Test: The North Face Summit Vectiv Pro
The North Face Summit Vectiv Pro has been released – I have tested it on all surfaces from asphalt to technical trail, and you can read my review of the new and exciting model here.
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The North Face Summit Vectiv Pro - Outsole
The outsole is composed by ”Surface CTRL”, which is known from previous models, incl. i.e. The North Face Flight Vectiv, which I have used a lot in Danish forests as well as the Swiss and Italian Alps.
The outsole only has 3,5 mm long lugs which means that its not a shoe for very muddy trail - on the other hand the outsole provides an amazing grip on basically all other surfaces!
I have had great experiences with the grip on forest trail as well as wooden bridges, stones and rocks. so unless you are looking for a shoe espcially suited for mud, you can expect a really good experience with The North Face Summit Vectiv outsole.
The North Face Summit Vectiv Pro - the midsole
The shoe is designed with The North Face’s ”Vectiv 2.0” midsole which consists of a mixture of PEBAX and EVA-foam and exactly this mixture makes the shoe very interesting - PEBAX is recognized through the very bouncy road running super shoes, and EVA is the well-know midsole material which has has been and still used in a lot of shoes.
Fortunately the mixture doesn´t make the shoe as lively as a full-blooded PEBAX-based road running shoe - you can still sense the bouncy effect from the material, but it seems to be "tamed" for trail running, so the shoe doesn´t end up being too unstable.
In addition to the luxurious foam mixture, The North Face Summit Vectiv Pro is also equipped with a carbon-plate in the midsole and is designed with a distinct rocker-geometry. The heeldrop is stated to be 6mm, even if the amount of rocker-geometry is so extensive that I think the heeldrop seems irrelevant. There is a terrific rolling sensation in the shoe which you can really feel on flat road but even more during descents where the rocker-geometry provides a superb flow.
In total the midsole and its shape provides an amazing feeling and in addition to being comfortable, fun and bouncy, it also feels surprisingly safe in uneven terrain.
The North Face Summit Vectiv Pro - the upper
The upper is very breathable. The fabric is relatively solid, and combined with a soft and comfortable tongue, the upper provides a great experience in terms of offering a solid but comfortable fit.
The North Face Summit Vectiv Pro - the fit
As mentioned earlier I have done a lot of runs in The North Face Flight Vectiv – in this case I went down half a size to get the best fit.
I also went down half a size in The North Face Summit Vectiv Pro, and it seems as if these two models are very alike in terms of size even if the fit in The North Face Summit Vectiv Pro provides more space for your toes.
Where does The North Face Summit Vectiv Pro excel in particular?
The North Face Summit Vectiv Pro is a shoe that doesn´t only offer comfort but also responsiveness. I would characterize this shoe as a brilliant allround-shoe - probably one of the most interesting, I have ever tried within this category. Its not targeted for very muddy trail but does incredibly well on most types of surfaces with amazing comfort and a bouncy take-off.
This makes The North Face Summit Vectiv Pro a perfect choice for different scenarios. If you would like a shoe which is comfortable on asphalt and works well in the forest, The North Face Summit Vectiv Pro does the job really well. The shoe is also an obvious choice for ultra trail running where the excellent comfort will come in handy.
