The North Face Flight Vectiv Review: A Carbon-Plated Trail Shoe Tested on Real Trails

Introduction

Carbon plates have reshaped road running, but trail running has been slower to embrace them. The North Face Flight Vectiv is one of the first trail shoes to build a carbon plate into the midsole, sitting at the top of the Vectiv range above the Vectiv Infinite and the entry-level Vectiv Endurance.

After a full block of testing on mixed terrain, the verdict is genuinely mixed: this is a fun, efficient, well-fitting shoe, but the price and the shallow outsole lugs give plenty of reasons to hesitate before buying.

Who This Shoe Is For

The Flight Vectiv targets runners who want a fast, performance-oriented trail shoe for longer efforts on firmer ground. With a 6mm heel offset, aggressive rocker geometry, and a dual-density midsole with a carbon plate, it is engineered for propulsion and efficiency over distance rather than deep cushioning.

The spec is high-end across the board: 295 grams in a men’s UK 9, 245 grams in a women’s shoe, and a UK retail price of £180. It is available in several colorways for men and women, and sizing runs long, so most runners can expect to take their usual size with a comfortable fit.

Main Strengths

The standout feature is the bootie-style upper. There is no traditional tongue; instead, an elasticated midfoot wraps the foot for a precise, locked-in feel. It hugs the foot noticeably better than the Vectiv Infinite’s more traditional upper and feels more comfortable to run in as a result.

The upper materials also impress. The matrix fabric combines durable Kevlar threads with polyamide yarns, delivering flexible support, high breathability, and serious durability. Add a 3D molded heel counter, overlays around the lace eyelets and toe box, and high-visibility detailing for night running, and the upper package is hard to fault.

On the run, the rocker geometry makes the shoe feel genuinely efficient on longer, firmer stretches of trail and even on tarmac. Cushioning is plush enough without feeling disconnected from the ground. Notably, the carbon plate is far less rigid than expected, with more give in the midsole than many carbon-plated shoes, and it doubles as useful underfoot protection from sharp rocks and debris.

Things to Consider Before Buying

The biggest weakness is traction. The 3.5mm lugs and sticky Surface Ctrl rubber work well on rocky and wet rocky terrain, but in mud the shoe genuinely struggles, especially on off-camber sections. A 5mm lug would make the shoe far more versatile, and a deeper-lugged soft-ground version is expected to follow.

The second issue is value. At £180 it sits at the very top of the trail shoe market, yet midsole performance, cushioning, and comfort feel remarkably close to the cheaper Vectiv Infinite. The carbon plate adds only a slight edge in propulsion and efficiency, mainly on firm ground and tarmac. The white-and-black launch colorway is also impractical: it looked genuinely dirty after roughly 35 miles of British winter running.

Buying Advice

If you want to try a carbon-plated trail shoe and mostly run in dry, firm conditions, the Flight Vectiv is a genuinely enjoyable ride with one of the best uppers in the category. The more affordable Vectiv Infinite remains the smarter buy for most runners, since the on-trail difference is small.

Worth noting: with a recent color update, the shoe can now be found for around £140, which is a much easier price to swallow if you are set on trying a carbon-plated go-faster trail shoe. On our scoring, it earns 4/10 for price, 8/10 for comfort and performance, and 8/10 for durability, totaling 20 out of 30. Durability has been strong so far thanks to that matrix fabric, and the dark colorways of the range will hold up better to mud than the launch white.

Conclusion

The Flight Vectiv is a fun, comfortable, well-constructed trail shoe with excellent lockdown and efficient rocker geometry. But the carbon plate rarely made itself felt outside firm ground and tarmac, the shallow lugs limit it in wet conditions, and the launch price is hard to justify next to the Vectiv Infinite. At the updated lower price point, it becomes a much easier recommendation for dry-terrain runners curious about carbon in the trails.