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
