Black Diamond & norda enter a situationship that looks set to run for a long time to come
Just like one of those situations when you discover two of the coolest people you know have suddenly started going out with each other, Black Diamond and norda have announced that they’re now in a long term relationship together. However, this doesn’t mean that they’ll be visiting stately homes together and spending cosy evenings on RightMove but rather they’ll be creating some incredible outdoor gear together, with their first foray being an impressive alpine running collection. Marking Black Diamond’s most expansive collaboration in its entire four-decade existence, the collection combines norda’s unparalleled innovation in footwear material science with Black Diamond’s rich heritage in mountain equipment. The result being both evolutionary and timeless, creating tools for the trail, built from experience and aimed at aligning the fast paced energy of technology with the somehwat slower cadence of nature through products designed to clear the mind and create new spaces to explore.
Developed in conjunction with the unique insight of Black Diamond and norda mountain runner Joe Grant, the collection is comprised of an all-new norda 000 shoe, that’s designed for high mountain running, alongside a selection of innovative Black Diamond pieces, each of which have been reimagined with cutting-edge materials. Which includes the Distance 15 Pack, Distance Carbon Z FKT poles, Mini Mission Duffle 30L, Miniwire Carabiner, T-Shirt, and Cap. Whilst the subtle obsidian and moonstone shades, contrasted by soft pink kunzite all take their colour palette inspo from the type of minerals found in mountain environments. President of Black Diamond Neil Fiske had this to say about the exciting new partnership:
“This collaboration truly represents the best of the best in mountain sports: two pinnacle brands coming together in a creative partnership that harnesses the complementary strengths of each. We are honoured to partner with norda on this exciting new venture and look forward to the stream of innovation that will emanate from it.” With norda co-founders Nick and Willa Martire adding: “norda and Black Diamond are both makers of pinnacle products, crafted by iconoclasts who refuse to indulge the status quo. With our unparalleled footwear expertise and their extensive history of making the most advanced mountain equipment, we can leverage our shared beliefs and mindset to create incomparable tools for alpine running and exploration, products that empower athletes to explore, discover, and push their boundaries.”
The inaugural norda x Black Diamond collection recently debuted at Sanglard Sports in Chamonix and is available now at nordarun.com and blackdiamondequipment.com.
