Anyone who follows the sport of ultra-running and racing knows the name Killian Jornet. He is easily one of the greatest male ultra runners of our time, and has dominated the European circuit for years (UTMB, Zegama), while also coming to the States to crush a few races (5 x Hardrock, Western States, Pikes Peak).
For a number of years, Killian was one of the influences at Salomon, driving their innovation and emergence in the ultra-trail shoe scene. Salomon shoes were widely considered one of the best options on the market for some time, with much of that thanks to the dominant nature of Killian, and his input on research and development.
When Killian announced the launch of Nnormal, which would be a new brand that he would part of, I am positive I was not the only one who was a little giddy about the prospect of a new trail shoe on the market, especially one with Jornet’s name on it.
The Kjerag is considered NNormal’s max performance shoe, and is easily their lightest option, weighing in at a mere 7.25 ounces (size 9.5M). Add that to a short stack height of 23.5mm at the thickest, a Vibram Megagrip sole, and a 6mm drop featuring NNormal’s EExpure foam, and you get a wicked light, super quick shoe that was made to go fast.
Of course, if you read any of my reviews, you know I beat the snot out of them to really see if what NNormal claims is true. So here we are, time to get down to it.
First Impressions:
Out of the box, the Kjerag is not flashy (I tested the Black Max color). If anything it is a subdued trail shoe, not wanting to impress you with its looks. The sole and overall stack height seem higher than advertised and the tread pattern feels a little suspect for muddy trails, but the tongue is captured all the way down to the insole, the outsole appears to be quite hardy (good for rocky terrain), and they are indeed as light as they claim (wow are these light).
I slipped them on to walk around the house and around the yard. I definitely like the fit and even though they seem a little narrow, they do not feel that way. The midsole and toe flex is good without any stiffness, and I am hoping this means they will not need much of a break-in period. Upon closer examination, I also really like the material used for the upper, which is almost kevlar like (turns out it is!). The shoes are so light on my feet it is almost like wearing slippers.
First Run:
It’s easy to test trail shoes in dry conditions, but for me the real test comes when it’s wet, rainy, and muddy out there. On this day I headed to the trails for some stage 2 fun. A short 8+ mile loop with over 1,800′ of climbing and plenty of mud provided a good test. On rocky conditions the Kjerag grabbed everything and was super grippy in the corners, both up and down.
The minute the trail turned to mud everything changed and the suspect tread was the culprit, with copious amounts of slippage, especially on hilly trails. However, the lightness of these shoes, paired with their comfort, provided a fantastic first run.
Second Run:
Nine miles and 1,600+ feet of vert later, the Kjerags are breaking in nicely. The EExpure foam is really comfortable underfoot while giving the runner a minimalist feel. They are still a little stiff, but I am hoping to cure that after one more run.
Third Run:
A little add-on to my second run meant I ended with over 1,700 feet and 10-1/2 miles for this one. The hills and trails I run (Forest Park) allow for testing of ups, downs, quick turns, steep descents (think toes crammed into the front of your shoes), mud, rocks, roots, leaves, and so much more. Overall, the Kjerags are solid trail shoes in most conditions. Uphill in the mud continues to be their one weak spot, which certainly makes things tricky if the trails are muddy.
Fourth Run:
I mostly duplicated my third run but pushed my uphill and downhill pace a little. The weather was not great, with rain falling the entire run. As a plus note, the Kjerags seem to drain well from heavy rain and puddles, and do not hold onto water. I also love the tongue, which never moves. Overall fit is good too, as I have a wider than average toe box and these do not rub. After nearly 40 miles and almost 7K of vert, the Kjerags are definitely broken in and are starting to feel like they need a good long run to tell more of their story.
Fifth Run:
Up to this point, the Kjerags have shown us some notable features with only a couple glaring concerns. The biggest issue is in the tread which simply does not have the lug depth or pattern to handle mud of just about any kind. The other is the minimalist feel of the insole and EExpure foam, which after 30 miles started to feel thin, exposing my feet to the feel of sharper rocks (these shoes do not have a rock plate). Going longer might feel like the exact opposite thing to do, given these concerns, but sometimes shoes just need some distance.
For this run I was lucky to escape the mud and most of the big rocky terrain of places like the Columbia River Gorge. I was fortunate enough to explore some buttery trails and ended with 17 miles and nearly 3,700 feet of elevation. The lack of mud allowed me to focus solely on fit and comfort over a longer push.
Halfway through I noticed the feeling of the insole appearing thin, but by mile 13 that had gone away. The last several miles were more down than up and really provided an opportunity to speed up a little and hammer a couple downhills. At the end my feet felt good and the shoes definitely seemed ready for more.
Final Thoughts:
The NNormal Kjerag trail shoe is a solid option right now in the mix with all the big trail shoe brands. I do think the tread pattern and lug depth could be addressed in a future model but it’s also fair to note that if you don’t run in a ton of mud, these shoes will perform very well. There is a lot to like about NNormal and their shoes and I am certain we will see more from Killian in the near future.
