Designed for avid hikers and fastpackers seeking agility and weather protection, The North Face Vectiv Fastpack Futurelight Sneaker offers a blend of waterproof breathability and responsive comfort. While excelling in varied trail conditions, its sneaker profile means it provides less ankle support than a full hiking boot, making it ideal for those who prioritize speed and flexibility on the move.
These sneakers are engineered with advanced technologies to enhance your outdoor experience:
FUTURELIGHT Membrane: Experience industry-leading waterproof protection combined with exceptional breathability. This keeps your feet dry from external moisture while allowing internal perspiration to escape, preventing discomfort and blisters.
Double Perforation Eyelet Row: Achieve a highly precise and customizable fit. This lacing system allows for fine-tuning tension across different parts of your foot, ensuring maximum comfort and stability on uneven terrain.
Molded Spandex Collar: Enjoy a snug, comfortable, and flexible fit around the ankle. The molded design prevents chafing and provides gentle support, adapting to your foot's movement.
Molded TPU Protective Toe Cap: A robust toe cap shields your feet from impacts with rocks, roots, and other trail hazards, enhancing durability and safety.
Seamless Fender: This integrated design adds an extra layer of protection around the base of the shoe, guarding against scuffs and moisture without adding bulk or stiffness.
VECTIV Technology (Series Specific): Part of The North Face's innovative VECTIV series, these sneakers are designed to maximize energy on the trail, combining a 3D VECTIV plate, rocker geometry midsole, and SurfaceCTRL grip outsole for enhanced propulsion and stability.
Superior Weather Protection: The FUTURELIGHT membrane effectively keeps water out while maintaining breathability, perfect for wet conditions or unexpected rain.
Customizable, Secure Fit: The double eyelet lacing system allows for a highly personalized and secure fit, reducing movement inside the shoe and preventing hot spots.
Enhanced Trail Agility: The sneaker's design, combined with the VECTIV system, promotes a more agile and energetic stride, suitable for fast-paced hiking and trail running.
Robust Foot Protection: Features like the molded TPU toe cap and seamless fender offer significant defense against trail debris and impacts.
Comfortable Ankle Design: The molded spandex collar provides comfort and flexibility, allowing for a natural range of motion.
Moderate Ankle Support: As a sneaker, it offers less rigid ankle support compared to traditional high-cut hiking boots, which might be a consideration for extremely rugged or high-load carrying trips.
Lacing Adjustment Time: The precise lacing system, while beneficial, may require a bit more time to achieve the ideal fit initially or during trail adjustments compared to simpler systems.
Ventilation in Extreme Heat: While breathable, in very hot and humid conditions, the waterproof membrane might still feel warmer than a non-waterproof, highly ventilated trail shoe.
Superior Weather Protection: The FUTURELIGHT membrane effectively keeps water out while maintaining breathability, perfect for wet conditions or unexpected rain.
Customizable, Secure Fit: The double eyelet lacing system allows for a highly personalized and secure fit, reducing movement inside the shoe and preventing hot spots.
Enhanced Trail Agility: The sneaker's design, combined with the VECTIV system, promotes a more agile and energetic stride, suitable for fast-paced hiking and trail running.
Robust Foot Protection: Features like the molded TPU toe cap and seamless fender offer significant defense against trail debris and impacts.
Comfortable Ankle Design: The molded spandex collar provides comfort and flexibility, allowing for a natural range of motion.
Moderate Ankle Support: As a sneaker, it offers less rigid ankle support compared to traditional high-cut hiking boots, which might be a consideration for extremely rugged or high-load carrying trips.
Lacing Adjustment Time: The precise lacing system, while beneficial, may require a bit more time to achieve the ideal fit initially or during trail adjustments compared to simpler systems.
Ventilation in Extreme Heat: While breathable, in very hot and humid conditions, the waterproof membrane might still feel warmer than a non-waterproof, highly ventilated trail shoe.
The North Face Vectiv Fastpack Futurelight Sneaker is built for dynamic performance on varying terrains. Its FUTURELIGHT membrane makes it an excellent choice for unpredictable weather, ensuring your feet stay dry during stream crossings or sudden downpours without sacrificing breathability. This means you can maintain comfort on long treks, reducing the clammy feeling often associated with waterproof footwear.
Fastpacking & Day Hikes: The lightweight yet protective design, combined with the VECTIV energy-returning technology, makes these sneakers perfect for covering ground quickly on day hikes or multi-day fastpacking adventures where every ounce and every stride counts.
Wet & Muddy Trails: The waterproof construction and protective fender ensure your feet remain dry and clean even when navigating through muddy paths or light rain. The SurfaceCTRL outsole (part of VECTIV) provides reliable traction on slippery surfaces.
Mixed Terrain: From well-maintained trails to rocky paths, the molded TPU toe cap offers crucial protection, while the precise lacing system helps maintain foot stability over uneven ground. The flexibility of the molded spandex collar allows for natural ankle movement, which is beneficial on technical ascents and descents.
Sock Choice: Pair your Futurelight sneakers with moisture-wicking synthetic or merino wool socks to optimize breathability and prevent blisters, especially on longer hikes.
Lacing Technique: Experiment with the double perforation eyelet row to find your perfect fit. For ascents, a slightly looser forefoot with a secure midfoot and ankle might be preferred. For descents, a tighter overall lacing can prevent your foot from sliding forward and hitting the toe box.
Terrain Awareness: While highly capable, remember that these are sneakers. If your route involves extensive off-trail scrambling, heavy bushwhacking, or requires maximum ankle stability for heavy loads, a traditional hiking boot might be a more suitable alternative.
Unlace Fully: Before your first wear, completely unlace the sneakers to ensure you can adjust them from scratch.
Insert Foot: Slide your foot into the sneaker, ensuring your heel is seated comfortably at the back.
Tighten Evenly: Begin tightening the laces from the bottom eyelets, working your way up. Use the double perforation eyelet row to fine-tune the tension. You can adjust sections of the lacing independently—for example, tighter over the midfoot for support and slightly looser over the forefoot for comfort.
Secure Knot: Tie a secure knot, ensuring the laces are neither too tight (causing pressure points) nor too loose (allowing your foot to slide).
Activity: Ideal for hiking, fastpacking, trail running, and general outdoor activities in varied conditions.
Gear: Compatible with standard hiking socks (preferably moisture-wicking) and gaiters for added protection in very wet or snowy conditions.
Terrain: Suited for a wide range of trails, from packed dirt paths to rocky and muddy routes. Less ideal for off-trail expeditions requiring significant ankle support or mountaineering.
Cleaning: After each use, especially if muddy, remove excess dirt by gently brushing the outer surface when dry. For more thorough cleaning, wipe with a damp cloth or soft brush using mild soap and lukewarm water. Avoid harsh detergents or machine washing, as this can damage the FUTURELIGHT membrane and adhesives.
Drying: Always air dry your sneakers at room temperature. Remove insoles and loosen laces to allow maximum airflow. Do not expose them to direct heat sources (like radiators or direct sunlight), as this can damage materials and adhesives.
Storage: Store in a cool, dry, well-ventilated area away from direct sunlight. Ensure they are completely dry before storing to prevent mildew and odors.
Waterproofing Treatment: Over time, the Durable Water Repellent (DWR) finish on the outer fabric may wear off. You can restore this with a spray-on or wash-in DWR treatment specifically designed for breathable waterproof fabrics, following the product instructions.