I’ve been out testing The North Face VECTIV Sky 2 on technical trails around Northern California, covering steep climbs, winding singletrack, and rocky descents.
The Sky 2 is part of The North Face’s Summit Series and is described as a trail racing shoe capable of handling technical terrain while keeping weight to a minimum.
In this TNF VECTIV Sky 2 review I’m sharing my insights on how it performs, its key features, and whether it might be a good fit for your trail running shoe rotation. Let’s go!
Key Specifications
- Price: $200 at REI.com / £180 at Sportsshoes.com (UK)
- Weight: 8.4oz (238g) for a size US Men’s 9
- Drop: 6mm from heel to toe with a stack height of 24.5mm at the heel, 18.5mm at the forefoot
- Midsole: Responsive Full-length 3D carbon-fiber plate, nitrogen-infused TPU foam (DREAM)
- Upper: Seamless engineered mesh with integrated tongue wings
- Outsole: SURFACE CTRL™ rubber compound with 5 mm lugs
- Fit: true to size, medium width
- Intended Use: Technical trail running, racing up to marathon distance
One especially appealing feature is the rocker geometry combined with the carbon-fiber plate, which helps keep heel-to-toe stride transition turnover quick. The outsole’s aggressive lugs and sticky rubber compound also provide great grip in mud, on wet rocks, and loose dirt.
How They Fit and Feel
Right out of the box, they feel lightweight and supportive and the have a true to size fit with a medium width.
The slightly higher ankle collar walls do touch my ankle, which was a little annoying at first but eventually the collar walls softened up and forgot about this – it took about 2 km to get to that point (see photo below for reference).
If you have particularly low ankle bones, this will undoubtedly be a problem for you.
The heel lock is really good, which is reassuring on steep descents and uneven ground. There’s also enough room for toe splay in the toe box making the great for climbing steep trails.
Once you get moving, the VECTIV Sky 2 feels firm and responsive underfoot. The carbon plate’s forward propulsion is noticeable, helping you maintain momentum on rolling terrain. I’d describe the ride as “fast, nimble, and minimal” which makes sense if you’re looking for a performance-oriented trail racing shoe for shorter to mid-distance trail races.
The North Face VECTIV Sky 2 VS VECTIV Infinite 2
The VECTIV Infinite 2 are versatile, all-mountain trail running shoes, offering more in the way of cushioning and a balanced ride for longer distances. The VECTIV Sky 2 shares the same VECTIV platform in principle but is more finely tuned for trail racing.
- Weight and Stack: The Sky 2 is lighter (8.4 oz vs. roughly 10.9 oz for the Infinite 2) and has a lower overall stack, which contributes to its firmer, faster feel with more precise control.
- Responsiveness: Both have a carbon-based propulsion plate, but the Sky 2’s setup is slightly stiffer and offers quicker turnover.
- Upper and Breathability: The Sky 2 has a more breathable upper and a higher ankle collar, whereas the Infinite 2 sports a more traditional cut that is friendlier on long runs in the mountains.
- Intended Use: While the Infinite 2 excels as a do-it-all mountain trail shoe with solid protection for long mountain runs, the Sky 2 leans into speed for up to marathon-length races, particularly on technical or rolling terrain – so they’re great for skyrunning too.
If you value maximum versatility and comfort, the Infinite 2 remains a strong option. But if you want a racing shoe that helps you push faster paces, the Sky 2’s lighter design and firmer midsole may serve you better. In short, train with the Infinite 2, and race with the Sky 2.
What’s Good
One of my favorite things about the VECTIV Sky 2 is how light and fast they feel when picking up the pace.
The full-length carbon fiber plate and nitrogen-infused TPU midsole work well together to help with forward propulsion, which feels especially noticeable on rolling terrain and climbs.
Normally I would say plates are detrimental to climbing performance due to their stiffness but the Sky 2 isn’t overly stiff, so it can still be influenced by the power of your toes to flex on up those hills.
The midsole foam combined with the carbon plate and excellent heel lock means there’s minimal wasted energy on each stride, so you can keep a steady rhythm even when the trail throws loose rocks or uneven ground your way.
The outsole design is another strong point (see photo above). It uses SURFACE CTRL™ rubber compound with 5 mm lugs which grips firmly on both dry and wet surfaces, allowing confident descents without hesitation – this is something that I loved about the TNF VECTIV Infinite 2 as well.
These lugs also shed mud effectively, which comes in handy if you’re running in muddy conditions. I’ve run through a lot of mud in these and found that they maintain traction well, which is what I’d expect from a well tuned trail racing shoe like this.
Despite the firm midsole, the Sky 2 manages to deliver enough comfort for medium-range distances and I put this down to the rockered geometry that helps with a smooth foot roll.
They don’t feel overly harsh, and the underfoot protection is decent for racing scenarios where performance tends to tip the scales away from comfort to some degree.
The breathability of the upper adds to the overall comfort by keeping your feet from overheating. This matters if you live in a warmer climate, prefer intense efforts, or tend to run long distances in hot conditions.
I’m also impressed by the heel lock, which I touched on briefly earlier. It’s snug and doesn’t shift around (that includes the tongue), even during fast, technical descents.
This locked-in fit means less energy wasted trying to stabilize your foot on uneven terrain, and I haven’t had any issues with hot spots or rubbing either. After a short break-in period, the ankle collars and heel counter both soften up, making the overall fit feel more tailored with time.
What’s Not So Good
The ankle collar, while supportive, may take a bit of patience if you have sensitive ankles or prefer a lower-cut collar shape.
The firm ride may also be less comfortable for those who prefer softer cushioning on long runs, it’s definitely on the race-tuned side of the spectrum – as with 90% of the trail racing shoes that I review.
Some runners might find that trail running with a carbon plate takes a bit of getting used to on highly uneven ground.
There’s a degree of lateral rigidity that helps with propulsion but can feel abrupt or somewhat unstable on technical sidehills or if you land awkwardly on a loose rock – this is something that you can adapt to when racing.
My Verdict
The North Face VECTIV Sky 2 delivers a lightweight, responsive ride with a secure fit that stays locked in on steep climbs and technical descents.
It’s a racing-focused shoe that suits runners looking to move quickly over challenging terrain, especially if you enjoy a firmer midsole feel and appreciate strong traction.
If you want a single shoe that covers everything from training runs to long ultras, the VECTIV Infinite 2 is still more versatile BUT if you’re in search of a nimble, fast option for up to marathon-distance trail races, the Sky 2 could be the perfect match for you.
👋🏼 Looking for your next pair of trail running shoes? Head over to my Best Trail Running Shoes roundup. See you on the next review! -Alastair
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