Norda has come up with a trail shoe that will finally meet the demand of trail runners looking for a local, sustainable and high-performance product. Welcome to the new era of boutique running shoes .
To be perfectly honest, we didn't plan on selling shoes in the near future when we opened the café. Until we discovered Norda: a superbly innovative Quebec shoemaker offering a product with many virtues, starting with its durability.
We take a tour of the thing by answering all the questions that we ourselves asked when we discovered the company.
Where do these shoes come from?
From a brand new company called Norda (Latin for north ), founded by a gang of Montrealers who pooled their strengths to create a revolutionary product. That's decades of experience in shoe manufacturing, design and marketing.
Other than the company being based here, what's so special about them?
They’re designed for high performance and to be very durable. “Most trail shoes literally break down after 300 or 400 km. Ours can last well beyond that,” assures Nick Martire, one of the brand’s co-founders.
What is their secret?
It starts with the use of an incredibly strong material: Dyneema. It is the lightest and strongest fiber. It is 14 times stronger than steel! So it resists abrasions, which are quite common on the trails. It lets air pass through, and it is also resistant to UV rays, which contributes to its durability.
Performance-wise, what sets them apart?
Lots of things! It starts with the overall comfort of the shoe. Then there’s its stability. Despite what its appearance might suggest, the foot is closer to the ground than it seems. The distinguishing element: the combination of a very high-quality midsole (inside, where the foot presses) and an extremely flexible and grippy outsole, both produced by the legendary Italian company Vibram. “The midsole is often an overlooked element,” explains Nick Martire. “It costs us three times more than what other companies use.” Otherwise, the design of the sole is completely exclusive to them. “The molds belong to us,” insists Nick. 
And is it really worth the price?
We think so. From the first few steps, we can tell that we have just put on a product that stands out in every way from its competitors. And if only for its durability, its cost is amply justified.
“Try them, you’ll be convinced,” suggests Willa Martire, Nick’s wife and one of the founding quartet. Or so we think.
In addition, we like the idea of local creators who, as in most business circles, challenge the order established by big brands by offering "boutique" type products. This means that they are more artisanal in their approach, therefore closer to the needs of users, and that these entrepreneurs are ready to put money on the quality of the product rather than in their pockets. 
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