Road to Trail: Why NNormal Is the Easy Way In
You've been clocking up road miles for a while. The pavement's starting to feel a bit grey. Every runner you follow seems to be knee-deep in mud somewhere beautiful, and trail running is calling. But the kit can feel like a whole new language. Pick the wrong first pair of shoes and it's easy to put yourself off before you've started.
This road-to-trail crossover is one of our favourite conversations to have in the shop. If you want one brand that makes the jump simple, it's hard to beat NNormal.
Who are NNormal?
NNormal was founded in 2022 by mountain runner Kilian Jornet and Spanish shoemaker Camper. Jornet is arguably the greatest trail and mountain athlete of his generation. The brand was built on one stubborn idea: make fewer things, and make them last. No seasonal drops. No chasing trends. No colourway of the month. Just durable, high-performance kit that goes the distance and treads a little lighter on the mountains it's made for.
That philosophy matters more than it sounds when you're new to trail. There's no wall of confusing models to decode. Instead you get a short, considered range where each shoe has a clear job. Better still, every pair is built to be resoled and repaired rather than binned and replaced.
Why swap to trail shoes at all?
Road shoes are brilliant on tarmac and predictable surfaces. Take them onto wet grass, loose gravel or a rooty woodland path and two things happen. You lose grip, and you lose confidence. Trail shoes fix that with grippier outsoles, more protection underfoot, and a more secure fit for uneven ground. The result: you relax and enjoy the terrain instead of tip-toeing across it.
The good news for road runners? You don't have to leap straight to a spiky, race-ready mountain shoe. You can ease in.
Start with the Cadi: your first trail shoe
If you're making the road-to-trail move, the NNormal Cadi is the natural first pair. It's designed for comfort and stability on smooth, rolling terrain. Think canal paths, forest tracks, bridleways and gentle off-road loops — not technical mountain descents.
The numbers back up the friendly feel. You get a moderate, cushioned ride and a neutral fit. The 6mm drop won't feel wildly different from most road shoes. At around 270g, it's light, breathable and grippy enough to build confidence. There's none of the harsh, stripped-back sensation of an out-and-out racer. In short, it feels familiar enough to trust on day one, but capable enough to take you somewhere new. The Cadi is £140 in men's and women's fits.
Where NNormal trail shoes go next
Once trail running has its hooks in you — and it will — the range grows with you. The Tomir is the durable all-rounder. It's built for longer miles and everyday training on mixed ground. The Kjerag is the lightweight racer. It pairs a Matryx upper with a Vibram Litebase Megagrip outsole for fast, grippy days on properly technical terrain. Same brand, same repair-don't-replace ethos — just dialled up as your ambitions grow.
The one step worth taking first: gait analysis
Here's the honest bit. The biggest mistake we see with new trail runners isn't the brand they pick. It's buying a shoe that doesn't match how they actually run. Your gait, your foot shape and your chosen terrain all change what "the right shoe" means for you.
That's what our in-store gait analysis is for. It's a proper fitting session with our team here at the shop. It costs £40, with £20 credited back against your shoes. You walk out knowing you're in the right pair rather than guessing. For anyone crossing over from road to trail, it's the cheapest insurance there is against sore knees, blisters and a shoe that never feels right.
Not sure where to start? Try our Find My Shoe tool online, then come and see us to try things on properly.
Come and see us in Stamford
You'll find us at 42 Broad Street, Stamford, PE9 1PX. We stock the NNormal range and have plenty of trail experience to share. First pair of trail shoes or first proper off-road event — we'll help you leave the pavement behind the right way.