Norvan LD 4 Shoe Men's

I’ve been using the Norvan LD 4 for trail running and fast hiking over the past months, mostly in the Alps and the Apennines. I typically train 3–4 times a week with this model of trail shoes, covering a mix of technical alpine terrain, forest paths, and wet, muddy trails and this one handled all of it with confidence. The fit is snug but not restrictive, with great lockdown through the midfoot. It felt secure even on off-camber or rocky descents. I found the cushioning to be just right for both longer and shorter outings, offering protection without feeling overly soft or disconnected from the ground. Whether scrambling on wet limestone or descending loose gravel, I felt stable and in control. The upper breathes well, and it dried quickly after creek crossings. All in all, this is a serious mountain-ready shoe that still feels light and responsive. Easily my go-to for long days on technical and runnable trails.

The Norvan LD3 was my all time favorite mountain running shoe. There is nothing on the market quite like it. The locked-in heel, toebox room, all day cushion, light weight, stellar grip were all so perfectly balanced. For reference, I've had two pairs of LD3s and put close to 1000 miles on each, putting them through the spectrum of long gravel trails, mud, alpine scrambling, 15, 20, 30+ mile days, 10,000ft+ ridge runs, etc. A little bit of everything. They were phenomenal all day long on everything (except they are particularly slick on summer snow). I am still breaking in the LD4s (these shoes take some time to break in). I have about 150 miles of trail and mountain running on them and here are my thoughts so far: The LD4 has a much different feel, like a completely different shoe. Some of the trademark features of the LD3 that I so loved seem to have have been diminished - the toe box seems bigger, so much so that I slide around (even though I sized down). That perfect heel lock seems to be gone - I slide forward more, no matter how much I snug down the laces. I preferred the additional drop and cushion of the ld3s for long runs on rugged terrain. I preferred the material and construction of the tongue on the LD3; it was more breathable (and somehow better cushioned), didn't bunch at the toes so much, and the finger loop made the lace garage much easier to access on the 3s. A lot of these feature changes are most noticeable on sustained climbs or descents, not as noticeable on flatter trails or rolling hills. I sort of wonder if, with the addition of a new climbing-focused, this one was adapted to be more of a flat distance trail shoe than a mountain shoe, which would track. So far, I really wish there were a few pairs of LD3s left in the outlet but I will keep working the 4s and see if things improve with more wear.