This Is What a “Military-Grade” Trail Shoe Should Really Look Like

Most “military-grade” gear is cheap and mass-produced. Norda’s new approach shoe is neither of those things.

Close-up of an olive green and black Norda shoe with textured fabric and a thick black sole.

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Published 4 hours ago

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In today’s day and age, a brand might use the word “military-grade” when making claims around durability. In reality, the term really just means practical.

Sure, sometimes toughness comes with the turf. However, clothing and footwear made for the Department of Defense are, first and foremost, things can be made cheaply — and at scale.

All to say, the Norda 003 G+ “Moss” may look like it belongs in a surplus store, thanks to a new drab-green makeover. But that’s probably selling the slip-on approach shoe way, way short.

Pair of olive green and black slip-on shoes hanging from a black carabiner clip. — The latest colorway of the 003 was “inspired by resiliency and ecological significance of moss,” Norda says.

Tough and tougher

Like much of Norda’s catalog, the 003 G+ features an upper constructed from Dyneema, a lightweight wonder-fabric that’s stronger than steel at the molecular level.

And that’s just the start of it.

Pair of olive green and black slip-on shoes with black soles and "norda" branding inside. — Like the bulk of Norda’s shoes to date, the 003 G+ uses Dyneema for the basis of the upper.

The 003 G+ features a highly responsive eTPU midsole and rugged outsole featuring Vibram Megagrip rubber.

The outsole features and Vibram Megagrip and 5mm lugs.

Norda

Finally, a thin layer of graphene, fused to the Dyneema shell, insulates the shoe from both water and wind, “all while remaining highly breathable,” the brand claims.

Norda is not the only shoe brand experimenting with graphene, which carries a hydrostatic head (HH) rating of 10,000mm — meaning it can withstand the pressure of more than 32 feet of water before it leaks.

Norda has pioneered the use of graphene in footwear. The material brings warmth and water resistance without sacrificing breathability.

Norda

That said, the material has yet to catch on like polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), the synthetic polymer used in Gore-Tex.

Perhaps the Department of Defense should take notes …

Availability and pricing

The Norda 003 G+ “Moss” is available now for $325. According to Norda, the color was “inspired by resiliency and ecological significance of moss.”

Olive green and black slip-on trail shoe with thick textured black sole and pull tabs at heel.

Norda 003 G+ “Moss”

$325 at Norda

About the Author:

Jack Seemer is the executive editor at Gear Patrol, with over a decade of experience in product journalism. He currently reports on a wide range of topics, including footwear, watches, EDC, cookware and more.

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