The North Face Vectiv Enduris 4 Review: A GOAT for a New Age?

Introduction to The North Face Vectiv Enduris 4

TAYLOR: The North Face is a brand that continues to pick up speed in our neck of the woods. It’s gone from zero to hero in a relatively short period of time, and it all started with the Vectiv series that debuted in 2021. Yes, the same one that introduced the first carbon-plated trail racing shoe along with a stable of daily running options.

Even though it was never meant to be the marquee shoe of the series, we’ve found that one of The North Face’s offerings has risen above the rest in terms of popularity. It took a few iterations, but the Vectiv Enduris 3 ended up a favorite for both our reviewers and the general public, thanks to its overall comfort, efficiency, and versatility.

Now, in version four, the mountain-centric brand has stuck with some basic design principles yet completely overhauled the Enduris. Every aspect of the shoe has been shown some love. Visually, it’s much closer to The North Face’s top dog, the Summit Vectiv Pro 3 — a move that we often see on the roads, with entire lineups sharing similar traits but different tiers of ingredients, as it were.

One of the biggest parts of this year’s overhaul is that The North Face Vectiv Enduris 2, like the Vectiv Sky 2, swapped its EVA midsole for a supercritical TPU Dream compound. It also picked up two more millimeters of stack for comfort, which sounds like music to my ears.

The North Face also added a new seamless Dual-Warp upper and an improved formula of Surface Ctrl rubber to enhance the daily trainer’s technical chops.

After nearly 50 miles in this shoe, I can confidently say that this shoe is better because of the additions, but it may not appeal to all of the same consumers. Let’s dig in.

What we like about The North Face Vectiv Enduris 4

TAYLOR: I’m gonna say it — Dream foam is what this whole lineup needed. In the Vectiv Enduris 4, it completely elevates the ride to a level that few others in this category can match. Some that can, though, are the Hoka Mafate Speed 4, Merrell Agility Peak 5, and NNormal Tomir 2.0.

Now, other runners may disagree with me, but I don’t think those other high-quality options actually compare in terms of overall comfort and performance. The North Face Vectiv Enduris 4 has levels of medium-soft comfort and enough energy return that it lands in a true sweet spot. It feels light underfoot yet dense enough to offer reliable protection from the trail — I just kinda love it. Surprisingly, this is the ride that I expected from The North Face’s Dream foam that I didn’t feel in its top-tier offering, the Summit Vectiv Pro 3.

It’s not just the foam that makes this such a special shoe, either. Adding in a moderately aggressive rocker allowed for a very smooth transition on a variety of terrain and paces. It’s not nearly as aggressive as the Vectiv Pro 3, Craft Pure Trail X, New Balance Hierro v9, or the Enduris 3, for that matter. Of course, it feels best when on the run, whether that’s on gravel or a more technical trail, but it’s not so aggressive that it feels weird while in power-hike mode — something that’s been known to happen in other trail shoes. I really like the versatile geometry here.

That smooth, stable toe-off is a major difference-maker in the Vectiv Enduris 4, but it doesn’t work alone. The North Face’s moderately wide platform helps, too, but the most unique part of the ride comes from a nylon Vectiv 3.0 Stability Plate. It has the same construction as the top plate in the Summit Vectiv Pro 3, which allows this shoe to broaden its horizons even further. I’d say it adds enough stability to the mixture, but I also think the shoe remains nimble enough that you can bounce through technical terrain with ease.

Of course, the Vectiv Stability Plate only extends as far as the midfoot, which might have you worried about the back half of the ride. Thankfully, though, there’s enough structure in the heel collar to ensure stability from the toenail to the Achilles tendon. The heel is also noticeably softer than the forefoot, probably thanks to the 6 mm drop and the lack of that plate I just finished praising.

A dual-warp upper and strategic overlays add more structure up top — and yes, this is the same upper we just saw on the Vectiv Sky 2. I’m glad it’s back for another rodeo, too, since the material used is light, breathable, and plenty durable. It’s more like a weave of mesh fibers that create a cage for your foot than a proper engineered mesh. I found it very easy to maintain precise footing thanks to the incredibly secure fit and almost perfect structure.

Overall, I would say the Vectiv Enduris 4 has an average fit that is borderline generous in the forefoot. It’s reminiscent of the Vectiv Pro 3 (purposefully), but I found that the heel (after a little bit of work) and the midfoot were more secure than its racing sibling or door-to-trail cousin, the Altamesa 500. It probably helps that The North Face added a semi-gusseted tongue and serrated laces to further secure the midfoot — both of which are always welcome.

Last but not least, The North Face has massively improved its outsole grip over the years. The Vectiv Enduris 4 packs the latest formulation of Surface Ctrl rubber with 4 mm chevron-style lugs of numerous sizes and orientations that give the shoe pretty great clawing power no matter the terrain. Even the durability, which has historically been questionable out of TNF, was pretty impressive — I hardly notice any damage after putting the Enduris 4 through all manner of trails in Colorado and the Midwest.

What we don’t like about The North Face Vectiv Enduris 4

TAYLOR: If you’ve read any of our other recent reviews from The North Face, I might sound like a broken record here. The mad scientists in the lab must have modified this version of Dream foam because I am visually and physically experiencing a quicker degradation of the foam’s character than what I felt in the Altamesa 500 or the Vectiv Pro 2.

I don’t think the Vectiv Enduris 4 is going to flop before any of its competitors, but the durability of the Dream foam was one of The North Face’s standout strengths. Unfortunately, I just can’t be as confident of its longevity in its most recent form. With that being said, even in its “compromised state,” Dream foam feels better than any close rival in its category.

While the Dream foam is an issue across all of The North Face’s current offerings, my next complaint is a bit more specific — some people won’t like the contrast between the forefoot and heel of this shoe. It’s not stark, but the Vectiv Enduris 4 is noticeably cushier in the heel than the forefoot. Sure, the stability plate is partly to blame, but the difference is liable to throw off some of the heavier heel strikers out there.

Like with the Vectiv Pro 3, I had to alter the laces in the collar a bit to find a fit that complemented the rest of the shoe. It was pretty easy for me, as I simply swung the laces through the upper lace holes, but it’s something you’ll probably have to consider if you grab a pair.

Final thoughts on The North Face Vectiv Enduris 4

TAYLOR: We saw it with the Brooks Cascadia. Then, it happened again with the Hoka Speedgoat. Now, it’s happening with The North Face Vectiv Enduris 4. I kid you not, this is the type of shoe that will reset a category. It has the specs and the tech to do whatever you ask of it, from an ultra-distance cruiser to a semi-technical trail traveler. The North Face’s Vectiv Enduris 4 is a modern take on protection, stability, and grip, but it brings a classic combination of performance and comfort to any run.

You can pick up The North Face Vectiv Enduris 4 for $160 from Running Warehouse (featuring free shipping and 90-day returns) by using the buttons below.