NNormal Tomir 2 Review

The NNormal Tomir 2.0 is a versatile, everyday trail running shoe and this week it gets a review! Designed to be used for the bulk of your trail running miles, it is well cushioned, durable and has a versatile enough grip to cope with everything from tarmac to soft muddy trails. The original Tomir was designed as an ‘all rounder in the mountains’. The midsole was made from a firm EVA that softened up as the shoes go worn in but still remained a dependable, durable shoe that you could use to walk, run, hike, even mountain bike. The updated version, the Tomir 2.0, has become more of an out-and-out running shoe.

Tomir 2 vs Tomir 1 – Midsole

The changes have been significant in both fit and ride. The midsole is now made from EExpure, a supercritical foam. This is the same Nitrogen infused foam used in the NNormal Kjerag, a shoe designed with a slightly more nimble feel, yet still well-cushioned (https://www.northernrunner.com/blog/nnormal-kjerag-review/). The EExpure used for the Tomir 2.0 midsole is softer than the Kjerag, which gives the Tomir 2.0 a bouncier feel. Nitrogen infused midsoles are essentially sealed, preventing the air from getting out and any water from getting in. This makes the midsole more durable, unaffected by water or dirt ingress. It also adds a rebound element to the midsole, which makes the shoes feel lighter and springier.

Tomir 2 vs Tomir 1 – Stack & Rocker

The stack height is 31mm in the heel and 23mm in the forefoot, maintaining the 8mm heel to forefoot drop that the original Tomir had. However, the rocker or curve shape to the midsole is now more prominent, which as a well-experienced midfoot striker made me more aware of the height of the heel. That’s not likely to be the same for most runners with a slight heel strike. I found my heel hit the floor a bit earlier than normal and a combination of the rocker and the bouncy midsole pushed me onto my forefoot, making it a bit less smooth this time round. For a runner who lands heel first this feeling won’t be evident. With soft cushioning and the curve/rocker shape in the midsole, the NNormal Tomir 2.0 will guide the foot through to toe-off. For this reason we would suggest that the NNormal Tomir 2.0 is best suited to heel strikers.

Tomir 2 vs Tomir 1 – Fit

The original NNormal Tomir had a generous, broad fit. The toe box allows for a straight big toe line, for a strong and positive toe off. It was the kind of comfortable fit that allowed you to wear the shoes for long periods of time. In combination with the fact it’s a more out-and-out trail running shoe, the fit of the NNormal Tomir 2.0 is now snugger, with an emphasis on holding the foot onto the midsole when running on rough terrain, or on a camber to prevent the foot from twisting inside the shoes. Although my feet are quite narrow and low volume, I prefer room for my toes to spread. The original Tomir had some space but the snugger fit of the Tomir 2.0 doesn’t offer this much room.

The laces follow the highest part of the foot in a line towards the big toe, as apposed to a straight line. If you have a higher volume foot and fill the shoe well then this lacing system will work perfectly. If you have a lower volume and like shoes tighter, you might get a bit of creasing. There is no need to pull the laces in tight anyway, as the fit around the heel, cuff and snugger toe box holds the foot in place great. The upper is made from a durable ripstop TPE fabric. It is light and designed to not take in water. As it isn’t an open mesh, it is unlikely to snag on the undergrowth and will resist wear from abrasion better than a more open mesh. In hotter climates you might feel a bit warmer, which is not much of a problem in the north of England!

Outsole

The outsole is made from Vibram Megagrip Litebase, which is designed to grip well on wet and dry surfaces. It is the same rubber and pattern as the outsole of the previous version. We were impressed with the grip that this offered. On tarmac or hard packed trails the 5mm lugs don’t get in the way. The lugs are big and have a good surface area in contact with the floor, so they offer a good level of traction. On softer trails the 6mm lugs bite effectively into the ground compared with a lot of road-to-trail type running shoes that keep entering the market. The shoe isn’t designed as a pure country racing shoe with a tonne of flexibility but the grip is good enough to get you around most muddy trail runs even in a wet winter.

Size Guide

The original Tomir and the Kjerag were generous in length similar to Brooks, Saucony, Altra or Topo. The Tomir 2.0 is a smaller fit. I had to go up half a size similar to smaller fitting brands like Hoka, New Balance, La Sportiva and Inov-8. A size UK8 weighs 280g which is a nice light weight for a durable, versatile trail running shoe. 

In Summary

Although the Tomir 2.0 doesn’t feel like a ‘fast’ trail running shoe, it is still very versatile. It’s cushioned enough for road-to-trail and hard packed trails. It’s got enough ground feel at the forefoot to be nimble enough to get through some more technical single tracks.  In summary the NNormal Tomir 2.0 is a well cushioned versatile trail shoe most suited to heel strikers who have a low volume/narrow foot.

Other Considerations

Inov-8 TrailFly: A more rounded toe box provides a more anatomical fit. The midsole has a similar bounce but the lack of a rocker and a 6mm heel to forefoot drop makes it suitable for midfoot strikers as well as heel strikers. Available in a standard width and a wide width. The lugs on the Trailfly are flatter and only 4mm in depth so although they offer a versatile level of traction they aren’t quite as good on soft ground in the wet. https://www.northernrunner.com/blog/inov-8-trailfly-review/

Scarpa Goldengate ATR 2: Although the Goldengate has a rocker like the Tomir 2.0 you are less aware of the heel and the rocker is smoother on hard packed terrain. The Tomir 2.0 is a little more flexible with more ground feel under the forefoot which makes it better on more broken ground. https://www.northernrunner.com/blog/scarpa-golden-gate-atr-2-review/

Scott Kinabalu 3: A much stiffer shoe with a higher stack height more suited to hard packed terrain. https://www.northernrunner.com/blog/scott-kinabalu-3-review/

New Balance Fresh Foam X Hierro v8: A road shoe in disguise type of a trail shoe. Nice for road to trail use but, not as much ground feel or traction for use on more broken ground like the Tomir 2.0. Available in three width men’s and two width women’s. https://www.northernrunner.com/blog/new-balance-hierro-v8-review-fresh-foam-x/

VJ MAXx 2: The nitrogen infused midsole on the Maxx 2 gives more of a feel for the ground which gives a much more nimble feel to the shoes. The toe box is rounded with more space than the Tomir 2 but, not as much width and volume as Topo or Altra. The 4mm lugs give good traction on a variety of wet and dry terrain. https://www.northernrunner.com/blog/vj-sport-maxx2-review/

Altra Timp 5: Zero drop with a broad rounded toe box the Timp 5 has more room for your feet to function inside the shoes than the Tomir 2. The midsole is soft and cushioned but, not as bouncy. The lugs on the Timp 5 aren’t deep enough for big enough to offer good traction on soft ground which makes these less versatile than the Tomir 2.0. https://www.northernrunner.com/blog/altra-timp-5-review/

Brooks Caldera 7: A nitrogen infused midsole and 8mm drop gives these some bounce to the ride but, there is still some ground feel under the forefoot. The lack of a rocker makes the heel to forefoot drop less noticeable than on the Tomir 2. The Caldera 7 has a broad base particularly at the heel which makes them less nimble on narrow single tracks. On everything else the ride is smooth and the grip versatile enough for some soft ground yet smooth enough for tarmac too. https://www.northernrunner.com/blog/brooks-caldera-7-review/

La Sportiva Akasha II: 6mm lugs under the forefoot bite well into soft ground yet also ride over firmer tracks and trails well. Suitable as a road to trail shoe and comfortable on tarmac but, doesn’t offer the bounce that you get from the Tomir 2.0. Although they are a narrow fit they do have a bit more space in the end of the toe box than the Tomir 2.0. https://www.northernrunner.com/blog/la-sportiva-akasha-ii-review/

Karhu Ikoni Trail: A versatile lug pattern offers good traction on the trails but, rides well on the road making these a good road to trail option. The cushioning is soft and the Karhu Fulcrum offers some propulsion without the need for a rocker. The toe box has a straight big toe and a comfortable volume. https://www.northernrunner.com/blog/karhu-ikoni-trail-review/

Topo Athletic Terraventure 4: A broad rounded toe box gives your feet the room to spread on impact and offer cushioning and stability. The 6mm lug gives good traction on hard and soft ground. The cushioning is soft but, doesn’t have the same spring as the Tomir 2.0. https://www.northernrunner.com/blog/topo-athletic-terraventure-4-review/