The North Face’s new Y2K trainer looks ready for the trail, but it’s designed for a very different kind of adventure

The North Face Clyffe Ultra.

The North Face has dipped into its extensive footwear archive to create the Clyffe Ultra, a chunky new everyday trainer inspired by the brand’s ultrarunning shoes from the early 2000s.

It is a timely revival. Technical-looking trainers have moved well beyond the trail in recent years, with rugged outsoles, mesh uppers and oversized protective overlays now almost as common on city streets as they are in the mountains.

The Clyffe Ultra taps into that aesthetic without pretending to be a modern trail-running shoe.

(Image credit: The North Face)

The North Face describes it primarily as a lifestyle model for everyday adventures, city exploration and non-technical terrain.

Its upper combines premium suede with breathable spacer mesh, embroidered reinforcements and reflective details.

A substantial scratch-rubber rand wraps around the lower portion of the shoe, helping protect the upper from abrasion while contributing to its distinctive Y2K appearance.

Somewhere between the crag and the city

Underfoot, The North Face has used a plush foam midsole designed to provide soft, comfortable cushioning.

It isn’t the lightweight DREAM foam found in the brand’s latest performance running shoes, but it should be better suited to long days spent walking around town.

A nylon shank adds torsional stiffness and extra support, while the Vibram outsole provides traction.

(Image credit: The North Face)

The XS Trek EVO rubber features relatively deep 4.5mm lugs, giving the Clyffe Ultra considerably more grip than the average lifestyle trainer.

Dual heel loops make the trainers easier to pull on, while the low-cut silhouette keeps them looking more like an archive trail runner than conventional hiking footwear.

The North Face says the design combines heritage elements from its early-2000s ultrarunning styles with the more contemporary, climbing-inspired technology of the wider Clyffe collection.

(Image credit: The North Face)

At approximately 383g per shoe, the Clyffe Ultra isn’t especially light, although that is hardly surprising given the extensive rubber protection, suede construction and substantial outsole.

The unisex Clyffe Ultra is available now at The North Face UK, The North Face US and The North Face EU for £130 / $150 / €145.

Colour options include Desert Stone/TNF Blue, TNF Black/TNF Red, Pale Khaki/Lemon Mist, Cumulus Cloud/Peak Purple and Calacatta/Muted Pine.