This year’s North Face’s Summit Series Trail Running Kit year’s launch is upon us, with some nice updated colorways in select styles -Lava Red, Frost Grey, Pearl Stone, and TNF Black. These are super accessible and reflect the energy of spring and summer while maintaining the athlete-tested and expedition-proven technology that The North Face Summit Series is known for.
The Summit Series Trail Running Kit includes:
- Tops
- Summit Series Superior FUTURELIGHT Jacket (available in men’s and women’s)
- Summit Series High Trail Short Sleeve (available in men’s and women’s)
- Summit Series High Trail Tank (available in men’s and women’s)
- Shorts
- Shoes
- Accessories
For shoes with the word “Pro” in the name, I always get a little worried. I am nowhere near a pro—fast on some days, sure—but running is a hobby for me (one I try to improve on), not something I’m building my entire life around. When “Pro” shows up on a trail shoe, I get even more nervous. I am decidedly not a big-time trail runner. I run trails, but with my schedule and location, I spend far more time on roads and casual trails than I do chasing vert or spending hours deep in the mountains—no matter how much I’d like to.
So that’s the lens here. This isn’t coming from someone lining up at UTMB or bombing down technical descents every weekend. This is coming from someone who mixes in trail miles where they can, leans toward runnable terrain, and wants a shoe that works in that in-between space. And honestly, that might be where a lot of runners land.
Looks
This is a great looking shoe.
It’s primarily white with a fiery red that gives it a fast, sharp look without going over the top. It feels clean and intentional—definitely performance-driven, but still visually appealing in a way that doesn’t try too hard.
White trail shoes may not be for everyone, but let’s be honest—most trail shoes end up covered in dirt and mud pretty quickly anyway. At that point, color kind of becomes irrelevant. If anything, it’s nice to start with something that looks this good out of the box.
Construction
This is where things start to separate.
The VECTIV Pro 3 is built around The North Face’s VECTIV 3.0 system, which uses a dual-stacked plate setup—a full-length carbon-fiber propulsion plate paired with a secondary stability plate. That combination is designed to give you forward drive while also keeping things controlled on uneven terrain, which is no small ask in a high-stack trail shoe.
Underfoot, the DREAM foam midsole brings a high-rebound feel, blending PEBA and EVA compounds into a nitrogen-infused platform that’s meant to handle long miles without losing its responsiveness. It’s a modern super shoe setup, just adapted for the demands of the trail.
Up top, the upper keeps things light and efficient, with a seamless, breathable build supported by an internal skeletal frame and integrated tongue wings to help lock things down.
Specs
- Weight: ~10.3oz (Mens 9)
- Stack Height: 37mm heel / 31mm forefoot
- Drop: 6mm
- Lugs: 3.5mm
This shoe did gain some weight from the previous version, and it’s noticeable. Even pulling it out of the box, it has a slightly dense feel—almost surprisingly so at first touch. Now, a shoe hovering around 10 ounces isn’t exactly heavy, and on foot it mostly fades into the background, but there is still a bit of heft compared to what you might expect from something in this category.
It’s not a dealbreaker by any means, but it does raise a bit of a question when things get more technical. For runners looking to tackle highly technical terrain, that added weight and density might feel a little less nimble than some lighter, more stripped-down options.
Upper
The upper is lightweight, breathable, and quick-drying, with a seamless construction that avoids unnecessary bulk. There’s just enough structure from the internal support frame to keep things secure, while the gussetted tongue and its wings helped create a more dialed-in fit through the midfoot.
Fit-wise, it lands in that middle ground. It feels secure when picking up the pace, but not overly restrictive for longer efforts. There was a good amount of room in the forefoot – which is solid for a shoe aiming to be a long-distance monster – to account for foot swelling over time.
Midsole
The midsole is the centerpiece here.
The DREAM foam – a really nice midsole foam and one I love in other The North Face options – delivers a high-rebound, energetic ride that feels protective without getting overly soft. There’s a noticeable bounce, especially when you start pushing the pace, but it doesn’t feel unstable or out of control.
A dual-plate system is in place – with a carbon plate gives you that forward propulsion, and a secondary plate that adds a layer of stability that helps smooth things out—especially important given the stack height. A wider base also assists with this. The rocker geometry ties it all together and I felt that once I settled into a rhythm, the shoe naturally wants to roll forward, helping maintain momentum.
The combo does feel a little firm and the dual plates gives sort of a unique feel under foot. It never felt overly aggressive or punishing (to me at least), but it did feel a little stiff. I do think this makes it more approachable than the “Pro” label might suggest. Thus, it handled surprisingly well on my more casual trails near my house.
Outsole
The SURFACE CTRL outsole is built for versatility. With 3.5 mm lugs, it’s clearly aimed at runnable terrain—think dirt paths, gravel, and moderately technical trails. It grips well in those conditions and keeps things feeling quick underfoot. No real issues here.
Conclusion
The Summit VECTIV Pro 3 ends up being more approachable than its name suggests.
Yes, it’s a high-performance trail shoe with a plated setup and a superfoam midsole, but it doesn’t feel reserved for only elite runners or extreme terrain. In fact, it probably feels most at home on the kind of trails many runners actually spend time on—runnable, varied, and not overly technical.
For someone like me—mixing road and trail, not chasing massive vert—it still makes a lot of sense. It’s efficient, protective, and clearly built to keep you moving forward over long distances. However, let’s be real – that price is something. $290 for a trail shoe – especially someone like me – is probably not going to work in reality.
That being said, it may say “Pro,” but it doesn’t require you to be one to enjoy what it brings to the table.
