Notace Yama T1 Review: Less Really is More

Introduction to the Notace Yama T1

JOHN: The Black Swan is a movie that lives rent-free in my head for many reasons, but mainly because of its theme of making a change into something bold.

Anyway, I’ve run in many different minimal shoes and worn them for many distances, from a few miles to ultras. When I received the Notace Yama T1, it was the week I was running the Ring, a 71-mile run through the brutal Massanutten Mountains, and I thought this rocky, rugged terrain would be an excellent test for the Notace Yama T1. I encountered road, rocky trail, fire road, light trail, and pretty much everything you can think of, so let’s see how it did.

BRADY: Like John, I feel like Notace made a big statement with its first shoe, creating something that we really haven’t seen before. It’s clear to me that much thought was given to the presentation and aesthetics of the shoe — so much so that I’ve worn it out to dinner once or twice because I think it looks pretty cool.

The Notace Yama T1 is built for the trails, though, so unfortunately, what was once a beautiful Ivory colorway is now covered in dirt. Let’s see how it held up.

What we like about the Notace Yama T1

JOHN: The fit of this shoe is perfect. I wear a US M11.5, and it felt like a glove. The toe box offers an enormous amount of room, but also locks your foot down. The absolute mind-melting thing about this shoe is that it looks like the lugs are not enough for a technical trail, but they worked well! I didn’t slip off at any point while I was dancing on the rocks out there.

I got some interesting comments on the shoe’s look, from “Is that Puma, bro?” to “Did you get those from a bowling alley?” to my favorite, “Did you steal your daughter’s dance shoes?” I love the look of this shoe. Once it’s completely used up as a trail shoe, I’ll wear it as a casual shoe, and people will definitely notice it.

Oddly enough, the dance shoe comment is kind of how I look at this shoe. It’s like a strange merger of a climbing shoe and a trail runner. It’s wild, and I love it.

Now, the really incredible thing about this shoe is that after the 71-mile beat down my feet took in them, I had no blisters. None. I’ve always had at least one blister wearing the usual suspect trail shoes at Massanutten, but none with the Notace Yama T1.

BRADY: I’ll reiterate what I said before — these look pretty great. Maybe I’m biased because I only wear foot-shaped shoes, but I think these are some of the more attractive shoes in the category. At first glance, the Notace Yama T1 reminded me of a foot-shaped Reebok Nano or something out of the CrossFit world.

Those shoes tend to have some rigidity to handle lifting and HIIT workouts, though, so I was surprised that when I put them on, they felt far more in line with other “barefoot” shoes from companies like Xero or Vivobarefoot. They can be twisted and bent in every direction, and you can really feel the ground underneath you. So, if that’s your thing (which it might be if you are reading this review), you’ll like these.

I took them out for a couple of 14-mile runs in Patapsco Valley State Park, and I had great grip the entire time on single track with wet rocks and roots. I’m also good for a couple of twisted ankles every time I hit the trail, but I didn’t have any major rolls due to the low stack height (15 mm). That’s a major boost in my book.

What we don’t like about the Notace Yama T1

JOHN: The midsole is so minimal (you can literally bend the shoe into a ball)that it is hard to use on rocky trails. I couldn’t run fast on the rocky, technical trail, but I could cruise at low speeds, and I finished the race. Because the midsole is minimal, I recommend using it on buttery single-track trails because you will feel everything. It’s really cool, but it can also be painful if you are not really paying attention.

BRADY: My biggest gripe with the Notace Yama T1 comes down to sizing. I wear a US M10 in almost every running shoe on the planet, but these felt a little long in the toes. I wouldn’t say these feel clown-like or like I was sliding around, but I felt a little clumsy in them and admit that I kicked a rock (or 15) because of it. Maybe that’s a me problem, maybe not. If I were to get another pair, I would probably order a half-size smaller. John had a great fit, though, so your mileage may vary.

One other small thing I didn’t love was the dimple-like material on the insoles. They felt like the dots inside of a pair of Crocs, so I would suggest wearing thicker socks if you are going to wear them on a trail for hours on end.

Final thoughts on the Notace Yama T1

JOHN: This is probably the most ambitious minimal shoe I’ve ever worn. And yes, it was crazy to wear it on one of the most brutal races on the East Coast. Yeah, it was probably borderline insane, but I did this because, looking at the shoe initially when it came in the mail, I felt like it was special, and I wanted to give it a real test.

The fact that I finished The Ring wearing the Notace Yama T1 speaks to how great a shoe it is. I do not recommend using it on technical trails, but if you are a veteran user of minimal shoes, a trail acrobat, or just want to try a completely unique experience, go for it!

I truly feel like Notace deserves a lot of credit for the Yama T1, especially the comfort factor. I’m shocked I didn’t have a single blister after the race, so I know they are definitely on to something here.

The only issue I have with the Yama T1 isn’t really an issue, but more a preference. Most people like cushion and don’t want to feel the ground, and that’s what makes the Yama T1 what it is. The Yama T1 is the Black Swan of trail shoes. It’s an experience I highly recommend — just maybe work up to the technical stuff and start easy.

BRADY: I think there are a lot of things to like about this shoe for people who enjoy the “barefoot” running experience. The Notace Yama T1 is flexible, thin, attractive, and holds up on trails without sacrificing all too much. Sure, you might want something more rigid and mainline if you are racing through the trails, but this shoe set out for one purpose: to connect with the ground.

Unfortunately, at $180, this shoe isn’t cheap, and there are some incredible foot-shaped trail shoes in that price range. For $40 less, you could pick up a Topo Terraventure 4, but that shoe is far more rigid with a 3 mm drop and slightly higher stack. If you want minimalism and flexibility without sacrificing too much cushion, though, this could be a shoe for you.

You can pick up the Notace Yama T1 for $179 from Notace by using the buttons below.