The North Face VECTIV Infinite is designed to be a responsive trainer and partner to the VECTIV Flight. It’s the middle child between the plush Enduris and the fast VECTIV Flight.
North Face VECTIV Infinite Quick Facts:
Weight: 9.6 oz
Heel to Toe Drop:6 mm
North Face VECTIV Infinite Fit:
Like the VECTIV Flight, the Infinite upper has an abrasion-resistant and super-durable full-length Matryx upper made with Kevlar and polyamide. That’s a mouthful, but what does it mean? It’s durable and will respond well to muddy and sloppy trails. If you find yourself on technical trails with many branches, you don’t need to worry about debris getting inside your shoe. Similarly, with a waterproof coating, you don’t have to worry about your feet getting wet as much.
The perforated microfiber tongue adds additional breathability, so your feet don’t get hot. I don’t love the upper of the VECTIV Infinite and I find the heel counter to be too sharp and thin. I wish it was plusher like the Enduris or thicker like the Flight. I can tolerate it, but’s not my favorite.
Typically in women’s running shoes, I wear between a women’s size 10-11 wide. I’ve found the North Face VECTIV Infinite size 10.5 to fit well.
North Face VECTIV Infinite Ride:
So what makes the North Face VECTIV Infinite a good trail shoe? What is the difference between the VECTIV Infinite and the VECTIV Flight and Enduris? As mentioned above, the Infinite is the middle ground. It’s not as plush and bulky as the Enduris but softer than the carbon fiber plate VECTIV Flight.
The North Face VECTIV Infinite uses dual-density foam to give a lightweight energy return. Located inside the dual-density foam is a PEBAX plate which is 20% lighter than the industry standard PEBAX. The plate gives it a spring without being as rigid (or expensive) as carbon fiber.
This means the Vectiv Infinite acts as an intermediate between the rigid carbon-fiber plate in the Flight Vectiv and the more flexible plastic TPU plate in the Vectiv Enduris. The Vectiv Infinite delivers balanced propulsion to each stride without feeling heavy or overly cushioned and uses the same Matryx upper to secure your foot and provide durable protection on the trails.
Like the rest of the VECTIV series, the Infinite has 3.5 mm to maintain traction.
I’ve used the VECTIV Infinite on all sorts of trails, from grassy open spaces to technical trails, to muddy and everything in between. To me, it performs well on trails that have a variety of conditions. If you know you will be doing a lot of technology and some easier and softer running, it’s a great shoe for that. I think if I lived on the East Coast, it would be my favorite trail shoe.
The durability of the North Face VECTIV Infinite looks good. I’ve run about 100 miles in the VECTIV Infinite, and it shows no signs of wearing down.
North Face VECTIV Infinite Conclusion:
Something I did not make note of, and I appreciate, is that the OrthoLite X55 footbed is made with 5% recycled rubber content. As I mentioned earlier, I’m always looking for more environmentally friendly brands and shoes. This is exciting. The North Face VECTIV Infinite is a great shoe for those looking to run on trails.
If you want an all-purpose trail shoe that can handle the rigors of technical trails or that goes on grassy open land, it’s a great option. For me, it’s a jack-of-all-trades trail shoe with more cushion than most brands.
My Current Shoe Rotation:
Easy/Daily Runs Saloman Sonic 3 Balance, Brooks Glycerin 18, Mizuno Rider Waveknit 3, Diadora Mythos Blushield Volo, Brooks Ricochet 3, Nike Pegasus 37, New Balance 1080 v10, Hoka Bondi 7, Asics GlideRide.
Speed Work: Nike Tempo Next%, New Balance Fuelcell TC Shoe Review, Reebok Float Ride Run fast Pro,
Long Runs: Hoka Clifton Edge, Under Armour Sonic HOVR 3
Trail Running/Hiking: Hoka Torrent 2, North Face VECTIV Infinite
Races: adidas Adizero Pro, Asics MetaRacer, New Balance Fuelcell 5280, Nike Next%, Saucony Endorphin Pro, New Balance fuelcell TC, Reebok Run fast Pro
You Can See All Current Shoe Reviews Here.
Looking to learn more about running shoes? In my ebook, I talk about why you need a good running shoe, a shoe’s anatomy, neutral vs. stable, and even myths of running shoes.
Questions for you:
Have you tried the North Face VECTIV Infinite or any North Face trail shoe?
What is your current favorite trail shoe?