maxx2 shoe review | IAN CORLESS

A new VJ Sport shoe is always something to get excited about. Earlier this year I received two new shoes, a double whammy from VJ.

The MAXx2 and the Lightspeed are two new departures for the brand and I have to say, these are two very exciting developments.

In 2023, I received the VJ Sarva Ace – a winter studded shoe. This shoe was a revelation based on a much wider toe box and incredible ‘new’ cushioning. Review HERE. At the time, I fed back to VJ that without the spikes this would make a great new ULTRA shoe in the VJ line-up.

Well, the MAXx2 and Lightspeed take this cushioning and what we have are two performance shoes that need to be worn to be believed.

Today, we look at the MAXx2.

THE SHOE

If you read my shoe reviews, you will know I am a huge VJ Sport fan. To me, they have not made a bad shoe and gladly, they are not always tweaking or re-inventing shoes. The original MAXx I have used for many years and in all honesty, it has been my go-to mountain running shoe. The combination of foot hold from Fitlock and the amazing outsole make them unbeatable when grip and control is priority. The only downside to the MAXx was the lack of cushioning for longer runs. With 12mm cushioning at the front, 18mm at the rear and 4mm studs, they are a great shoe for up to 50km in rocky, muddy and mountainous terrain.

The MAXx2 takes all that was great in the MAXx and brings some key changes and features:

25mm and 31mm cushioning
SuperFOAMance midsole
Rock plate

These new features elevate this shoe to a new beast and it has now become my favourite trail shoe. They are quite simply, superb!

The upper is seamless, breathable and durable. The outsole, for those that know VJ still offers the best grip on the planet with 4mm Butyl rubber studs – no other shoe brand has an outsole that can compete with VJ. The unique FITLOCK gives superb foot hold which guarantees security and precision on technical and demanding terrain.

I could conclude here and say this is is the best mountain/ off-road shoe available on the market.

IN USE

This is a versatile shoe and where the previous MAXx had some limitations in regard to distance and time on feet, the MAXx2 dispels that and for me, this is now an all day mountain/ off-road shoe with supreme comfort.

The revelation is the new SuperFOAMance midsole (25/31mm) which I knew was superb the moment I tried the winter Ace shoe. The original MAXx had Poron cushion integrated into the heel and forefoot midsole, the new SuperFOAMance is a huge improvement. It manages to give everything that I need and want in a shoe, especially when running on more technical trails. I have great ground feel, great flexibility, precision and there is a delicate balance with torsional rigidity and comfort. The rock-late balances enough protection without adding weight or restricting flexibility. The propulsive phase is superb. And a drop of 6mm is a perfect sweet spot between 4mm and 8mm.

The toe box has been given more space, a ‘4’ on the VJ scale. The balance of a wider toe box and still a precious feel is a delicate balance, but VJ have done it. There is extra room and more toe splay without a sloppy feel.

The upper is not as breathable as other brands and there is a simple reason for this. This shoe is designed for use in harsh environments and VJ know only too well, if you make an upper too minimal it just won’t last. This upper is one piece, so, there is no stitching to cause abrasion – a winner. There is a TPU bumper that goes around the bottom of the upper providing extra protection and durability. FITLOCK has always been a winner and here, once again, this is a key feature of the shoe providing the ultimate foot hold. There is also extra eyelets so you can lock-lace if required.

The outsole is superb, as with all VJ shoes. Here 4mm lugs make this shoe a perfect all-rounder for drier/ non-technical trails and more demanding mountain trails that will have mud, rock and more importantly, wet rocks. No other shoe grips like VJ. The outsole is classic chevron in design with grip the full-length of the shoe. There is nothing more to say, best outsole there is!

The shoe sizes a little large, so, be careful when purchasing. With a wider fit at the front, you may wish to size down. I am typically a UK10 and I have a UK9.5 which weighs 263g.

CONCLUSION

This is VJ’s best shoe and one that is a perfect one-stop solution. The MAXx2 is an all-rounder and typically that would mean that it does all things ok, but no one thing well. Not so here, the combination of elements – cushioning, rock-plate, outsole, Fitlock, fit and comfort make this a superb one-stop trail shoe that excels for all day comfort.

VJ have always had a reputation for making shoes that are very specific, think of the iRock with 6mm lugs and less cushioning designed for grip in soft-ground, or the XTRM2 which has 6mm lugs and more cushioning. Here in the MAXx2 we have a middle ground that should you only ever own one pair of VJ’s, the MAXx2 should be the one to buy.

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