Accessories

Arc'teryx Norvan Belt

John Brown

• 5 min read
The Arc'teryx Norvan Belt weighs 85 grams and sits low on my hips during runs without bouncing around. I bought this to replace a Salomon vest I'd been using for shorter trail runs, and it's worked out well for distances under 10 miles when I don't need much gear. Arc'teryx designed this belt with PowerNet stretch nylon, the same material you'd find in compression clothing. It wraps around your body and holds everything close, so nothing shifts around while you're moving. The belt comes with a 500mL soft flask, and there's enough pocket space for a phone, keys, gels, and a lightweight shell or jacket. I've been running with this belt for about six months now. It rides up to my stomach after the first few miles, which is a bit annoying, but I pull it back down to my hips and keep going. Not a deal breaker. The bigger issue is that you can't overload it. If I stuff too much gear in the pockets, the bounce becomes excessive and ruins the whole point of having a running belt.

Why the Arc'teryx Norvan Belt Works

The stretch material is the key to this belt staying in place. Most running belts use elastic bands at the top and bottom, with some rigid pocket material in between. The Norvan uses a stretchy material throughout its surface. This creates compression around your waist and hips, keeping the belt from sliding. When you load the pockets, the stretch fabric holds everything tight against your body. Your phone doesn't flop around inside a loose pocket. The soft flask doesn't sway back and forth. Everything stays compressed and close. This works great as long as you don't exceed the belt's capacity. The PowerNet nylon also breathes well. I don't get a sweaty band around my waist as I did with some other belts I've tried. The material pulls moisture away from the skin and dries quickly. On hot days when I'm sweating heavily, the belt never feels soggy or uncomfortable.

Arc'teryx Norvan Belt Storage Options

The front pocket is the largest and most accessible, sized perfectly for most smartphones. I can slide my phone in and out without breaking stride. The pocket opening faces upward, so there's no risk of it sliding out on climbs. The back pocket sits at the small of your back. I use this for a lightweight shell or windbreaker. Arc'teryx included two gear loops on the back for clipping extra items or threading them through the jacket sleeves. The side pockets are positioned on each hip, good for gels, keys, or small items. One has a small plastic key clip inside. There's also a small zippered security pocket that sits flat against the belt for ID and a credit card.

How the Arc'teryx Norvan Belt Fits

Sizing is critical with this belt. I'm 165 lbs with about a 32-inch waist, and I wear a size medium. It fits snugly on my hips without feeling tight. If you're between sizes, I'd recommend sizing down. You want a snug fit for the compression to work properly. The belt sits best when positioned on your hips, below your belly button. Some people wear running belts higher on their waist, but that doesn't work as well with the Norvan. The hip position keeps the weight distribution better and prevents the belt from riding up as quickly. I mentioned earlier that the belt does ride up during runs. This happens gradually over the first 3-5 miles. I'm not sure if it's the bounce of my stride or the fabric's natural movement, but it creeps up from my hips to my lower stomach. I stop and adjust it every few miles. Not ideal, but manageable. The reflective Arc'teryx logo on the front enhances visibility during early-morning or evening runs. It's not as reflective as dedicated safety gear, but it's better than nothing. If you're running on roads with traffic, you'll still want additional reflective elements or a headlamp.

Temperature Performance and Layering

The Norvan belt works in pretty much any temperature because it's so minimal. I've used it in 30°F winter runs and 80°F summer runs without issues. The stretch material doesn't trap heat, and there's not enough surface area in contact with your body to make you uncomfortably warm. In cold weather, I wear the belt over a thin base layer. This prevents the nylon from feeling cold against the skin and gives the belt something to grip onto. In warm weather, I wear it directly against my skin with no problems. The belt layers well under other gear, too. I've worn it under windshells on cold, breezy runs. The low-profile design doesn't create bulk. It pairs well with my Arc'teryx Norvan SL 3 shoes for fast trail efforts.

What Fits in the Norvan Belt

Here's what I typically carry on a 6-8 mile trail run: iPhone 13 Pro in the front pocket, lightweight windshell in the back pocket, two gels in the side pockets, keys on the clip, ID and credit card in the security pocket, and the 500mL soft flask in the front pocket alongside my phone. The total weight is probably around 450-500 grams, including the belt. That's close to maximum capacity. Add more than two gels, and the bounce becomes noticeable. The belt starts to shift side to side with each stride. When I was using a Salomon vest, I could carry more gear without bounce issues. ests distribute weight across your shoulders and torso. UT vests are bulkier and warmer. The Norvan belt is right for runs where I want minimal gear.

Durability After Six Months

The PowerNet nylon has held up well. o tears, no fraying, no loss of stretch tension.   Wash the belt after every few runs with my other running clothes on cold. It air-dries quickly. The zippers glide smoothly, the key clip stays attached, and all stitching looks tight. The back pocket fabric has started to look slightly fuzzy from repeated friction as I pull my jacket in and out, but it's just cosmetic wear.

When the Norvan Belt Makes Sense

The Arc'teryx Norvan Belt makes sense for shorter trail runs (under 10 miles) when you need to carry basics but don't want the bulk of a vest or pack. It's particularly good for runs where the weather might change, and you want to bring a shell just in case, or for runs where you need a phone for safety but hate carrying it in your hand. It doesn't make sense if you need to carry a lot of gear, need more than 500mL of water, or are covering longer distances. Otherwise, anything over 10 miles, I switch to a vest with more capacity and better hydration options. The Norvan belt also doesn't make sense if you need easy access to items while running. The back pocket requires you to reach behind yourself, which isn't convenient if you're constantly pulling out gels or adjusting layers. For that use case, a vest with front pockets would be better.

Pairing with Other Gear

Arc'teryx markets the belt to pair with their Arc'teryx Norvan 14 Vest for longer runs.   haven't tried this combination, but the belt would handle water and immediate-access items while the vest carries extra layers, food, and other gear. I do pair the belt with my Arc'teryx Norvan Balaclava on cold runs. Having both in black looks cohesive, though function matters more than matching colors.