These are your trail-ready bestie.
If shoes had personalities, The North Face VECTIV™ Enduris 4 would be the friend who convinces you to sign up for an ultra, assures you it’ll be ‘fun,’ and then actually makes sure you survive it.
Packed with plush cushioning (it’s like running on a marshmallow…kinda), grippy outsoles, and a surprisingly stable ride, this shoe is here to handle whatever terrain you throw its way.
The VECTIV Enduris 4 features The North Face’s fancy new supercritical TPU Dream foam midsole, which sounds like something straight out of a sci-fi movie. Translation? It’s softer than its predecessor, giving you more bounce and comfort without feeling like you’re running through quicksand. The midsole is paired with a stability plate that helps keep you upright when the trails start acting like a rollercoaster.
Thankfully, this shoe is secure, but not a foot prison. The VECTIV Enduris 4’s Dual-Warp upper offers a snug but forgiving fit, keeping things breezy while ensuring your foot doesn’t slosh around. The tongue is integrated into the design, so you won’t have to deal with that annoying side-slippage mid-run.
Oh, and the textured laces? They do what they were designed to do – they stay tied.
When it comes to grip, the shoe is as reliable as a clingy ex – but in a good way! The Surface Control rubber outsole features 4mm chevron-style lugs, which means you’ll stay upright on sketchy terrain whether it’s rocky, muddy, or even a bit snowy. No more accidental ‘trust falls’ into nature.
Plus, durability is insane, so you won’t burn through these as fast as your last pair.
Trail-worthy with a side of fun, the VECTIV Enduris 4 is light enough to keep you moving, cushioned enough to keep your joints happy, and stable enough to prevent rolling your ankle. It’s a solid pick for anyone tackling long distances or unpredictable terrain.
Just remember: it may encourage you to sign up for races you aren’t fully prepared for, but at least it’ll carry you through them in comfort.
This article appeared in Edition 55 of Trail Run Magazine 2025. Grab your copy here
