First Look: 2025 Arc’teryx Norvan 4

Arc'teryx took input from their sponsored athletes and made notable changes to their long-distance trail running shoe. Here is a look at what has been updated on the Arc'teryx Norvan 4 along with our first impressions having spent a lot of time in the previous Norvan LD 3 model.

I have over 150 miles on dirt with the Arc'teryx Norvan LD 3 GTX (see the full review), so I'm very interested to see some significant changes for 2025 across the Norvan line. We just got our hands on a few pairs of both mens and womens Norvan 4, both standard and GTX. We'll be putting them through their paces, but here is a first look at the shoes and what has changed. 

Also be sure to check out our article on the Arc'teryx Vertex Speed technical trail shoe.

Q: Where does the name Norvan come from?

A: North Vancouver, which is the testing grounds of Arc'teryx product designers.

Arc'teryx Norvan 4 Updates

The two big performance changes are in stack height and fit. The difference between the women's and men's versions are colors and sizing, so everything in this article is applicable to both.

Stack height and cushion

Arc'teryx Norvan 4 stack height: 25mm : 19mm Midsole density: 45c

Arc'teryx Norvan LD 3 stack height: 29mm : 23mm Midsole density: 42c

While the Norvan 4 still offers a 6mm drop from heel to toe, the stack height has been reduced 4mm, from 29mm at the heel to 25mm. The toe now has a 19mm stack height. Arc'teryx says that their athletes wanted more stability. I'm very curious to get these onto some steep terrain, because I found the Norvan LD 3 to be a very stable shoe to begin with. Remember that more stack height and cushioning does not mean less injuries. This article from Marathon Handbook has a good summary of this topic as well as linking to some great paid journal articles if you want to dive into this topic. An average stack height is 26mm at the heel and you can go maximalist with something like the Hoka Bondi which has a massive 36mm stack. While the Norvan LD 3 has a slightly above average stack height, it is now firmly average. 

The density of the midsole has also increased, making it slightly more firm. The midsole on the previous model was a 42c, which has been increased to 45c. This hardness is measured on the Shore scale. Shore C is used for medium-density rubbers. The outsole and midsole will have different hardness, so this is not a direct indication of comfort. The Norvan 4's 45c is on the stiffer-end for a midsole and I assume has been increased in the name of stability. 

Optimized fit

Arc'teryx changed the fit on the Norvan 4 to increase heel lock and lessen toe bang.

The other athlete feedback that Arc'teryx received was that toe bang needed to be reduced. This was my big complaint when testing the LD 3. I ran in the LD 3 just this week and still can't say that I feel my heels slip, but on a steep descent last summer I developed a small blister on my 4th toe from hitting the front of the shoe.

These shoes are what Arc'teryx calls their "Comfort Fit". I tend to size down a half-size U.S. because I like a more Performance Fit. I talk about this in detail in my review of the Arc'teryx Sylan trail running shoes. Take a minute and jump to that section of the article to learn about how these shoes fit.

Other changes

• The Aeroprene tongue is gone and replaced with a flat knit tongue to improve fit and lockdown.
• The material on the upper is now PFC-free, which is always welcome.
• The lug pattern is updated slightly on the Vibram® Megagrip outsole. This is a custom design by Arc'teryx and they have a webpage dedicated to how they developed it.
• Lace holes on the GTX have been eliminated and replaced with webbing loops on the underside of the upper.

There are some great deals on the remaining stock of the Norvan LD3

First Impressions

My Norvan 4 GTX is a 10 U.S. (28c), matching what I have in the Norvan LD 3. Initial fit feels great. I ended running the lace through the second hole at the ankle and back through the first to get a snug fit. I took these on a 2.5 mile mixed-surface shakedown run. I don't immediately notice the reduced stack height, but the shoe definitely feels slightly stiffer. I over-pronate and the Norvan LD 3 has worked great for me and my initial impression if that the Norvan 4 will be the same. I'm looking forward to testing the stability of this new version on rougher terrain.

Feedback from the trail

We have been testing all three pairs of our Norvan 4 on varied terrain from endless dirt roads, to steep rocky trails, and muddy spring singletrack. Stable is the first word that keeps coming up. When laced up tight, these shoes hold your foot with little-to-no sliding. As a user of the LD 3, I find the biggest difference on this updated version is that they feel slightly stiffer underfoot. I can't say that I notice the difference in stack height, but the Norvan 4 definitely feels firmer than the previous model. This is most noticeable on rocky terrain where the increased stability and and stiffness is appreciated. I will say that I think it diminishes the trail feedback a tad and I actually like the LD 3 better in this respect, but it is a decent tradeoff for increased stability in a long distance trail running shoe.

Check out more trail running coverage