Australian Hiker

Rating

The North Face Women's VECTIV™ Exploris 2 FUTURELIGHT™ Shoe Review

Everyone knows I am a big fan of Zero Drop hiking shoes so it was with a bit of hesitation that I trail tested The North Face Women’s VECTIV™ Exploris 2 FUTURELIGHT™ Shoe.

As a company The North Face makes a full range of gear with an expanding shoe range. My prior experience with shoes from The North Face was that the width of the shoe was too narrow for my expansive foot achieved through many years of walking barefoot during Australia’s hot summers. The good news is that the VECTIV™ Exploris 2 FUTURELIGHT™ shoes are a wider D fit which suits me well. The lacing is an eight-eyelet arrangement which translates to a ‘solid’ feel while wearing so you may need to do some lacing adjustments to get the fit right.

Having said that the VECTIV™ Exploris 2 FUTURELIGHT™ is designed to be a sturdy shoe for tough terrain which means a solid feel underfoot is exactly what you need. To achieve the hard wearing design, The North Face has incorporated a range of high-tech specs, two of which are referenced in the shoe name.

The first is the ‘VECTIV 2.0 propulsive plate technology’ which (as the name implies) kind of ‘propels’ you forward via a ‘rocking’ action. At first this feels a bit strange particularly for someone who is so used to a ‘flatter’ walking style, but it didn’t take long for me to acclimatise. The second feature is the ‘breathable-waterproof FUTURELIGHT™ membrane’ on the upper which sounds like a contradiction but is definitely the direction all hiking shoe manufacturers should be heading,

This shoe has been engineered to overcome the toughest of terrains and I deeply regret not wearing them when I hiked 56km on the Snowies Alpine Walk in January 2025 – they would have taken away much of the impact from walking on those stone trails and steps! The North Face Surface CTRL™ rubber outsole and 4 mm lugs would have eliminated a lot of strain on my feet!

These shoes come in sizes US 5 to 11. I wear US 9.5 and the length is very good but I do need to think about the sock thickness and usually opt for the Injinji Run Lightweight Mini Crew Unisex Toesocks. There is one colour available in Australia with the fancy name of Black/Vanadis Grey. At 724 grams for the US 9.5’s, this is a relatively heavy shoe but that is what comes from the level of stability and wear you get.

So how have these shoes performed? After a few months of hard wear on a range of trails, very, very well. There are little signs of on the sole and shoe upper. The solid toe guard has protected my toes from the harshest rocks and very sturdy heel has saved my ankles while on uneven ground. If you are looking for a comfortable, hard wear, all terrain hiking shoe, the VECTIV™ Exploris 2 FUTURELIGHT™ is a great choice.

The North Face VECTIV™ Exploris 2 FUTURELIGHT™ – Black/Vanadis Grey colour

The North Face VECTIV™ Exploris 2 FUTURELIGHT™ – view of sole

Gill wearing The North Face VECTIV™ Exploris 2 FUTURELIGHT™ in Black/Vanadis Grey

Rear view The North Face VECTIV™ Exploris 2 FUTURELIGHT™

We Like

• Super sturdy and hard wearing designed for the toughest terrain
• Upper has a breathable-waterproof FUTURELIGHT™ membrane
• Made on an updated D-width last that accommodates a broad set of foot shapes
• VECTIV 2.0 rockered midsole has a ‘forked’ heel and forefoot and a TPU plate for increased lateral displacement and stability
• Rocker midsole geometry engineered to create long-lasting forward propulsion
• Midsole is made with premium EVA foam
• Broader platform below foot provides inherent stability
• Surface CTRL™ rubber outsole with 4 mm lugs is designed for durability in high-wear areas

We Don't Like

• A bigger colour range would be nice
• If you’re not used to a sturdy hiking shoe, you may need to wear them in prior to a big hike

Buy One

You can purchaseThe North Face VECTIV™ Exploris 2 FUTURELIGHT™ online from Amazon Australia or from The North Face

Best Uses

These shoes are designed for tough trails and long days

Investment

AUD $300.00 RRP . Can often be found on sale

Other Versions

The North Face produces a range of hiking shoes and boots including:

• Women’s VECTIV™ Exploris 2 Mid FUTURELIGHT™ Boots
• Women’s VECTIV™ Exploris 2 Mid FUTURELIGHT™ Leather Boots
• Women’s VECTIV™ Fastpack FUTURELIGHT™ Shoes

Disclaimer

This review was done with product provided by The North Face

Last updated

5 March 2025

Shares

Related articles