ActiveRunningArc’teryx Norvan Nivalis GTX review: winter-ready waterproof trail shoesA waterproof trail running shoe that actually works!? Sign me up.When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.(Image credit: Matt Kollat/T3)T3 VerdictApart from the somewhat narrow toebox, there is very little to criticise about the Arc’teryx Norvan Nivalis GTX. This agile and rugged trail runner is perfect for winter off-road running sessions or walks when extra protection against water is required. Not to mention, they look stunning, too!Reasons to buy+Brilliantly-supportive built+Looks stunning+Keeps your feet protected from rain and cold+Waterproof gaiter helps keep water/debris out of the shoes+Grippy Vibram outsole+Works well as a walking shoeReasons to avoid-Narrow toebox-Not very sustainableWhy you can trust T3Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you.Find out more about how we test.
ActiveRunningArc’teryx Norvan Nivalis GTX review: winter-ready waterproof trail shoesA waterproof trail running shoe that actually works!? Sign me up.When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.(Image credit: Matt Kollat/T3)T3 VerdictApart from the somewhat narrow toebox, there is very little to criticise about the Arc’teryx Norvan Nivalis GTX. This agile and rugged trail runner is perfect for winter off-road running sessions or walks when extra protection against water is required. Not to mention, they look stunning, too!Reasons to buy+Brilliantly-supportive built+Looks stunning+Keeps your feet protected from rain and cold+Waterproof gaiter helps keep water/debris out of the shoes+Grippy Vibram outsole+Works well as a walking shoeReasons to avoid-Narrow toebox-Not very sustainableWhy you can trust T3Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you.Find out more about how we test.
A waterproof trail running shoe that actually works!? Sign me up.
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
(Image credit: Matt Kollat/T3)T3 VerdictApart from the somewhat narrow toebox, there is very little to criticise about the Arc’teryx Norvan Nivalis GTX. This agile and rugged trail runner is perfect for winter off-road running sessions or walks when extra protection against water is required. Not to mention, they look stunning, too!Reasons to buy+Brilliantly-supportive built+Looks stunning+Keeps your feet protected from rain and cold+Waterproof gaiter helps keep water/debris out of the shoes+Grippy Vibram outsole+Works well as a walking shoeReasons to avoid-Narrow toebox-Not very sustainable
(Image credit: Matt Kollat/T3)
(Image credit: Matt Kollat/T3)
T3 VerdictApart from the somewhat narrow toebox, there is very little to criticise about the Arc’teryx Norvan Nivalis GTX. This agile and rugged trail runner is perfect for winter off-road running sessions or walks when extra protection against water is required. Not to mention, they look stunning, too!Reasons to buy+Brilliantly-supportive built+Looks stunning+Keeps your feet protected from rain and cold+Waterproof gaiter helps keep water/debris out of the shoes+Grippy Vibram outsole+Works well as a walking shoeReasons to avoid-Narrow toebox-Not very sustainable
T3 VerdictApart from the somewhat narrow toebox, there is very little to criticise about the Arc’teryx Norvan Nivalis GTX. This agile and rugged trail runner is perfect for winter off-road running sessions or walks when extra protection against water is required. Not to mention, they look stunning, too!
T3 Verdict
Apart from the somewhat narrow toebox, there is very little to criticise about the Arc’teryx Norvan Nivalis GTX. This agile and rugged trail runner is perfect for winter off-road running sessions or walks when extra protection against water is required. Not to mention, they look stunning, too!
Reasons to buy+Brilliantly-supportive built+Looks stunning+Keeps your feet protected from rain and cold+Waterproof gaiter helps keep water/debris out of the shoes+Grippy Vibram outsole+Works well as a walking shoeReasons to avoid-Narrow toebox-Not very sustainable
Reasons to buy+Brilliantly-supportive built+Looks stunning+Keeps your feet protected from rain and cold+Waterproof gaiter helps keep water/debris out of the shoes+Grippy Vibram outsole+Works well as a walking shoe
Brilliantly-supportive built
Looks stunning
Keeps your feet protected from rain and cold
Waterproof gaiter helps keep water/debris out of the shoes
Grippy Vibram outsole
Works well as a walking shoe
Reasons to avoid-Narrow toebox-Not very sustainable
Narrow toebox
Not very sustainable
Why you can trust T3Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you.Find out more about how we test.
Why you can trust T3Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you.Find out more about how we test.
Jump to category:Price and availabilitySpecificationsDesign and build qualityPerformance and comfortVerdictAlso consider
Jump to category:Price and availabilitySpecificationsDesign and build qualityPerformance and comfortVerdictAlso consider
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I am a big fan of the Arc’teryx and have tried many of its performance shoes before, which is exactly why I was slightly apprehensive about doing this Arc’teryx Norvan Nivalis GTX review. The brand’s footwear is usually top-notch quality and performs really well for what they were designed for, but the fit is too narrow for my wide feet. Still, when I first laid my eyes on the shoes, I knew I’d have to try them, no matter what.
I’ve been using the shoes for various activities for the last few weeks, and the more I wore the Arc’teryx Norvan Nivalis GTX, the more it grew on me. Who doesn’t like shoes that look great and perform even better? I know I do. It’s time to update T3’sbest trail running shoesguide, I think! And considering how well the Norvan Nivalis GTX functions for walking, I’ll probably add it to ourbest walking shoesroundup, too.
Arc’teryx Norvan Nivalis GTX review
Arc’teryx Norvan Nivalis GTX review: price and availability
The Arc’teryx Norvan Nivalis GTX was released in October 2023 and is available to buy now directly fromArc’teryx UKandArc’teryx USfor a recommended retail price of £180/ $220 (approx. AU$ 343). It’s currently not available via Arc’teryx’s Australian website.
The shoes have unisex sizing and come in two colours: the tested Smoke Bluff/Smoke Bluff and the sleek Black/Black. Uk sizes range from 3.5 to 13.5 in half-size increments.
Arc’teryx Norvan Nivalis GTX review: specifications
(Image credit: Matt Kollat/T3)
(Image credit: Matt Kollat/T3)
Arc’teryx Norvan Nivalis GTX review: design and build quality
(Image credit: Matt Kollat/T3)
(Image credit: Matt Kollat/T3)
Norvan is Arc’teryx’s high-performance trail running system for “extended high output in challenging terrain,” the brand explains on its website. The Arc’teryx Norvan Nivalis GTX, as the name suggests, is a waterproof addition to the line and features a durable, flexible upper lined with a Gore-Tex bootie.
The feature that lands a chukka boot-style aesthetic to the Norvan Nivalis GTX is the breathable water-repellent stretch gaiter, sporting a front zip closure that extends to the ankle for added protection from snow, water, and mud entry. The gaiter also helps keep debris out of the shoe.
Hidden under the zipped gaiter is the padded tongue and the quick lace system, which isn’t quite on par with Boa fastening but helps tie the shoes easier and with less effort. Should the Arc’teryx Norvan Nivalis GTX have traditional lacing, I imagine getting in and out of the shoes would be pretty challenging.
The EVA/Polyolefin blend midsole feels solid and provides shock absorption as well as propulsion – I couldn’t find any info on stack height or drop, though. The toe cap further enhances protection and abrasion resistance. Sadly, and from what I can tell, no components are made from recycled materials, which is a shame, considering the construction is 100% polyester.
Finally, the Arc’teryx Norvan Nivalis GTX uses tried-and-tested third-party technologies on the outsole, including the Vibram Litebase sole and a grippy Vibram Megagrip rubber compound with an aggressive 6 mm lug pattern.
Arc’teryx Norvan Nivalis GTX review: performance and comfort
(Image credit: Matt Kollat/T3)
(Image credit: Matt Kollat/T3)
As mentioned in the intro, I found Arc’teryx shoes too narrow for my feet in the past, and even though the company claims that the Norvan Nivalis GTX’s “toe box is sized to accommodate splay,” I went half size up to ensure my feet won’t feel too compressed in the shoes.
Indeed, the Arc’teryx Norvan Nivalis GTX feels narrow but not uncomfortably tight. The only time I felt some pressure was when I wore the shoes for over 12 hours (!). Anything less than that, the pressure in the toe box is more than bearable.
Some people prefer theirtrail running shoes not to be waterproof– it prevents the water that got inside from leaving, which makes the shoes heavier and wearing them less comfortable – thanks to the waterproof gaiter, it makes sense for the Arc’teryx Norvan Nivalis GTX to be fully waterproof.
Granted, I’ve yet to wear them for a proper sloppy trail session, but on the rainy runs and walks I went on wearing them, they managed to keep the water out well.
The grip is on point, as I would expect from shoes utilising top-tier Vibram technology. The depth and orientation of those lugs are excellent and work well for both off-road and tarmac running. I never felt slippy or not in control of my stride in the Norvan Nivalis GTX.
Energy return is good, too, which surprised me a bit. The shoes look heavier than they are – not quite the same as theNike Alphafly 2level, but still – yet I never felt sluggish when running in them. You shouldn’t expect the same energy return as plated road runners, but for waterproof trail running shoes, the Arc’teryx Norvan Nivalis GTX perform pretty well.
Arc’teryx Norvan Nivalis GTX review: verdict
(Image credit: Matt Kollat/T3)
(Image credit: Matt Kollat/T3)
The Arc’teryx Norvan Nivalis GTX is such a nice trail running shoe that it makes me wish I didn’t have wide feet so I could wear them for every off-road running session I’ll do in the future. The shoes represent the best Arc-teryx has to offer for people who often run and walk outdoors – and they look stunning, too. If only they were more sustainably made!
Waterproof trail runners can be a bit and miss, but thanks to the Gore-Tex bootie and flexible waterproof gaiter, the Norvan Nivalis GTX is one of the best ones out there. The price pushes the shoes more into the premium category, and the popularity of the Arc’teryx brand in fashion circles might also put some trail runners off, but if you’re happy to justify/accept both of those things, you’ll love your new Norvan Nivalis GTX.
Arc’teryx Norvan Nivalis GTX review: also consider
The inov-8 Trailfly G270 v2 retains all the excellence of the first-gen trail tamer – the speed and agility, balanced protection, great grip, and robust durability – and adds a little extra upper comfort. It’s slightly firmer than your average trail runner, mind. Read Kieran’s awesomeInov-8 Trailfly G270 V2 review.
The Hoka Speedgoat 5 is a fantastic, slightly lighter upgrade to the Speedgoat 4 with a new, sock-like mesh upper made from recycled materials and an excellent midsole rebound. Featuring the same Vibram Megagrip sole as the Arc’Teryx Norvan Nivalis GTX but with Traction Lugs, Hoka’s GOAT trail shoes provide a secure, snug fit for multi-terrain use and more muddy and technical (rocky, uneven) trails. Read Claire’s fullHoka Speedgoat 5 review.
Arc’teryx Norvan Nivalis GTX: Price Comparison
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