Norda 055 Review: The Plateless Trail Super Shoe That Performs Under Pressure

The short version: The Norda 055 is a lightweight (sub-8-ounce), plateless trail super shoe with a poppy TPEE midsole, a single-piece Bio-Dyneema upper, and a sticky Vibram Megagrip Elite outsole. It’s fast, shockingly planted on technical terrain, and built to last—but it's $325 and it runs short, so go up a half-size.Rachel Entrekin made the Norda 055 famous by strapping them on and breaking the record to win Cocodona. And while I can’t promise you’ll go run 250 miles in 56 hours just because you laced up a pair, I can tell you that they are worth a hard look anyway. It’s one of the most talked-about trail running shoes of the year, especially after Entrekin placed second at UTMB rocking them once again. I tested the 055 over a grueling training season that spanned from the Adirondack Great Range Traverse, to the foothills of the Catskills, and muddy singletrack in New Jersey, and I loved them so much, I got a second pair. As someone who tests about 100 pairs of running shoes per year, getting a second pair of anything is massive. In fact, the only other pair of doubles I have are the On Cloudultra Pro.ProsTruly lightweightStable and groundedBreathes and drains wellExcellent gripConsRuns short front to backLugs may struggle in deep mudNarrow fitKey SpecsBest ForTrail racing, trail running, technical trails, gravel, mixed trails, ultra distancesWeight8.7 oz (M10), 6.2 oz (W8)Drop7 mmStack Height28.5 mmLug Depth4 mmA Trail Super Shoe That Skips the PlateThe Norda 055 finds itself in a weird liminal space as far as running shoes go. It’s billed as a super shoe, but there’s no carbon plate in it. Instead, you get a poppy TPEE (Arnitel) midsole, a decently low stack compared to others of its ilk, and it comes in at a sub-9-ounce weight. That combination of grounded dimensions and lightweight build make the whole thing zippy and quick, and, surprisingly, it doesn’t come at the cost of comfort. Thank heavens for that, as the Norda 055 is purpose-built for ultrarunners and long-distance trail racers like me who spend hours on foot.And I’m not the only fan. Runner’s World Runner-in-Chief Jeff Dengate put it simply: “I love this shoe. I tend to gravitate toward soft shoes, even on technical trail, and have historically found Norda to ride a little firmer than I wish. But the 055 was surprisingly capable for me.” When you consider that Dengate is normally an Adizero devotee, you get that it’s a big deal.Shockingly Planted on Technical TerrainThe stability is where the 055 won me over, and Dengate agrees. He swapped into the Norda after one loop of his local reservoir in the Adidas Terrex Agravic Ultra 2—a trail loop with a bit of everything: singletrack, rocky technical areas, fire road, and buffed doubletrack. As he put it: “The Adidas held fine, but wasn't so swell on the really rocky stretches. The 055 however was planted! Every step was confidence inducing. I lumbered over the rocks and roots with ease.”Winston ZhouThe Norda’s low platform gives stability on uneven surfaces.For me, there is a part of the Great Range Traverse at Saddleback Mountain that gets wildly dicey. We’re talking, you are puckering every orifice just to get through it levels of dicey. If you don’t have the right shoes? Not only could you slip, you could die. I trusted the Norda 055 to get me through all 25 miles of the Traverse, because of how stable and planted I felt in them. They have enough flexibility to keep up with rocks and footholes, but also enough structure that you’re not going to get stuck and wedged.Winston ZhouThe 4mm lugs grip gravel, dirt, sand, and other terrain with ease.A lot of that stability comes from the outsole—Vibram’s new Megagrip Elite, which is stupidly sticky and lighter than standard Megagrip, so you get the grip without the weight penalty.Single-Piece ConstructionThe build is noteworthy. The upper is a dynamic, single-piece Bio-Dyneema that’s an ultralight and ridiculously strong fabric, woven into an open mesh. Because it’s one piece with no stitched-on overlays that could cause irritation, it moves with your foot instead of bunching or building pressure points, and it wraps you like the shoe was made around your specific foot. And despite how thin and airy it looks, it is durable and rugged, taking on everything that the old East Coast mountains toss at it.Winston ZhouThe upper is breathable and sturdy, with a collar keeping critters out.That open weave breathes easy, which is important during long runs. They drain fast. You can step in a creek and it pushes the water right back out instead of holding it. The gusseted, padded tongue can hold a bit of water, but because of the wave-shaped stitching and materials, it doesn’t take long to dry.The Gaiter/Cuff Even Skeptics AppreciateThe 055 has a taller cuff to keep debris out, and even gaiter haters come around on it. Dengate’s a lace-up-and-go type of guy, and said as much: “I really like the taller cuff to keep debris out of my shoes. I won't typically bother with gaiters, mostly because I just like to lace up shoes and go. But happy to have these built in.” Same, JD, same. I loathe bugs, so gaiters are my jam.Winston ZhouMany runners may want to use the extra eyelet.Sizing and Fit: Buy a Half Size Up, No ExceptionsDo not skip this part. Nordas run short front to back, so you should always go up a half size from your normal shoe. This isn’t a maybe—Norda itself recommends it, basically every reviewer echoes it, and if you order your usual size you’ll jam your toes into the front on the first descent. Order the half size up and you'll be fine. Why they don’t just change the label? That’s between Norda and the shoe gods.It’s also a narrower shoe throughout, but unexpectedly bigger in the heel. I didn’t have any issues putting it on, despite the collar, because there’s a generous heel tab, however, I did need to heel lock my laces to get the best fit. And notably, I found myself wishing that I could pull the laces closer across the midfoot, so that I could dial in the fit just a bit more. It never gets slippy, and I don’t feel as though stability was compromised at all, but for overall comfort and speed, I think that would improve them quite a bit. I also wouldn’t say no to a deeper rocker in the profile, either. But that might be my laziness talking.About That $325 Price TagThere’s no getting around it: $325 is a lot for running shoes, full stop. And the idea of paying that amount for something you’re going to destroy? It hurts. But for what these shoes are—a do-everything, race-anything, absurdly light trail runner—the price lands in line with other high-end options, and the materials build quality justify a good chunk of it. Shoes with this much tech and attention to detail aren’t going to be cheap, but they are incredible. If you’re looking for a PR, or if you need something to keep you gripped and stable, finding a better shoe is going to be hard.Bottom lineThe Norda 055 is a light, fast, plateless super shoe that’s as happy on a long adventure run as it is racing something gnarly, and it’s steady on technical ground in a way most featherweights simply aren’t. Buy the half size up, make your peace with the price, and you’ve got one of the most complete trail shoes out there. No promises on the Cocodona record, though.Cat Bowen, senior editor of commerce; reviews, is a seasoned runner with more than 20 years of distance running experience, including dozens of marathons, half marathons, and even a few ultra marathons. For over a decade, she has tested parenting, fitness, home, and running gear and written in-depth guides to help readers with their next purchase. Holding multiple advanced degrees and currently studying kinesiology, Cat Bowen brings research-backed insight to all of her guides. Passionate about women’s health and neurodivergent inclusion, she advocates for closing research gaps and helping others—especially AudHD people—find joy in running and fitness.