NNormal puts innovation at the heart of its meeting with the trail running industry
The brand brings together more than 100 professionals in Chamonix to share its vision for product development
At one of the key moments of the year for the trail running industry, NNormal hosted “Innovation is Never Finished” this afternoon in Chamonix, an event focused on one of the brand’s core pillars: innovation. More than 100 attendees, including brand partners, testers, journalists, distributors and other relevant figures from the trail running industry, gathered to gain first-hand insight into how the company approaches the development of new products, what lies behind each creation process and which new developments will arrive in the coming months.
The event began with an introduction from NNormal CEO Sito Luís Salas, who presented the brand’s philosophy and its distinctive approach to innovation. He was followed by Product Manager Birte Fahrbach, who explored NNormal’s development process in greater depth, from identifying athletes’ needs through to research, design and the different testing phases that precede the launch of a model.
During the event, Fahrbach explained that NNormal’s strategy is structured around three main areas: technology, design and construction, and materials. These three areas are approached together to develop more advanced, functional products adapted to athletes’ needs, exploring new technologies, new ways of designing and constructing products, as well as materials and solutions that can continue to enhance performance and the experience in the mountains.
Kilian Jornet’s insight
One of the afternoon’s highlights was the surprise appearance of Kilian Jornet, who shared his experience in the development and testing of the brand’s latest prototypes, including the NN202 and the Cooling Vest, both recently put to the test at Western States. The NNormal co-founder explained how these products have evolved and the role that real-world testing plays in identifying new needs and opportunities, highlighting the company’s commitment to exploring new solutions, materials and technologies adapted to athletes’ needs and the challenges of mountain sports.
During his presentation, Kilian went into particular detail on the NN202, sharing the prototype’s main new features, including its lacing system and upper design, as well as his impressions throughout the different testing and development phases. Drawing on his experience as an athlete and NNormal user, he explained how these tests help identify areas for improvement and continue to refine the product ahead of its planned market launch in 2027.
Following the different presentations, attendees took part in a Q&A session, creating a space for discussion around innovation, product development and the future of trail running. The event concluded with a networking session, providing an opportunity to make new connections, exchange impressions and share different perspectives, while also getting a closer look at the products presented and discovering the different samples that reflect the evolution of these models.
Innovation, a pillar for NNormal
Innovation is one of the pillars on which NNormal is built and an essential part of the brand’s approach to product development. For NNormal, innovation means exploring new solutions and continuously challenging conventional ways of designing and building equipment for the mountains, always with the aim of responding to athletes’ real needs. This approach translates into an ever-evolving process in which research, design, experimentation and real-world testing play a fundamental role.
About NNormal
NNormal is an outdoor sports brand, born between the shores of Mallorca and the Fjords of Norway. The products reflect the common philosophy between Camper and Kilian Jornet, the two partners at the origin of NNormal: durability and performance, that inspire people to enjoy and respect nature. A mission expressed through timeless gear that's functional, performance-oriented, and built to last. All the outdoor equipment is designed in Mallorca and tested in Norway, as hinted in the name of the brand (Nor-way + Mal-lorca).
