This shoe effortlessly took me through a Spartan Trifecta weekend on a mountain with around 8,600 feet of elevation gain. The rocky, muddy, slippery and loose mountainous terrain was no match for the amount of confidence inspiring grip these IROCK+ brings to the table. The fitlock system locked my feet in perfectly which really helped give feedback on obstacles requiring precise foot placement. The upper was breathable and extremely durable against rocks and other trail debris. Toe box was plenty roomy and even with full sprint on steep descents, I never had any jamming or discomfort. I HIGHLY recommend these shoes for anyone looking to do any running/walking/hiking on any sort of rugged terrain not to mention their stellar performance in an OCR environment. VJ really killed it these!
The new iteration of the iRock is a step up from the original! It has the same great grip as the original, but with even more comfort and more room for your toes/feet if you like the extra space like I do. I highly recommend to check out the new iRock +, you won’t regret it!
I’ve worn these shoes on several occasions over 20 miles. I’ve got several other vj brands and I’ve loved this one the best for longer distance. Has a good amount of cushion while not rolling ankles.
A great ultra shoe that I used for my 100k on mildly technical single track. Good cushioning, grip, and nimbleness.
I’ve always been curious about VJ shoes although I’m in SoCal and most of the trails I run are smoothened dirt/gravel although there is a lot of elevation gain and descents over rolling hills. Anyway, I decided to give the Ultra 3 a try and I’m very glad I did because this is the perfect all-rounder for any type of terrain.
The fit is TTS and the mid-foot lockdown is superb with ample room in the toe box. The midsole is not soft or firm - just perfectly balanced for the trails - and the cushioning at the heel for bombing downhills is probably the best I’ve experienced in any trail shoe. The foam has a good forefoot bounce and enough propulsion to keep you moving.
The outsole is indeed amazing. It’s a bold claim to say “the best grip on the planet” but, I must say, I’m inclined to agree. The grip is very confidence-inspiring. The Ultra 3 can be deemed a “max-stack” trail shoe, but it’s light weight and still feels nimble and quite stable.
There are many great new trail shoes out there now and it’s difficult to say one is the “best”, but the Ultra 3 would have to be considered in any discussion about the top 3~5 trail shoes on the market today. It’s a very impressive all-rounder that can go the distance.