VJ Sarva ACE winter running shoe review

Posted on December 22, 2023 by talkultra

It is that time of the year, for many of us, when the ground is covered in snow and ice. Don’t be tempted to go out for a run in normal shoes, it will not end well and potentially, if you fall bad, keep you away from running for the whole of the winter season.

Purchasing a specific winter shoe may seem like an indulgence, but trust me, you will not complain when you use them, the run experience is so much more enjoyable then any other option available. Read an article on Running Ion Ice Here.

VJ Sport are renowned for the best grip on the planet with their incredible butyl outsoles, the reputation also extends to winter with their star studded winter studs.

I have just received the new Sarva Ace which is VJ’s most cushioned and comfortable star studded winter running shoe that they have ever produced.

The Ace is VJ’s first winter running shoe to feature the PerFOAMance midsole , which provides more comfort and cushioning than the previous EVA midsoles, making winter runs on ice and packed snow easier on your feet.

The Superior Contact outsole features 17 carbon steel, star-shaped metal studs that provide superior grip on slippery conditions.

Ace’s upper is a waterproof and durable one-piece upper .

To increase comfort and fit, the shoe is foot-shaped , has a spacious toe box and a soft heel that prevents the foot from chafing.

VJ’s innovative Fitlock system provides an optimal fit for the shoe by locking the foot. It also provides extra protection by protecting the arch from the impacts the foot encounters while running.

REVIEW

Grip, comfort and foothold, there are no better shoes than VJ Sport. The iRock, XTRM, MAXx and the recent Ultra offer something for all.

In winter, the need for a specific shoe for ice can be an essential requirement, particularly in Scandinavia when snow/ ice running can start in October and last till November. Depending on how much ice you encounter will depend on your need for a specific shoe. If you only get a few days of ice, the cost of a specific shoe would be hard to justify. But, if like me, pretty much every run I do for weeks and months on end need a specific shoe, it’s money well spent. And trust me, specific ice running shoes are a world apart from any run shoe with an ‘add-on’ mini crampon.

VJ have also been integral in my shoe choice using the Xante, Xero 5 and Icehero, all shoes offering key VJ features with the addition of winter studs for grip on ice.

VJ have just released a new shoe, the VJ Sarva ACE.

Quite simply, it’s the most comfortable ice running shoe I have ever tried. VJ have really pushed the barriers with this shoe and listened to the feedback of runners and answered two key points:

Wider toe box.
More cushioning.

VJ SARVA ACE

Light-weight, cushioned, wider fit, great foothold and superb comfort, the VJ Sarva ACE takes the previous VJ SARVA shoes to a new level. This shoe is so comfortable, I have already emailed VJ asking for this shoe to be made without studs. It would be a perfect shoe to run alongside the ULTRA, especially with the wider toe box.

The new ACE has 17 studs, 8mm drop with 17mm/ 25mm cushioning and more importantly, a considerably wider toe box (5 on the fit scale) which makes them ideal for winter allowing the user to utilize warmer and thicker socks to ensure warm feet and increased blood flow with room for toes to splay.

My UK10/ EU44.5 are 340g and my recommendation is to go up a size. My normal run shoe size is UK9.5/ EU44 but I have found with VJ, that I need a larger shoe. I did wonder with the ACE if this would be a mistake due to the wider toe box, it wasn’t!

Those who have used VJ before will know how amazing the foothold is from FITLOCK, a feature on all VJ shoes. It provides a tight and secure feel and offers support and stability. It makes the shoes feel like part of the foot.

VJ’s SCR (Superior Contact Rubber) is the best on any terrain, be that wet or dry. Like other brands, VJ add metal studs to the outsole to ensure grip in the most challenging terrain for winter. VJ’s studs are star shaped and comparison to other studs, they offer increased grip due to extra corners. The Butyl outsole has 4mm lugs.

No shoes are perfect and, in the past, VJ uppers have shown some wear, particularly in the flex area behind the metatarsals (a common weak area in many shoes) which has torn. In this shoe, VJ are using a new durable one-piece upper that is waterproof.

IN USE

The two key features are the toe box and cushioning. The toe box is ALTRA like, it is wide, very obviously foot-shaped and a huge departure for VJ. I must admit, I was a little worried they would be too wide. Not so, the run experience is superb.

The cushioning, again, a departure for VJ. This shoe has a life and a comfort that I had hoped the ULTRA would have. Ice running can be hard and harsh, VJ have listened to feedback and now made a shoe that offers comfort and cushioning to ease this impact. Like I said above, I want this shoe without studs for dry trail running. They are notably bouncy, particularly in the rear. Ice running does require you to change gait slightly, the more contact points with the ground, the greater the grip.

Lacing up, the Fitlock takes hold and they quite simply just encapsulate your foot giving the most secure feeling. The tongue is also very well padded reducing any stress or pressure on the navicular bone. The option to lock-lace is welcome with the additional eyelets at the top. I like aces tight and really holding the foot, however, in winter you need to make sure laces are not too tight and reducing blood flow. A lack of blood flow will make for cold (colder) feet. The laces gladly stop early allowing great flex at the front and not inhibiting the important propulsive phase.

The heel box, for me, does not hold as well as other VJ shoes and this is currently the only negative part of the shoe. I have found lock-lacing corrects this. Without lock-lacing I was getting just a little movement. It did not cause problems, but it did play on my mind. Having said that, it has never put a question in mind about using or choosing this shoe.

Out on the trails running in soft snow, ice and a plethora of mixed terrain, the ACE does exactly what you’d expect. The wider food print adds to a wider and more stable footprint on snow. The studs on ice grip remarkably well. The key with any winter shoe is trusting the shoe will do the job. Impact is your friend as is confidence. The two go together.

The added cushioning is a key highlight for me, and they are ideal for longer outings, particularly when running on harder trails or continuous ice. The comfort level is high… Not something that is usual for winter shoes. The wider toe box only adds to this package. Toes are able to move allowing for increased blood flow and therefore warmth, also helped by the waterproof upper.

SUMMARY

Winter shoes for many are a luxury, it all depends on how much snow or ice you get. If you do get regular ice, a specific bespoke shoe for winter running is so much better than any ‘add-on’ micro spikes.

The ACE has more cushioning, a wider toe box and great grip. It’s currently one the best specific ice shoe out there.

The only current downside of the ACE is the hold in the heel area. It’s not perfect and therefore makes this shoe a 9/10 and not an outright 10/10.

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Merrell Agility Peak 5 Shoe Review

Posted on December 6, 2023 by talkultra

On a recent work trip I had a run shoe disaster. To cut a long story short, I was left with no run shoes.

Dropping in to the best run store I could find, I was rest assured with a great selection of trail shoes and gladly, they had options from which to choose. It would have been easy to purchase shoes I have already owned used and liked, and in all honesty, had they had a pair of Hoka Torrent I would have got them; a great all-rounder.

I needed a shoe with cushioning, protection, and a good outsole.

As it happens, I had three excellent choices and none of the shoes I had used before, a NNormal Tomir (23/31), a Hoka Speedgoat 5 (29/33) and a Merrell Agility Peak 5 (25/31), based on stack heights, three very comparable shoes. Interestingly the NNormal with 8mm drop, the Hoka with 4mm drop and the Merrell sitting in the sweet spot of 6mm.

I will be honest, I was instantly drawn to the NNormal, I had been waiting to test a pair for sometime and in my head, before trying any of them on, I had already made up my mind. I am getting the NNormal.

However, slipping them on, they just didn’t make me smile. The lacing was less than optimal, foothold was kinda ok but the overall feel was lifeless. The Hoka Speedboat 5 by contrast had life, had great foothold and was just solid. That’s it, I will get the Speedgoat…

But then the assistant said, you should really try on the Merrell, particularly if you like the Hoka.

So, I slipped the Agility Peak 5 on whoa, what a revelation. Foothold superb, heel comfort excellent, toe box space great and there was a bounce and life not present in the other two. The addition of Vibram Magagrip added to the package, to be fair, this was on the other two shoes too, but here on the Agility Peak 5 it was aggressive and with 5mm lugs.

I purchased the Merrell.

MERRELL

I had heard a great deal about Merrell shoes, nearly all of it positive, so, I don’t really know why it had taken me so long to eventually get a pair. Certainly trying on against the NNormal and Hoka only confirmed that my decision was coming too late, I had been missing out!

Superb cushioning 25mm front, 31mm rear.

A great looking shoe that means business. The side profile, the outsole and 5mm lugs, a visible rock plate, it’s clear that this is shoe is for the rough stuff.

Red rock plate showing through the Vibram MegaGrip outsole.

When a shoe is in version 5, I always get a little nervous. The plus side is this is a shoe that works and is loved, otherwise Merrell would not adapt, change and make a new version. But sometimes, the ‘need’ to make new version can sometimes spoil what was good about the previous ones. Having not tried an Agility Peak before, I was a blank canvas – a good thing!

THE SHOE

With reduced weight, increased rocker, increased heel grip and comfort, this shoe on paper was ticking all the boxes.

A breathable upper, excellent lace placement, gusseted tongue, a toe cap protection, EVA foot bed, FloatPro foam midsole, rock plate, a Vibram Megagrip outsole with 5mm traction lugs.

A D-ring gaiter attachment at the front and velcro attachment at the rear,

The Agility Peak 5 is a feature packed shoe. A 6mm drop with cushioning 25mm at the front and 31mm at the rear makes this a shoe ideal for long days out in gnarly terrain.

Slipping the shoe on I had an instant comfort factor that made me smile, I knew immediately I was going to like this shoe.

Lacing up, foot hold was superb without any nasty pressure on the navicular bone. Holding the rear of the shoe.

Lifting my foot, there was no slippage and the gusseted tongue just added to the cozy comfort factor.

The toe box is spacious, a 3, maybe a 4, on a scale of 1-5 with 5 being wide and spacious.

Standing up, there was a definite bounce and life as I moved backwards and forwards, up and down.

IN USE

I was committed and out-of-the-box I went straight in to a gnarly coastal run over very rocky and abrasive terrain, 37km and 1531m+. It was a great test! The Agility Peak 5 excelled.

The notable takeaways were all-day comfort and protection.

I never had to adjust the laces, my foot was held secure all day. The cushioning allowed for great ground feel but not at the compromise of comfort, especially with the rock plate protecting from all the sharp rocks and obstacles.

At 25/31mm in cushioning, I was concerned that maybe I would be a little too high from the ground, but this shoe has a wide footprint and this compensates for the additional stack height wonderfully. I had no rolling issues at all.

Notably, when walking and hiking, the bounce and comfort at the rear of the shoe was superb. When running, the flex behind the metatarsals was ideal giving a great propulsive phase. The toe box allowing enough space for toe splay but not at the compromise of precision. When climbing, my foot was secure, no movement, a combination of the new heel cup and the rear sling lock.

The outsole by Vibram is tried and tested, MegaGrip appears everywhere, but this is the first time I have used or seen the 5mm lug version and it is brilliant. The grip was superb. I have yet to try in the wet!

Was there a downside? In all honesty, no. It’s arguably the most complete shoe I have tried in a very long time and if I was to be picky, for a shoe that is so obviously designed for rough stuff, the toe bumper could maybe be a little more protective.

Despite the mean business looks, the Agility Peak 5 has plenty of life, speed and comfort for those wonderful single-track runs with little or no technicality. The rocker helping to propel you forward with excellent comfort.

Fitting true to size, this shoe is one of the best I have tried and tested.

CONCLUSION

Shoe technology gets better all the time and now there are sooooo many good shoes, it’s often difficult to pick a best one. Of course, this is a great position to be in. I have countless shoes that I would be happy to run in on any given day. But, some shoes have very specific uses. If I wanted guaranteed mountain grip in wet and dry, I would choose a VJ MAXx. I I wanted a fast shoe for single-track, I’d go for an Adidas Speed Ultra. If I wanted a just one shoe that could do all things and do them well, my choice has normally been a Hoka Torrent, that is until the Merrell Agility Peak 5 cam along.

This shoe has been a revelation. All day comfort, great grip, great foot hold, fast when you need them to be, secure when the terrain demands it and all wrapped up in an excellent good looking package.

The Agility Peak 5 is my shoe of 2024! A shoe that has balanced cushioned comfort with speed and versatility for all running, be that on trail or mountain terrain.

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Episode 240 – Eoin Keith and 360 The Challenge by Arista Eventos

Posted on December 4, 2023 by talkultra

Episode 240 of Talk Ultra and we talk with Eoin Keith who took on the 269.3km counter-clockwise journey of 360 The Challenge in Gran Canaria organised by Arista Eventos.

What is 360 THE CHALLENGE?

360º The Challenge is an individual, self-sufficiency challenge. It is intended to be completed before the time limit the organization will state. Participation in this challenge will be strictly individual.

Participants must dominate some necessary techniques to be accepted in the race: orientation, capability of supporting drastic changes of weather conditions, ability to assist other runners in case of emergency, tolerance to fatigue and lack of sleep and food.

The course will not be marked. The runners must follow the track that the organization will handle before the race.

The challenge will be completed in self-sufficiency. Runners must plan their own resting periods and feeding hours. Along the course, they will have basecamps where they will be fed and have the chance to rest.

Runners can purchase food and beverage in any other stores they have along the course.

External assistance will only be allowed in the basecamps. Any external assistance the runners receive during the track will be punished.

LISTEN HERE

SPOTIFY HERE

Also available on ANCHOR

APPLE iTUNES HERE

#PAYITFORWARD for Christmas

Posted on December 1, 2023 by talkultra

#PAYITFORWARD this Christmas folks

You are a runner, yes?

You buy shoes, yes?

You are left with a shoe box, yes?

#payitforward

December is here and this is a great opportunity to give back, albeit in a relatively small way, by filling an empty shoe box with essential items that will help someone who is less fortunate.

Importantly, if donating the box to a charity organisation and not an individual, make sure you mark the box if it is for a male/ female and adult or child.

What you add to the box is of course entirely up to you, but here are some ideas: