The North Face - VECTIV Enduris II

Identity, early 40s here ( UK ) when I was a youth, outdoor coats north face + berghaus were all the rage, brand names were big over here had to have the best for walking to school😆 I remember then it was really expensive but still technical gear, the brand obviously noticed this and starting moving to basic cheaper fabrics with the logo and shifted towards lifestyle, a bit like Nike and Adidas originally we were ( our parents ) buying all the brands actual performance gear but over time they started becoming seen as more lifestyle brands. Non runners I know don’t even realise Nike are a credible running brand they just think air max or retro Jordan. It’s the same with The North Face people don’t see it as credible performance gear, even though it still is. Maybe it’s ignorance? Who knows? I’ve used the vectiv enduris 2 and it’s one of my preferred trail shoes over some other brands, but most people I know don’t recognise them as a “proper” trail runner. Shame really.

Late to this thread, it popped up when I was searching on a release date for the Vectiv Enduris 5. I have had a couple editions of the Vectiv Enduris and the Alta Mesa 500 plus the Offtrail TR. I was among the early adopters and have been happy with any and all that I have tried so far. Engineering, technology, materials, build quality, fit, and comfort have been all on a par or better with other brands' trail shoes that I have run in through the years. I will be purchasing more going forward for as long as I run trails. To reflect on others' comments, I tried the Arc'teryx trail shoes based on perception of brand quality and did not like them at all. They were too similar to Salomon trail shoes which I also did not like, though those have improved in recent years. La Sportiva has also come a long way and now makes trail shoes I enjoy running in. La Sportiva and TNF are probably my top two favorites at the moment. I am also liking Norda right now. Could there be an issue with accessibility? I live in an area with above average running trail access and do not know where to get TNF locally except at the TNF store the next town over, and the trail shoes have disappeared from their inventory more recently. There is one running store, over half an hour away, where I have seen TNF trail run shoes. I know people that want to try on shoes first before buying, so if access is primarily through ecommerce then I can understand widespread reluctance. Hoka and Altra are two brands I probably see the most locally, both in stores and on people's feet.

Glad to hear. The Enduris is 👌

I love running in TNF, BUT I found they never lasted. Brooks/Asics I can get 700+ kms out of, but TNF shoes were 300km and they fell apart. I bought the latest pair for 60% off to see if they last now. They maybe a great "damn they're cheap, I'll grab them" shoe

The tnv vectiv eduris. The upper fell apart and the sole just became slicks very quickly. BUT I heard they're better now. I will only buy them on discount. I can't fault them if you can get them half price etc. I loved to run in them but I just couldn't justify how the lasted.

My partner raced much of his last 100 in the Enduris, and I have a pair as well. They're a very, very good shoe. The brand doesn't have a ton of exposure, but I bet a lot more people would pick them if they did. I also have Alta Mesa 500s that are my absolute favorite shoe for all day crewing/volunteering/course sweeping. 

I used the Enduris for my first 50k and really like the shoe. It’s extremely comfortable and not too heavy for the amount of cushioning relative to other options. I see them fairly often in the Bay Area trail running community so they’re not that rare (mostly the Vectiv Pros).

TNF shoes weren’t on my radar before. I randomly found someone who reviews shoes and then sells them after to make extra cash. I bundled some enduris, vectiv sky’s and a pair of vectiv enduri pros for an amazing price for all three. I’ve haven’t used the pros but the other two pairs are amazing. Would definitely purchase tnf shoes after trying them. But like I said I had never thought of trying them out before.

I have run in the Vectiv Enduris since the first model. They are my favorite trail running shoes!

I did my first R2R2R in vectiv enduris, but I picked them up on discount online after hearing they had a wider toebox than Speedgoats. TNF stores barely stock any of the good shoes, and running stores don't either. Perhaps a victim of TNF products being heavily lifestyle focused so people don't see them as serious. I recently bought some Altamesa 500s online based on youtuber reviews, but no one at my TNF store even knew what they were

Great shoe. By running standards I'm heavy and slow, so it was nice to have something that didn't flatten out after 100 miles. Originally I bought the enduris as a training shoe but enjoyed the rocker and midsole enough that I used it for the big run instead of the Hokas. After that I picked up the vectiv infinite but they ran like bricks for me, which was a shame since the matryx upper was great for the desert heat

Zegamas also get a lot heavier if wet, so if there is chance of that, another reason to look elsewhere. If you want spend some cash, the Tecton X 3 would be a great fit in this situation! Others similarly priced shoes to consider. North Face Enduris, only a bit lighter than the Zegama but more cushioned and doesn't feel as heavy. Breaths better. Topo Vista - also only a bit lighter than the Zegama and about equal cushion. I'm excited about it nonetheless. Finally, I replace a lot of my lower stacked shoes insoles with beaded tpu insoles which adds a bit of cushion and resiliency. Cheap way to make a shoe you like more cushioned, but you do have to be aware of volume of the shoe to make sure it doesn't cause issues.