The North Face Vectiv Endurus 4: First Run Impressions

Introduction

The North Face Vectiv Endurus 4 aims to bring pro-trail performance to a more everyday trail running shoe, and the changes from the last generation are substantial. The brand swapped the EVA midsole for a new nitrogen TPU dream foam, a supercritical midsole that adds 2mm of extra stack: 32mm in the heel and 26mm at the forefoot, for a 6mm drop. After a couple of early test runs on mixed terrain, the early impressions are genuinely encouraging.

What’s New in the Endurus 4

Beyond the lively new midsole, there is a 3D injected nylon Vectiv 3.0 stability plate to control the foam. Up top you get a dual wrap seamless upper with strategic breathable zones, an internal bootie to keep debris out, and a reinforced TPU toe cap for protection up front.

Underfoot, the outsole has been updated too: lugs are now 4mm, up from 3.5mm in the last generation, with a revised pattern of chevron lugs across the bottom. In a men’s UK 9.5 test shoe it weighs 10.7oz (302g), and it will set you back $160 in the US or £145 in the UK.

First Run Impressions on Mixed Terrain

The first couple of runs covered 7 miles easy and 5 miles at mixed pace over road, compacted trails, sand dunes, rocky sections, and a long stretch of wet, compacted beach sand. The first thing you notice is the combination of softness with a bit of spring from the energetic foam midsole, and that comes with a wide platform that brings a decent amount of control.

It brought to mind shoes like the Adidas Metafuji Trail, but less aggressive: that bouncy, springy midsole feel with real potential to cruise along runnable trails. Compared with the Endurus 2, which felt firm and blocky, this shoe feels a whole lot livelier and more forgiving underfoot, yet not so soft that you lose the trail. It belongs to the new breed of trail shoes that feel at home on road and firmer ground as well.

Feel, Structure and Fit

There is quite a lot of structure here. While it is comfortable, it is not necessarily a light-feeling shoe: it runs light, but there is a fair amount of shoe on the foot. That is not a negative; the protective, secure feel creates support, security and confidence. The fairly pronounced rocker made for smooth transitions on everything run so far, and the toebox has good room up front for a comfortable fit.

Grip on Wet Pavement

One weak spot appeared when heavy rain hit Grand Canaria’s town center: the shiny, smooth stones became very slippery and the updated grip struggled on that surface. To be fair, wet polished pavement is a nightmare for most shoes, but it was still a little surprising given the lug count.

It is worth remembering that this is not the terrain the shoe is really designed for. On mixed terrain, sand dunes, compacted trails and rocky sections, the outsole performed well, and the deeper chevron lugs should inspire more confidence on actual trail.

Things to Consider Before Buying

The main open question is precision. With the wider platform, the Endurus 4 does not feel like the most precise shoe, and it remains to be seen how it handles cluttered, trickier trails. The colorway and overall aesthetics, that silver and lime look, are a genuine highlight, and early miles have been impressive overall.

Buying Advice

This is a shoe with plenty of cushion for long hauling plus enough liveliness to pick up the pace when you want it. If you want a comfortable, natural-feeling daily trail shoe with structure, security and energy, it makes a strong case at $160 / £145. If you race on technical terrain and value pinpoint precision, a narrower-plated racing option such as the Vectiv Pro 3 may suit better.

Conclusion

On these early miles, the Vectiv Endurus 4 is a trail shoe that runs with energy but retains a good level of control, with a lively new midsole, a protective wide platform, and deeper lugs for real trails. These are first impressions rather than a final verdict, but if the shoe keeps this form on technical ground, it should be a strong all-round choice.