The North Face VECTIV Enduris 4 Review
Max cushion trail shoe for maximum comfort and long distance
Likes
- Roomy forefoot works well on long runs
- Great cushioning for long downhills
- Excellent grip on a variety of surfaces
Dislikes
- Midsole could feel more energetic
What's New
For 2025, the VECTIV Enduris 4 got a full redesign.
- Cushioning has increased by 9mm over the previous version.
- Lug depth also increased a half millimeter.
- The midsole foam has been upgraded to Dream, a supercritical nitrogen-infused material.
- The fit is more accommodating.
The Bottom Line
The revamped VECTIV Enduris 4 from The North Face builds on the success of its predecessors. Due to its rocker shape, the model has always been adept at covering long distances with a sense of ease. Version 4 is even better as a long-distance monster. More cushioning and an improved foam keep legs fresher for longer. And if you don't run for long periods of time, you still get the benefit of the enhanced cushioning. We found this shoe to be one of the best daily training options available in 2025.
Specifications & Fit
Shoe Specs
| Weight | Men's: 10.5 oz / 298 g (size 9) | Women's: 9.1 oz / 258 g (size 8) |
| Stack Height | 41 mm (Heel), 35 mm (Forefoot) | 6 mm Heel-Toe Offset |
| Terrain | Trail |
| Stability | Neutral |
| Sizing | True to Size |
Our In-Depth Look
Upper
Becky: "The forefoot is roomy and the heel and laces provide the lockdown needed to hold feet securely in place. On longer runs, I really appreciated the extra space in the forefoot to avoid any hot spots. The upper is breathable and will work well in hot conditions."
Erik: "Very well fitting upper with no noticeable hotspots. I didn’t take them for any run longer than an hour as of yet so long-term fit isn’t known, but no issues with the time I spent in them. Overlays gave support and protection in key areas. Placement didn’t cause any restrictions or irritations and overall felt breathable."
Torsten: "The upper is extremely breathable, providing a comfortable fit without any pressure points. It conforms perfectly to my foot, while the lace arrangement gives the shoe excellent support. The TPU overlays around the toes and heel protect my feet from external elements on the trail. Overall, it offers a great combination of comfort, stability, and protection for me.
Midsole
Becky: "The midsole is soft and bouncy, but does not have the same magic feel as some road shoes with similar compounds. However, it’s well tuned for the trail, and feels incredibly comfortable and protective on multi-hour runs. They left my legs feeling fresh after hours of adventure, and I can’t wait to use them for a longer ultra distance race."
Erik: "Soft but snappy. In a world long ago these two qualities couldn’t be found together in the same shoe, but now it is commonplace. You can get a soft feel for long term use or bombing downhills, but still have a snappy and responsive ride when you want to move fast. I also enjoyed the feel of TPU plate. It provided just enough propulsion when the pace quickened."
Torsten: "I have covered quite a few kilometers in the shoe, and the midsole material felt exceptionally cushioned, while still providing strong forward propulsion. The combination of the TPU plate for stability and the nitrogen-infused DREAM foam gave me a dynamic and efficient feel with every step. I really like this combination."
Outsole
Becky: "I have not had the chance to test them in wet or muddy conditions, but the outsole gripped well over rocky and technical descents as well as smooth sections of trail. I have felt confident in the tackiness of the outsole on all of the runs I have used them for."
Erik: "Great grip. I didn’t experience much water or mud this winter season, but the shoe gripped well in a variety of dry terrain. I felt confident in the performance and grip of the rubber and lugs."
Torsten: "From my perspective, the outsole of the Vectiv Enduris 4 offers excellent grip, keeping me stable and secure on any terrain. I even ran on snow, and the shoe provided great traction, ensuring I felt confident and supported on every step, whether on rocky, muddy, or snowy surfaces".
Comparable Shoes
TNF Vectiv Enduris 4 vs. HOKA Speedgoat 6 and ASICS Trabcuo Max 4
Becky: "I would wear the Enduris 4 in similar situations where I’d wear the HOKA Speedgoat 6 or ASICS Trabuco Max 4. The Speedgoat has really good grip, giving confidence in wet or dry conditions. The Trabuco Max feels so protective and bouncy. The Enduris wins out for me for best overall fit and balanced midsole softness and springiness."
TNF Vectiv Enduris 4 vs. HOKA Speedgoat 6
Erik: "For a max cushioned trail training shoe, the Speedgoat is always an option. But many find the current model to be too firm for all day miles. The Enduris 4 wins out due to the softness of the midsole."
Torsten: "I use the Speedgoat more for my shorter, somewhat more technical runs, as it provides more ground contact and I don't need as much cushioning. However, for long distances and pace, the Enduris 4 is really hard to beat."
TNF Vectiv Enduris 4 vs. ASICS Trabuco Max 4
Erik: "The Trabuco Max 4 is a soft shoe that will allow the miles to flow by with cushioned bliss. The question is do you want something faster? The Enduris 4 isn't as soft as the Trabuco Max, but it's better for picking up the pace. Both are well-cushioned, but do you want something a little faster or a little more mellow? The choice is yours."
Torsten: "For my longer, slower runs, the ASICS Trabuco is a great choice, but when it comes to faster, high-speed running, the Enduris 4 is clearly the winner. That was my personal opinion. I think both shoes are great, and each has its place in my collection."
Individual Thoughts
I have anticipated this major update for over a year (it’s hard to call it an update to the Enduris 3, because to be honest it feels like a completely new shoe). After doing a couple of runs of about 13-15 miles in them, I took them on a 26 mile run in the mountains, testing them on rockier, technical terrain. This shoe feels light and surprisingly nimble despite the large amount of foam underfoot. They have some similar characteristics to the Summit Pro 3, which is another shoe I love. However, the comfort of the upper is superior to the Pro 3, and for me will win out when picking a shoe for 50 milers and beyond. I will be recommending this to all my trail running friends.
I was excited to give this shoe a try after viewing the complete Spring 2025 North Face line. It isn’t often a trail training shoe captures my gaze, but this one did it very quickly. TPU plate, Nitrogen TPU midsole and grippy outsole in a relatively sleek package made me want to get out the door and check out the features. The specifications made me think this would be a great shoe for a longer and harder effort.
I was unable to get the longer runs in this winter so I couldn’t test out the full force of this shoe, but the time spent in it was very pleasant. There were no issues with fit or feel underfoot. The shoe disappeared as the miles accumulated.
TNF Vectiv Enduris 4 is a fantastic trail running shoe that really excels in providing both comfort and performance. The midsole, with its ultra-light nitrogen-infused DREAM foam, offers excellent cushioning while still giving me the responsive push I need on longer runs.
The TPU plate adds the perfect level of stability, helping me maintain a smooth and stable ride across varied terrain. I’ve also been really impressed by the outsole’s traction—it grips really well on everything from rocky trails to muddy paths, and even during a run in the snow, it kept me steady. Overall, it’s a shoe that feels protective, dynamic, and capable of handling long-distance runs, especially when tackling tougher trails.
