My 4th pair of VJ trail shoes, the Ace is money well spent: incredible traction with the micro spikes, wide foot bed, warm and waterproof. Now my go-to shoe for winter trail running. Highly recommended for any mountain goat who loves snow.
These shoes are cushy and comfortable with the wider toe box compared to my other VJ shoes.
For a shoe that is meant to be one of their bulkier models it surprisingly light and quick. I had no issues running an uptempo run as the foam provided great energy return. As with all of their shoes you can always trust that you will get good traction but this shoe also felt great on more rugged terrain with there being more to it than some of its lighter counterparts.
Absolutely the BEST! It's been single digits for a few weeks and my feet stay really warm. Great grip as always with roomy toes box. They are the reason I get out every morning.
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.
Several years ago, I took a chance, ordering a pair of VJ XTRM, and I loved the grip and how fast they felt. Not great for longer distances though. So I ordered a pair of the ULTRA 2. They still had great grip, and I could wear them for longer outings, but I still needed more cushion. I am now on my second pair of MAXx2, and though I still have a pair of the XTRM for shorter, fast runs, I have used the MAXx2 for longer runs, and for backpacking adventures. The cushion is a nice balance of absorbing some of the jarring but maintaining a good feel of the ground. The tight weave kept fine dust out of my shoes as I backpacked up in the Mt. Hood area, which meant I didn’t get blisters. And they were not so warm as to cause blisters. The toe box and last of the shoe is a bit wider than the XTRM or the ULTRA, which made my feet much happier. I did size them 1/2 size down from my XTRM and ULTRA, and they are perfect.
Love the XTRM 2. First pair of VJ's, but fit like a glove right out of the box. Purposefully ran my first run on a trail with large amounts of wet rock to test the grip and it was 10/10.
Fantastic grip (of course, the best on the planet), amazing feeling of the ground, confidence in any directions on any terrain - up and down, forward and backward, right and left. In my last races I overtook dozens of runners while running downhill on steep slopes
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!