VJ Sport Spark Review

VJ hails from Orivesi in Finland and was set up in 1981 by an enthusiastic Orienteer. In the last 40 years VJ has been using the best material’s available to make the best gripping and hard wearing trail shoes available.

The VJ Spark is the latest model to enter the marketplace from the Finish brand. It is designed for harder packed trails than other long studded VJ models like the Xtrm and Irock . This makes it ideal for runs that are a mix of hard packed trails and softer more muddy ground. The lug pattern is the same as on the Xtrm but slightly shorter. The Xtrm lugs are 6mm the Sparks are 5mm. This is because the slightly shorter lugs ride better on the harder packed tracks. If you have ever run down the road in your fell or cross country shoes then you’ll understand that shoes with long studs take away all the feel for the floor when used on hard surfaces and are therefore Hard to run in. By shaving 1mm off the length of the studs and making the midsole more flexible VJ have developed a shoe that rides well on firm tracks but still has exceptional grip on the mud.

The outsole is made from VJ Super Contact rubber. This is exceptionally sticky and grips well to wet rock. It is also durable and doesn’t wear down as fast as other soft sticky rubber outsoles.

The midsole is 16mm thick in the heel and 1mm in the forefoot giving the Spark a 5mm heel to forefoot drop. The Xtrm is 12mm in the heel and 8mm in the forefoot. The extra 3mm of foam and flexibility of the midsole gives the Spark a softer ride than the Xtrm. However, this doesn’t move it into the realm of a highly cushioned trail shoe. The Spark is light (240 grams UK8) and nimble and still has the feel of a race day shoe rather than a plodding a long training shoe.

The Spark is made on the same last as the VJ Ultra which is broader than the Xtrm and Irock last. This gives your feet more room to spread and function in the shoes. The upper still holds the foot firmly onto the midsole so even when running on very rough ground or contouring I didn’t feel that my foot was moving in the shoes. The flexibility of the midsole also helps as it bends to the shape of the ground well. This does mean that you can feel rocks and roots through the midsole. I prefer this feel as I find that it makes me lighter on my feet and more nimble which helps me pick my way smoothly over broken trails.

The upper is a much more open mesh than other VJ shoes. It is made from a durable mix of nylon and polyester. This makes the upper a lot more breathable than other VJ shoes with a Kevlar upper. The upper is also softer and pulls around the foot nicely. Which feels more comfortable than the Kevlar uppers. However, it won’t be as abrasion resistant. Although this shouldn’t be a problem as the Spark is designed for trail running rather than bashing through the undergrowth in the forest or over the moors.

There aren’t many trail shoes that have enough cushioning and are comfortable to use on hard packed tracks but, still have enough grip to get you across a boggy farmers field on a wet day. Trail shoes designed for firmer trails trend to be stiffer which gives them a better ride on harder ground but, means that the shoes can’t bend to the trail when you get on the more broken and softer ground. This means that you get pushed around by the trail or loose traction. The Spark has hit that compromise they are comfortable on the harder trails and perform well on softer or broken ground. The broader fit makes them comfortable to wear for longer runs and on easier or slower runs.

In Summary the VJ Spark is a trail shoe designed to give great grip on softer, wetter surfaces while still having enough cushion for firmer trails. They are light, flexible and nimble.

Charlie @ Northern Runner Newcastle

Other Considerations

NVii Terra TT: These are a very similar shoe. The main difference is in the fit. The Terra TT is narrower in the forefoot. However, it does come with two insole thicknesses so you can adjust the volume. The Terra TT has a bit more cushioning and underfoot protection too. Here is our review: https://www.northernrunner.com/blog/nvii-terra-tt-review-high-grip-trail-running-shoes/

Scott Supertrac RC 2: These offer a smoother ride on the harder ground due to Scotts e-Ride but, the stiffness required for this takes away from the ride on the more broken ground. Here is our review: https://www.northernrunner.com/blog/scott-supertrac-rc-2-0-review-trail-fell-running-shoes/