REASONS TO BUY
Great traction
Strong toe bumper
Great at deflecting sand and water
REASONS TO AVOID
Large heel cup
Lacks sensitivity
Little lateral stability
Nnormal Tomir 2.0 - Women's Review
This trail shoe has the makings of a rugged trail superstar, but the pieces didn't quite come together for us
Credit: Ally Arcuri
Our Verdict
The updated Normal Tomir 2.0 is a shoe with plenty of rugged trail prowess and makes a fantastic and grippy trail companion, provided that it fits your anatomy. Its Vibram MegaGrip outsole, multidirectional lugs, and large heel volume feel serious and almost bootlike. Its protective upper allows you to traverse sloppy terrain in comfort, while the slight cushion of the tongue ensures comfort over high mileage. The Tomir is not our top trail running shoe recommendation in terms of comfort or sensitivity, as it feels a bit imbalanced and not as stable, but the traction and protection of this burly shoe make it a solid contender for athletes who can find comfort in it.
Compare to Similar Products
 This Product
Nnormal Tomir 2.0 - Women's | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Awards |  Best Overall Trail Running Shoe for Women |  Best Bang for Your Buck |  Best for Comfortable Zero Drop Performance | Best for Long Distances on Technical Trails | |
| Price | $170 List | $108.69 at REI Compare at 4 sellers | $130.00 at REI Compare at 3 sellers | $109.29 at Amazon Compare at 4 sellers | $190 List $189.95 at Backcountry |
Overall Score  |
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| Star Rating | |||||
| Bottom Line | A beefy, well-tractioned shoe that doesn't fully come together into a well-rounded trail shoe | If a well-tractioned powerhouse of a shoe is what you're after, this 7 mm-drop, stacked-with-tech shoe is the one for you | This is our go-to recommendation for runners seeking a comfortable, well-tractioned shoe for short and long distances alike | Featuring an upgraded upper and a stable zero-drop design, this shoe is a dependable and comfortable trail running option, ensuring comfort even during extended runs | A unisex shoe that offers superior performance across the board, boasting a protective yet sensitive ride with a grippy outsole and exceptional durability |
| Rating Categories | Nnormal Tomir 2.0 -... | La Sportiva Bushido... | Hoka Torrent 3 - Wo... | Altra Lone Peak 8 -... | Salomon S/Lab Ultra... |
| Foot Protection (25%) | |||||
| Traction (20%) | |||||
| Sensitivity (15%) | |||||
| Stability (15%) | |||||
| Comfort and Fit (15%) | |||||
| Weight (10%) | |||||
| Specs | Nnormal Tomir 2.0 -... | La Sportiva Bushido... | Hoka Torrent 3 - Wo... | Altra Lone Peak 8 -... | Salomon S/Lab Ultra... |
| Sizes Available | 5.5 - 14. 5 US | 5.5 - 11 US regular, wide | 5 - 11 US regular |
5.5 - 12 US regular and wide |
4 - 14 US regular |
| Measured Heel Stack Height | 33 mm | 28 mm | 26 mm | 20 mm | 27 mm |
| Measured Heel-to-Toe Drop | 11 mm | 7 mm | 4 mm | 0 mm | 9 mm |
| Rock Plate | No | 1.5 mm Dual-Density compressed EVA Rock-Guard in forefoot | No | TPU | Not disclosed |
| Measured Lug Depth | 4.0 mm | 3.8 mm | 4.0 mm | 3.2 mm | 3.5 mm |
| Measured Weight | 7.83 oz | 9.11 oz | 7.52 oz | 8.14 oz | 8.05 oz |
| Upper | TPE/polyester/nylon mono filament | Air Mesh / Thermal Adhesive Microfiber / High Frequency Welded Ripstop Overlays | Mesh | Ripstop Mesh | Anti-Debris mesh with sockliner |
| Midsole | Eexpure foam | 4mm LaSpEVA / Compression Molded MEMlex | EVA | Altra EGO | Energy Save PU foam with Profeel Film rock protection |
| Outsole | Vibram MegaGrip + Litebase | Bi-Compound FriXion® XT 2.0 V-Groove3 | Rubber | MaxTrac | Salomon Contagrip MA |
| Heel Tab Type | None | Finger loop | None | Finger loop | None |
| Claimed Heel-to-Toe Drop | 8 mm | 6 mm | 5 mm | 0 mm | 8 mm |
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Our Analysis and Test Results
The Nnormal Tomir 2.0 stands at a protective 33 mm stack height in the heel, has an above-average 11 mm heel-toe drop, and a ruggedly dense outsole that is ready to tackle loose, technical, and sloppy terrain.
Performance Comparison
Though the pieces of this shoe are well-conceived, it offers a slightly imbalanced ride.
Credit: Ally Arcuri
Foot Protection
The underfoot protection of the updated Tomir is awesome. With a 33 mm stack in the heel, impressively dense Vibram outsole, and Eexpure midsole, the Tomir feels protective, even without a rock plate. The thickness of the heel dampens the sensation of the underfoot topography, making this a great shoe for tough, sharp, and technical terrain. The upper weave of the TPE blend deflects water and trail particulates well, further adding to the strength of the Tomir's foot protection. The comfortable bulk of the heel collar is solid — provided that it fits. The large volume of the heel cup can feel a bit baggy, but runners with a bit more heel and ankle bulk will feel right at home in this build.
The protection of the Tomir is well above average, thanks to its upper weave, toe cap, and thick stack.
Credit: Ally Arcuri
Traction
The Tomir 2.0 is a traction powerhouse. This shoe boasts our favorite kind of traction — the kind that is both superficially sticky and toothy. The Vibram outsole provides a serious amount of grip on most terrain types, showing impressive strength on the scant snow fields we encountered during our high alpine testing in the summer. This metric is where the Tomir shines brightest, biting and sticking onto whatever you put beneath it.
The 4 mm lugs of the Tomir help inspire confidence on all terrain types.
Credit: Ally Arcuri
Sensitivity
While the underfoot stack of the Tomir is a comfortable crash pad, it doesn't allow for much in terms of sensitivity. The beefy 33 mm heel stack lets you feel some trail undulations but doesn't provide the clearest picture of what is going on beneath your feet. Runners who prefer a dampened trail feel will enjoy what this shoe offers, but those seeking an intimate trail experience will find the undercarriage of the Tomir to be overbuilt.
The thickness of the Tomir's outsole allows it to be comfy but prevents you from feeling the nuances of the trail beneath you.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
Stability
The Tomir 2.0 is not an unstable shoe, but its fit ruined some of the stability for us. Let us explain… The upper TPE textile of the Tomir is quite protective, but it allows for a bit more lateral give than we prefer for security. When coupled with an outsized heel cup and collar, we found our feet sliding around quite a lot. This shoe isn't tippy, but its fit feels baggy, which is where its stability was lost. The traction of the Tomir is so good, so we found that the outsole could stick to the ground while our feet could continue moving. However, the Tomir doesn't ride like an extension of our legs, which ended up being a dealbreaker for us. Overall, the existing elements made the Tomir feel a bit imbalanced, though runners with higher-volume feet and wider ankles might enjoy the additional space for small lateral movements.
Even with an extra bunchy sock, the heel cup felt like it extended back too far to allow for true stability. We tend to seek out shoes that feel like natural extensions of our bodies.
Credit: Ally Arcuri
Comfort and Fit
Provided that the Tomir truly fits your anatomy, its strong upper TPE and midsole Eexpure foam come together for above-average comfort. While the shape and design of the heel collar didn't exactly work for us, the cushion of the heel cup and beyond did. The leathery tongue extends high enough for protection and comfort, aiding in making the Tomir a comfortable shoe that many runners will love.
The asymmetrical lace bed helps the laces stay secure and taut as you run.
Credit: Ally Arcuri
Weight
At just under 8 ounces per shoe in women's size 6.5, the weight of the Nnormal Tomir is average. Its upper is incredibly lightweight, so most of the weight rides underfoot. Because of how strong the underfoot traction and protection are, this makes sense. The overall ride of the Tomir felt a bit off to us, and part of the reason was the slightly awkward weight distribution. Runners can and will adapt to the weight distribution of any shoes that strap to their feet, but if you are looking for a more well-rounded ride, we have other options for you.
The thickness of the stack and serious lugs don't weigh a ton, but all of the weight feels like it rides beneath the heel of the Tomir.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
Should You Buy the Nnormal Tomir 2.0?
The Tomir 2.0 boasts plenty of solid updates to make it a desirable trail running shoe for certain people. It truly features most of the elements that we seek in our trail shoes, but the sum of the parts doesn't quite align. There is a lot to love about this shoe, from its traction to its protection and beyond. If it sounds like a good fit for you, we think you'll love it. If you know that you prefer a more svelte and agility-forward ride in a shoe that centers around stability, we suspect that other shoes might be more in your wheelhouse.
The Tomir is by no means a bad shoe. In fact, most of its elements are high-scoring across our metrics. We didn't love the imbalanced ride but remain impressed by its serious traction and protection.
Credit: Ally Arcuri
What Other Trail Running Shoes Should You Consider?
The La Sportiva Bushido III is our chart-topping favorite when it comes to traction, protection, and trail feel. While the traction of the Tomir is equally high-scoring, the protective and comfort elements of the Bushido are a bit more traditional. If comfort is what you are after, the redesigned Hoka Speedgoat 6 provides ample underfoot cushion, 360-degree comfort, and strong and grippy lugs. For a more minimalistic feel, the Tomir's bare bones relative, the Nnormal Kjerag is a profoundly lightweight trail shoe that is ready to tackle tough terrain.
—
Ally Arcuri
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