Which should you buy?
Choose the Summit Vectiv Pro 3 if you want a very stable carbon shoe for smooth ultras and gravel.
Choose the Tecton X 4 if you want the lighter, smoother racer for long trail races and don't mind sizing up half a size.
The Summit Vectiv Pro 3 is 33 g heavier than the Tecton X 4. It has 3 mm less foam under the heel. Its drop is 6 mm against 5 mm. It costs £5 more at full price.
Side by side
| Spec | Summit Vectiv Pro 3The North Face | Tecton X 4HOKA |
|---|---|---|
| Review score | 84/100 (1 review) | 87/100 (1 review) |
| Type | Trail | Trail |
| Weight (men's UK 8.5) | 294 g | 261 g |
| Heel stack | 37 mm | 40 mm |
| Drop | 6 mm | 5 mm |
| Cushioning | Balanced | Balanced |
| Bounce | Lively | Springy |
| Plate | Carbon plate | Carbon plate |
| Support | Inherently stable | Neutral |
| Fit | True to size | Runs small |
| Widths | standard | standard |
| Waterproof version | No | No |
| UK RRP | £225 | £220 |
Weights are for a men's US 9 / UK 8.5. Prices are UK RRPs; shops often sell for less.
What the critics say
The reviews comparedBoth earn praise for stability, though neither is seen as ideal on very technical ground. Believe in the Run's Taylor Bodin liked The North Face Summit Vectiv Pro 3's grip but felt its foam fade quickly, and Road Trail Run's Jen Schmidt found it too stiff for technical trails. Bodin and Road Trail Run's Jeff Valliere found the HOKA Tecton X 4 light and versatile.
Summit Vectiv Pro 3
- Smooth, rolling ride that flies on gravel and smooth trails
- Stable for its height thanks to the wide base and twin plates
- Grippy, hard-wearing outsole on dry ground
- Foam can feel firm, and one tester found its bounce faded quickly
- Plate wings can rub the inside of the forefoot on long runs
- Stiff, with little flex for technical terrain
Scores from Road Trail Run.
Tecton X 4
- Fast, smooth and stable over long distances
- Breathable upper that drains quickly in heat
- Excellent Vibram grip
- Runs short, so most need half a size up
- Expensive, and less nimble on very technical descents
Scores from Road Trail Run.
Paraphrased from published reviews.
What's new in each
The North Face Summit Vectiv Pro 3: About 4 mm more Dream foam, the carbon plate moved below the foam with a second wishbone-shaped plate added for stability, and a new upper with a lighter tongue.
HOKA Tecton X 4: Same plates and PEBA formula as the Tecton X 3, with a more open, quicker-draining Matryx upper, new lacing with a heel-lock eyelet, more padding and about 9 g less weight.
About each shoe
About the Summit Vectiv Pro 3
The North Face calls the Summit VECTIV Pro 3 "our ultimate ultra-distance trail-racing shoe", built for pushing the pace over long races. It sits at the top of the brand's VECTIV range: the Summit Vectiv Sky 2 is the lighter option for short-distance racing, while the Vectiv Enduris 4 is the cushioned all-rounder for training.
The defining feature is a dual-stacked VECTIV carbon plate system, which the brand says gives more rebound for less weight, combined with two layers of nitrogen-infused DREAM foam and rocker midsole geometry. On this version the main plate sits below the foam, with a second wishbone-shaped plate added for stability. A SURFACE CTRL rubber outsole with 3.5 mm lugs is designed for grip on loose terrain. The shoe weighs 294 g in a men's US 9 and has a 6 mm drop.
Specs and features from thenorthface.com and our own spec data. A factual overview, not a review.
About the Tecton X 4
HOKA describes the Tecton X 4 as a premium carbon-plated trail racing shoe, built for ultramarathons and fast efforts on technical terrain. Among the brand's plated trail models it sits between the Rocket X Trail, aimed at smoother trails and fire roads, and the taller, heavier Mafate X.
Two layers of PEBA foam are separated by patent-pending parallel carbon plates, shaped by HOKA's speed-focused MetaRocker geometry. The outsole is Vibram Megagrip Litebase with 4 mm Traction Lugs. Above it, the Matryx Micro textile upper is built to drain, with a gaiter-like knit collar, a stretching vamp that allows for foot swelling, ghillie lacing and protective foam pods on the tongue. Compared with the Tecton X 3, the plates and foam stay the same while the upper and lacing are revised. It weighs 261 g in a men's UK 8.5 and has a 5 mm drop.
Specs and features from runningwarehouse.com, rei.com and our own spec data. A factual overview, not a review.
Summit Vectiv Pro 3 vs Tecton X 4
In short
Two carbon-plated trail racers for long, runnable courses. The Tecton X 4 is 33 g lighter with more foam, and reviewers find it fast and smooth over long distances, though it runs short. The Vectiv Pro 3 adds a second, stabilising plate, but its foam felt firmer and its plate can rub.
- Better reviewedTecton X 4
- LighterTecton X 4
- CheaperTecton X 4
- More foamTecton X 4
- BouncierTecton X 4
Get the full story
The North FaceEverything on the Summit Vectiv Pro 33 video reviews, scores from 1 published review, what critics loved and didn't, fit and sizing advice, full specs and today's prices.Explore the Summit Vectiv Pro 3
HOKAEverything on the Tecton X 43 video reviews, scores from 1 published review, what critics loved and didn't, fit and sizing advice, full specs and today's prices.Explore the Tecton X 4More comparisons
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