The North Face Summit Vectiv Sky

We wanted to try a fast shoe with carbon plate to run in the mountains. Although we are not the profile of runner who can squeeze the most out of this type of shoes, it was time to check it with one of the most outstanding shoes of the moment.

The North Face Summit Vectiv Sky is a trail running shoe that gives us a great reactivity in our training or short distance competitions, thanks to the design of its rocker and the carbon plate that it incorporates.

First impressions and features of The North Face Summit Vectiv Sky

The DNA of The North Face shoe is clearly focused on competition and speed, with high quality materials and technologies, a low drop and good cushioning, necessary ingredients to run to the maximum in the mountains.

The North Face Summit Vectiv Sky is the most reactive shoe of the new Summit series, ideal for high intensity running over short distances.

However, there is life beyond fast paces, and The North Face Summit Vectiv Sky can be used by runners who are not as fast but want to experience the feeling of running in a carbon plate shoe with good cushioning and protection for running in the mountains.

We really liked the design and comfort that we have had at all times with the shoe, has a tongue built into the upper that gives us a texture and extraordinary comfort, it is a combination difficult to find in fast shoes as the vast majority prioritize lightness and less padding to gain speed, but in this shoe are perfectly combined.

The carbon plate is located in the upper part of the midsole so we may have noticed less cushioning than the shoe enjoys since between the carbon plate and the foot we only have the insole, an aspect that perhaps penalizes in long distances where a little more comfort is needed, but that in short distances does not penalize too much.

Main features of The North Face Summit Vectiv Sky

The outsole is ideal for fast running on trails and paths without excessive technical difficulties, perhaps we have noticed a lack of traction or grip on more technical terrain where lugs with a little more prominence would have responded perfectly.

In terms of durability, so far, we are not having problems with the shoe (we have just over 150 kilometers) but we are beginning to see that some lugs are starting to wear out and that the vast majority of kilometers we have done on tracks and trails without major technical difficulties.

What kind of runners are The North Face Summit Vectiv Sky for?

They are shoes that those with a light weight, even medium, can enjoy the shoe to the fullest and more if you enjoy a good running technique with which we can enjoy the reactivity and speed that gives us the carbon plate.

In any case, runners who are not so fast can also use this shoe for their most demanding training sessions or short and medium distance races, as they have good cushioning and take advantage of the speed of the carbon plate, which is always appreciated when running fast.

For what distances do we recommend The North Face Summit Vectiv Sky?

The North Face Summit Vectiv Sky is clearly focused on short distance, I think this is the big difference with the other shoe in the Summit Series, the TNF Summit Vectiv Pro, which is more focused on long and even ultra distance.

Despite being a shoe for short distances, runners with a profile similar to mine, not very fast but who like to run in the mountains, can take it a little further than the short distance because we do not demand that speed in which they move so well but that in the end also takes its toll on us.

What we liked most about The North Face Summit Vectiv Sky

Undoubtedly the comfort they have provided us during all the kilometers we have done, the truth is that we have been very pleasantly surprised. It is a generous shoe in the materials that cover our feet that keep it protected and comfortable at all times.

Another aspect to highlight, in addition to the speed that gives you the carbon plate is the stability that we have when running and the design of the plate, which helps us to make descents quickly but does not penalize us too much when it comes to the climbs. Perhaps this is one of the most sought after challenges of the application of carbon plates in trail running shoes, which are reasonably rigid to adapt to the terrain with ease and, in The North Face Summit Vectiv Sky is more than achieved.

Opportunities for improvement in The North Face Summit Vectiv Sky

Regarding the opportunities for improvement we have missed a system or pocket to store the laces, and that the laces have pleasantly surprised us by their adjustment, but many trail shoes already incorporate adjustment systems to avoid mishaps with external elements, specially if we are facing a fast shoe in which we must minimize the risks of loss of time in competition.

Another aspect that should be improved in future versions would be a "more aggressive" design of the sole, with more prominent lugs that provide greater grip on more technical terrain to provide extra versatility to the shoe.

With which models do we compare The North Face Summit Vectiv Sky?

ASICS Fuji Speed 2

Brooks Catamount 2

Saucony Endorphin Rift

Scott Ultra Carbon RC

Final conclusions of The North Face Summit Vectiv Sky

This is a shoe with a clear DNA of competition and high performance ready to delight and with a carbon plate that gives you the right reactivity while running in the mountains. We also highlight the quality of the materials and technologies that are incorporated in this model that, no wonder, has been used by some of the most prominent runners of today.

The two shoes that make up the Summit collection of The North Face are at the height of the best trail running shoes with carbon plate that we can find in the market today, looking forward to seeing its evolution in future versions.