UPDATE: This post was written before getting to know NNormal more closely. I voiced all the problems written in the post to the representatives of the company and they promised to fix it all. Being a small brand is not easy, but after talking with brand representatives, I realized that they really care about nature and runners. I have also been able to test the shoe for a longer period of time and can say that it is now my favorite trail running shoe. Support small brands, especially those who really care about the planet. Together – we are force.
The trail running world eagerly awaited shoes from Kilian Jornet, the most talented runner of our generation. If you’re not familiar with him, I recommend reading about him first before continuing.
From an early age, Kilian was a star and had a sports contract with Salomon. However, times have changed, and in collaboration with Camper, the Spanish shoe brand, Kilian has created his own brand of running shoes and clothing. You can learn more about it here: https://www.nnormal.com/en_US/content/kilian-jornet-and-camper-the-start-of-a-new-journey
As someone who recently received a diploma in ecology, I was initially impressed by NNormal’s focus on leaving no trace. However, upon closer inspection, I found their approach to be more like “green washing” than genuinely caring about ecology. I am not saying they are not, but I found some things must be fixed for sure.
Don’t get me wrong, many brands today have shoe recycling programs and focus on environmentally friendly products. But truly caring about the environment goes beyond just making more durable shoes and recycling old ones. As a consumer, I cannot see behind the scenes of Camper’s factories and determine how sustainable they are.
Let’s talk about everything in order.
First, I want to express my disappointment with the brand. Second, I will address how they present themselves, and third, I will discuss the shoes.
First,
I was excited and inspired by the brand, so I ordered a T-shirt, two pairs of socks, shorts, and shoes as soon as they launched. However, when my items arrived in huge boxes from Europe, I was disappointed. The smaller the carbon footprint, the better.
The packaging for the T-shirt was huge, and the shoes were packed in a box with several layers, two lids, and short were with plastic tags. This was all in stark contrast to Tracksmith, whose products are shipped in paper envelopes with no tags, making them much more environmentally friendly.
It was a terrible disappointment, especially when I discovered that the shoes were larger than expected. When you care about the environment, it’s essential to minimize the need for customers to return products, which can have a significant impact on the environment. Brands like Norda warn their customers to order half a size smaller to avoid returns. Unfortunately, NNormal did not do this, and I had to pay over $70 to return the shoes to the American Camper website, which handles the brand’s supply chain. To make matters worse, there was no free exchange or return policy.
The most outrageous thing was that NNormal did not warn me about these issues. The excessive packaging and lack of attention to these details show that the brand does not prioritize sustainability. So be aware they still do not have free returns in the US, clothes run smaller and shoes bigger.
If NNormal wants to be a sustainable brand, they need to eliminate tags, use compostable bags, and pack products as compactly as possible. I found none of these things in my order. While cardboard boxes are acceptable, paper tape is now available why use plastic one, and some brands like Pangaia don’t use any tape at all. This is very impressive. I hope that NNormal will improve its sustainability practices in the future, and I will continue to monitor their progress.
In this box on pictures was: 1 pair of T-shirt and one pair of shoes. PS: I ordered shorts, socks and second (smaller size) shoes later. This is the first order and I was in shock how big box is for just two items. Everything from this order can be sent in only in shoe box.
Second
How the brand present it selfs
From official website:
“About their mission here https://www.nnormal.com/en_US/content/mission
Carbon Neutral
Achieving carbon neutrality is essential if we’re to limit global heating. Ambitious climate action is needed – and it’s needed now. That’s why, from day 1, NNormal has been committed to minimising and eventually eliminating carbon emissions from our entire production cycle. And why we openly share the current carbon emissions for all our categories.
One of our core commitments is to calculate and openly share the CO2 emissions of all our products in 2023. These calculations help us to focus on the areas with the highest impact, and to set targets for reducing and eventually removing these sources. By being transparent, we hope to set a high standard – both for ourselves, and for others. Because we’re all in this together.
We’re also committed to have zero emissions for scope 1 and 2. Our goal in order to be truly sustainable is to reach carbon neutrality by working with our suppliers to keep reducing our emissions to almost zero in scope 3. We are on the way, but lots more still remains to be done.
https://www.nnormal.com/en_US/content/mission/commitment
https://www.nnormal.com/en_US/content/mission/commitment/fair-business “
The Shoes
On this pictures you can see Tomir (purple once) I ordered first time in my usual size 7.5 and they were huge and very wide-bulky fit. White-greenish once are Kjerag shoes I ordered second time in size 7US and they are more narrow, so they fit well.
Facts:
23.5 mm (heel) / 17.5 mm (forefoot)
Drop: 6 mm
Weight per Shoe (US Men’s Size 8.5): 200 g / 7.05 oz
MSRP: $195
The very first model I ordered was the Tomir, but as I mentioned earlier, they were too large and very wide in toe box and didn’t fit well, so I returned them and ordered the Kjerag instead. This time, I sized down and was more pleased with the fit. Let me tell you more about this model.
According to the official website, Kjerag is made in China by Fulgent. Note from me, so little you can find in English and no trace all problems were addressed: In recent years, Fulgent Sun Group has faced some controversies related to its business practices. In 2016, the company was fined by Taiwan’s Environmental Protection Administration for violating air pollution regulations at one of its chemical plants. The company was also criticized by some for its handling of a chemical spill in 2017 that caused environmental damage. In Indonesia, the company was accused of causing air pollution and other environmental damage from its activities, and there were protests from local communities. Also they are apparently had lots of labor disputes.
Kjerag is features VIBRAM® Megagrip, a super-sticky and extra-durable outsole designed to tackle snowy boulders, wet roots, and muddy paths. The VIBRAM® Litebase outsole, which retains a perfect shape and boasts 3.5mm lugs, drastically reduces the overall sole weight by 30% through a 50% reduction in sole thickness. The total weight of the shoe is only 200g (size 8 UK). The upper is made of Matryx® Jacquard, an exceptionally breathable and durable fabric woven from individually coated polyamide and Kevlar® yarns produced in Ardèche, France. The dyeing process used for this fabric consumes 50-95% less water than other methods.
The Kjerag features an EExpure midsole, a new generation of foam engineered specifically for trail-running shoes that is used on a 6mm overall drop. The EExpure foam midsole sits in direct contact with your feet, providing optimal propulsion and compression, less slippage, and way fewer blisters!
My opinion
The main task for which these sneakers were made is racing. Since I’m not a big fan of bulky and heavy trail shoes, a lightweight minimalist shoe with a quality sole sounded perfect. While the Kjerag fulfills this need for a racing shoe, its quality and heavy outsole sacrifice some of the midsole foam, raising questions about its suitability for long ultra races and durability. However, it remains to be seen how durable these shoes are with more use.
Durability is an important issue not only for the foam but also for the upper. Some brands of trail shoes wear out faster in the upper than the outsole can wear out. The Kjerag’s upper is made of Matryx from Chamatex, a fabric with a high strength-to-weight ratio, breathability, and abrasion resistance that weaves polyamide and individually coated Kevlar threads. As a result, Kjerag can forgo heavy TPU overlays on the mid-foot and forefoot, which reduces weight and adds durability. While the shoe has a laminated section above the toe, it’s otherwise fairly minimal, taking weight away and adding durability. This feature will become more apparent as more people run longer distances in these shoes.
The midsole uses Nnormal’s EExpure foam, which is specifically designed for trail running and is characterized by stability, energy return. When I first ran in them in a mixture of sand, stones, and gravel I didn’t feel any energy return at all. While this may not be important in trail running, my overall impression is that the shoes are quite minimalistic and tough, which may not be everyone’s cup of tea. Interestingly, the midsole is only separated from the foot by fabric, and there is no insole, which helps reduce weight. While I, as an amateur, would prefer an insole, I also appreciate the minimalist approach.
The most exciting feature of the Kjerag is its sole. The MegaGrip outsole is very sticky and abrasion-resistant, and with Litebase technology, the thickness of the sole is halved, resulting in a 30% reduction in sole weight.
I like the fit, they are have firm fit but not narrow, heel doesn’t have huge collar, but also not minimalistic one, what is really great for trails. The tongue is wide and covers most of the top of the foot and is fixed well so that it will not move out, the lacing is comfortable. In general I like the shoes, but I do not what I am going to run in them. They are maybe a bit thin for trails longer than 50K. But I guess they are perfect for everything up to 60K like Bryce Canyon Ultras, where not much technical course. But I also agree they will be great fro sure for technicals trails, if you have iron feet, I mean if you are strong athlete so you can wear them for long and technical.
Although the Kjerag is not as wide as the Tomir, it still runs large, so it’s best to measure or take half a size smaller.
At the end, I am not saying it is all bad. I think they are moving in the right direction, but I believe that as customers, we must be more aware of what is going on.
I like the idea, but I think the trail running world deserves better. We need to spread awareness about the problems we have and the solutions we can offer. The most important thing is not to confuse people. Brands that claim to care about the environment but in reality do not pay attention to small details like tags, tapes, box sizes, or bigger details such as where their clothes are made, who is working on their fabrics, where materials come from, and how big their carbon footprint is, just confuse people the most.
Live an Active Lifestyle 