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The North Face Vapor Light Trail Running Shoe - Men's
The North Face Men's Vapor Light Trail Running Shoe is a hybrid road and trail running shoe for those who need to run to a trailhead or simply want one piece of footwear to do it all. This remarkable hybrid won the 2003 Trail Runner Editor's Choice award for its combination of a soft-cushioned road shoe ride and the aggressive traction of a trail runner. The North Face's Soft Ride system features a de-coupled heel and heel cavity to deflect pressure, a TPU shank for motion control and support, and superior heel and forefoot X-2 cushioning. A highly breathable mesh upper keeps your dogs nice and cool, while a wicking lining sucks away all the sweat you can muster.
$74.95 
Excellent Trail and Road Runners
These are my daily running shoes. Since I got them in October of 2003 I have run about 6-7 marathons on them, both on roads and trails. Very light and comfortable, good cushioning (I am a moderate pronator and have wide feet), great breathability. Over the past years I have had many different TNF trail running shoes (Kuna Crest, Ultra 100, etc) and loved all of them, but these are really quite something if you are looking for a shoe that works well both on the road and on trails. Definitely recommended.
Nice Kicks
This is the third pair of The North Face Vapor Light running shoes I have owned. They hold together very well. Only reason I have had three pairs is I just wanted a new color. I highly recommend these for any action-adventurer out there.
Vapor Light is Right!
Awesome running shoe for both road and trail. Super light and comfortable - the bruise protection is adequate without being too stiff, making it a versatile shoe for all conditions. I use it for trail running - it's not as stiff as the older Ultra 100 or current Ultra GTX, but is just as good.
My best ever trail running shoe
Stiffer sole helps on hills (not board-like, merely low on the "responsiveness" scale according to Runner's World...but take my word for it, stiff is good on hills!); excellent grip from sole on rocks, packed dirt, mud, etc; very adjustable with many lace holes (a must for my high arches); quite light! Recently ran the Jungfrau Marathon in Switzerland in these shoes, and they were perfect for the terrain. Downsides: not ideal for roads due to knobby tread which makes for shaky footing on wet asphalt; mesh upper lets water and dirt in easily (the price of good ventilation I guess). Bottom line...if you run mainly on undeveloped hilly trails, you'll love these shoes.
Not a Technical Trail Shoe
In my opinion this shoe is not built for technical trail running. I run semi-technical and very technical trail 2-3 times a week, and this shoe can't hack it. The side to side stability is awful. The "roll control" feature must be some kind of joke. The only roll this shoe could control is a buttered one. I rolled my ankle climbing off of the couch. I've run the Montrail Vitesse for about 5 years, and will go back to it tomorrow. The North Face "trail" is light and comfortable, but built for the gym, pavement, or dirt roads at best. I understand that this is suppose to be a hybrid shoe (road/trail), but in my opinion, it comes up way short on the trail side.
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Training Tips
Low weight, high rep circuit training combines the best of both worlds: aerobic and anaerobic training. Keeping the rest time in between high repeats low excercises like bench press, leg presses, inclined sit-ups, and upright rows is the key to maximum benefits.
As a long distance runner, a gradual increase in distance each week will allow you to build a solid areobic base. Distance increase should be no more than 10% of the previous week's distance.
When buying a new pair of running shoes, bring your old ones with you. You will get a better fit if you know if you supinate or pronate.
Heart monitors are useful for knowing when you are in the right zone for your training efforts. If you understand what your maximum heart rate is, you can set up your monitor to beep at you when you exceed the high or low range of your heart rate for the type of workout you are doing.
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