Pros:
- LOOKS: Personally, I think the shoe looks beautiful. It's very sleek and stylish. The color palette works really well together. Paired with some black socks, people are going to let you straight up to the front of the starting line looking like a badass. Even the VJ logo on the heel looks great.
- SPEED: The shoe is lightweight and you can't help but feel fast in these shoes.
- CUSHION: The PerFORMance is a nice touch and makes every step reminiscent of running in soft clay.
- ROCK PLATE: Can't leave home without it.
Cons:
- STIFF AND HIGH ANKLE UPPERS: I've ran 25 miles in these shoes, and I've wanted to love them. However, for the entire duration of my runs, I am feeling the the high and stiff upper material cutting into my ankles on the outside of both of my feet. I'm not kidding. Both of my ankles have the skin rubbed off of them through the sock from these shoes. I cannot believe I paid $200 for a pair of shoes that don't feel like they went through quality control. I looked online and there are public reviews off the VJ website that are complaining of the same thing, so I don't feel alone on this issue. I am not wearing these shoes for another mile. They do not work for me. I can't imagine having to cringe while running in these during a race.
- WHITE TRAIL RUNNING SHOES: Dear VJ Shoes, who are you making these shoes for? VJ Shoes became popular in American OCR racing around the time when Jon Albon wore the XTRM shoes during his million dollar race event with Spartan. The XTRM shoe was made with Jon Albon and released for fell, OCR, and trail running. Years later, the MAXx became popular, another shoe built for the rough conditions of OCR Racing. You could throw any terrain and weather at these shoes and you would be ok. Enter, VJ Lightspeed, a light material, all white shoe released by the company previously known for durable and tough shoes. This shoe seems out of left field for a rugged audience you have cultivated for decades. It's supposed to be a Race Day shoe, but I don't know what race I would bring these to. The white shoes get dirty so quickly. I am self conscious about bringing a $200 white trail running shoe out to any terrain just to come back with what look like dirty white socks. I couldn't imagine wearing these during a Spartan Race. That would be like killing a Unicorn with a bomb.
Pavle - I'm sorry the shoes do not work with your ankle set up. We have no complaints from other customers on the cushion or fit of the ankle collar. The Lightspeed is not marketed as an OCR shoe, so the whole comparison you make is not valid. These are fast trail running shoes and you knew they were white when you bought them. If you didn't care for the color, you should not have purchased.
Okay VJ, you answered my prayers. I run almost exclusively on granite slopes and gravel roads (carriage trails). I LOVED and needed the grip of your past shoes but always wanted more cushion like a regular running shoe. The VJ Maxx 2 has it all, it grips better than any other shoe I've tried, even on wet granite. But I can run all day now because they're so well cushioned, and I can switch to carriage road running when the route calls for it. Don't change a thing!!!!!!
Fellow runners! I’m not really like you. I’m older, retired and more of a strength athlete. I’ve purchased VJ based on my perception that their foam soles out-perform other shoes. In my opinion, other shoes like Altra use low quality cushy foam and my big toes over flex into the foam. Hoka just used a lot of foam. But VJ is cushioned but not too flexible. Toe box is excellent. Heal trap is so much better than lower quality shoes-no twisted ankles. Lightspeed is my favorite-you simply need to try them. An incredible shoe from an industry leader for super technical runners and guys like me who appreciate quality. Now, put a road tread on them and double your market share
For technical running over wet rocks and roots, there really isn't a better outsole available.
I bought the shoes for a Spartan Race and the shoes met and exceeded my expectations. The build quality and materials are fantastic for the rough and high stress that is put on them when running, jumping, swimming, climbing and all the other activities that happen during an Obstacle course race. i am very pleased with these shoes, i know they should last me for many races more if i follow the simple and care and cleaning instructions. Great Pair of shoes to have if you are serious about OCR and other all terrain races.