MARTIN FROM ELLIS BRIGHAM AVIEMORE STORE

Martin from Ellis Brigham Aviemore is a keen trail and ultra-runner and has competed in many events including the 62 mile CCC (Courmayeur-ChampexChamonix) trail race at the UTMB (Ultra-Trail du Mont Blanc). Martin has been trying out The North Face Flight VECTIV™ shoes and here's what he had to say:

INITIAL THOUGHTS:

Straight out of the box before running in them was all about the excitement of trying a pair of carbon plated running shoes for the first time! Upon picking them up they felt a stiff shoe but with plenty of cushioning and my eyes were drawn to the see-through MATRYX® side panels, which looked really thin yet felt very durable. After the first few runs, the most notable things were the rocker and carbon plate almost springing you forward, they felt faster with less effort.

FIT:

They feel like a medium/narrow width with a low volume fit. They’ve hugged my feet well, yet not felt too restrictive, the upper materials seem to give when they need to. When wearing the shoes in colder weather in the snow, I’ve needed to wear an extra pair of socks for warmth and initially they feel a little tight to get on with the instep, but when running in them you forget about that as they let you concentrate on your running.

FOOT PROTECTION:

They feel very protective from the sides and underneath. The stiffness of the carbon plate gives total protection from rocks you run over. Also the fact the 3D carbon plate sits above the midsole and wraps around the heel, this gives a feeling of added protection from the sides of the shoe. The heel does feels stiffer than other running shoes but that seems like a natural progression from the carbon plate. The reinforced toe bumper is ideal for preventing banging your toes on the rocks.

TRACTION:

On the intended terrain they have been excellent, I don’t think I’ve felt as if I have lacked grip at all, they’ve even felt reassuringly grippy whilst running in the snow! I’ve not used them in particularly muddy terrain or heather bashing, as I know that’s not what they’re designed for.

STABILITY:

Due to the firmness of the carbon plate underfoot they have felt very stable whilst running. Even with the reasonably high stack height they don’t feel as if you are going to go over on your ankle which some higher stacked shoes feel as if they might. The Flight VECTIV offers a good surface area when landing with each foot strike.

COMFORT:

It is a comfortable shoe, the fact that the materials have enough give in them, at no point have I had to think about a hot spot or any pressure from the materials.

WEIGHT:

I think they are light for the technology that has gone into them but compared to the trail shoes I am used to wearing they are a little heavier. I know there’s a lot more involved with this shoe but at the end of the day, the carbon plate technology must be adding that extra weight.

SENSITIVITY/TRAIL FEEL:

This is the area I feel it is weakest. Whilst the carbon plate offers many positives, it does notably reduce the ‘feel’ of the shoe. I don’t feel as if I’m at one with the ground as I can’t feel or respond quickly to what I’m running on. It feels as if I’m powering my way across the terrain as opposed to nimbly reacting to the terrain. This is just a case of getting used to this style of running and isn’t necessarily a negative but the shoe has lost some sense of ‘feel’.

DURABILITY:

With the materials used this should be a super durable shoe that will stand up to the punishment the trails can give. Little signs of wear on the pair I have tested, though the welded overlay has peeled back a little in places, but I find this is always the case on welded overlays. The 3.5mm lugs are still going strong at this point.

OVERALL VERDICT:

It’s been great to finally run in a carbon plated shoe and I do feel as if my runs are quicker whilst using less effort. The cushioning gives the impression of being forgiving on the joints which is always nice. It’s stiff underfoot but that’s what’s propelling you forward and offering that protection from rocks/stones. Certain features may take a little time to get used to for some runners, such as the gap at the top of the heel and the sock-like tongue.

This should be a great addition to a trail runner’s shoe arsenal and would be the shoe you would pick up when time is the main focus on your run, so if it’s race day or if you want to grab the Strava segment back, then these would be the shoe of choice.

Pros: Carbon plated with rocker technology helps propel you forward. Very durable yet breathable upper.

Cons: While the carbon plate offers many positives, for me it did reduce the ‘feel’ underfoot. There are two other shoes in the VECTIV trail running collection, the Infinite and Enduris which may be more suitable if the carbon plate model is too stiff for you.