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An inside look at the Norvan LD 4 with the Arc’teryx design team.
Built for the most technical mountain terrain, the Norvan LD 4 is a trail running shoe shaped by athlete insight and precision design. We sat down with the Arc’teryx footwear team to unpack the thought process, material innovations, and rigorous testing that brought this shoe to life.
01 / Design Process & Philosophy >
02 / Technical Features & Innovation >
03 / Experience & Testing >
04 / Material Choices & Sustainability >
05 / Future Innovations >
01 / Design Process & Philosophy
What inspired the design direction of the Norvan LD 4, and how did mountain terrain shape it’s features?
Athlete needs and feedback drive the product brief details and inform our footwear evolutions. In the case of the LD 4, the feedback was unanimous that we needed to improve the foot hold, increase stability, and soften the toe box to minimize toes from crashing forward. We created a more accessible silhouette and dropped the stack height from the LD 3, significantly improving the ride of the shoe to make it more stable and responsive on unpredictable terrain. This model is an all-around workhorse designed to inspire confidence and adventure in the mountains.
How did athlete feedback influence the changes from the Norvan LD 3 to the Norvan LD 4?
Our design process always begins with a problem that we are trying to solve for our athletes and drives with purpose. During a feedback session with our athletes in Squamish B.C., we discussed both thepositives and challenges that they found with the LD 3, and what could be improved in the LD 4. We kept some of the best elements of the LD 3, including the midsole foam compounds, and fixed what wasn’t working. Less toe jam was a universal request, and we championed that by way of a revised last in the LD 4.
In between the LD 3 and LD 4, we also introduced the Sylan model which is was a high-stack, propulsion-oriented solution to round out our mountain run offerings.
What’s the design philosophy behind making the Norvan LD 4 both stable and adaptable on different terrains?
We focus on product evolution, comparing our new products to their predecessor in both athlete feedback, durability results, and guest reviews. Design experience and intuition coupled with athlete insights plays a pivotal role in the evolution of our products.
On the Norvan LD 4 specifically, some stabilizing elements were achieved by lowering the stack height and optimizing the midsole geometry. Lug design was revisited with the goal of striking the right balance of grip and traction, with an eye to varying terrain.
How did you balance the Norvan LD4’s design aesthetic with its performance needs?
Aesthetic updates and functional requirements go hand in hand. For example, by working to achieve better foot hold and containment in the upper, our last adjustments had a positive impact on the silhouette naturally, resulting in a sleek and minimalist design.
02 / Technical Features & Innovation
How does the Norvan LD 4 improve fit and heel lock without sacrificing comfort?
By updating the heel lock and upper containment, we saw natural improvements with comfort. We primarily achieved this through optimizing the toe box, which was a common complaint with the LD 3. We also corrected the tread distance from the heel to forefoot which provided a more stable ride. A new open cell PU footbed was also added to improve overall fit and comfort.
What challenges did you face when lowering the stack height for better stability?
It was a minor adjustment so there was little challenge. The general feeling of confidence and stability improvement was well received by our athletes!
How does the 4mm lug pattern improve grip on different surfaces?
We typically break up grip and traction to describe different qualities. We use “traction” to refer to soft ground holding power, like sliding through mud. “Grip” we use to describe the hard ground stickiness, imagine scrambling over slabby rock. The benefit of a more adaptable lug pattern creates better traction over multiple surfaces by allowing the lugs to penetrate different soft ground surfaces, while the rubber compound itself provides grip on hard surfaces such and rock, boulders and scree.
The lace garage is great feature. What other subtle design details stand out in the Norvan LD 4?
At Arc’teryx, we love to obsess over every detail until we get a product right. The improvement of the whole shoe working together as a system, while creating improved stability is a big win.
We also appreciate the integrated lace webbing application on the GORE-TEX version as well as the “tech lace” application on the Mesh version. These details can often be missed, but they make a big difference to help with ease of lace movement while tightening and reducing the potential for laces to become loose when running.
03 / Experience & Testing
Can you describe how the Norvan LD 4 was tested in real-world environments?
This model was heavily tested in Squamish, B.C., home of many Arc’teryx athletes, over multiple seasons and under distinctive conditions. We also tapped into our athlete team in Europe, which gave us a well-rounded group of testers and environments to help evaluate the experience.
Emma Cook-Clarke was heavily involved in the testing of the LD 4 and placed 5th in Skymaster Finals while wearing the model last year!
We are also closely connected with our run community in Portland, where our footwear creation center is based, and tapped some of our local run ambassadors in the area to be a part of the testing process.
How does the form-molded sockliner and flat-knit tongue improve comfort and fit?
The form-molded sockliner is a lighter and more responsive update to the previous version and works in tandem with the updated fit proposition.
The knit tongue was a welcomed update as it incorporates the lace garage directly into the knit design, provides integrated padding and protection against the potential of “lace bite.” Finally, it offers a more malleable application against the foot, compared to a more traditional design which can often feel stiff.
How does the shoe accommodate long-distance runners dealing with foot swelling and various terrains?
It allows a more generous fit in the toe area and accommodates room for the natural foot swell that occurs while running over long distances.
04 / Material Choices & Sustainability
“We’re just getting started.”
Arc’teryx Design Team
Why were PFAS-free woven polyester and Vibram® Megagrip with LITEBASE technology chosen for the Norvan LD4?
At Arc’teryx, we believe our path to responsibility is through durability. Materials and construction are two key pillars we look at to achieve this.
To date, we have always partnered very closely with Vibram for our outsole applications, and the LITEBASE Mega Grip is a particular favorite of athletes and guests due to the outsole compound’sdurability, grip and lightweight rubber web thickness. The lug pattern is created by our footwear designers in-house, which is applied to the LITEBASE compound, working seamlessly together to achieve unparalleled grip and traction.
How do the Norvan LD 4’s material innovations enhance durability and sustainability?
Transitioning towards increased use of materials with lower environmental impact — which we call “preferred materials” — is a key step toward reducing our emissions from raw materials. We are expanding our use of preferred materials, while maintaining our commitment to performance, durability, and repairability in every product we make.
Converting our materials to preferred whenever possible helps reduce the impacts of our products overall, without compromising quality. This is a constant evolution, and we work closely with our material vendors to help push the industry forward.
05 / Future Innovations
How do you see future versions of the Norvan series evolving?
We can see the model evolving in every aspect moving forward, all informed by our athletes and guests. In F25, we will add dimension to the Norvan family through the new Norvan Nivalis, optimized to keep you moving confidently in winter conditions.
What lessons from the Norvan LD 4’s development will influence future product designs at Arc’teryx?
We continue to tighten our focus, looking at why we exist in the world, and we are always gaining new insights and experiences that directly contribute to product evolution.
We are on a mission to be the leader in pinnacle mountain footwear, through uncompromised design and quality, and feel that we are just getting started on that journey.
