In general this shoe is a improvement over the original max in many ways. The toe box is larger, the cushioned sole makes it more comfortable for distance runs and the tread seems to manage mud a little better. With the cushioned sole you do loose some of the stability that made the Maxx perform very well on rugged mountain trails but overall I've enjoyed the three pairs I've run in .
These shoes are incredible daily drivers in Colorado high country...walking the dog, going to work, navigating icy and snowpacked streets and trails.
I've worn other brands, and really nothing compares to the grip of these shoes, and the overall comfort.
I normally wear 11.5, but had to size up to a 46.
I've been struggling with some plantar fasciitis and the profile if these shoes seem to have alleviated my symptoms too.
I'll be looking at some VJ trail runners for sure this spring.
What more is there to say about these? There was a time when I only bought Hoka, because noone else was using Vibram outsole. Then, I discovered VJ. Even if I'm practically sideways, they still grip. The waterproofing on this is excellent, lockdown is great, and the toebox is snug but not painful at all on my wider forefoot. I cannot find a single thing wrong with these XTER.
I have been running mountain trails for the past 30 years, including racing half marathons in very technical terrain at high altitude. At 67 I have tried almost all existing brands for my actual training runs. Very technical 1000 meter total elevation variation 5 mile runs that change with the seasons including loose rock and scree hard packed rocky terrain wet grass and a very sticky muddy clay in winter. I finally settled for the VJMaxX2 and have 2 pairs. Nothing comes close to it. Supple,nimble, perfect fit and cushion in fact the best cushion and grip of any shoe period. If I could change something I would have 5 mm lugs instead of 4 and 2-3 extra mm of superfoamance. I am an 80kg midfoot athletic runner and I could train and race ultras with that extra. Anyway this is the pinnacle of trail running shoes for me.
I liked the original MAXX shoe, the others were too narrow. But VJ hit a homerun with the MAXX2! It is so comfortable. The sizing is very different from their other shoes and most brands. Softer cushion than other brands I have yet feels great when running. Highly recommend, especially when on sale as these are very pricey.