The Grippiest Trail Shoe You’ve Never Heard Of

Even though I’ve been fortunate enough to have tested nearly every trail shoe released on the market since the late 1990s (having served as a shoe reviewer for numerous running magazines and as president of the American Trail Running Association), I hadn’t heard of VJ Shoes until an East Coast trail friend recommended I test their XTRM model. He said it held up well and provided exceptional traction on the wet granite and mud-slickened trails of his neck of the woods. He gave me this advice even though he is sponsored by a different shoe brand, so I knew I had to check the shoes out.

Doing some research, I learned that in 1981, a frustrated orienteer and shoemaker from the small town of Orivesi located in the dense forests of central Finland, unable to find suitable footwear for his sport that involves navigating rough terrain between checkpoints on a map, started VJ Shoes in order to outfit himself with a durable product that has exceptional grip. His company is now the footwear of choice for many obstacle course racers, Skyrunners, and orienteers in a variety of countries.

The XTRM 2 is the brand’s top-selling shoe. That popularity stems mainly from the superb traction provided by the shoe’s six-millimeter lugs built of butyl rubber, a signature technology of VJ Shoes. “Butyl Rubber creates a unique grip for all surfaces, wet or dry,” says Matt Gorski, VJ Shoe’s U.S. operations manager. “Our athletes and customers tell us it really does have the best grip on the planet.”

Vulcan Grip

Gorski says the powers that be at VJ Shoes Finnish world headquarters are not comfortable sharing the details on the butyl rubber ingredients and manufacturing process, explaining only that, “It is a difficult, long, and expensive process.” Compared to standard carbon or blown rubber outsoles, Gorski says the butyl rubber is quite a bit more advanced at a molecular level, producing its superior gripping performance.

More research revealed that the challenge of butyl rubber’s production is attributed to the vulcanization process. (I’ve always wanted to use the term “vulcanization.” I mean who wouldn’t want their soles to live long and prosper?) The vulcanization process, it seems, serves to tie the rubber molecules together to form a single large molecule that does not melt as it heats or get brittle as it cools.

The resulting butyl rubber is flexible and—because it is impervious to gases, and both chemical and weather resistant—very durable. Gorski says, however, that the durability of their outsoles is average compared to those used by the other trail running brands because VJ Shoes uses a softer formulation. “Some use harder material and sacrifice the grip for durability,” he says. “But that is not our mindset when making performance products.” That said, in his nearly five years with VJ Shoes, he hasn’t heard a single user complain about the outsoles wearing down too quickly. “I’ve had customers claim up to 1000 miles on them before they changed out.” Most runners get more than 500 miles out of them, he says.

How We Tested

To test the XTRM 2s, I logged several weeks of almost daily runs on the trails around Boulder, Colorado. I took them on a wide variety of running surfaces, distances, and speeds, favoring them on shorter routes over softer ground.

VJ Shoes Verdict: Grounded and Secure

It was clear from the get-go that the shoes were all about grip and not about a cushioned ride. The XTRM’s low, 24–20mm stack height is minimalist enough to feel barren on hard surfaces, especially because the thin midsole consists solely of EVA. That firm, connected ride is by design. VJ Shoes designers are committed to allowing the runner to fully feel the ground underfoot in the XTRM2, and, with that philosophy, they steer clear of plush rides, or what they call “feel-deadening cushioned.”

Gorski says, “We felt EVA had the right amount of firmness that let that ground feel come to the runner, as opposed to some of the modern more squishy foams.”

The XTRM 2 does indeed provide plenty of ground feel, so much so that I found myself favoring runs that covered more dirt or mud than rock. The depth of the outsole lugs provides a certain amount of “air” cushioning on harder surfaces, but not enough to make up for the thinness and density of the midsole. The full-length rock plate is made of hardened EVA so it is more to shield from sharp protrusions than to absorb or muffle impact.

Given its minimal stack height, however, the flex of the shoe is notably athletic, delivering a connected feel akin to a cross-country racing flat in its liveliness. I look forward to testing them on soft snow this winter.

The upper shined in its performance, fit, and durability. When laced up, the security of the XTRM 2 was superb, providing lateral stability and an outstanding responsiveness that gave me confidence and a nimble stride when descending technical trails like the front of Boulder’s Sanitas mountain. Credit the Fitlock midfoot security system that embraces the instep with a thick medial saddle integrated into the lacing. In the heel, a cat-tongue inner material combines with the contoured fit of the heel cup to help prevent any slippage on ascents. Built with obstacle racing in mind, the upper also features an instep with “Rope-Lock” for climbing, and a strengthened rubber toe cap for added durability.

The upper is made of a burly woven mesh that warded off the elements and trail impacts as well as scuffs and punctures, while allowing a welcome amount of breathability. One note: the toe box is straight and narrow—I found it nicely snug and stable, but I have a lower volume forefoot. It may be too tight for runners with wide feet or who are used to having room for toe splay.

Gorski describes the XTRM 2 as “the shoe of choice for serious athletes running in rugged terrain where they need to trust the grip.” His description is spot on.

The VJ XTRM2 is not for every runner but excels for those who need its rugged, high-performance features. I recommend them to anyone who prefers ground feel over deadening and is happy to trade cushioning and plushness for the confidence gained from superior foothold and traction.

Similar Shoes

Merrell MTL Sky Fire 2, Arc’teryx Norvan SL 3, Inov-8 X-Talon 212 V2, Brooks Catamount Agile (coming in 2024)

Stats

MSRP: $170

Stack Height: 24mm heel / 20mm forefoot

Weight: 9.4 oz (267g), US Men’s size 9.5