Arc’teryx Norvan LD 4 shoe review: The trail running shoe that can do it all?

If you spend enough time running trails, eventually you start dreaming of a shoe that can do it all. Something that’s light and agile, but also durable and dependable. Something that can handle a bit of tarmac, but still thrive on rocky climbs and fast descents. Is the Arc'teryx Norvan LD 4 it?

After weeks of hot, dry testing in the Surrey Hills, where I put it through its paces on dusty woodland, steep chalk banks and the odd road section, I’m convinced that this trail shoe might be about as close as I’ve come to that mythical all-rounder.

This is not a flashy shoe – it doesn’t make wild claims about carbon plates or supercritical foams. But from the moment I put it on, I could feel how well-considered every aspect of the design was – and how Arc’teryx has resisted chasing trends in favour of something a bit more measured.

That said, it’s not perfect. There are a few niggles worth mentioning. But on balance, these are possibly the best trail running shoes I’ve tested all year.

Upper

The upper on the Norvan LD 4 immediately stands out for its modular look and feel. It’s constructed using a combination of materials – all variations of mesh – layered with precision to serve specific functions across the foot. Around the midfoot, you’ve got extremely lightweight, breathable mesh, offering a locked-in feel with great airflow.

Wrapping around the lower perimeter of the shoe is a tough TPU overlay that reinforces the entire toe and sidewall area. It’s especially robust at the front, where it forms a seriously protective toe cap – I’ve kicked my fair share of rocks in this shoe without a second thought.

Around the heel, there’s a stiff, structured counter that uses a high TPU cradle to keep things supported. It rises higher than most, providing a secure back wall that really anchors the foot in place.

That same toughened material is also used sparingly around the lace eyelets for extra durability – though in my testing I’ve noticed some fraying here. It hasn’t compromised the shoe’s performance, but it does feel like a weak point in an otherwise tough design.

The tongue is lightly padded through the forefoot but unpadded at the top, with a soft, sock-like gusset that feels a bit like neoprene – snug and plush. It’s thin, breathable and sits nicely against the foot. The laces themselves are functional, but slippery. You’ll want to double-knot them or they’ll start to loosen mid-run.

Midsole

I’m a huge fan of the midsole on this shoe – if only because it goes against the grain of where most trail shoes are heading. At 25mm in the heel and 19mm in the forefoot, it sits somewhere in the middle of the stack-height spectrum. But it feels a lot more grounded than many of its marshmallowy competitors.

That’s partly down to Arc’teryx’s dual-density EVA foam, which offers a firm, stable ride with excellent proprioception. It’s not minimalist – but it’s not trying to baby you, either.

As the name suggests, the LD 4 is designed with long distances in mind. And while it won’t compete with something like a Hoka Stinson 7 for sheer plushness, it gives you all the protection you need to push through an ultra – especially if you value a close connection to the trail.

I’d recommend it to serious runners for that reason. The midsole feels stiff rather than springy, which encourages good form and delivers a lot of confidence on rocky or uneven terrain.

It also seems impressively durable. After over 100 miles of use, the foam has creased in all the expected places, but the ride feels exactly the same as it did out of the box. Though, that’s probably because it felt dense to begin with. While other shoes soften up and lose their shape, this one seems built to stay consistent.

Outsole

The outsole uses Vibram’s LightBase rubber, which we don’t see as often as we’d like. It’s not quite as aggressive or sticky as Vibram’s Megagrip compound, but it’s considerably lighter – and still offers plenty of bite on dry, hard-packed terrain.

Up close, the rubber is subtly textured to add grip, though much of that has worn smooth in my test pair – no doubt from time spent on tarmac. Still, the 4mm lugs hold up well for mixed trail use.

The lug layout is thoughtfully designed, with abstracted chevrons underfoot and sharper-edged lugs around the perimeter, giving reliable traction in most conditions. It reminds me a bit of the lug profile on the Xero Scrambler Low EV or the Salomon Sense Ride 5 – short but effective.

The only real drawback is the heel section, where braking power is slightly lacking. There’s some grip from the textured base rubber, but it’s not one for steep, slick descents.

And but let’s be clear: this isn’t a soft-ground shoe. It’s built for dry trails, not bogs. If you’re heading into wet fells or mud baths, you’d be better served by something like the Arc’teryx Sylan GTX, which is a completely different beast – heavily lugged and made for proper fell running.

Price and competition

At £150, the Norvan LD 4 costs more than many of its closest competitors, including the Hoka Speedgoat 6 and the Saucony Peregrine 14. But I’d argue it justifies that premium through sheer versatility.

This is a shoe that can handle mountain trails, woodland loops, the odd scramble, long training runs, even commutes through the city. It’s one of the few shoes I’ve tested that could genuinely replace two or three more specialised options in your rotation.

The Peregrine 14 might be better in the mud. The Speedgoat will soak up more shock over ultra distances. But the LD 4 finds that elusive middle ground: stable and agile, firm but forgiving, trail-focused yet road-capable.

Its closest relative might be the Merrell MTL Long Sky 2 Matryx – another high-performance shoe with a tough upper and aggressive styling – but the Norvan wins on underfoot feel and all-round usability.

Yes, it’s expensive. But if you want one shoe to do most things well, it’s a strong contender.

Verdict

The Arc’teryx Norvan LD 4 isn’t the softest, bounciest or most eye-catching trail shoe out there. But it might just be the most dependable. It delivers a rare blend of stability, durability and ground feel, all wrapped in a sleek and surprisingly versatile package.

From long summer runs in the hills to road-linked loops and light scrambling, it handles almost everything with calm assurance. If you’re after a single, serious shoe to train and race in year-round, this is the one I’d pick.

For more long-distance options, check out our roundup of the best ultra running shoes.

About the author

Milo Wilson is our resident running guru and full-time gear tester. He just celebrated his two-year anniversary here at LFTO, during which time he's destroyed more shoes than most people buy in their lifetime. Every night, he prays for forgiveness for his blight upon the Earth's ecosystem.