A moment to connect with NNormal

A few inspiring days in Mallorca with NNormal.

Natalina Neuenschwander from the SportsShoes Pro Alpine Team recently stepped into the world of NNormal, joining athletes and brand founders for a special training camp in Mallorca.

Natalina is a Swiss athlete that made the switch from high-level road cycling to trail running just over three years ago and hasn’t looked back since. Now competing as a mid-to-long distance specialist, she has already secured stage wins at the Transalpine Race and a 50km victory at Slovenia by UTMB.

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Pictured: NNormal HQ visit. Photo credit: Toni Perello

Set against the backdrop of the island where it all began, this event offered more than just an opportunity to test product. It was a chance to understand the philosophy behind the brand - its focus on durability, sustainability, and a simpler, more honest approach to the outdoor industry.

Across several days, athletes, staff, and partners came together to share experiences, test kit in real conditions, and connect on a more personal level. From relaxed group meals to in-depth conversations and time spent at both the NNormal and Camper headquarters, the event was rooted in openness and community.

Pictured: NNormal HQ visit. Photo credit: Toni Perello

We caught up with Natalina to hear about her experience firsthand.

Early on a Thursday morning, I set foot on the island of Mallorca.

Just a couple of months earlier, I had raced the 50k at Mallorca by UTMB - a performance I’m not proud of, but one that, in many ways, made me stronger. So when the invitation came to join NNormal Athlete Week this spring, “excited” felt like an understatement.

I’ve worn NNormal shoes since the very beginning. Emelie Forsberg and Kilian Jornet are names you come across quickly if you spend any time in the trail and mountain running world. If it’s a shoe they trust, it’s one I’m willing to trust too. The outdoor industry can be a strange place, and real sustainability is still hard to come by. NNormal are trying to do things differently - focusing on durability in a way that feels honest and, at times, rare.

My first pair was the Tomir 2, NNormal’s most versatile and comfortable model, which I found especially reliable for long ultra-distance trail running. It has a higher stack than the Kjeragand and deeper 5mm lug, which gave me more aggressive grip on extreme off-road surfaces. 

Since then, I’ve moved into the Cadí, which has quickly become a favourite. It is a well-balanced trail shoe that brings elite-level technology to everyday runners. Soft cushioning, steady rebound, reliable traction and an adaptive fit, so you can stay out longer and come back wanting more.

Cadí is the shoe we were testing out here in on Mallorca's dry, rocky and technical tails which was a good test of how this shoe handled varied terrain over multiple days. here it felt steady and comfortable over multiple days of running.

The Cadí was the shoe we spent most our time in during the camp, where we were putting these running on dry, rocky and technical trails. It proved to be a good real-world test of how it handles varied terrain over multiple days, feeling steady and comfortable throughout.

Coming back to Mallorca felt like more than just another trip. There was something about returning to a place where things hadn’t gone the way I’d hoped - something unfinished about it. This time, it felt like a chance to make peace with that experience.

During our four days on the island, we visited both the NNormal and Camper headquarters. What stood out immediately was the simplicity. No polished storefronts or carefully constructed faCades - just a single room lined with tables, laptops balanced on shoeboxes, and pairs of well-worn shoes that had carried athletes for more than 1,000 kilometres. The Camper headquarters echoed that same philosophy: each prototype crafted by hand, then rigorously tested before ever reaching the market.

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Pictured: Exploring the trails of Mallorca. Photo credit: Toni Perello

I left with a feeling I didn’t quite expect, a kind of familiarity. That feeling carried into the afternoons too, like when we sat down for lunch together in a nearby garden. It didn’t feel staged or formal, just people spending time together. Community seems to sit naturally at the centre of both companies.

It’s hard to pick one moment from those four days, but if I had to, it wouldn’t be a single highlight - it would be the people I met. Of course, I fangirled a little (we all did), but what stood out more was how easy everything felt. There was a genuine interest in each other that made it simple to forget, at least for a while, what these people have achieved.

From the marketing and sales teams, to the two French men I ended up singing chansons with in the car, to the athletes themselves, I kept coming back to the same thought: at the end of the day, we’re all just very normal people (pun very much intended).

Pictured: NNormal's Puig Tomir Race. Photo credit: Toni Perello

The NNormal Story

Inspiring people to enjoy and respect nature. Between the fjords of Norway where Kilian Jornet lives, and the shores of Mallorca, home of Camper - discover the origin of NNormal - as hinted in the name of the brand (Nor-way + Mal-lorca). NNormal’s products reflect the partnership’s shared philosophy: authenticity and utility that inspire people to enjoy and respect nature - a mission which is expressed through timeless gear that’s functional, performance-oriented, and built to last.

While most trail running shoes typically last between 500–800 kilometres depending on terrain, NNormal place a strong emphasis on extending that lifespan, with real-world examples of pairs exceeding 1,000 kilometres of use. This focus on longevity underpins their approach to both performance and sustainability.

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Head over to our NNormal Brand Store to find out more about the products and brand.

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