Norda and Black Diamond Launch 000 Trail Shoe and Gear
Norda and Black Diamond have launched a long-term partnership and their first collaborative alpine performance collection, anchored by the new norda 000
Footwear brand norda and mountain equipment leader Black Diamond have entered a long-term partnership, united by a shared obsession with performance. Their first collaborative collection, anchored in an all-new set of trail-ready products and featuring the all-new norda 000 silhouette, is available now at nordarun.com and blackdiamondequipment.com.
According to the brands, the partnership was sparked by a shared admiration for mountain runner Joe Grant. Dan Rowe, Special Projects and Design Lead at Black Diamond, said the origins began at the athlete level, with admiration for the way Grant chooses to interact with trails. "Following his journey offers a rare lens into the spirit that drives us outside in the first place, and Black Diamond is a rare brand that caters to the spirited yet serious," Rowe told Hypebeast.
A Shoe Built from the Ground Up
Rather than co-branding an existing model, the teams created a new silhouette from the ground up. Adam John, norda’s Creative Director, stated they created a brand-new shoe that dictated the type of movement they wanted the partnership to convey. The result is the norda x Black Diamond 000, a shoe designed for long days that can handle highly variable and uneven alpine terrain.
John emphasized the brands' material ethos. Norda creates the only trail shoes with purposefully-engineered usage of Dyneema®. The goal was to ensure every technical piece conveyed an ethos of durability. Black Diamond contributed its analog material, Challenge Sailcloth, used in the Distance Pack and Mini Mission Duffel. The collection also features subtle innovations like anodization and laser etching on trekking poles, expressing forward-looking innovation.
The Complete Collaborative Kit
The collection delivers a fully integrated kit for efficient alpine movement, with several pieces informed by athlete Joe Grant. It is finished in a palette of obsidian, moonstone, and soft pink kunzite inspired by mountain minerals.
| Product | Brand | Description |
|---|---|---|
| norda 000 | norda | All-new shoe for high-mountain running |
| Distance 15 Pack | Black Diamond | Pack constructed from Challenge Sailcloth |
| Distance Carbon Z FKT Poles | Black Diamond | Trekking poles with new detailing |
| Mini Mission Duffle 30L | Black Diamond | Duffel made from Challenge Sailcloth |
| Miniwire Carabiner | Black Diamond | Essential climbing carabiner |
| T-Shirt | Black Diamond | Apparel item |
| Cap | Black Diamond | Apparel item |
Shared Philosophies and Organic Development
Dan Rowe noted an immediate mutual respect between the two design teams and the way each approaches product, but said finding the spirit of the collaboration took time and flowed organically. Both brands share a deep connection to the mountains and a belief in creating products that are purposeful, considered, and without anything superfluous.
Joe Grant was described as an important part of that connection, not only as the link between the brands, but through his approach to the mountains and his respect for the beauty of running in natural places. The inaugural collection debuted at Sanglard Sports in Chamonix, France, and is now available online.
