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Trail Running Shoes • January 31, 2025

The North Face Summit Vectiv Sky 2 Review: Sky’s The Limit

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What You Need To Know

Weight

8.3 oz. (235 g) for a US M9 / W10.5 (Unisex sizing)

Stack Height / Drop

32 mm in heel, 26 mm in forefoot (6mm drop)

Best For

Moderate to technical terrain

Key Features

Dream midsole, Vectiv 3.0 plate, Dual-warp upper, Surface Ctrl outsole

On The Run
Smooth midsole rocker Race-ready upper Carbon fiber wings can still bite
Price / Availability

Available now for $200

The Score

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13 out of 15
Form 5 out of 5
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Fit 3 out of 5
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Function 5 out of 5
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Introduction to The North Face Summit Vectiv Sky 2

TAYLOR: Trail running gear has entered an age of diversity. There’s something for everyone and every scenario. While the way we typically categorize road offerings can be helpful, the fact is that the trail running world is a whole lot more varied in terrain, conditions, and distances. So, the need/want to be more specific is there.

The North Face is one of the brands that has really taken this sentiment seriously. We know dang well that their technological performance-oriented approach to shoes like the Vectiv Pro 2, Vectiv Pro 3, Offtrail TR, and the Altamesa 500 has notched up the industry standard in recent years.

I appreciate their approach most because they can get really granular from the tip of the spear, and then a trickle-down effect informs their other offerings. For example, the Vectiv line has two top models: the North Face Summit Vectiv Pro 3 and the North Face Summit Vectiv Sky 2. Both approach different types of trail running (for the most part), and they put their best tech forward to solve for X in those scenarios.

The shoe we are talking about today tackles the more technical aspects of trail running. The Sky model has been available since the onset of the Summit Vectiv line. It was created to be a lower-to-the-ground, more secure fitting, and aggressive option, and the original model remains our own Reese Ruland’s ride-or-die.

I also wore the shoe and was impressed with its technical performance, but I wanted a little more in each department to be squeezed out of the recipe to be a true trail racer.

Well, I got my wish! Every ingredient of this shoe received attention, and now we have the North Face Vectiv Sky 2. It’s lighter for many reasons, increased stack, enhanced feel, and took grip to a whole new level. These are the updates our Dirt Division gets out of bed for. And, as you’ll notice, the regard given to this update is well worth it.

MATT: In the quick span of about 3 to 4 years, The North Face went from an outdoor apparel brand that was getting its feet wet in the serious Trail running space to possibly the hottest brand on the market, having consistently produced a number of highly regarded models that can be found on everyone from top pros racing in the mountains, to weekend warriors hitting the local trailhead.

The introduction of the Vectiv series has spawned a variety of models, including the Enduris, Pro, Infinite, and Sky. Each model in the Vectiv series is tailored to a specific purpose, with the Vectiv Sky serving as the lightest shoe, built for fast, technical racing. The North Face models I have run in over the past year have had a few consistent features that really work well with my running style, primarily the rockered geometry and the seamless fitting uppers. That said, the variety of carbon plate shapes has not always agreed with me, though, with the ever-changing pattern of wings and forks tending to miss me more than it hits.

I was very excited to test out the Vectiv Sky 2, as the carbon plate was updated to a more forked, winged shape. I had heard this really improved propulsion while maintaining stability, which was an issue for me in the past.

What we like about The North Face Summit Vectiv Sky 2

TAYLOR: Let’s start with some aesthetic updates. Wow, is this a beautiful shoe or what? I won’t take any arguments on this one. It’s techy, unique, and beautifully simple all at the same time. If a good-looking shoe makes you feel confident, the North Face Vectiv Sky 2 will give you something to puff up that chest about.

Another obvious adjustment to this model is the weight. Even before putting this shoe on, I noticed its featherweight build. It dropped a significant amount of weight from the previous version (over an ounce) even though it retained stack height and gained more rubber on the outsole. Some of that weight savings is due to the new midsole, and the rest is due to the extremely lightweight upper.

Speaking of, the North Face has a new dual-warp upper that is a highly technical upper that brings the best of all the performance worlds for an upper. It was noticeably breathable, extremely lightweight, gritty, and was mapped beautifully to allow for a comfortably secure fit. This type of engineering is the future (and present) of trail running shoes.

The fit itself was surprisingly generous. We’re conditioned to technically oriented shoes fitting like a track spike. That’s not the case with the North Face Vectiv Sky 2. Don’t get me wrong—it is a slimmer profile—but the forefoot had enough volume to allow my toes to be active and comfortable in the cabin. The overall volume is somewhere between the Merrell MTL Long Sky 2 and Norda 002.

Thirdly, the Vectiv Sky overhaul wouldn’t be complete without a Dream Foam midsole, baby! It was originally in the Vectiv Pro series, made its way to the Altamesa 500, and has now graced the whole dang North Face lineup. I love this foam for many reasons. Namely, it has true characteristics of cushion and responsiveness — which I felt in the Vectiv Sky 2 as well; however, those were much more subdued in this experience simply because of the lower stack.

That’s not at all a bad thing because a little bit goes a long way in this experience. This is especially true when considering the previously quite firm EVA-based midsole. The North Face Vectiv Sky 2 added a whole new dimension of performance simply by swapping the foam out.

The carbon fiber plate has also been updated. Thankfully, because of the softer carbon Vectiv 3.0 system, I felt confidently in control this time around. Dynamic forefoot stability is the most appreciated aspect, though. The Vectiv 3.0 plate is forked in the forefoot and has stability wings to ensure guided stability and finesse over any terrain.

The unique Vectiv system does provide some noticeable zip. It has a full-length carbon fiber plate, which can now be better leveraged because of the softer foam. The plate itself seems softer compared to many other shoes that contain a carbon plate. Responsiveness is not a descriptor I would have used for the first version, but the North Face Vectiv Sky 2 certainly has a little zing to boast about.

So, I would categorize the zippiness as slightly more than what I got from another leader in the category, the Brooks Catamount Agil, or even the slightly higher stack Brooks Catamount 3. The energetic foam/plate combo brings a unique sensation to this category of shoe when compared to rivals like the Norda 002, Nnormal Kjerag, and more.

Together, the Dream foam and plate offered a surprising amount of underfoot protection for a shoe that is only 32/26 mm high. Moderate amounts of protection gave way for the ability to have some ground as well. This fact alone allows for the North Face Vectiv Sky 2 to shine in more scenarios than the aforementioned competitors. I wouldn’t be surprised to see this shoe on runners who shoot for fast 50 miler times and under. I think the sweet spot of comfort and performance will be somewhere between one and five hours of running.

The one-piece rubber outsole with 5 mm lugs certainly assists in the protection department, too. Even more so, the deep multidirectional chevron-shaped lugs tore up the trail, whether it was wet, dry, technical, smooth, or whatever. I was very pleased with this iteration of Surface Ctrl for its tackiness and, get this, its durability, too! The North Face has finally found a winning combination that gets the job done to a high level in both of those realms.

MATT: As soon as I picked up this shoe out of the box, I was intrigued. The Vectiv Sky 2 felt like a feather. The North Face says it weighs 8.3 oz for a US M9, which is super light for a shoe capable of technical trails like this, and it actually felt lighter once underfoot.

The design is super clean, with the all-white colorway accented by small exposed carbon features. The dual-warp seamless upper is super lightweight, breathable, and fits like a glove with strategically placed padding under the tongue and inside the heel, providing just enough support to feel locked in but not add additional weight.

Finally, the fit of the Vectiv Sky 2’s upper is topped off with lightweight racing-style laces, similar to those found on Nike Vaporfly/Alphafly models. This brings me to my best comparison for this shoe, which may be surprising. It only took me a few miles into my first trail run to feel the similarities to the Nike Vaporfly, which I know is an insane comparison for a trail shoe, but the experience was so similar I couldn’t ignore it.

Seriously, though, the upper materials, shape, and fit are so similar to the Vaporfly 2. The Dream midsole foam on the Vectiv Sky 2 is not as squishy and soft as Zoom X, but the way the carbon plate combines with the “almost not there” upper made me feel like I was on the track and not navigating roots, rocks, and windy single track.

As far as the Dream midsole foam goes, I found it to be an almost perfect blend of firm yet responsive. The Vectiv Sky 2 had that magic mix of ground feel and propulsion that trail runners look for, and when you factor in the super reliable Surface Ctrl rubber outsole and 5 mm lugs, I was planting each foot with confidence despite a few runs in some wet and muddy conditions.

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What we don’t like about The North Face Summit Vectiv Sky 2

TAYLOR: I’m envious of those, like Matt, who do not have any issues with the Vectiv stability wings. I did a little Instagram poll to see how many people have irritation in the forefoot with any of the North Face Vectiv series, and it ended up being a literal 50/50 split of wearers who got bit. The North Face Vectiv Sky 2 gave me some pretty tender spots. I know my bunions don’t help in this situation, as my right foot has a larger joint, and that’s the one that gets slammed the hardest.

So, if you’re cursed like me, be prepared for potential irritation in the forefoot. Even after an hour of running (with no attempts at mitigating the issue), I was rather uncomfortable. For some, this will be a major limiting factor, and for others, it will be a non-issue. As always, ideas like lubrication, thicker socks, and more substantial insoles certainly help alleviate or even eliminate the issue altogether.

A smaller complaint is the lack of structure in the back half of the upper. Even though the lockdown is very satisfactory in the Vectiv Sky 2, I think it could be made better with a slightly stiffer heel construction. A combination of fairly narrow width and loosey-goosey heel made for some squirreliness on speedy descents and hard corners. If you have weak ankles, this has the potential to be a hairy situation.

Lastly, the durability of the midsole does concern me. After our test of the North Face Vectiv Pro 3, I worry about any new iteration of Dream Foam petering out quickly. There were very noticeable midsole creases throughout the midsole after a single run. Of course, the lower stack will ensure a less dramatic decline in character. Through my test miles (less than 50), The North Face Vectiv Sky 2 has retained its loveable ride. I hope that continues.

MATT: This might be tricky for me as I loved almost everything about the Vectiv Sky 2.

I will say that there’s a contingent of runners who carry a torch against white trail shoes. I can appreciate a new, clean shoe just as much as anyone, but Taylor recently said to “think of them like a canvas,” and that has stuck with me, almost challenging me to go out and paint the shoes with the most gnarly conditions as a sort of badge of honor.

My only other potential issue is that I’m not sure what my upper limit for mileage might be on the Vectiv Sky 2. The shoe is super light, and there isn’t a lot of upper protection. In a world of super foams and super trainers, 26/32 mm can no longer be considered high-stack, so while I have no doubts about this shoe flying over a 50K or a 50-miler, my feet and legs might be feeling beat up if stretched to 100K or more.

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Final thoughts on The North Face Summit Vectiv Sky 2

TAYLOR: Here’s another race day shoe from The North Face that is simply fun and fast — one that redefines the lightweight technical trail running category. The Vectiv Sky 2 has all the tools and stature to feel confident on any day you call on it. At the same time, it’s pared back enough to give a true connection to the terrain.

The best case scenario for The North Face Vectiv Sky 2 would be race day on shorter (a handful of hours or less), moderate-to-technical efforts. Heck, anytime you want a lightweight trail shoe that is high-performing, light, and peppy, this would be easy to grab.

I really, really love the Vectiv Sky 2. It’s one of those that you know is special from the first miles — which, in an ever-expanding trail running marketplace, is not easy to do anymore.

Proceed with caution, though. The forefoot wings that bothered me in the past might sneak up to bite. Sadly, my right foot is just a glutton for punishment with this formula, yet the recipe of the North Face Vectiv Sky 2 is so tantalizing that I may just need to dip my foot in a vat of Bodyglide, throw on some more technical socks, and suck it up.

MATT: I absolutely love the Vective Sky 2, to the point that while we are barely two months into the new year, I might go ahead and put my chips on this shoe being at the top of its class when 2025 is all said and done. I can’t think of a better weapon for trail racing right now, and running in this shoe lights the same spark I had the first time I laced up the Nike Vaporfly on the road — it’s just downright fun to run in.

If you’re looking for light, fast, and secure on the trails, I don’t think you will be disappointed at all with The North Face Vectiv Sky 2.

You can pick up The North Face Summit Vectiv Sky 2 for $200 from Running Warehouse (featuring free shipping and 90-day returns) by using the buttons below.

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  1. Nuvie E says:

    I’m surprised there’s zero reference to the Pro 2 and Pro 3. Why spend 50£ less on this versus either Pro generations? Is this more or less suitable for more technical trails? Is it “faster” by virtue of being lighter?

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Authors

taylor
Taylor Bodin
Lead Trail Reviewer
  • Strava
  • Instagram

Taylor Bodin is a trail and ultra runner living in Estes Park, Colo., with his wife and daughters. Trail running is pretty much the only hobby he can manage right now and loves it. Every so often, he will pop off a race or FKT attempt because competition is pure and the original motivator for him getting into running anyways. When not running, Taylor is a 1st grade teacher, running coach (track & field, Cross Country, and Trail/Ultra athletes), and volunteers at his church.

More from Taylor
Shoe Size

10.5

Fav. Distance

100K

PRs
  • 27:03

    100M
  • 13:40

    100K
  • 7:42

    50M
  • 4:34

    50K
Matt Kucharski
Mid-Atlantic Trail Reviewer
  • Strava
  • Instagram

Matt is a recovering triathlete who fell in love with running and left the dark side behind. Trail and ultra running are where he is most in his element, but he can still be found routinely running the streets in and around Baltimore with the Faster Bastards. Aside from running, he is a lover of coffee, mezcal, beer, and 90s country music.

More from Matt
Shoe Size

10

Fav. Distance

50K

PRs
  • 15:45

    100K
  • 9:19

    50M
  • 4:50

    50K
  • 3:07

    Marathon
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