The North Face Vectiv Fastpack Futurelight

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83%
πŸ… Highly Rated
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The North Face Vectiv Fastpack Futurelight: Review

β€œA lightweight, speed-focused hiking shoe with a unique rockered midsole design.”

Overview


The North Face Vectiv Fastpack Futurelight is a lightweight hiking shoe designed for speed hiking and light hiking. This shoe is known for its unique rockered midsole design that enhances forward motion and amplifies trail energy. The single-density TPU plate under the forefoot provides stability, making it an ideal choice for hikers who prioritize speed and energy efficiency.

Key Features:

  • Rockered Midsole Design: The Vectiv Fastpack Futurelight features a rockered midsole design that enhances forward motion and trail energy.
  • Single-Density TPU Plate: It incorporates a single-density TPU plate under the forefoot, providing stability and support for speed hiking.
  • Futurelight Technology: The shoe features Futurelight technology, offering a fully waterproof membrane without sacrificing breathability.
  • Surface CTRL Rubber Outsole: The shoe is equipped with a Surface CTRL rubber outsole with a well-spaced 4mm lug pattern, ensuring sufficient traction on various terrains.

The North Face Vectiv Fastpack Futurelight is part of The North Face hiking shoe lineup, providing hikers with a lightweight, stable, and waterproof option designed for speed and energy efficiency on the trail.

With an average review score of 83%, it's in the highest rated 30% of similar hiking shoes. Based on our monitoring of prices across the internet, it's currently in the most expensive 40% of hiking shoes today.

Verdict

The consensus on the The North Face Vectiv Fastpack Futurelight


The North Face Vectiv Fastpack Futurelight is a high-performing shoe that excels in speed hiking and light hiking scenarios. Its unique rockered midsole design and single-density TPU plate provide stability and enhance forward motion, making it an excellent choice for hikers looking to maximize their energy output on the trail. The shoe's Futurelight technology offers a fully waterproof membrane, keeping your feet dry in various conditions without sacrificing breathability. However, the shoe's performance mesh may not last as long as models with nubuck leather in terms of long-lasting performance. Despite this, if speed and energy efficiency are your primary goals, the Vectiv Fastpack Futurelight is a high-quality choice that delivers on its promises.

Special versions of The North Face Vectiv Fastpack Futurelight


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The North Face Vectiv Fastpack Insulated Futurelight is a special version of the Vectiv Fastpack Futurelight. While both shoes share the same unique rockered midsole design and single-density TPU plate, the Insulated Futurelight version features additional insulation for added warmth in colder conditions. This makes it an excellent choice for hikers who often hike in cold weather. However, like the original version, the Insulated Futurelight version also runs small and is only available in a regular fit.

6 The North Face Vectiv Fastpack Futurelight Pros & Cons


3 Pros

Unique rockered midsole design enhances forward motion and amplifies trail energy.
Futurelight technology offers a fully waterproof membrane without sacrificing breathability.
Lightweight design is ideal for speed hiking and light hiking.

3 Cons

Runs small, especially for those with a narrow foot.
Performance mesh may not last as long as models with nubuck leather.
Only available in a regular fit, which may not be suitable for those with a wider foot.

In Depth


Upper

The upper of The North Face Vectiv Fastpack Futurelight is made of a breathable performance mesh that is significantly lighter than nubuck leather. This contributes to the shoe's overall lightweight design, making it ideal for speed hiking. The upper also features a protective TPU toe cap that protects your toes from rocks and debris without adding extra weight. However, while the mesh is abrasion-resistant, it may not last as long as a leather design.

Midsole

The midsole of the Vectiv Fastpack Futurelight features a unique rockered design meant to enhance forward motion and amplify trail energy. The single-density TPU plate under the forefoot provides stability and offers a high rebound that propels you forward, whether you're out for a training run or carrying a light pack over uneven terrain. The design includes a minimal OrthoLite X55 footbed that incorporates a small amount of recycled rubber.

Outsole

The outsole of the Vectiv Fastpack Futurelight features a Surface CTRL rubber outsole with a well-spaced 4mm lug pattern. This pattern provides sufficient traction when moving over textured granite and through thick mud. However, the traction doesn't compare to the performance of Vibram Megagrip or Duratread rubber, which are known to provide the best traction in mountainous terrain.

Size/fit

The Vectiv Fastpack Futurelight runs small, especially for those with a narrow foot. It is recommended to size up if you're in between sizes, want to allow extra space for your toes to expand in hot conditions, or want to wear different socks of varying thicknesses. Unfortunately, this shoe is only available in a regular fit, which may not be suitable for those with a wider foot.

Comfort

The Vectiv Fastpack Futurelight offers outstanding comfort right out of the box. While it doesn't provide the maximum cushioning provided by other shoes, the moderate cushioning keeps your feet protected from debris on the trail. The soft and padded material surrounding the ankle adds to the shoe's overall comfort. The gusseted tongue helps keep rocks out of the shoe while also allowing the lacing system to lay flush on the top of your foot to help reduce bulk.

Who should buy the The North Face Vectiv Fastpack Futurelight?


The North Face Vectiv Fastpack Futurelight is an ideal choice for hikers who prioritize speed and energy efficiency. If you're into speed hiking or light hiking, this shoe's unique rockered midsole design and single-density TPU plate will enhance your forward motion and amplify your trail energy. Additionally, if you often hike in wet conditions, the shoe's Futurelight technology offers a fully waterproof membrane that keeps your feet dry without sacrificing breathability.

Who should not buy the The North Face Vectiv Fastpack Futurelight?


The North Face Vectiv Fastpack Futurelight may not be the best choice for hikers who prefer a shoe with a wider fit, as it is only available in a regular fit. Additionally, if you're looking for a shoe with maximum cushioning, you might find the moderate cushioning of this shoe insufficient. Lastly, if durability is a top priority for you, the performance mesh of this shoe, while lightweight and breathable, may not last as long as models with nubuck leather.

The North Face Vectiv Fastpack Futurelight: What's it good for?


The North Face Vectiv Fastpack Futurelight is good for speed hiking and light hiking. Its unique rockered midsole design and single-density TPU plate make it an excellent choice for hikers looking to maximize their energy output on the trail. The shoe's Futurelight technology offers a fully waterproof membrane, making it suitable for hiking in wet conditions.

4 The North Face Vectiv Fastpack Futurelight FAQs


Is The North Face Vectiv Fastpack Futurelight waterproof?

Yes, the Vectiv Fastpack Futurelight features The North Face's Futurelight technology, which offers a fully waterproof membrane. This keeps your feet dry in various conditions without sacrificing breathability.

What type of hiking is The North Face Vectiv Fastpack Futurelight suitable for?

The North Face Vectiv Fastpack Futurelight is suitable for speed hiking and light hiking. Its unique rockered midsole design and single-density TPU plate enhance forward motion and amplify trail energy, making it an excellent choice for hikers looking to maximize their energy output on the trail.

Does The North Face Vectiv Fastpack Futurelight run true to size?

The Vectiv Fastpack Futurelight runs small, especially for those with a narrow foot. It is recommended to size up if you're in between sizes, want to allow extra space for your toes to expand in hot conditions, or want to wear different socks of varying thicknesses.

What is the weight of The North Face Vectiv Fastpack Futurelight?

The North Face Vectiv Fastpack Futurelight is a lightweight hiking shoe. The men's version weighs 323 grams, while the women's version weighs 272 grams.

The North Face Vectiv Fastpack Futurelight alternatives

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Released
Jan 2023
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Weight
Weight
M: 323 g
W: 272 g
M: 397 g
W: 320 g
M: 374 g
W: 320 g
M: 352 g
W: 312 g
M: 400 g
W: 326 g
M: 213 g
W: 179 g
Usages
Usages
Light hikingSpeed hiking
Speed hikingDay hikingSpeed hikingDay hikingSpeed hikingDay hikingDay hiking
Heel brake
Heel brake
Breathable
Breathable
Techs
Techs
OrthoLiteThe North Face Futurelight
OrthoLiteThe North Face FuturelightVibramOrthoLiteThe North Face FuturelightOrthoLiteOrthoLiteThe North Face FuturelightVibramOrthoLite
Waterproofings
Waterproofings
Waterproof
WaterproofWaterproof
WaterproofWaterproof
Environmental Characteristics
Environmental Characteristics
Eco-friendlyEco-friendly
Eco-friendly
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The North Face Vectiv Fastpack Futurelight characteristics and specifications

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AuthorTom Green
Tom is the founder of geerly. Based in West London, he found his passion for running in his mid-30s. He’s best at longer distances, and is a regular at the London Marathon, where he's edging closer to sub-2.40. He started geerly because he found it frustrating when shopping for running shoes spending ages trying to find the best deal in his size, and wading through verbose, waffling reviews clearly designed to appeal to search engines rather than be helpful to users. For geerly he's passionate about writing reviews that get straight to the point, and helping runners find the right gear at the best price.
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πŸ“Š Stats by geerly πŸ‘Ÿ πŸ•’ Official time: 00:22:45 | Course PB 🚨 🏁 Overall position: 35/549 🚹 Gender position: 21/299 🎯 Age grade: 61%