Customer Reviews Arc'teryx Norvan LD 3

I read earlier review that LD3 had a wider toe box than previous iteration, but I still had to order up 1/2 size up from my usual size 9.5 because shoe not wide enough. Kudos for replacing the mismatched colour (Relic) sole on earlier version of the black shoe with black sole. Recent purchase so not enough use to comment on performance.

I want to love these shoes - the ride is really great, but even after ~100kms the plasticy water barrier layer (that keeps in more water than it keeps out) is giving me horrendous blisters on the outsides of my big and pinky toes. You can feel how rough it is on the inside. Unfortunately I can't run more than a few kms before the problems start. These are the first running shoes I have had in decades to give me blisters.

I love my the LD2 and wanted to love the LD3 but the high ankle cuff of the LD3 bites into my ankle bones, unlike the LD2. Had to send back for this reason, too bad. I had the high cuff ankle bite problem with the Aerios FL too.

I bought these in anticipation of a 50+ mile ultra in the arctic tundra. As my training runs progressed leading up to the race, I decided against running in them. They have very poor breathability -- trap both heat and moisture - This is the recipe for discomfort and blistering. Which leads me to the main gripe -- the material of the upper. Across the board, they are simply overbuilt. The materials are not forgiving or flexible enough to go long. The meshes are too heavy, stiff, and unforgiving to allow you to feel light and fast which is what you need on a 10 hour run. These might be good for hiking mildly technical trails in cooler conditions where shoe breathability is not of paramount importance, but aside from that application they are a poor match for the job. FWIW I ran the race in the Salomon S/Lab Pulsar, and it performed beautifully.

Comfy shoes but they need to work on the mesh part. It is so weak.

Upper mesh tore after using a little over a year. Shoes cost way too much only last that long. That is unfortunate because the sole is comfortable and extra grippy, mesh is very breathable but doesn't hold up even on light trail hikes which is all I used these for.

The LD2 was trail run perfection. The LD3 misses the mark entirely, from the excessive amount of cushion, to horrendous "upgrade" of liner material, to addition of unnecessary foam inside the shoe. If you liked the LD2, prepare to be supremely disappointed by the overbuilt redesign.