Despite being founded in 1968, it wasn’t until more recent decades that The North Facing starting producing footwear. And while traditionally, TNF has largely traded in hiking boots, the outdoor brand is now breaking into the trail-running space with its bar-raising FLIGHT VECTIV shoe.
Born out of an extensive two-year R&D process involving over 6,000 miles of in-the-field testing, the FLIGHT VECTIV marks the first trail running shoe to utilize carbon fiber and composite plate technologies, minimizing weight, increasing energy return, and mitigating downhill tibial impact by as much as 10%. Built atop of the carbon fiber plate and SurfaceCTRL outsole is a mesh upper and a VECTIV rocker midsole, which come together to afford optimal stability, grip, and impact absorption. To demonstrate the world-class performance prowess of its VECTIV range, TNF has given this cutting-edge footwear to more than a dozen athletes who have, thus far, managed to set 17 world records and counting. Available now, The North Face FLIGHT VECTIV Trail Shoe is priced at approximately $245.
