Home First Look FIRST LOOK – TNF VECTIV TRAIL RUNNER

FIRST LOOK – TNF VECTIV TRAIL RUNNER

by Jason Lorch

The North Face Introduces VECTIV™ Footwear, Bringing Innovative Carbon Fiber Soling Architecture to the Trail

Today, The North Face introduces VECTIV™, an innovative trail-focused footwear system. After two years of heavy investment in research and development, more than 6,000 miles of athlete testing and proven on-trail success, The North Face is proud to introduce this revolutionary soling architecture, tuned for the demands of running and hiking on technical, mountainous terrain.

The new VECTIV™ system brings premium technology from The North Face to the trail with run and hike styles, designed to reduce impact and maximize energy 

Starting today, consumers can sign up to be the first to purchase the most premium trail running shoe in the VECTIV™ lineup, Flight VECTIV™. According to studies conducted by third-party research, the Flight VECTIV™ reduces downhill tibial impact by 10%, allowing runners to comfortably log more miles without compounding impact.

TNF vectiv flight running shoe

Traditionally reserved for road running footwear, The North Face saw a unique opportunity to bring carbon fiber and composite plate technologies to the trail running and hiking markets. This novel application aligns to The North Face’s commitment to constantly push the boundaries of innovation.

Positioned beneath an incredibly light, comfortable, and protective mesh upper, VECTIV™ is a soling architecture comprised of a 3D VECTIV™ plate against the sole, a finely tuned VECTIV™ rocker midsole and SurfaceCTRL outsole. This unique construction delivers superior stability, grip, and shock absorption without compromising energy efficiency.

TNF vectiv flight running shoe

“The Flight VECTIV are fast, light, and responsive. The plate gives the shoes a responsive and high-performance feel, and the streamlined upper keeps the shoes lightweight while maintaining the ‘fits like a glove’ feeling. From the 93-mile Wonderland Trail in the Pacific Northwest to racing the 80-mile Transgrancanaria course, I’ve trusted and relied on these shoes to propel me forward.”
said Kaytlyn Gerbin, Runner for The North Face.

TNF vectiv flight running shoe
TNF vectiv flight running shoe
TNF vectiv flight running shoe

Setting New Records

Since the inception of VECTIV™, 10 athletes from The North Face team have set 13 records around the world including: Kaytlyn Gerbin’s 18 hours, 41 minutes, 54 on the Wonderland Trail; Coree Woltering’s 21 days, 13 hours and 35 minutes on the Ice Age Trail; and Pau Capell’s solo UTMB attempt of 21:17:18.

Locally, The North Face athletes Andrius Ramonas, David Byrne, Blake Hose and Victoria Beck have set their own FKTs. Andrius set the new FKT around Mt Taranaki in New Zealand’s North Island, at 5:58:56. David Byrne set the new FKT up the Hannels Spur track to the summit of Kosciuszko at 2:38:42.

The Hannels Spur track covers the largest vertical gain in Australia, with nearly 2000m gained across 16km. Blake Hose set the FKT for The Sentinal – from Charlotte’s Pass to the Sentinal Summit and back covering 14.49km and 838m elevation gain in 1:30:50. Victoria Beck set her FKT for the Thredbo Village to Kosciuzsko Summit, covering 8.47km and 837m elevation gain in 1:13:08.

“The Flight VECTIV has quickly become my favourite race shoe,” said Pau Capell, Runner for The North Face. “It feels fast but also provides real stability and grip on the descents and these are the moments that make all the difference.”

TNF vectiv flight running shoe

Prices 

Starting with their most premium shoe, the Flight VECTIV™, The North Face will launch seven key styles for trail running and hiking with pricing ranging from $220 to $330.  

Runners can sign up here to receive a notification when the footwear is available for purchase: http://bit.ly/Vectiv-PowerFurther  

Additional VECTIV styles will be available online and in-store through The North Face in April 2021. 

TNF vectiv infinite running shoe

The VECTIC “Infinite”

TNF vectiv enduris running shoe

The VECTIV “Enduris”

TNF vectiv escape running shoe

The VECTIV “Escape”

TNF vectiv exploris shoe

The VECTIV “Exploris” Mens

TNF vectiv exploris shoe

The VECTIV “Exploris” Women’s

TNF vectiv taraval running shoe

The VECTIV “Taraval”


Photographs by Mark Watson / @inciteimages  

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