VJ Ultra 3 Review
The VJ Ultra 3 is a well-cushioned trail running shoe designed for long-distance comfort without compromising ride quality or grip. It offers enough protection to keep your legs fresh over long efforts, yet avoids feeling overly soft or sluggish.
Previous versions of the VJ Ultra shared all the hallmark features of VJ’s trail range: excellent grip from the Butyl rubber outsole, a thoughtful lug pattern, and a responsive midsole that offered good ground feel. The shoes felt nimble and agile over rough terrain, letting you skip over obstacles with ease. The upper delivered a secure fit thanks to the Arch Lock system, which pulls the upper in around the midfoot to hold it firmly in place on cambers and technical ground.
What was missing, however, was a midsole that protected the legs over longer distances. While the Ultra 2 was fine for moderate runs, anything beyond three hours often left the legs feeling beaten up the next day. When VJ launched the Maxx2—a shoe designed for shorter runs and technical terrain—it became clear just how much more forgiving their new Nitrogen-infused midsole was compared to the Ultra 2’s firmer foam. It absorbed more shock and reduced joint stiffness, allowing for quicker recovery and easier next-day running.
So it’s no surprise that the upgraded VJ Ultra 3 now features the same Nitrogen-infused Superfoamance midsole. It’s also much thicker—38mm in the heel and 30mm in the forefoot. This changes the ride from a firm, ground-connected feel to a more cushioned and bouncy experience. The new midsole softens trail impact while still offering energy return. As long as you trust the grip—and with VJ’s legendary traction, you can—you’ll feel confident even on technical ground.
Despite its softness, the midsole isn’t overly squishy. Initial contact is plush, but the foam then firms up to feel stable and supportive. The bounce is subtle and rhythm-friendly. While many brands chase innovation for innovation’s sake, VJ focuses on building shoes that simply work—shoes that disappear on your feet so you can just run.
All of VJ’s trail models now feature a broad, rounded toe box. This allows the feet to splay and function naturally, which not only enhances cushioning and stability but helps strengthen the feet over time. The toe box is especially welcome on ultra-distance runs, as it reduces rubbing and swelling later in the day.
The heel cup is semi-structured—supportive without being rigid—and wraps the foot securely when the laces are tightened. Padding is light around the heel and collar, but not insufficient. Trail shoes often skip heavy padding to avoid water retention, and the Ultra 3 strikes a good balance. The tongue is gusseted to block debris and thin, yet soft and comfortable.
The sawtooth-pattern laces are excellent—durable, secure, and easy to tension. They thread through a tongue tab to prevent slippage and include an extra eyelet for heel lock lacing if needed.
VJ’s roots in orienteering are evident in the durability of the upper. The breathable mesh is tough and abrasion-resistant, with a thick overlay around the lower perimeter to guard against rock strikes and undergrowth. Inside, the Arch Lock provides both structure and protection, shielding the arch from sharp impacts—less critical with this much stack height but still a thoughtful touch.
There’s a flexible rock plate sandwiched between the midsole and outsole to defend against thorns and sharp rocks. Many brands skip rock plates in high-stack shoes, but VJ includes one without compromising flexibility. Because the Nitrogen-infused midsole is sealed to maintain its bounce and protect against water and grit ingress, protecting it from punctures makes good sense. The sealing also prolongs midsole life and maintains consistent ride quality over long efforts.
The outsole features 4.5mm lugs in a one-piece Butyl rubber design—sticky, durable, and highly effective. It grips both wet and dry surfaces and performs well across a variety of UK trail conditions. The lug depth balances grip with versatility, handling everything from tarmac stretches to softer ground without feeling awkward or unstable.
Despite the added cushioning and robust upper, the VJ Ultra 3 remains light. At just 265g for a UK8, it’s impressively low in weight for a trail shoe of this kind.
In terms of sizing, VJ shoes are similar in length to Brooks, Saucony, Altra, Topo, and 361. If you’re used to Hoka, Inov-8, La Sportiva, or Walsh, consider going up half a UK size (e.g., a UK11 in VJ is similar in length to a UK11.5 in Hoka). Width varies by model: shoes made for soft, broken terrain (like the iRock 4) are narrower and more tapered, while those designed for firmer trails (like the MaXx 2) have a broader, rounder fit. The Ultra 3 is even roomier than the Maxx2, though not quite as spacious as Topo or Altra’s Original Fit. Still, if you’re coming from narrow shoes, you’ll find a noticeable improvement in toe space and comfort.
The ride starts soft but firms up toward toe-off. The curved, rocker-shaped midsole encourages a quick turnover and upright posture, helping maintain good form and reduce impact. The rocker is tuned for ultra paces—gentle enough not to pull you downhill or fight against you on climbs.
While I expected the softer midsole and higher stack to struggle on technical trails, I was surprised at how stable and composed the Ultra 3 felt. The shoe handled rocky, obstacle-strewn tracks with confidence and ease. In fact, I found it more enjoyable on these mixed, natural trails than on fire roads or hard-packed tracks.
In Summary
The VJ Ultra 3 is a well-cushioned, long-distance trail shoe that delivers confident grip, all-day comfort, and surprising versatility. It handles road-to-trail transitions well and performs admirably in typical UK conditions—even on wet, technical ground.
Other Considerations
Brooks Cascadia 19: The Brooks Cascadia 19 feels more like a road shoe and cruises a little better on hard packed tracks but, anything more adventurous or exciting and the Ultra 3 rides the trail better as the midsole bends to take the shape of the ground more effectively. https://www.northernrunner.com/blog/brooks-cascadia-19-review/
Inov-8 TrailTalon Max: A similar broad rounded toe box. Available in two widths. The standard width would be similar in width and volume to the Ultra 3. The Trailtalon ride is better on more broken ground once the midsole has flexed up after about 100 miles but, doesn’t feel as cushioned and doesn’t ride as smoothly on hard packed tracks. The 6mm lugs of the Trailtalon bite and shed mud a bit better than the 4.5mm lugs on the Ultra 3. https://www.northernrunner.com/blog/inov-8-trailtalon-max-review/
Altra Mont Blanc Speed: A similar shape and volume in the toe box. Zero drop gives the Mont Blanc Speed a more natural feel. The rubber isn’t as sticky on wet surfaces and the lugs aren’t as long. The midsole is more responsive. https://www.northernrunner.com/blog/altra-mont-blanc-speed-review/
New Balance Hierro v9: A firmer ride with a slightly more noticeable rocker. Very soft and comfortable upper. The lugs don’t offer the same level of traction in soft conditions. Available in three width men’s and two width women’s. https://www.northernrunner.com/blog/new-balance-fresh-foam-x-hierro-v9-review/
La Sportiva Prodigio Pro: The sock like upper prevents debris from getting into the shoes and makes the shoe feel more part of your foot. The cushioning level is similar but, the midsole takes the contours of the ground better to give a touch more feel. Traction is similar on wet surfaces and on soft trails. https://www.northernrunner.com/blog/la-sportiva-prodigio-pro-review/
Ronhill Freedom Ultra: A straight big toe line gives the toe box a nice roomy feel. A subtle bounce to the midsole but the Freedom Ultra does maintain some ground feel. The lugs offer good traction on hard packed trails. The don’t bit well into softer ground but, aren’t awful either. The Freedom Ultra has a nice nimble feel in a category that often feels too cushioned and too soft. https://www.northernrunner.com/blog/ronhill-freedom-ultra-review/
361 Futura 2: Designed as an everyday trail running shoe the 361 Futura 2 has a much softer more pliable midsole. The lugs offer good traction on par with the Ultra 3. Not really a shoe for all day use but, worth a mention if you are after a versatile trail shoe that will do long runs up to 2 ½ hours-ish. Available in two width men’s and women’s. https://www.northernrunner.com/blog/361-futura-2-review/
Topo MTN Racer 4: A broad rounded toe promotes a good level of foot function. The cushioning is soft but responsive. The lugs offer a versatile level of grip on soft and hard packed terrain. https://www.northernrunner.com/blog/topo-athletic-mtn-racer-4-review/
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