The North Face (TNF) has unveiled Vectiv™, a new footwear system for trail runners and hikers. According to the manufacturer, the official presentation of the new technology on Jan. 26 was preceded by two years of development, significant investment and nearly 10,000 test kilometers.
At the heart of the new range is the Vectiv sole construction, which consists of the 3D Vectiv carbon plate, a fine-tuned Vectiv Rocker midsole and the SurfaceCTRL outsole. The new construction is said to provide stability and shock absorption without compromising energy efficiency and has been specifically designed to meet the demands of technically challenging alpine terrain. Traditionally intended for road running shoes, TNF has seized the opportunity to integrate carbon fiber and composite plate technology into trail running and hiking shoes. TNF says that, according to research conducted by an independent product research company, the Flight Vectiv reduces the impact on the shins by 10 percent when running downhill. That allows ambitious trail runners to get more miles in without increasing the load.
The premium model in the new series is the Flight Vectiv for trail runners. The shoe that won a Gold Award at the ISPO Awards 2021 will be rolled out globally in February. Eight more models of the series – for trail runners and hikers – will follow in spring 2021.
TNF’s owner, VF Corp., told investors in a conference call with analysts on Jan. 27 that the new Flight Vectiv’s sell-in exceeded expectations.
