NNormal Kjerag 2.0 Review: Mountain Tough Yet Feather Light

The first time I wore the NNormal Kjerag 2.0, I hiked straight into the Holy Cross Wilderness on a mission to reach a string of alpine lakes with no trail leading the way. Within minutes, I was crawling over downed trees, clawing up rock ledges, and thrashing through brush so dense it snagged my arms and legs. I figured the shoes didn’t stand a chance.

But when I stopped hours later and looked down, the uppers looked untouched. No tears. No snags. Not even a loose thread. For a shoe this light, that durability shocked me. Most trail running shoes would’ve shredded under that kind of abuse.

Since then, we’ve logged around 50 miles together, including a few more burly hikes and the rest of the trail runs around the Roaring Fork Valley outside Aspen, Colo. The Kjerag 2.0 has proven itself across terrain. The

shoes are light and snappy when you run, durable enough to shrug off serious alpine abuse, and grippy on everything from gritty slabs to packed dirt. The fit is minimal and precise, which makes them less forgiving but incredibly responsive if you have the chops to handle them.

In short: The NNormal Kjerag 2.0 ($195) is a tough, responsive trail shoe that eats alpine abuse for breakfast. It’s not cheap, and it’s not beginner-friendly, but for experienced mountain runners, it’s one of the burliest speedy shoes I’ve worn this year.

See how the Nnormal Kjerag 2.0 stacks up against the competition in our buyer’s guide for the Best Trail Running Shoes for Women.

Nnormal Kjerag 2.0 Trail Running Shoe Review

The Kjerag 2.0 is the second version of NNormal’s flagship trail running shoe. The original launched in 2022 as the debut shoe from the brand founded by ultrarunner Kilian Jornet. (Yes, that Kilian who is arguably the greatest mountain runner of all time.) His vision for NNormal blends performance and sustainability, with a focus on building gear that lasts longer and performs at the highest level.

This update keeps the shoe’s featherweight feel and race-ready precision but makes key changes to improve comfort. Most notably, the upper is now a single-layer construction, which makes it more breathable and flexible without sacrificing durability. I spent over 2 months bopping around Colorado in the Kjerag 2.0 and walked away (pun intended) impressed with these trainers. Here are my thoughts.

Responsive Yet Supportive Foam

The Kjerag 2.0 rides on NNormal’s EExpure+ midsole, a new supercritical foam that’s created under high heat and pressure to be lighter, springier, and more durable than standard EVA. With no insole sitting on top, your foot is in direct contact with that foam, like right on top. This setup took a minute for me to get used to, but once I did, I became a fan.

It delivers quick rebound and consistent compression over time since there is literally nothing between you and the shoe. It’s also the reason the Kjerag feels so minimal when you first slip it on; it’s like a naked shoe with no padding between you and the midsole. But I think it also helps the shoe feel snappier and livelier underfoot.

On climbs around the Roaring Fork Valley, the foam felt like it was springing me uphill. Long descents highlighted the balance: enough cushion to keep my quads from blowing up, but not so much that I lost track of the ground beneath me. After about 50 miles, the foam hasn’t packed out or turned mushy. It’s retained that same snappy rebound I noticed right away.

That direct-to-foam setup also contributes to the precision. Many of today’s max-cushion trail shoes can feel wobbly or clunky, like you’re perched on top of a block of foam. But the Kjerag 2.0 keeps you close to the ground even though there is still a reasonably hefty 26mm stack height beneath your heel.

I never felt unstable scrambling across talus or edging along gritty rock slabs. Instead, the shoe gave me just enough softness to dull repetitive impacts without stealing feedback from the trail. It’s a ride that rewards experience for efficient runners who can take advantage of the quick turnover. Tradeoff: These kicks will probably feel unforgiving if you’re just starting out.

Durability That Eats Mountains for Breakfast

Durability is the category where the Kjerag 2.0 blew me away. As I mentioned earlier, I threw them into off-trail punishment that would have shredded most trail shoes. In the Holy Cross Wilderness, I climbed over jagged logs, dragged them through wet brush, scrambled up rock ledges, and even tiptoed through a scree field after a too-close-for-comfort bear sighting.

After all of that (plus my running miles), I expected to pull off shoes that looked like they’d been through a war. Instead, they emerged unscathed.

A second big test — another off-trail hike along Richmond Ridge above Aspen — produced the same result. Sharp rocks, brush, and a rough-and-tumble high alpine meadow left my legs tired, but the shoes still looked fresh.

I credit a lot of this to the burly upper materials. Dubbed Matryx, this single-layer upper uses a blend of synthetic layers (like polyamide and polyurethane) mixed with a small percentage of Kevlar, the same stuff used in bulletproof vests. While the Kjerag 2.0 shoes aren’t quite as rugged as body armor, the upper did a fantastic job of shrugging off more debris and abrasion that most running shoes will.

Grippy, Lightweight Traction

A shoe can be light and tough, but it’s worthless if you’re slip-sliding down the mountain. Thankfully, traction is another strong suit in our review of the Nnormal Kjerag 2.0 shoes.

To start, Nnormal went with Vibram Megagrip rubber, which is arguably the stickiest rubber compound on the market (and a personal favorite of mine). But instead of opting for the standard, they use Megagrip Litebase. It has the same tacky traction of traditional Megagrip, but it’s about half as thick. This doesn’t affect the performance, but it does slash a lot of weight from the shoes — to the tune of 30% when compared to standard Megagrip.

That’s a lot of numbers, but you notice the difference on the trail. On packed dirt, the 3.5mm lugs bit into everything I ran. Over exposed rock, the rubber gripped like glue. Atop gritty sand-covered slabs, I never once slipped. Throughout packed dirt, I scrambled around as fleet-footed as a billy goat. I have zero complaints about the traction.

But truly, the highlight was the slashed weight. At just 16.2 ounces per pair, the Kjerag 2.0 never left my legs feeling bogged down, even after long alpine climbs. That meant I still had the energy to take advantage of the tacky outsole instead of just surviving each step. Light shoes with mediocre traction feel sketchy fast, but light shoes with bombproof grip? That’s when the miles start to feel fun.

Built to Last: Sustainability

Sustainability isn’t an afterthought for NNormal; it’s one of the brand’s guiding principles. The Kjerag 2.0 reflects that from the ground up. The upper undergoes a dope-dye process that locks in color while using 50-95% less water than traditional dyeing methods.

The shoe is also designed for longevity, with large-scale testing showing that the Kjerag can last 1,000 km or more before breaking down. We don’t have direct comparative data, but anecdotally, this is far longer than most lightweight trail shoes on the market. By making a shoe that lasts longer, we’re dumping less into landfills.

That durability is just one piece of the brand’s bigger sustainability picture. NNormal operates as a certified B Corp, donates 1% of gross annual sales to environmental causes through 1% for the Planet, and supports environmental preservation through the Kilian Jornet Foundation. The brand also runs a Take Back Program that encourages runners to return used shoes for recycling or repurposing, keeping gear out of landfills.

NNormal’s motto is: “Always less. Never more.” And the brand seems to follow that in its design process, too. The company only makes a few models and updates its shoes only when better materials or lower-impact processes are found. (This is why the Kjerag 2.0 came 3 years after the first launch.)

It’s also why the Kjerag 2.0 is offered in unisex sizing, reducing the need for separate men’s and women’s runs. While that doesn’t always account for differences in foot shape (see Room for Improvement), it does align with the brand’s effort to streamline production and minimize environmental impact.

Room for Improvement

The most notable quirk of the Kjerag 2.0 is its unisex sizing. On one hand, this streamlines production and helps NNormal reduce its environmental footprint with fewer separate product runs, less waste, and a smaller overall collection.

On the other, women’s feet are often shaped differently than men’s, and the single fit option may not work for every woman. For me, the shoes fit fine, but women with narrower heels or higher arches might struggle to find the same locked-in feel.

Price is another sticking point. At $195, the Kjerag 2.0 is the most expensive shoe we reviewed this year. That’s a lot to swallow when the cost of living continually rises, too. But it’s worth recognizing that responsible materials, fair business practices, and extended durability come at a cost. I haven’t tested these shoes long enough to say for sure, but I know I’d be willing to pay more if I knew I’d get an extra year out of them.

Final Thoughts

The NNormal Kjerag 2.0 is a mountain runner’s shoe built for experienced feet. It’s light, snappy, and incredibly durable, creating a rare combination that makes it stand out in a crowded market.

But it’s also unapologetically minimal. No insole, minimal padding on the inside, unisex sizing, and a premium price mean it won’t be for everyone. If you’re new to trail running or crave plush cushion, this isn’t your shoe. But for seasoned trail runners, alpine scramblers, and anyone who values precision and longevity in a lightweight package, the Nnormal Kjerag 2.0 is one of the best mountain tools I’ve tested this season.