a week in general unless in race-specific training. Races distances from 50K to 100 miles, almost always on the trails. 

Disclosure

While Normal did send a pair of the Normal Tomir 2.0 to facilitate this review, the company had no involvement in this review, didn’t receive an advance look at it, and have not attempted to influence it.