The North Face Summit Vectiv Sky 2 Review

"While not the most hyped trail racing shoe in the brand's current lineup, The North Face Summit Vectiv Sky 2 ($200) is a shoe that feels like a complete racing package, more so than the super-stacked, hyper-cushioned The North Face Summit Vectiv Pro 3 ($250). That's a role reversal, since in the past, the Pro line tended to be the more fun and capable option, while I found that the original The North Face Summit Vectiv Sky was great on paper but very underwhelming on foot."

"The Summit Vectiv Sky 2 changes all of that. It's lighter, better cushioned, and grippier than the first version. It's a short-distance racing shoe that feels complete and stands out for these simple reasons: It's fun, extremely fast, and propulsive."

"The shoe climbs well, descends confidently, and feels sharp when you push the pace, but it's less suited for casual long runs. The midsole can feel harsh if you're jogging out a three-hour run, and the upper's minor quirks show up more the longer you wear them. But as a purpose-built shoe for short and fast racing and training, this is not only a massive improvement over its first version but is vying for one of the best trail racing shoes from any brand this year."

The North Face Summit Vectiv Sky 2 is a lightweight, propulsive trail racing shoe featuring Dream foam and a carbon plate for a lively, snappy ride. The shoe weighs 8.4 ounces (238 g) for a U.S. men's 9, with 28 mm heel and 22 mm forefoot stack heights (6 mm drop) and 5-mm lugs for technical traction. The shoe excels at short-distance races and fast training, climbing well and descending confidently, and is suitable for half-marathon distances and potentially up to 50k on technical courses. The midsole can feel harsh on long, easy runs and the upper shows minor fit quirks during extended wear.

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