What is The North Face VECTIV trail running technology?

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What comes to your mind when you think of The North Face? Nuptse jackets, Supreme collaborations and streetwear hype, probably. But his most recent reinvention as a credible fashion actor overlooks another aspect of the brand: the one that speaks to his legacy in technical innovation and outdoor sportswear.

All of which leads to The North Face VECTIV, a proprietary technology that transforms the energy of hiking or trail running into momentum to propel you forward. Using a patented 3D carbon fiber plate and rocker midsole, the shoe works with the movements of your body to propel you forward, stabilize your foot and encourage you to run better regardless of conditions.

Some of the VECTIV shoes are also equipped with further enhancements such as FUTURELIGHT, which is a waterproof and breathable membrane that wraps the foot to protect it, only you barely notice it.

The shoe and its technology draw on The North Faces Flight Series, its signature trail running line that focuses on fabric and design innovations to support extreme running experiences. Focused on the idea of ​​adding and removing layers, Flight Series is all about breathability, insulation, weather resistance and moisture management, so you never have to worry about being unprepared for what’s to come.

It’s not unusual for The North Face to go hiking – it was founded by two mountaineering and backpacking enthusiasts after all. It means that, in a sea of ​​technological footwear releases that often have little practical value, the brand is an outlier, always putting function before form. VECTIV solves the problems that its customers face first, and then tries to address the aesthetics.

To find out more, HYPEBEAST caught up with The North Faces Vice President of Global Footwear, Jean-Marc Djian, for our latest installment of What The Tech ?, delving deeper into what makes VECTIV so utterly special and unlike any other. other thing out there.

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The North Face / Mathis Dumas

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The North Face / Mathis Dumas

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The North Face / Mathis Dumas

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The North Face / Mathis Dumas

History

HYPEBEAST: Why do you think trail running has become so popular?

Jean-Marc Djian: It’s interesting: when I got involved in trail running in 2004, there were about 28 people at the starting line – it was narrow, people were yelling at each other and the route was more for mountain biking. Now it’s about going out, being outdoors, being free, doing an activity other than road running because you’re exploring, moving on to the next stage, walking long distances, having fun every time – that’s why it’s a huge trend.

Sport is also becoming more inclusive and more people [regardless of] age, gender, see more women go long distances. Now, it is a real trend all over the world, recognized everywhere.

Why are the right shoes important for trail running?

Trail running and hiking are different from other sports – you have to start with the outfit because there is a [different] terrain and a sports-related fear. You need grip, protection, stability and you have to manage the weather, the mud, everything is connected to protection and the long run, so the shoe – I call it the equipment – is very important. Like the bag, you are afraid when you go into the unknown.

Hiking and trail running are linked in this way for, let’s say, the first to practice trail running [treated it] as hikers, but they started going faster and faster, [wanting things that are] lighter and lighter.

Why did The North Face want to create its own trail running shoe?

It just comes from the brand. If you want to start and restore something in a new way, you need to start where you start. The North Face stands for radical innovation and curiosity, trying to disrupt the market, so you need to start there. Also, athletes were asking for crazy things: I want something stable but super light that can last a long time. It’s a very simple thing, what can you create that works? It’s called innovation. This is what you have to bring, there are a lot of good brands with good products so you have to bring something innovative or have a strong point of view.

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The north face

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The north face

The what, why and how

All in all, what is VECTIV actually?

VECTIV is a patented technological system that combines with the shape of the barbell and the plate. Usually, the plate is inserted between the midsole, this is totally under the feet of the rocker shape, which also pushes you forward in a stable, very effective way. The plate could be TPU for added flexibility, but for runners or even those who like it because it’s trendy, it can be carbon, super light yet super responsive. It was built to be the most efficient while stabilizing people running the 100 miles.

It can be used by everyone.

So is there anything in that form that is scientifically beneficial and performance focused?

It’s totally about shape and position. The shape is 3D and mimics the necessary protection under the feet, and its position is directly under the upper. At first, people said we were a little crazy – you usually have EVA or something soft, but it soon proves to feel good and super comfortable for hiking and trail running.

What makes this carbon plate different from other brands’ parts?

It’s special because the carbon plate has that 3D shape but it’s also a one-of-a-kind piece. It’s 3D because, in trail running, you have to navigate left, right, up, down and you have to have the flexibility of carbon. It is visually distinctive but in terms of efficiency We have amazing results.

What did you have to go through during the testing phase to figure out the right recipe?

What’s interesting is the configuration for innovation testing. We have a location of around 600sqm which is a prototyping facility. The local community and the athletes come in and try things out, so we can move very fast. We had 35 rounds of prototypes – some were totally faulty or didn’t work – and some were surprisingly good, so it was a little bit of insight, a little bit of science, and certifying that prototype: you just have to find and market it.

Are there any other components that contribute to the credentials of running shoes?

The upper is minimalist. We used a small French brand that uses its proprietary upper called Matryx – it’s a very light, mono and Kevlar-reinforced jersey [material] that holds your foot properly, protecting you from rocks and bumps. In addition to this, we have designed and created a new rubber compound called the Surface CTRL with its main function being [to tackle] wet rocks. It needs grip on wet rocks and mud, so we’ve worked very hard to make something that lasts, is light and can grip.

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The north face

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The north face

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The north face

The future

Some of the new models also feature FUTURELIGHT.

Yes, that’s right, and this is getting bigger and bigger for 2021. Many people use our shoes for hiking, and also our boots which are lightweight and protective, and we use FUTURELIGHT in those products.

FUTURELIGHT is our waterproof and breathable membrane. When you want to protect your feet from the weather and not get wet, this is what we use. It is not rigid, it protects the foot but you do not feel the membrane around the foot.

Where will The North Face take its trail shoes next time?

We have other versions with FUTURELIGHT and we were already working on 2.0: there are always improvements. Part of our job is to satisfy our climbers and mountaineers.We have other athletes and have tested some mountaineering, climbing and backpacking footwear, so be prepared for some hiking stuff. Everything comes from the needs of our best athletes. It’s coming soon – I can’t tell you when – but I was restoring it.

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