VJ Sport Lightspeed Review
Fresh off the boat from Finland and moving quickly, we’ve got the VJ Sport Lightspeed review. VJ is a Finish orienteering brand that has made performance footwear since 1981. Their running shoes are well known for being grippy, with a good level of ground feel that allows the runner to remain nimble over tricky terrain. This helps tremendously when running through undergrowth, which is common terrain in orienteering events, plus broken ground fells or a cross country course. The shoes flex in all directions to allow the foot to react to the ground and the outsole maintains contact with the ground to give a high level of traction. However, trail running has changed over recent years and there are a lot more events which have sections of hard packed tracks that require a different shoe. Running shoes have also trended towards much softer cushioned shoes with a bouncier feel and forward propulsion mechanisms to help you run quicker.
VJ have stepped up to the challenge and recently launched the VJ MAXx2. A neutral, nimble trail running shoe with a modern bouncy feel that’s versatile enough for road to trail use. The VJ Lightspeed is the racing version of this. A lighter shoe, with a faster feel and a composite plate in the midsole to give the runner some propulsion.
Upper
The construction of the upper is very much in line with other VJ shoes, in that the upper is designed to hold the foot onto the midsole and absorb as little water as possible. The heel cup has a half-plastic cup. Above that is a thin, soft and flexible material designed to pull-in around your heel to give a secure heel fit. The cuff is high compared to a lot of road shoes. This is in order to give you a secure fit and reduce the chance of debris getting into the shoes. The tongue is also very thin with very little padding. It comes high under the ankle and is gusseted in order to help keep debris out of the shoes. There are two tongue stays that the laces thread through. This helps prevent the tongue from slipping.
Width
Although the VJ Lightspeed has a slightly narrower, snugger fit than the VJ MAXx 2, it has the same rounded toe box shape. This allows the toes more room to spread and function in the shoes to allow better balance, cushioning and propulsion. The laces come further into the toe box than on other running shoes. It’s a similar design to the VJ MAXx 2, which allows you to tighten up the toe box if you prefer a snugger fit around the toes.
A thin overlay runs around the base of the shoes to reduce the chance of the upper getting damaged by abrasion from rocks etc. This same overlay is used to reinforce the lace holes. There is an additional lace hole which you can use to make the heel fit snugger or to butterfly lace the shoes if you wish. A good firm toe bummer protects the toes and arch lock on the medial side of the upper not only helps pull the upper around the foot to give a snugger fit but, also protects the arch from getting damaged by rocks or roots.
Midsole
The VJ Lightspeed has the same midsole material as the MAXx 2, made from VJ’s nitrogen infused perFOAMance. A nitrogen infused midsole is sealed, which prevents water and grit getting in and air from getting out. This increases the rebound or ‘bounce’ to give the Lightspeed a more springy ride. The midsole is 18mm in the heel and 12mm in the forefoot. This makes the midsole thick enough to give a degree of cushioning, but not too thick to take away the ground feel. You can still be nimble and react to obstacles on the trail and negotiate roots and rocks effectively. The 6mm heel to forefoot drop promotes a more midfoot landing. However, there is enough cushioning and forward propulsion to cope with a heel strike. Overall stack height is 29mm/23mm.
Branched Composite Plate
Sandwiched inside the midsole is a composite propulsion plate. This makes the shoes even more springy. When your foot lands on the floor is spreads out, stretching the planta fascia on the bottom of your foot. Like stretching and elastic band. When the foot is lifted up, the planta fascia recoils and springs you forward. The composite plate in the midsole of the VJ Lightspeed works in the same way, complimenting the motion of the foot. This helps increase your stride length (distance travelled in the air) which helps you run faster. The composite plate is branched, which makes it more flexible and able to bend laterally and medially. This allows the runner to effectively negotiate rough ground, as the shoes flex to take the shape of the ground. You can keep moving forward, rather than getting pushed to the side like they would in a stiffer shoe.
The plate also offers additional foot protection from thorns or sharp rocks that might piece the midsole.
Outsole Grip
The outsole is made from one piece of butyl rubber, which is a very sticky and durable natural rubber that VJ use for the outsoles of all their shoes. The grip on wet surfaces is exceptional, yet the rubber is still durable enough to be used on short sections of tarmac without wearing down too quickly. The lugs are 3.5mm in length, designed to grip well on tracks and trails rather than muddy cross country routes (VJ IRock or VJ XTRM have longer lugs designed for softer terrain).
The VJ Lightspeed weighs 200g in a UK8 but feels a lot lighter on your feet due to the spring and propulsion from the midsole. A UK11 fitted me well, which for reference is the same size as I would use in Brooks, Saucony, Topo, NNormal, Hylo Athletic and Altra. Whereas I use a UK 11.5 in Hoka, New Balance and La Sportiva that come up small.
Summary
I like light nimble feeling shoes so the VJ Lightspeed didn’t disappoint. They are a shoe for running quickly in and work best when you are putting a bit of force through the shoes to load the plate. It’s the same as other running shoes with a plastic or carbon plate in the midsole. There is enough cushioning to warm up and down in the shoes comfortably before a session, or to use them for steady, tempo or threshold runs on the trails. The midsole offers a nice middle ground of cushioning and protection that’s responsive and never soggy, particularly important uphill. The VJ Lightspeed is a nimble trail running shoe that feels great running quickly over harder packed trails.
Other Considerations
Altra Mont Blanc Carbon: A similar rounded toe box but, much broader with more volume. This encourages a lot more foot function. Although the Mont Blanc has a carbon plate which is usually stiffer than a plastic plate like the one used in the Lightspeed this isn’t the case. The Mont Blanc Carbon is as flexible. The midsole of the Mont Blans is much softer and thicker which takes away a lot of the ground feel. This makes it feel less nimble despite the flexible natural feel. The cushioning in the Mont Blanc Carbon would potentially make it a better option for longer runs but, it doesn’t feel a fast on shorter outings. https://www.northernrunner.com/blog/altra-mont-blanc-carbon-review/
Brooks Catamount 3: A stiffer shoe medially and laterally makes the Brooks Catamount less nimble on rougher trails. The plate helps on firmer terrain making them feel smooth. A vey different feel to the springier Lightspeed. The lugs offer similar traction but, as the shoe doesn’t bend to the curvature of the ground as easily the traction isn’t as good when on a camber or rougher terrain. The toe box has a straight big toe line but, doesn’t have the same feeling of space. https://www.northernrunner.com/blog/brooks-catamount-3-review/
Hoka Zinal 2: A nice nimble feel but, the rocker in the shoe makes is less able to take the shape of the ground. Which makes the Zinal less grippy and versatile on rougher terrain. The fit is narrower and doesn’t promote foot function as much as the VJ Lightspeed. https://www.northernrunner.com/blog/hoka-zinal-2-review/
NNormal Kjerag: A similar feel to the midsole in that it has some bounce but, isn’t really soft and still has some ground feel. The 5.5mm of extra stack height makes the Kjerag a better option for longer runs but, it lacks the flexible nimble feel of the VJ Lightspeed and doesn’t have the propulsion plate. Which makes the shoe feel slower. https://www.northernrunner.com/blog/nnormal-kjerag-review/
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