When we started carrying trail running equipment at Free Lap Collective, norda & SATISFY were the two brands that piqued our interest the most when considering who we wanted to feature in store. Not just because they were cool or trendy, but because of their commitment to quality, premium materials and construction, and a devotion to innovation.

Fast forward a couple years and lots of miles in both norda and SATISFY products - we're presented with something new from each brand: The 001A from norda, and TheRocker from SATISFY. Both fill a specific niche in the trail shoe market, both come in at a similar price, and both are all over your instagram feed.

We've gotten to know both the 001A and TheRocker pretty intimately over the last few months and are here to break down both shoes for you - the features, capabilities, pros and cons, and which shoe might be right for you.

norda 001A

Before the 001A, the 001 was our primary trail shoe. We loved its durability, comfort, and confidence inspiring nature when the trail got rough and rugged. Our main gripe was the responsiveness, especially on road or tame trails - the 001 could feel a bit dull and flat. You could argue that the 001 wasn't designed for timid terrain or your weekend cafe route, and you'd have a fair point. But where the 001 may want for liveliness, the updated 001A looks to improve and refine.

Features

The main feature of the 001A is the new Arnitel TPEE midsole that replaces the outgoing Vibram SLE foam midsole from the 001. With design and material cues taken from norda's race shoe, the 005, the new proprietary Arnitel TPEE midsole increases energy return by 30% over the 001 and brings the weight down by 10%. norda claims the new midsole doesn't affect overall durability of the shoe - a huge plus considering this was one of the main selling points of the original 001. With all other features of the 001A being virtually the same as the 001, we won’t dive deeper on the feature list.

On Trail

Lacing up the 001A for the first time was a familiar sensation. The ultra thin Dyneema upper is pliant, secure, and locks your foot in for whatever you’ll throw at it. Immediately when standing you notice a difference in plushness from the 001. 

On trail, that plushness translates to a much more comfortable ride and a significant energy return improvement over the 001. Though we didn't notice the weight difference all that much - the increase in responsiveness more than made up for our lack of perception on the weight. We absolutely loved the 001, and didn't think there was much room for improvement without sacrificing its core values of durability and comfort. We were pleasantly surprised at how wrong we were. The new midsole is truly a game changer. The 001A is still as confidence inspiring as the 001, but now you can push farther and float over the trail with ease.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Locked in glove like feel
• Significant improvement in responsiveness from the 001
• No sacrifice in durability and comfort

Cons

• Heel tab may cause some achilles rub during break in

SATISFY TheRocker

When we first got word about a SATISFY trail shoe in development we were excited to say the least. We knew it would be beautiful, we knew every detail and design feature would be scrutinized and evaluated. And once we saw the teaser images, our speculations were confirmed - it indeed was a beautiful shoe, and it indeed was oozing with SATISFY's meticulous attention to detail. But the biggest question of all still remained.. was it actually good?

Features

Before we answer the 'is it actually good?' question, let's break down some of TheRocker's main features. At first glance the two most striking features of TheRocker are the asymmetric lacing and the TuneLug™ outsole, which exemplify SATISFY’s left field aesthetic and usage of design inspirations from outside the running world (RC cars being the main source material for TheRocker). SATISFY connects the TuneLug™ outsole with the Euforia™ Super Foam midsole made from a proprietary blend of PEBA/EVA that has a pronounced rocker shape. Up top we have the Rippy™ 66 Monomesh upper made from breathable and abrasion resistant Nova® Nylon 66. 

On Trail

I’ll be honest, when I first put on TheRocker and laced it up, I said to myself ‘hmmm I don’t know about this…’ The sizing and fit felt good, the midsole felt plush, the lugs felt ready to fully tear up whatever terrain was ahead, but what I was unsure about was the asymmetric lacing, and more specifically, where the tongue ended on the lateral foot which emanated in a lot of pressure on the pinky metatarsal (I highly recommend wearing a thin sock the first couple runs). It was at first only vaguely annoying, and to my relief, slowly became unnoticeable as the miles began to tick by. After my mind drifted away from the tongue pressure, I was able to gather my thoughts on how the shoe was actually performing. And to answer the question, ‘well.. is it good??’ Yes, yes it is good. Once the shoe began to break in and my feet felt more and more at home, the first thing that immediately stood out was how plush and responsive the midsole was. The energy return, comfort, and gliding ease I felt on the trail was truly impressive. So much so that I was worried that when the trail began to point downward and the rocks got a lot rockier, stability would escape me and I’d be in for a wild ride. Not the case at all. TheRocker felt composed, the TuneLug™ outsole hooked up when it got loose, and the Rippy™ 66 upper maintained its shape and rigidity, keeping my foot secure and in place. And as the dirt transitioned to pavement I was equally impressed with how well it handled the terrain change. The plush midsole with a pronounced rocker shape kept the momentum propelling forward, which is a huge benefit if your commute to and from the trail involves quite a bit of tarmac, like mine does. 

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Ultra plush and responsive midsole that feels equally great on trail & road
• Rocker shape keeps your momentum moving forward, especially on flat terrain
• One of the best looking shoe silhouettes on the market

Cons

• Asymmetric lacing puts tongue in awkward spot over lateral metatarsal and can cause unwanted pressure at pinky toe
• Heel doesn’t feel as locked into the shoe as you may want

Which shoe is right for you

The 001A and TheRocker may occupy a similar space in the trail shoe market, but they are two very different beasts, and are designed with two very different purposes in mind. So which shoe is right for you? It really depends on where you run, how you run, and what features you prioritize in a trail shoe. In some cases both shoes might fill a void in your trail shoe quiver. If your trails are rough, rugged, and unforgiving we’d reach for the 001A 9 times out of 10 for its locked in feel, confidence inspiring ride, and unmatched durability (the 1 time we don’t reach for it is when we forget to pack it in our gear bag). We can’t emphasize enough how confident the 001A feels underfoot. When the trail gets rough the 001A truly shines. And if durability is a main selling point for you, the 001A is without a doubt the gold standard - lasting 2-3x longer than most trail shoes on the market. That feature alone justifies its hefty price tag. But what if your trails don’t require a bulldozer like the 001A? What if you’re doing a lot of mixed terrain runs and need something that feels equally at home on tarmac as it does on trail? TheRocker fills that need exceptionally well. My out-the-door trail loop encompasses some mild single track connected by paved walking paths. I was impressed with how good TheRocker felt and behaved on both surfaces. The plush Euforia™ Super Foam midsole and TuneLug™ outsole are really the stars of the show. The energy return, forward propulsion, and confident grip really stand out as highlights. For mixed surface runs, flatter trails, and flowy single track, TheRocker is the shoe I’d reach for. 

We’re really impressed with both norda’s 001A and SATISFY’s TheRocker. We’re actually quite happy how different the shoes are, as they occupy two very different but critical needs in our trail shoe arsenal - especially with the extremely diverse topography in the Reno-Tahoe region. Whatever your specific demands may be, we’re confident the 001A or TheRocker will fill that need with poise and conviction.