After lots of testing of various shoes and careful thought I decided to use the VJ Ultra 3 for my most recent 100 miler through some pretty rugged territory. Longest run(s) before the race were a few 20s and a few shorter runs so went in with around 90 miles on them. Perfect shape for my feet. However, at around mile 40 I started to get chafing around the heel collar on both sides which became extremely painful by mile 60. It had caused a very straight line rip through my socks and turned bloody. Never seen this before, much less experienced it. Changing socks didn't help. Wish I would have taken pictures. I will probably buy another pair but won't go past 20 miles again. Thankfully I was able to hobble in, but a month later, still have blood blisters and remnants of rubbing. Hopefully V4 will solve this problem for me, as the rest was perfect (though the tongue could be a few mm taller). I did manage to analyze the heel afterwards but couldn't see anything obvious other than it appeared to taper in just a tad as opposed to many brands that flare out backwards.
I was very excited for this shoe based upon its natural foot shape, but unfortunately, it led to numerous issues. Due to the thin heel padding and tongue, as well as poor lock down, I experienced bilateral heel blistering. I tried to heel lock, which led to lace bite and blistering because of the thin tongue. I’m not one to blister, so that’s saying something. I reached out to customer service, but they were unwilling to process a return.
The first 50-75 miles in this shoe were amazing. Great fit, fantastic midsole, and standard VJ outsole excellence. Unfortunately, the midsole foam rapidly packed out and with less than 150 miles on them, I had to retire these shoes.
A smaller issue is it took awhile for the ankle collar to break in, leading to a lot of rubbing on my outer ankle bones at first. I taped over them and eventually it got better.
If the midsole durability can be improved while retaining the fantastic bounce it has when new, these shoes would be a winner because the rest of the design is great.
Theses are the most comfortable socks I have ever ran in. Breathable and cushion make for perfect sock for OCR and Trail.
The Ultra 3 is a new and different creature from VJ that feels designed to go fast and long on slightly less technical, more firm packed terrain.
It’s more similar to recent trail “super shoes” from Adidas and The North Face than the more aggressive, minimalist, orienteering style shoes we saw from VJ previously, and this new option is very welcome as it still comes with great lock down and the famously grippy outsole we appreciate so much.
I have 89 miles on my pair and can say the foam is bouncy but not too soft, the underfoot protection is great, rocker is smooth, and toe room is ample. The shoe also has felt increasingly stable as I’ve broken it in, making them feel capable on increasingly technical terrain. Will likely get a fresh pair for Mogollon 100 miler and Black Canyon 100k.
4/5 stars as the shoe is a bit wide/high volume for my narrow feet and the liveliness of the foam may be at the cost of longevity.
P.s. VJ sizing has been a bit unpredictable. So for sizing reference, I’m a 9.5(US) in the Xtrm2 and MaXx2, a 10.5 in the Ultra 2, and a 10 in the Ultra 3.
I have been an Altra guy due to the wide toe box, but i took the chance and decided to try the Ultra 3. I had the Xtrem 2 and hated them due to sizing issues and blistering due to inside stitches rubbing my toes. But the Ultra 3 are the best shoes i have ever had for trail and OCR!!!!! True to size, comfortable, wide toebox, and grip for days!!!
The tongue is too thin causing the laces to irritate around the top of my ankle. Unable to get a good lockdown without the laces digging into my foot. May have to try a thicker sock.
Narrow, powerful, locked in. Surprisingly forgiving for easy runs. I would hesitate to wear this for super long runs (they do make the ultra..) due to the narrow outsole as it can run a little harsh, but this shoe just blasts when you want to go fast. The foam and rock plate make give it a snappy ride. The upper is surprisingly roomy so I usually wear thicker socks to get an ideal lockdown. The grip is outstanding especially on wet rock, though not as good on softer trails compared to something with deeper sharper lugs. The ride is so snappy that downhills can sometimes be a little sketchy if you’re not precise with your step choice but once you spend a little time in them these shoes are just a joy.
Bought these to use them for my Spartan Ultra (50k) race and was really impressed. It had rained days before the race and also rained on the race day and with THESE shoes I had no trouble running through slippery rocks, mud or even open water! I saw multiple reviews about them fitting small and even with my a little wider foot I still wore my size and yes they felt tight with my compression socks, I thought that my feet were going to be bleeding after the race as I wore no tape or added inside cushion, but no! No damage to my feet at all(I did apply some body glide to me feet before putting my socks). I LOVE these shoes, been using them for hiking after race day and highly recommend them!
VJ trail shoes just keep getting better!!
I am a heavier runner and these have enough cushion and return for me to not accumulate fatigue through too much impact link longer trail races. Thank you VJ!!
So far so good! Confortable right out of the box. Thanks
These are the best trail running socks around! Love the VJ design, too.
I've held out on maximum cushion shoes and now I don't know why. The Ultra 3s are PERFECT for my long runs, and have kept my feet comfortable during multiple 10+ hour OCR 50ks, wet, muddy, and all. I did have to go up a half size, despite the nice wider toe box, I wear an 8 in the Maxx2 but an 8.5 Ultra3 is most comfortable for me.
I have hiked 66 miles of Adirondack trail in them over the past 3 weeks and absolutely love them. So much toe box room and comfortable for long miles.
Perfect amount of cush and the grip I’ve come to value ima VJ This latest version of the ultra has highest level rating for me…super grippy sticky on technical trail and comfy on longer runs too. Best trail running shoe ever.
I was torn between these and the Lightspeeds and so I reached out to VJ and they recommended these for my stated purpose. Excellent advice. I am impressed with the build of this shoe. Heavy duty materials where they're needed to protect the foot on the trail, lightweight elsewhere. These are the lightest shoes I own (8.8 ounces, M-9) and yet somehow they feel substantial at the same time. Great ground feel, support and adequate cushioning. VJ's size advice is spot on. I typically wear a M-9.5 but sized down 0.5 and the fit is perfect. I bought mostly for the grip. I have a trail race coming up with a significant section of stone stairs and I am really concerned about slippage as I've run them before and they are somewhat technical, especially if wet. I have 100% confidence in the MAXx2 on this stretch. I've been running trails and gravel in Hoka Challenger ATR 7s...a very nice shoe. These are better in every way. Glad I took the plunge and bought them sight unseen.
These shoes are so comfortable and cute!! I will definitely be using them a lot for walking my dogs, easy runs around my neighborhood park which is a mix of grass, gravel, and road, and basic trail runs! They are super light and comfortable!
I have so many VJ that I will use some of my others for more technical terrain and racing but these ones will be worn a lot! I will even wear them for just going out since they are comfortable and stylish but also grippy!
Nice roomy toe box, comfy, cushiony, and drain water/dry better than previous models too! As always, can’t beat the #bestgripontheplanet! Excellent shoes for the slickery Adirondack mountains terrain!
Sometimes a new model of a shoe you wear regularly comes out and is a pleasant surprise, other times,
you get a sidegrade, no real substantive changes. Then there's the occasional disappointment. The Ultra
3 from VJ Sports is unfortunately very much in this last category for me.
The VJ Ultra 2 was my "do it all" shoe. Super fast descents down technical terrain, endless grip up
slippery rock slabs, comfortable enough to complete a couple of mountain marathons and even an ultra
in. The successor falls short of this benchmark for me in a lot of ways.
Now my expectations of a shoe are not applicable to everyone. I live in the wet tropics of Australia, and
my go-to runs are up and down mountains, through steaming rainforest and jungle.
First impressions and fit:
Straight out of the box, there's a lot to admire. The limited edition colourway "Vihreä" (Green) is
flourescent but desaturated enough to not hurt the eyes. Taking it up my local mountain I found it blended
nicely with the lichen on the rocks and the new growth from the rain. I'm actually a fan of lurid
mismatching colours on running gear, and the shoes also work in that regard. What's the point if you
don't look like a deranged clown hurtling through the forest?
The laces have an interesting construction, the green ridges on the side make for an excellent lockdown
that doesn't budge through eyelets or the knot. However, this can also be a downside if you're used to
your laces shifting subtly as you run to make the most secure and comfortable fit.
The thick slab of foam is slightly misleading, it doesn't feel anywhere near as high as it looks. This is the
midsole wrapping around the upper slightly. And finally the tacky, wonderful Butyl rubber compound that
anyone familiar with VJ knows the value of. Wearing the shoes on tile floors makes a sound like walking
on wet paint, and you can feel them sticking. It's that good. Now in a full coverage sole compared to the
Ultra 2's segmented approach.
Fit wise, I chose a 9.5US (my normal size), and the dimensions all seem correct. Walking around the
house and driving to my local mountain to try them out, all seemed good. However, once I started uphill
issues started arising.
VJ claims to have a wider toe box with this iteration, and I would agree in principle, however, my pinkie
toes rub like crazy against the side wall and the top of the upper. Something still isn't quite right with the
shape of the last. The fitlock system seems to engage well, but I really ran into problems tightening
these shoes.
I normally wear thick merino socks to protect my ankles and shins from the million biting, stinging insects
and the even worse plants in this corner of Australia. About 10 and 20 minutes into my climb, I adjusted
the lacing, much looser. At the 45 minute mark I had to take the shoes off entirely. Searing, grinding pain
on my lateral metatarsals, under the arches of my feet and even on top. It started uncomfortable but
bearable at the bottom, but just got worse as I continued. I found I was able to continue minus the socks,
but it was still not comfortable. Worse, the rubbing on the toes was now free to cause blisters. The fit was
good front to back, a very grippy material in the heel kept my foot in place, but I had way too much room
laterally in the heel, even before I took my socks off.
I tried again a few days later, with much thinner socks this time. Almost the same experience, just less
intense. I had to loosen the laces to the point of instability to feel comfortable.
Upper:
The aforementioned fitment issues thoroughly impacted how the shoe performed. Without a secure fit on
the foot, I wasn't able to be confident in foot placement, grip or responsiveness on technical downhill
sections. Even retightening to the point of pain to get the fitlock system to work for me, it was still loose in
the heel side to side.
Taking the shoes to a gentler trail and relaxing the laces, it was fine. A little insecure needing more
attention than normal, but inoffensive in most aspects. All of this could be idiosyncratic issues, i.e. just a
me problem, or maybe just this particular pair has an error in manufacturing. But the bad news for
technical terrain doesn't stop there.
Midsole:
VJ's nitrogen infused SuperFOAMance is a strange choice for this shoe compared to the firmer, more
responsive foam from the second version. It went from a comfortable powerhouse in the 2 to a slightly
wallowing, lazy feeling shoe in the 3 that makes you work harder to cover the same terrain. The foam is
the lowpoint of this shoe for me. It's comfortable underfoot, but isn't very springy, doesn't return much in
the way of energy. Worst of all, from a company that specialises in Skyrunning, Obstacle Course Racing
and handling the most extreme conditions with ease, it leaves the foot almost numb and unable to feel
the terrain underfoot. There's little sense of connection to the ground or securit...
This was my first VJ Shoe purchase. I bought it on closeout so no returns, but it was a risk I was willing to take because the price was right. Sizing is a bit off, even using VJ's sizing tool. Not terrible, but not right either. It's long and narrow or at least that's how it seems to me. Suspect I could have gone down a half size. That said, if I wear heavy socks the fit is reasonably okay. Not good enough for the Grand Canyon, but okay for day hikes and everyday wear. The shoe itself is delightful. It's very comfortable in a way a lot of similar shoes from other companies are not. The grip is amazing...everything VJ promised it would be. I like the feel of it on my feet. Literally zero break in required. Time will tell, but upper seems very rugged and durable. Overall, very pleased...enough so that I just bought a pair of MAXx2s for trail racing. Kudos, VJ.
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.