The North Face Summit Series Vectiv Pro 3: First Run Impressions of a Faster Ultra Racer

Introduction

The Vectiv Pro 2 has long been one of our favorite all-around race day trail shoes, especially on light to moderate terrain whether the day is short or long. It delivers a special combination of confidence, cushioning, and that energetic zing that makes fast trail running genuinely fun. The Summit Series Vectiv Pro 3 takes that formula and pushes it further, with more foam, a new dual-plate approach, and a few refinements that make it one of the most interesting trail racers around right now.

First Runs: Where This Shoe Shines

Early running has been limited but meaningful: two outings of 11 and 14 miles, each with roughly 1,600 to 2,000 feet of gain on light to moderate trails. That is exactly the terrain where this shoe is likely to shine. The verdict so far is simply that it is a lot of fun, and it earns that description on rolling climbs and descents where you can really let your legs go. More technical terrain is still on the testing list before a full verdict on stability there.

Midsole: DreamFoam Done Right

Material-wise, not much changes between generations, but how The North Face uses those materials does. The shoe keeps the brand’s DreamFoam, a blend of PEBA and EVA that combines the resilience and moldability of EVA with the high-energy, highly cushioned feel of PEBA. Rather than stacking these foams in layers like many current trail shoes, the blend is mixed into one seamless compound, which keeps the ride feeling cohesive.

The Pro 3 adds four more millimeters of this foam overall, pushing the stack into territory among the highest stack shoes available. To counteract that height, the bottom profile is notably wide for stability. On the light to moderate terrain run so far, stability has felt roughly equal to the Pro 2, perhaps slightly less, which makes technical-terrain testing an important next step.

Upper and Fit

The upper carries over much of what worked in the previous version: tenacious, highly technical fibers with a really well-mapped lockdown. There is welcome structure and good padding in the heel, something a lot of trail racing shoes lack. A thinner, racer-style tongue hugs the foot nicely, and the braided, lace-style cords cinch down securely and hold well through a run.

Two Plates, More Foam

The headline change is that the Vectiv Pro 3 now has two plates. While dual carbon plates might raise eyebrows in road running, trail racing rewards creative stability and propulsion differently. The lower plate is now embedded deeper into the midsole rather than sitting just beneath the sock liner. That matters for anyone who dealt with rubbing on the forefoot in earlier Vectiv Pro versions: pushing the plate down should help.

The upper plate is made of recycled carbon fiber, so it is a little more flexible and a little lighter, and it is where much of the stability comes from. It wraps up through the midfoot, paired with restructured wings for more dynamic stability. With the plates split apart and higher stack foam, stability on the terrain run so far feels largely unchanged, maybe a touch less confident, but still not a real problem.

Things to Consider Before Buying

One issue to keep an eye on: a bit of bite on the medial side of the forefoot, right under the big toe, where blisters have been showing up. That same forefoot bite affected the first version of the Vectiv Pro, disappeared in the second, and is back a little in the third, though it may partly stem from running a different shoe that irritated the same area the week before. It is too early to call it, but if you are sensitive in that spot, plan to ease into this shoe gradually.

Buying Advice

If you loved the Vectiv Pro 2, this is a natural upgrade: more foam, a smarter plate setup, and the same seamless DreamFoam ride on light to moderate trails. Runners who spend most of their time on highly technical ground should wait for longer-term stability impressions before committing, and anyone prone to forefoot blisters should break the shoe in carefully.

Conclusion

Fast, fun, and ambitious, the Summit Series Vectiv Pro 3 builds on a favorite race day platform with four extra millimeters of foam and a clever dual-plate design. It shines on light to moderate trails, keeps the excellent upper and heel comfort, and asks for a little patience if you are blister-prone in the forefoot. For long, rolling race days, it looks like a serious contender.