Tested: Norønna fjørå flex1 Shorts and fjørå Wool T-Shirt Review

Norønna is a Norwegian apparel and gear brand that has been making mountain-focused goods since 1939. I personally first became aware of the brand a few years ago, when their very technical, but decidedly european-styled ski kits started showing up in the Tetons. They also make a full line of mountain bike apparel and bags, and this summer I’ve logged a bunch of miles in their fjørå flex1 shorts and fjørå wool T-Shirt.

Norønna fjørå Kit in a Nutshell

Norønna fjørå Wool T-Shirt

• UPF 30+
• Materials: 1 35g/m2 mix (47% merino wool/53% recycled polyester
• MSRP: $89

Norønna fjørå flex1 Shorts

• PFC-free DWR
• Materials: 145g/m2 plain weave 90x150D stretch mix: 62% recycled nylon, 32% nylon, 6% elastane.
• Pockets: Two zippered hand pockets, one thigh phone pocket
• Two zippered thigh vents
• MSRP: $159

Fit and Initial Impressions

Let’s start with the fjørå shirt, since it’s really simple: this is a very nice merino wool t-shirt. I wear an XL in most tops, and the XL fit me nicely. It runs on the long and slim end of the spectrum, as opposed to being short and boxy. That means it doesn’t ride up and expose my plumber’s crack, instead it fits comfortably and makes me feel slimmer than I usually do.

The fjørå flex1 shorts are more interesting. Although they have some stretch to them, they are much less stretchy than other mountain bike shorts I’ve worn recently. They also have a more slim, fitted cut, that’s articulated at the knee. Initially, when I first tried them on, I commented that they felt a little old-school, like the knickers the old heads used to wear at the shop when I was in high school. However, on the trail, they disappear really nicely, and I don’t notice any impediment to motion or lack of articulation.

I usually wear a size 33 waist, and the Large fjørå flex1 shorts fit me nicely with the waist adjusters in the middle of their velcro range. Yes, I’d rather they had a stretchy waistband , but the velcro tabs are easier to adjust and less obtrusive than a ratchet buckle or the webbing straps that many other shorts use. Just make sure that the hooked side of the velcro is fully covered when you put them in the wash, otherwise, they’ll snag onto your other clothes. The waistband has a silicone grip strip inside, and I never had any issues with them sagging or drooping even on some very sweaty days, with heavily-loaded pockets.

Pockets and Features

The fjørå shirt doesn’t have any pockets or features. It’s just a nice light wool shirt, and I love it for its simplicity. However, the fjørå flex1 shorts have three pockets and two vents. There are two mesh-lined hand pockets, and a bigger stretchy thigh pocket on the right side. This thigh pocket is pretty sweet, it has an inner pocket for a cell phone, similar to the beacon pocket found in ski bibs. That means that even though it’s a bigger pocket, your phone never bounces around or rubs on your leg while pedaling. This is a very nice, well-executed pocket.

The mesh hand pockets are nice, but I do find that they don’t hold objects like keys as well as a normal pocket, since the keys tend to get tangled in the mesh.

On the front of each thigh is a mesh-lined vent. That’s a unique feature for bike shorts. I run really hot, so I appreciate the inclusion, but I didn’t find that they made the shorts run that cooler, while climbing at least.

Performance

This summer I feel like I’ve been plagued by mediocre bike shorts, and maybe because of that, I’ve found myself riding in the fjørå flex1 shorts a lot. It’s not that they’re head and shoulders better than the competition, instead they’re just really easy to live with. I like having three distinct pockets over the more minimalist two that many shorts have. I like storing my wallet up high in the hand pocket, as opposed to lower down in a thigh pocket where it moves around more. I like the slim fit and burly-feeling construction of these shorts.

The only real downside I’ve found is that if you, like me, tend to leave the house with your kneepads around your ankles and then pull them up at the top of the climb, the slightly tighter hem of these shorts makes that a little more of an ordeal. It’s not big enough to be an issue, but I do notice it every time. On the flipside, they do a really good job of coving that pesky thigh gap, without being big, baggy, or hot.

The fjørå shirt has been a great reminder that merino tees are hard to beat for riding. It’s light and comfortable, dries relatively quickly, and most importantly, doesn’t smell terrible after months of lots of sweat and not enough wash cycles.

For Now

Historically I’ve shied away from Norønna gear because it’s felt so heavily color blocked and branded. Older iterations had a tendency to scream “I’M TECHNICAL AND SO SERIOUS” with their color choices and logo placements. This kit is much more subdued. That aesthetic, combined with excellent performance means that it’ll stay in steady rotation for the foreseeable future.

Related: Tested: Ride NF Lightweight Trail Collection