The North Face VECTIV Pro 3 Review | Dual Carbon Plates, Big Speed, But Not Quite Perfect

Touted as The North Face’s ultimate ultra-distance trail-racing shoes, the Summit Series VECTIV Pro 3 could possibly be that shoe. 

I’ve had many pieces of The North Face gear over the years (my favorite pair of running tights that I wore for over a decade) that did not disappoint, but for some reason I had never tried any shoes until now. 

The VECTIV Pro 3 feels like that quality piece I’ve come to expect from TNF. And after a few long runs in this shoe, I can confirm that I would happily use this shoe for a trail ultra.

Hitting my usual Colorado technical testing trails, there definitely were some conditions where these shoes were a stand out and some trails where they were fine but wouldn’t be my first choice.   

The North Face VECTIC Pro 3 Overview

Opening this box, the big stack height and the aggressive rocker are the first things I noticed and then immediately wondered if this was what a carbon plated trail super shoe was supposed to be. But I was excited to try out an ultimate ultra-distance trail-racing shoe.  

Whenever I see a big stack height on a trail shoe my first question is on which type of trail is this going to shine?  So of course I had to try the VECTIV Pro 3 on all my favorite Colorado trails. 

My first run testing these was the day after a big vert, very technical day on super tired legs and I’ll admit that that run felt surprisingly good, not daisy fresh, but also not just like lead legs. 

So, I’m projecting, but I can imagine that these shoes would feel good 30+ miles into a race.

Buttery smooth trails with a few rollers were the clear winner for the VECTIV Pro 3’s use. With the 37 mm stack height, I felt a little high off the ground on really technical trails especially when I would pick the root or rock as my landing spot. 

While I adjusted to the curve of the rocker, it did alter how I landed on really steep descents. For runners used to shoes like the Hoka Mafate X or others with a big stack, this might not be an issue, but I still like more ground feel to trust my footing. Cushioned can absolutely still be fast, just depends on what you’re looking for in the shoe.

I was surprised by the DREAM nitrogen-TPU foam in the VECTIV Pro 3.  For me, it somehow hit that sweet spot of lots of cushion that didn’t feel too soft and was really ultra light. 

From beginning to end of short runs, long runs, back to back runs, the foam always felt supportive.

I think this foam will hold up really well over lots of miles in this shoe.

And I always love when a company works toward sustainability. The SURFACE CTRL rubber outsole is made with “10% rubber from smallholder farmers committed to agroforestry principles and regenerative agricultural practices” according to The North Face.

The North Face VECTIV Pro 3 Fit

The North Face Summit Vectiv Pro 3 is a true to size shoe.  It’s hard to describe this shoe as narrow or wide – the heel is snug, the middle foot is pretty standard, and there is plenty of room in the toebox.  

The tongue is almost fully gusseted keeping it in place through all the miles.  It’s not overly padded, keeping the bulk under the laces to a minimum.  There are also some nice breathing holes in the tongue for those hot days.  

While the VECTIV Pro 3 initially feels a bit stiff, because of the degree of the rocker my foot still rolled nicely along the trail in a natural movement. This paired with a snuggly held heel made for a comfortable run. The heel is not fully padded but has a padded bumper up the back and slightly around the sides.

The North Face VECTIV Pro 3 Feel

One of my favorite features of the VECTIV Pro 3 is the DREAM nitrogen-TPU foam. For me this was that goldilocks of foam, not too squishy, supportive throughout all the miles. 

My legs felt great in the middle of all those long run marathon training miles. I didn’t run in the predecessor to the Pro 3, but there have been comments that the foam is not as responsive. I didn’t find a problem with picking up the pace when I wanted to, but responsiveness is something to be aware of for those who loved the last model.  

This shoe isn’t messing around. It’s packing two carbon plates, and you can definitely feel it out on the run.

Right under the footbed, there’s a wishbone-shaped carbon plate (made from recycled materials) that runs through the midfoot and forefoot. It’s not super stiff, which is actually a good thing, it gives you a bit of structure without feeling harsh. There’s a nice sense of control through the midfoot and a stable, planted feel up front.

Then underneath that, you’ve got a full-length carbon plate paired with a layer of Dream Foam. This is where the magic happens for propulsion (remember it’s about the foam and the plate!).

Put it all together, and you’ve got a ride that feels both stable and fast, which is exactly who they’re targeting with this shoe.

For a fast shoe it’s not the lightest, but again that’s harder in a trail shoe to accomplish than a road shoe. You need all that rubber and grip, which is going to add to weight.

The upper mesh is extremely breathable and water repellent (not waterproof).  While running through a creek my socks did get wet but were able to dry quickly over the next couple miles. 

The mesh on the VECTIV Pro 3 is flexible enough while still feeling durable enough to not rip at the first snag.

Initially I wanted the lugs to be deeper than 3.5 mm, but for the trails that these shoes were made for, the lugs don’t need to be any deeper.  Traction was more than adequate for gravel, dirt, and smooth single track paths. 

On any of those conditions, it was easy to get lost in thought, thinking about everything but your shoes, which is pretty much my goal on most runs. 

Similar Shoes to The North Face VECTIV Pro 3

Looking for another similar ultra trail shoe? Here’s our comparisons from other lines:

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