I've been racing in the XTRM 2 for two years. They are super grippy on obstacles and fast down the trails with great responsiveness. I've experimented with other brands and other VJ styles..... For me the XTRM 2 have been superior!!!
I'm torn between these or the lightspeed. I'm going to use these, or the Lightspeed for the Minotaur Skyrace. Lots of sharp scree, the race directors call a section of the race the "shoekiller" . Any advice? It's not a review but I'm hoping for good advice :)
The MaxX2 are ok on flat ground, but unstable on technical terrain. I loved the original MaxX and wish I could find more. I have many versions of VJ’s, Maxx, maxx2, lightspeeds, xtrms, ultras, & sparks. I have found that in the Original Maxx is the best choice for the New England White Mountain terrain but can no longer find them. Please consider bringing the original Maxx back as that was my favorite shoe and I cannot keep from rolling my ankles in the new version. Thank you for your time, Jason
Best shoes I have ever worn in the mts. Great in all conditions
Loving the new Maxx's VJ literally stepped it up with the Maxx2. Really lightweight (even when going through mud and water) responsive to terrain and they have a much improved cushion. The only thing I would improve is a stiffer heel cup for more rugged terrain.
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?!
