The Canadian brand Arc’teryx has announced an all-new trail running shoe called the Norvan VT. Building on Arc’teryx’s increasingly impressive portfolio of footwear, which includes the Acrux mountaineering boot and Bora2 hiking boot, the Norvan VT’s most significant feature is its 360º Support System, a lacing system connected to support pieces on both the inside and outside of the upper. Pulling it tight secures the front of the foot and puts the runner on the ball of the foot. The idea is that you’ll tighten the front of the shoe for better grip while scrambling up steep and technical terrain.
Aesthetically, the Norvan matches the same sleek look that Arc’teryx is known for and features a heel-toe drop of 9mm, which is greater than the standard 6mm drop in most trail runners, like the La Sportiva Akasha, Salomon Sense Pro 2 and Scarpa Neutron, some of the obvious competitive brands in the space. At only 10.6 ounces per shoe, it’s also on the light side for a shoe with lots of cushion and a rugged build. The Norvan comes out in spring of 2017, with more trail shoes expected from Arc’teryx thereafter.