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Nnormal Tomir 2.0 Review

Unmatched in technical terrain with an incredible midsole, we wish the fit was adjusted a bit to prevent slipping forward when descending
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Nnormal Tomir 2.0 Review
Credit: Matthew Richardson
Price:  $170 List
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Manufacturer:   Nnormal
By Matthew Richardson ⋅ Review Editor  ⋅  Oct 3, 2024
79
OVERALL
SCORE


RANKED
#2 of 23
  • Foot Protection - 25% 7.6
  • Traction - 20% 9.5
  • Sensitivity - 15% 7.4
  • Stability - 15% 7.9
  • Comfort and Fit - 15% 7.7
  • Weight - 10% 6.5
Length Sizing
Runs Small
Runs Large
Width Sizing
Runs Narrow
Runs Wide

Our Verdict

With our love of the Nnormal Kjerag, we were very excited to test the Tomir 2.0. It lived up to our expectations, and we continue to find the Nnormal midsole to be one of the most versatile in our lineup. It's springy yet firm and provides better energy transfer and comfort than the competition. We trust it on everything from roads to technical ridgelines. The traction of the Tomir 2.0 is excellent, and the implementation of the Vibram LiteBase outsole also makes a huge impact on-trail performance. The only drawback to the Tomir 2.0 for us was the fit, which lacks the midfoot security of other Nnormal shoes, letting our feet slide forward on downhill stretches. See how it stacks up to the dozens of other trail running shoes we tested.
REASONS TO BUY
Extremely versatile midsole
Durable
Great traction in dicey conditions
REASONS TO AVOID
Midfoot loose when descending steep terrain
Thin laces

Compare to Similar Products

 
nnormal tomir 2.0
This Product
Nnormal Tomir 2.0
Awards  Editors' Choice Award
Best Overall Trail Running Shoe
Top Pick Award
Best Trail Running Shoe with Ultralight Cushioning
Top Pick Award
Best-Tractioned Trail Runner
Best Buy Award
Best Value Trail Runners
Price $170.00 at Amazon
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Bottom Line Nearly perfect in the upper fit but loose in the forefoot, which creates an issue when descending very steep slopesA perfectly fitting, comfortable, and very protective shoe that just begs to be worn on long run daysWith each step you are picking up less than the competition, and for advanced runners the precision and speed are unmatchedUnrivaled traction makes this a one-stop shop for mountain athletes and off-trail runnersSome more advanced runners may find this shoe overbuilt with stiffness and support, but we love the protection and comfort
Rating Categories Nnormal Tomir 2.0 Salomon S/Lab Ultra 3 Nnormal Kjerag Salomon Speedcross 6 Brooks Divide 4
Foot Protection (25%)
7.6
9.0
6.4
7.3
7.9
Traction (20%)
9.5
7.5
7.5
10.0
4.8
Sensitivity (15%)
7.4
6.0
8.0
6.0
3.4
Stability (15%)
7.9
8.6
8.5
5.0
9.0
Comfort and Fit (15%)
7.7
9.0
8.8
9.0
7.8
Weight (10%)
6.5
6.7
9.5
6.2
6.5
Specs Nnormal Tomir 2.0 Salomon S/Lab Ultra 3 Nnormal Kjerag Salomon Speedcross 6 Brooks Divide 4
Sizes Available 4.5 - 12.5 US regular 4 - 13 US
regular
4.5 - 13.5 US
regular
7 - 14 US
regular and wide
7 - 15 US
regular
Measured Heel Stack Height 36 mm 31 mm 25 mm 33 mm 32 mm
Measured Heel-to-Toe Drop 12 mm 8 mm 8 mm 12 mm 9 mm
Rock Plate No No No No No
Measured Lug Depth 5.0 mm 3.5 mm 3.0 mm 5.5 mm 2.5 mm
Measured Weight 10.84 oz 10.64 oz 8.05 oz 11.08 oz 10.82 oz
Upper Monofilament polyester + TPE Matryx Jacquard Matryx Jacquard Synthetic, textile Mesh
Midsole EExpure midsole Energy Save PU foam with Profeel Film rock protection EExpure midsole Salomon EnergyCell+ EVA DNA LOFT
Outsole Vibram Litebase Salomon Contagrip MA Vibram Litebase Salomon Mud Contagrip TrailTack Rubber
Heel Tab Type None None None None None
Claimed Heel-to-Toe Drop 8 mm 8 mm 6 mm 10 mm 9 mm

Our Analysis and Test Results

The Tomir 2.0 has one of our all-time favorite midsoles, the EExpure. Weighing 10.84 ounces per shoe (US men's size 10.5) and with a measured heel-toe drop of 12 mm and 5.0 mm lugs, this shoe is great all around but really excels on subpar terrain. We think a rotation of the Tomir 2.0 and Nnormal's Kjerag fits everything you'd encounter out on the trails, and it's our personal favorite combination.

Performance Comparison


Our lead tester, Matthew's favorite running quiver of two pairs of shoes, is the Nnormal Kjerg and the Tomir 2.0 (seen here). If you're looking for a technical trail runner, the Tomir is a great option.
Credit: Matthew Richardson

Foot Protection


We took the Tomir 2.0 into all different types of terrain, and we always left with our feet feeling fresh. There is ample stack in each shoe (we measured 36 mm), and their blend of cushioning and rigidity helped to stop or put a damper on most unwanted impacts from trail debris. The toe cap isn't substantial, but the overall taller stack height helps a lot. On talus and off-camber terrain, the shoe does well, finding itself right at home in rocky environments.

nnormal tomir 2.0 - the eexpure midsole of the tomir 2.0 is one of the best on the...
The EExpure midsole of the Tomir 2.0 is one of the best on the market. It blends exceptional energy transfer with near-optimal cushioning.
Credit: Natalie Kafader

Traction


Second only to the Salomon Speedcross 6, the Tomir 2.0 excels in technical terrain. The deep 5 mm lugs and grippy Vibram LiteBase outsole are a perfect pairing, offering exceptional traction that doesn't slow you down. Sporting one of the more unique lug patterns, we found they provide great ground feel on hardpack and in technical terrain. The EExpure midsole does a great job deforming around different terrain features, providing confidence-boosting traction. The Vibram LiteBase outsole also does a great job of shedding mud due to the hardness of the material. The hard perpendicular lugs do a spectacular job in softer conditions like grass.

nnormal tomir 2.0 - with one of the more unique tread patterns we've seen, the tomir 2.0...
With one of the more unique tread patterns we've seen, the Tomir 2.0 excels in even the worst conditions while still riding well on roads and flat surfaces, thanks to its good surface contact.
Credit: Natalie Kafader

Sensitivity


The Nnormal Kjerag and Tomir 2.0 share the same midsole material, though it's a bit larger in the Tomir. This provides a similar sensitivity but a little less removed from the ground. Made for technical terrain, this model allows you to go much longer without fatigue, and by doing so, the sensitivity feels a bit more vague. However, the foot is in a very neutral position, which still allows for moderate sensations. The give in the midsole does help you to identify proper foot placements without letting the trail become painful.

nnormal tomir 2.0 - the tomir 2.0 works well on everything from gravel roads to...
The Tomir 2.0 works well on everything from gravel roads to technical ridge lines.
Credit: Matthew Richardson

Stability


We figured the Tomir would hold up well in technical terrain after hearing that world-renowned trail runner and Nnormal cofounder Killian Jornet was using it for his latest 4000-meter peaks project in Europe. The shoe is soft enough to feel light and free but dense enough to provide support on off-camber terrain and rocky features. Even with the higher stack we never felt our ankles suffered much fatigue. Using the Tomir still requires you to recruit your ankles, knees, and hips but doesn't require as much precision and focus as the Kjerag.

nnormal tomir 2.0 - a wide platform adds to the tomir's stability, helping to offset its...
A wide platform adds to the Tomir's stability, helping to offset its taller stack height.
Credit: Matthew Richardson

Comfort and Fit


Our testing proved the Tomir 2.0 to be a largely unflawed shoe — until we analyzed the fit. While we hoped the fit of the Tomir would be the same as the Kjerag but, unfortunately, that isn't the case. Lacking from the Tomir is the midfoot/arch lockdown that is so useful in the Kjerag. When descending steep terrain, our feet tended to slide forward. This issue is exacerbated by the slippery insole used. We loved the lack of an insole in the Kjerag, so we were surprised to find that Nnormal added one in the Tomir. You can't even remove it due to the stiffer stitching underneath the insole — much different than the Kjerag.

The volume of the shoe felt mostly correct, although we think a little space could be removed. Once we ran more in the Tomir, the Matryx upper conformed more to our foot, but we could never get the slipping to go away entirely. The shoes were sized correctly with subtle space between the toe bumper. The model excels on technical terrain, so it was a bummer for them to feel limited fit-wise. Our team talked to others that run in these shoes, and found similar thoughts were shared. Some even opted to run barefoot to provide more friction to the insole! This isn't a dealbreaker, and we still love the model, but this needs to be addressed before we feel this shoe could be truly award-worthy. Still, the Tomir still has a lot going for it, and it's still high on our list of recommendations.

nnormal tomir 2.0 - because the midfoot isn't as well-fitting as the kjerag's, we slip a...
Because the midfoot isn't as well-fitting as the Kjerag's, we slip a bit forward in the Tomir 2.0 when descending on technical terrain - our one complaint about this shoe.
Credit: Natalie Kafader

Weight


We measured this shoe at 10.84 ounces per US size 10.5. We think this gives the Tomir 2.0 an impressive amount of comfort and protection for their weight. These feel especially good in technical terrain, and this lower weight leads to confident footstrikes. It's clear that Nnormal produces the lightest shoes possible, and this overall design philosophy is apparent in all their shoes we've tested. The Tomir even feels comfortable on the road — and we never felt bad about using the Tomir in less technical terrain.

nnormal tomir 2.0 - the matryx upper found on the tomir 2.0 works just as well as it...
The Matryx upper found on the Tomir 2.0 works just as well as it does in the Kierag, and we love the feeling of it once it's broken in a bit.
Credit: Matthew Richardson

Should You Buy the Nnormal Tomir 2.0?


The Tomir 2.0 is one of our favorite shoes in our lineup, and it outscores most of the competition. Our only hesitation would be if you plan to race downhill on technical terrain, as sliding forward in these shoes limited our confidence in them by about 20%. If you aren't planning on racing or giving 100% on the downhills, we think absolutely these are worth buying. If you need a great all-around trainer, especially one that excels in the alpine, the Tomir 2.0 is a great option.

nnormal tomir 2.0 - the tomir 2.0 runs a bit longer than our standard size so we'd...
The Tomir 2.0 runs a bit longer than our standard size so we'd recommend half sizing down.
Credit: Natalie Kafader

What Other Men's Trail Running Shoes Should You Consider?


If you require more lockdown in technical downhill terrain, we'd recommend the Nnormal Kjerag. If you already own the Kjerag or want even more traction in the worst trail conditions, check out the La Sportiva Karacal.

Best for mountain running and technical terrain the Tomir 2.0 is a great addition to our quiver and we are excited to use it for years to come.
Credit: Matthew Richardson


Matthew Richardson