VERY fabulous grip up and down rocks. Far better than Vibram. Highly endorse.
I love the XTER - living in the Pacific NW, we get our fair share of wet days - for hiking, walking the dogs and trail running these shoes will rock! I can’t get them out and really get them muddy! I know if I get to some snow or ice, I’ll be fine while others will be slipping and sliding!
Love the softness of these shoes - a little different than other VJ models. Their grip is, of course, still the best. Great trail shoe to have in your rotation!
I run all distances on different terrain and these shoes have not let me down! Even in a recent trail 100k (including technical trails, slippery downhills, rocks, forest roads and pavement!) my feet stayed super comfortable :). I love them and definitely recommend.
Ps I ordered 1/2 size down and they fit perfectly
Love the Maxx2s! I broke them in with a mountain trail run and then a 12-hour OCR, and they were fantastic. All of the grip, and I found them incredibly comfortable. Didn't get any hotspots, and felt super comfortable bombing down the trail!
Before owning these, I owned 3 pairs of Maxx 1s. Then these came out and it got even better. The super perfoamance technology makes it an absolute game changer along with the rock plates. These are now my favorite trail shoes. I used it for a 30 hour race, hikes, and all my trail runs. Love them!
I have worn the Maxx2 for training runs, 100k races and a 12 hour OCR and it provided great comfort and stability through all of the miles. The grip can't be beat!
These Maxx 2 are everything I loved about the Maxx (great weight, the fit lock makes adjusting for heavy uphills and downhills easy, the grip is amazing) plus increased cushioning and support. 100 A+
The MAXx2 is by far the best trail/OCR shoe I've ever put on my feet. Whether it's a small training run on the trails, or a 12 hour ultra on a mountain, these shoes do not disappoint! The grip is second to none on every type of surface. The comfort is amazing, especially with how much ground feel you still get. Highly recommend the MAXx2, you will be glad you got them!
I'm pretty happy with them. I've worn them for a couple gnarly Alaska races — the Mount Marathon Race and the Crow Pass Crossing — and they've performed well. I do worry about durability due to the mesh-like fabric, but they haven't blown out yet! They are a little wider than the Inov-8s that I'm used to, so I've had to adjust to that and concentrate on not clipping roots and rocks due to the bigger footprint. The grip is good, they are lightweight and run low to the ground, all of which are important to me. I initially sized up 1/2 size as recommended and then they were 1/2 too big; sizing up NOT necessary (at least for me)
Thanks for the review! To make the shoe durable in the most harsh and demanding conditions, the XTRM2’s upper is made of Swiss Schoeller Keprotec® - material which is incredibly durable and protects the foot against scratches.
The VJ MAXx2 has been an absolute blast to run in. I have used these to train on slick southeastern Norwegian trails (these have the best grip on slick rock) and I am really happy with their race performance on Bessegen (Norway) and Mount Marathon (Alaska) with the shoes holding up well in dry and wet conditions... and the grip, phenomenal! My only complaint is that the removable insole blew out after the first rate (flat as a sheet of paper in the heel and forefoot). I replaced with 3rd party insoles and the shoes are back in business.
I'vev used these for about 25 miles: about 10 miles off trail on talus, and the rest on grave road/ single track. The rubber seems fine but I have a huge fissure/crack in the midsole foam that I can see underneath the outsole rubber on the heel of the shoe. Looks like a molding issue. Unsure if I have bad pair or what?!
These shoes were an excellent choice for the Spartan Ultra. They stayed on my feet while trudging through the mud (Yes, this was a real problem), and the grip remained reliable no matter the water or grit.
These shoes deliver everything promised. Proper fit and foot shape compatibility essential.
Light weight is good, but I wanted a little more ankle support, I’m used to wearing big heavy Whites Smokejumper boots.
I was hesitant to try another pair of VJ Shoes after being quite disappointed by the XTRM model, which felt very dead, and had no better traction than other brands. However, I spoke with someone who owned a pair of the Maxx 2s, someone I trust, and they spoke very highly of them. From the moment they slipped onto my feet, I was hooked! The fit was excellent (order 1/2 size smaller, perhaps even 1 full size if you always wear very thin socks; 1/2 size worked great for me), securing snuggly yet comfortably around my entire foot. As soon as my feet began to hit the ground, I could feel a noticeable return in energy with each foot strike, and I felt encouraged to push the pace quicker and quicker, with each step feeling like it came more and more easily. Traction was excellent, with the only slippage coming on smooth, off-camber river rocks, which I'm not sure anyone can do much about, and at the end of the run, my legs felt noticeably more fresh than they had in a long time post-run. This shoe not only encourages quicker running, but also staying out there for longer. I'm not sure it would be great for slogging slow, recovery miles, just because it's so much fun to run fast in- the shoes just make running quickly feel good! I use them for all my quality speed training, especially when the terrain gets more and more technical- you don't feel 100% impervious to rocks with these shoes, but you do feel like you can run over an awful lot at a high pace. They even run well should you have to run some pavement to link between trails! This shoe is a huge leap forward from the VJs of old, and they work great under virtually any circumstance, which is why I've been steadfastly encouraging all my running friends to get a pair for themselves. Well done VJ, the Maxx 2 is a 9.5/10 shoe in my book.
The newest versions of VJ shoes are the best yet! The Lightspeed’s are super light, as advertised. They fit the foot so much better, as in are much wider than other versions of VJ’s. This version feels like it propels me forward while wearing them and as always they have #thebestgripontheplanet ! I will definitely be buying more.
Amazing grip and support for miles!! get a half size smaller than your regular trail shoes.
cannot love em enough
Lightspeed is the best trail running in VJ products lineup, but the insole make my socks into red.
Not as much ankle support as I hoped. I’m used to wearing White’s Smoke Jumper, but I do like the flat sole.
Same great grip as version 1 but much more comfortable. I feel like I can actually do ultras in them!