NNormal Cadí: 270g Max-Cushion Trail Running Shoe With Vibram Megagrip for SS26

May 4
9 min read

NNormal just shipped its first max-cushion trail shoe, and the spec sheet does the talking. The NNormal Cadí lands at 270 grams with 29 millimeters of heel stack, a Vibram Megagrip outsole, and a 4 millimeter lug. That weight at that stack is the headline number. It is also the kind of release the trail running press has been waiting for since Kilian Jornet co-founded the brand. April 2026.

What it is

The NNormal Cadí is the first max-cushion trail shoe from NNormal, Kilian Jornet's brand built in partnership with Camper. NNormal until now has been the brand of the Kjerag (minimalist trail) and the Tomir (race-oriented). The Cadí is the comfort-focused everyday trail shoe in the lineup, positioned for long training miles, thru-hikes, and all-day ultras where the Kjerag's lower stack feels too spartan underfoot.

The NNormal Cadí runs a 29 millimeter heel and 23 millimeter forefoot stack with a 6 millimeter drop. It weighs 270 grams in a men's sample size. Outsole is Vibram Megagrip with 4 millimeter lugs. Upper is Sincetech engineered woven, the same one-piece breathable construction that earned praise on the Kjerag. Toe box is wider than the Kjerag, built on a last that takes cues from the Kjerag's geometry but adds room for the foot to splay on long efforts. Available in Beige, Green, Blue, and Black at $175 USD.

Specs that matter

Stack height: 29 mm heel / 23 mm forefoot

Drop: 6 mm

Weight: 270 g (men's sample)

Lug depth: 4 mm

Outsole: Vibram Megagrip

Upper: Sincetech engineered woven, one-piece

Toe box: Wide, last inspired by the Kjerag

Plate: None

Colorways: Beige, Green, Blue, Black

Price: $175 USD

A few of these earn a closer look.

The 270 gram weight at 29 millimeter stack is the spec that puts the NNormal Cadí in a different conversation than most max-cushion trail shoes. Most shoes in the 28 to 32 millimeter stack range come in between 290 and 320 grams. The Cadí beats that class by 20 to 50 grams. NNormal achieved the weight class through midsole foam choice and a minimalist upper. No bulk for bulk's sake.

The Vibram Megagrip outsole is the second spec worth flagging. Megagrip is the trail running compound most respected by ultrarunners and skyrunners across both wet and dry conditions. It is the rubber on the original Kjerag. NNormal carrying it into a max-cushion silhouette signals they did not compromise the trail performance for the cushion experience.

The 4 millimeter lug depth is a real trail outsole. A lot of max-cushion trail shoes in this stack range run 2 to 3 millimeter lugs because deeper lugs add weight and stiffness to the ride. NNormal kept the 4 millimeter lug depth, which is the difference between a shoe that grips on technical singletrack and a shoe that slides on it.

The plate-free construction is the philosophical statement. The road and trail super-shoe category has been dominated by carbon plates for the past five years. NNormal's brand position has consistently rejected marketing-driven feature additions. The Cadí continues that. Some runners will read this as a missing feature; others will read it as the deliberate restraint that the brand stands for.

NNormal Cadí outsole detail showing Vibram Megagrip with 4mm lugs

Materials & construction

The construction story is the Sincetech engineered woven upper. Sincetech is the one-piece woven that NNormal uses across the line. It is breathable through the weave structure rather than through perforations or mesh panels, which is the difference between an upper that vents heat without sacrificing structure and an upper that compromises on either.

The wider toe box on the Cadí is the construction departure from the Kjerag. NNormal kept the same general last geometry but added room across the metatarsals and the toe splay zone. For long efforts, this is the feature that separates a shoe runners go back to from a shoe that gets benched after the first 50K. Foot swelling on a 4-hour effort is real. A wider toe box accommodates it.

The midsole foam is the unspoken construction lever. NNormal does not market specific foam compounds the way major brands do, but the Cadí's combination of 29 millimeter stack and 270 gram weight requires a foam with high energy return per gram. The on-foot feel is described in early reviews as soft but stable, which suggests a tuned foam blend rather than a single ultra-soft compound.

Who it's for

The NNormal Cadí is built for the trail runner who wants a max-cushion experience without the weight penalty most max-cushion trail shoes carry, and for the runner who values the brand's philosophy of restraint and durability. Long training runs, all-day ultras, fastpacking trips, thru-hikes, and recovery days where a stiffer race shoe would not be the right call.

It is the right pick for the runner already in the NNormal Kjerag who wants more underfoot for long efforts. It is also the right pick for the runner curious about NNormal who has been waiting for a max-cushion option to be the entry point. For both audiences, the Cadí is the shoe that fills the gap in the lineup.

It is the wrong pick for the runner who wants a plate, a stiff midsole, and a race-day-only shoe. The Cadí is intentionally not that shoe. Get the NNormal Tomir for race days. It is also the wrong pick for the runner who needs an aggressive lug pattern for technical mountain running in mud or wet rock; the 4 millimeter lug is a balanced trail lug, not a fell-running spike.

A specific scenario this shoe was made for: a 30-mile training run on rolling singletrack at a comfortable pace, mixed surface, with a weight class light enough to keep the legs fresh and a stack high enough to forgive a six-hour effort.

NNormal Cadí upper detail showing Sincetech engineered woven construction

How it compares

Against the Hoka Speedgoat 6 (around $155, 285 g, 33 mm stack, Vibram Megagrip): Speedgoat is the long-standing benchmark for max-cushion trail shoes. Cadí is lighter at 270 grams and has a lower stack at 29 millimeters. Speedgoat has more cushion underfoot; Cadí has a more responsive ride. Both run Vibram Megagrip.

Against the Salomon Genesis (around $130, 290 g, 32 mm stack, All Terrain Contagrip): Genesis is the tighter mountain-running cut at a slightly higher stack. Cadí trades Genesis's narrower fit and lower price for a more durable construction and a wider toe box.

Against the Altra Olympus 6 (around $185, 320 g, 33 mm stack, zero-drop): Olympus is the closer max-cushion match on stack height but in a zero-drop platform. Cadí is lighter and runs a 6 millimeter drop. For runners who prefer zero-drop, Olympus. For runners who want the broader market drop, Cadí.

Against the NNormal Kjerag (around $195, 226 g, 23 mm stack): Kjerag is the brand's minimalist alternative. Cadí adds 6 millimeters of stack and 44 grams of weight against the Kjerag. The Kjerag is the racier, more responsive option. The Cadí is the everyday option.

Where it shines (and where it doesn't)

It shines on long-effort training runs, ultras with significant time on feet, fastpacking trips that involve running, and thru-hikes where a runnable shoe matters. It shines for runners who like the NNormal philosophy and want max cushion without abandoning it.

Where it does not shine: short fast efforts where the lower-stack Tomir or Kjerag would be the right call. It also does not shine for runners who prefer the higher stack of a Hoka Speedgoat or Altra Olympus; the Cadí stops at 29 millimeters by deliberate design, not by oversight.

NNormal Cadí colorway lineup showing all four launch options

Where to get it

The NNormal Cadí is available at nnormal.com (US and EU) and through select specialty trail running retailers. Colorways at launch: Beige, Green, Blue, and Black. $175 USD. Shipping started in April 2026.

Frequently asked questions

What is the NNormal Cadí?

The NNormal Cadí is the first max-cushion trail running shoe from NNormal, Kilian Jornet's brand. It runs a 29 millimeter heel and 23 millimeter forefoot stack with a 6 millimeter drop, weighs 270 grams in a men's sample size, and uses a Vibram Megagrip outsole with 4 millimeter lugs. It retails for $175 USD and shipped in April 2026.

Who designed the NNormal Cadí?

The NNormal Cadí was designed by NNormal, the trail running brand co-founded by Kilian Jornet with manufacturer Camper. Kilian Jornet is one of the most decorated mountain athletes in trail running, ski mountaineering, and alpinism. The brand's design language reflects his preferences for durable, repairable, minimally branded gear, and the Cadí extends that philosophy into the max-cushion category.

How much does the NNormal Cadí weigh?

The NNormal Cadí weighs 270 grams in a men's sample size. That weight is unusually light for a trail running shoe with 29 millimeters of stack height. Most max-cushion trail shoes in this stack range come in between 290 and 320 grams. The Cadí's weight class is closer to a moderate-stack trail shoe than a typical max-cushion.

What is the stack height of the NNormal Cadí?

The NNormal Cadí runs a 29 millimeter heel and 23 millimeter forefoot stack, which works out to a 6 millimeter heel-to-toe drop. The 29 millimeter heel puts the shoe in the max-cushion category. The 6 millimeter drop is moderate, neither aggressively low like a zero-drop shoe nor stacked like a typical 10 to 12 millimeter trail shoe drop.

Does the NNormal Cadí have a carbon plate?

The NNormal Cadí does not have a carbon plate or any rigid plate. NNormal's design philosophy is consistent across the line, including avoiding the marketing-driven plates and proprietary technologies that dominate the road and trail super-shoe category. The Cadí is plate-free, which fits its positioning as an everyday max-cushion shoe rather than a race shoe.

What outsole does the NNormal Cadí use?

The NNormal Cadí uses a Vibram Megagrip outsole with 4 millimeter lugs. Vibram Megagrip is the rubber compound most respected in the trail running category for traction across wet and dry terrain. The 4 millimeter lug depth is real trail traction, not the often-compromised tread depth on max-cushion road-trail hybrids.

Where can I buy the NNormal Cadí?

The NNormal Cadí is available at nnormal.com (US and EU) and through select specialty trail running retailers. Colorways at launch include Beige, Green, Blue, and Black. The shoe sells for $175 USD. It launched in April 2026 as part of NNormal's expanded SS26 lineup.

The bottom line

Buy the NNormal Cadí if you want a max-cushion trail shoe that does not abandon NNormal's design restraint, and if a 270 gram weight class at 29 millimeters of stack is the spec you have been waiting for. Skip it if you race trail and need a plated, stiffer race shoe. The reason this matters: Cadí finally fills the everyday-trail gap in the NNormal line, which is the slot most runners actually buy into a brand for.

NNormal Cadí side view detail in green colorway

Specs and pricing accurate as of 2026-04-29 when this post was published. Check the brand page for current availability and colorways.