Nothing beats a good pair of sneakers for all-day comfort. I recently had the opportunity to evaluate the new 5.11 Tactical® Norris Sneaker. At first glance, the Norris appears to be just a stylish, casual high-top sneaker. It is certainly that, but it is also much more. The Norris combines fashion-forward styling with special features that make it an ideal low-key tactical sneaker. It is definitely about more than just good looks. They have become my go-to sneaker.
The 5.11 Norris Sneaker was designed and built for all-day comfort and performance. Available in black and Ranger Green colorways, the Norris features a suede and nylon upper for style, comfort and durability. It has a stitched, climbing-grade rubber toe cap for protection and durability.
5.11 Tactical went with Vibram® Marbrani outsole with XS TREK™ for flexibility and wet traction. Vibram XS TREK is a no-marking technical compound that provides great overall performance. It is engineered for stability, comfort and responsiveness on unpredictable terrain. It was designed to provide the optimal balance of traction and durability. It is very “grippy,” with a comparatively high coefficient of friction, and is oil resistant.
The 5.11 Norris Sneaker has a full-length Ortholite® X25™ open-cell foam insole. It is designed for longterm cushioning, high-level breath ability, moisture management, light weight, and comfort. The Norris also has an Ortholite foam upper cuff for comfort, heel hold and protection.
Another great feature of the 5.11 Norris Sneaker is that it is ASTM F2413-11 PR Puncture Resistance Certified. It has a super-strong Welmax Flex puncture resistant footbed that guards your feet against up to 1,200 newtons of force. This translates to roughly 300 lbs. of force. It provides you with protection against a variety of work hazards that can potentially result in serious injury.
A lot of thought obviously went into the design of the 5.11 Norris Sneaker. It exhibits great attention to detail. Even the 5.11 logo is low profile on the tongue of the shoe and on a tag that can easily be removed for an even lower profile, although I see no reason to do so. 5.11 Tactical products are now commonplace outside the “tactical community” because of their quality and practicality.
I found the 5.11 Norris Sneaker to be exceptionally comfortable, even after a day on my feet. The sneaker provided excellent support and stability. I had no way to scientifically test the slip resistance, but had no slipping when worn on a slick, wet surface.
The workmanship on the 5.11 Norris Sneaker is excellent. It is a great sneaker that won’t look out of place anywhere a sneaker is appropriator. The black Norris sneaker would be a great LEO duty shoe where permitted. The 5.11 Tactical Norris Sneaker has a MSRP of $99.99, which is very reasonable.
RATINGS
STYLE: 5/5
DESIGN: 5/5
COMFORT: 5/5
QUALITY: 5/5
PRICE: 5/5
OVERALL: 25/25
Material Disclosure
I received this product as a courtesy from the manufacturer via Spotter Up so I could test it and give my honest feedback. I am not bound by any written, verbal, or implied contract to give this product a good review. All opinions are my own and are based off my personal experience with the product.
*The views and opinions expressed on this website are solely those of the original authors and contributors. These views and opinions do not necessarily represent those of Spotter Up Magazine, the administrative staff, and/or any/all contributors to this site.