Article by Jérémy Marie
VJ Shoes Ultra 3 ( $190/€189)
Introduction
Pros
- SuperFOAMance foam: stable and responsive
- Overall comfort
- Excellent weight/cushioning ratio
- Perfect fit, excellent foot support, plenty of room up front
- What grip!
Cons:
- Lack of grip on greasy ground, the price for their lug design versatility
- ....and other Cons.. still looking!
Stats
Approx. Weight: 9.7 oz / 275g US9
Sample Weight: 295g / 10.41 oz (US10.5, EU44.5)
Stack: 38 mm heel 30 mm forefoot (8mm drop)
All RTR Reviews: HERE
First Impressions and Fit
The shoe looks rather bulky, almost massive, with this thick sole that also rises on the sides to provide some stability and limit ankle torsion.
Once in hand, this first impression quickly fades away, thanks to the weight: 295g (US10.5, EU44.5) for an ultra shoe, with a high stack: we're in the mid-range of the category. The colors are well chosen: the lettering on the outside, the red reinforcement on the heel, the play of blue hues on the upper: the whole is very well done, quite dynamic and not overdone.
The discreet front stone toe bumper does its job well, and the wide FitLock band on the inside of the foot provides plenty of support without constricting the foot.
It rests firmly against the arch of the foot and does a great job of limiting the natural sagging that comes with fatigue. I found the FitLock band both simple and highly effective.
The upper is made of "multi-zone" woven mesh, i.e. with variable density depending on the zones. Very airy, I found its breathability excellent, without limiting the use of the Ultra 3 in cold conditions: I was able to test it in the snow without feeling excessively cold, and appreciated the good evacuation of heat and moisture.
The rear collar is very comfortable, lightly padded, and the fabric at heel level comm textured, a bit like a shark skin: this helps to limit heel lift during running, without having to resort to rigid heel reinforcements, or an over-rigid heel cup.
To the best of my memory, I've only come across this "shark skin" on the Altra King MT, with similar effectiveness.
The tongue is rather thin, but its light lining is effective in limiting the pressure of the thin, flat, ridged/ textured laces we're seeing more and more frequently. The laces are easy to manipulate, tension can be quickly adjusted in the various zones and remains in place as the run progresses.
In terms of fit, the Ultra 3 comes in at 4 out of 5 on the arbitrary VJ Shoes scale, making it virtually the most generous fit offered by the brand.
The toe box is roomy, the volume in the instep is quite substantial, without being excessive, and the heel, as described above, relies mainly on a wrap of the foot and its inner fabric that grips to ensure a good fit.
The impression of comfort when wearing on is truly excellent, with the Ultra 3 giving the impression of a cozy slipper, coupled with good foot support.
Midsole
The thick sole (38/30) is made of SuperFOAMance foam, a nitrogen-infused super-critical foam that ensures great comfort and rebound.
In fact, the foam is highly resilient, and doesn't collapse excessively under the pressure of the stride. I find it a little softer than the Energy Foam in the S/Lab Genesis, for example, but also with a more pronounced rebound because this foam is supercritical whereas Energy Foam is not. Conversely, it's a little firmer than the Tecton X3 foam, and also offers a little less rebound.
Close to the outsole is a full-length protective plate, providing rock protection. Giiven the thickness of the sole, it's as much to protect the foam as the feet, but also adds a little torsional rigidity, necessary with super-critical foam on a trail shoe.
I'll go into more detail later in the Ride section, but this foam is one of the best I've tested on a trail shoe, no more, no less. The sole has a pronounced rocker, a change from the previous model, according to the brand, to facilitate the rolling of the foot when running..
Outsole
One of the strong points of VJ Shoes is the outsole and its famous Butyl rubber.
The herringbone crampons are 4mm, with a rather classic layout for a multi-purpose shoe: a fairly large contact surface, essential for "almost everywhere", especially on wet surfaces.
As is often the case in this scenario, only very specific conditions (mud, snow) will compromise the Ultra 3's grip.
I was curious to try out this famous rubber, and I must say I was impressed! I regularly use Vibram outsole shoes, or the latest versions of Salomon's Contagrip, which have become excellent, but this outsole rubber is another notch above.
The rubber almost "sticks" to your fingers, and you can even stick your laces to it without too much trouble, which is quite astonishing...and a sign of its ability to grip even on wet rock.
You gradually gain confidence in this outsole, pushing your stance a little further, and the conclusion is always the same: it sticks everywhere, better than Vibram (which I tried at the same time in the same conditions). One of the brand's slogans comes true: "You'll know the ground is slippery when you see other runners fall".
Another astonishing point is that I detect absolutely no traces of wear, or even signs of use, after 70km, including mountain descents and asphalt passages.
Ride and Conlcusions
On the run, the shoe's almost 300g weight is quickly forgotten, thanks to the rebound of the sole and the efficient rocker. The stride remains rather natural, without excessive bounce or propulsion, something I didn't quite appreciate on the Tecton X3. It's perhaps less exhilarating, or less easy on very rolling terrain, but the Ultra 3 is much safer, and you manage to retain your agility on descents.
The cushioning is very sound: the sole doesn't sag/compress too much, and you retain a great deal of control over your stride. The foam simply provides that extra bounce and protection that facilitates the stride, and promotes the economy of running that is essential during an Ultra.
I don't fault the Ultra 3's stability either, even when I was in the mountains on more difficult terrain than I'm used to on a daily basis. Comfort is really the feeling that prevails when running. Comfort of the shoe, the support, the foam, the outsole. For an ultra shoe, this seems to me to be an excellent thing.
I have to admit I was very enthusiastic about the VJ Ultra 3. The shoe is "easy", and makes things a lot easier for the runner thanks to its excellent behavior on most terrains, with a grip that is the best I've ever experienced. Durability seems to me to be pretty good. With the Ultra, VJ Sport offers here, in my opinion, one of the best Ultra shoes on the market, at a price of €189 which remains reasonable in view of the competition.
Score: 9.8 / 10
Fun Score: 😊😊😊😊😊
2 Comparaisons
Link to all RTR Review : HERE
Salomon SLab Genesis (test RTR)
I've briefly mentioned the main difference between these models. The Genesis will be a little more precise, with a slightly tighter fit, and perhaps is better suited to more technical terrain. The Ultra 3 will be better suited to more rolling terrain, is more comfortable and cushioned, and with a grip that's a notch higher.
Hoka One One Tecton X3 (test RTR)
I didn't really like this model. Too "big" (an excessively wide platform), too bulky a fit with poor support, and a foam behavior that was very exhilarating on easy terrain with lots of bounce, but that I had trouble taming and found rather disabling on paths other than the easiest. Add the price difference to the equation, and there's no comparison between these models.
Multi Tester Review soon.
Ultra 3 is available at VJ Shoes International HERE
US Coming March 2025
Pre-Order at VJ Shoes USA HERE
Jeremy MARIE, French, 44y/o. Running since 2013 and quickly transitioned to trails, focused on ultras since 2015 : TDS, Maxi-Race, “100 miles du Sud”, 90 kms du Mt Blanc, GRP 120 kms, Some shorter more mellow races (Saintelyon 45 kms, Ecotrail Paris 45 kms…) with always in the mix road and flat running, but not many road races. Also active cyclist and 70.3 Ironman. Recovery/easy runs ~4’45/km - 4’30/km. He has an un-official marathon PR of 2h54 (solo) and 10K PR of 36’25. He does few timed road races.
Europe only: use RTR code RTR5ALL for 5% off all products, even sale products
6 comments:
The toe width seems to have gotten wider, but should I choose the same size as for Ultra2?
I haven’t tried the Ultra 2, but from hat I’ve seen from my fellow reviewers, you can stick with the same size, you just got some more toe space, and personally I did not find that this wide toe box impaired foot hold at all.
How does this compare to Saucony Xodus Ultra?
or Xodus ultra V2
I'll be interested to see how you think this compares to the Prodigio Pro...
Irock an "early model"? VJ has been making running shoes since 1981.
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