THE NORTH FACE FLIGHT VECTIV: FIRST TRAILRUNNING SHOE WITH CARBON PLATE

Posted by Héctor Rubio on April 14, 2021 in trail runing, trail running, trail running shoes, trail running spain | 4 Comments

THE NORTH FACE FLIGHT VECTIV: FIRST TRAILRUNNING SHOE WITH CARBON PLATE.  Our TRAIL RUNNING SHOES section presents the lightest shoe in the new VECTIV range of the USA brand who’s betting on the inclusion of carbon plate in the world of Trail want to position themselves in front of the market.

We start with the analysis by the hand of our #patroncarrerasdemontana Jorge Sabugo.

THE NORTH FACE FLIGHT VECTIV: THE CARBON PLATE REACHES MOUNTAIN RACES.

HOW DOES IT WORK?

It is a range of shoes launched in 2021, which claims its own personality based on three pillars, whose integrated game you can see in the image below,

• Each has a Vectiv 3D plate made of carbon fiber that, according to the brand, is designed to improve propulsion and stability.
• This plate sits on a rocker-shaped midsole
• It is completed with a SurfaceCTRL grip sole that looks to improve grip on difficult surfaces, to get closer to the level of your great rivals.

So far, nothing new under the sun really. In fact, the American brand only faithfully follows the already veteran principles that we have brought you from asphalt in recent years, applied with models such as the NB Fuellcell TC; Hoka One One Carbon X, Adidas Adizero Adios Pro or Nike Zoom Alpha Fly among others. In fact, it may be Salomon the latest great brand of sneakers that has not yet taken out its carbon plate version and continues to bet on more classic cutting models, with the Salomon Phantasm of asphalt and the Salomon Slab Pulsar as respective range stops.

But anyway, let’s look at the details of how The North Face interpreted the arrival of the carbon plate at mountain racing: The challenge, solve how or not the enormous heights to the ground needed for the rigid carbon rebound lever, which has led cushioning up to 40mm to the ground in some consecrated models, are maintained.

THE NORTH FACE FLIGHT VECTIV (200€)

Flight Series Vectiv Shoes are the most reactive in the VECTIV range. They are focused on the elite trail running range. Lightweight and reactive, the brand argues that they have been tested and evaluated by their sponsored athletes, such as Dylan Bowan or Katlyin Gerbrin.

THE NORTH FACE FLIGHT VECTIV: DATA SHEET.

• Price: 200€, .
• Weight 267 gr
• Drop: 6 mm With a floor height of 28 in front and 34 at the back.
• Sole Width: 10.5 cm front and 8.5cm at back. The usual in shoes that seek agility and precision when stepping.
• Upper: unique piece, with matryx fabric side reinforcements.
• Midsole: Dual density EVA, ROCKER 3D carbon plate.
• Sole: Surface CTRL.

It arrives with a 200€ PVP, 267gr weight and a 6mm drop. In addition to the three-pillar mechanical system of Vectiv, common to the entire range, the brand argues that they will be very durable thanks to the Kevlar reinforcements of Matryx fabric. The polyamide cover not only seeks to be breathable but also to be an active support.

SOLE

Own creation of the America brand, it presents a distributed tack to distribute the weight with a depth of 3.5 mm. The outer heels have a side arrangement to maximize grip and those of the rear area as opposed to improved grip on the descent.

MIDSOLE

The incorporation of the VECTIV system based on three pillars, the first the sole, and in the midsole we find the other two. On the one hand a rocker-shaped double-density EVA midsole for easy forward drive. Above it we find the great novelty, the full-length 3D carbon plate, which seeks an improvement of propulsion and stability.

UPPER

Polyamide monostone in the shape of a sock with reinforced toes, on the sides reinforcements of Matryx fabric, characterized by the incorporation of Kevlar filaments, which give it greater support and stability to the foot.

THE NORTH FACE FLIGHT VECTIV: CONCLUSIONS, BY SABUGO.

It is already well known that carbon in shoes is the future, they now reach the trail panorama with the inclusion of this range, to improve propulsion. In mountain races not everything is technical terrain, and this new implement will improve the response of the shoe, it will not take advantage of it like an asphalt shoe but all adds up.

On the other hand, the rigidity of carbon is also worth as an anti-rice system, given the hardness of the carbon, giving greater protection to the plant of the foot. You gain infinite from using them and testing them thoroughly to tell you here how they are behaving, I hope soon to bring you my conclusions and my experience with them.

IF YOU LIKE WHAT YOU READ,
CLICK THIS BUTTON TO SUPPORT US IN PATREON.COM/MAYAYO

Read the article in Spanish HERE