NEVER HEARD OF VJ? It’s a Finnish
company that has been around since
1981 but doesn’t have a huge presence
in the UK. However, one look at this
shoe tells you what it’s made for: the
yukkiest, muddiest trails you can find.
VJ designed the XTRM to excel at
mud runs and obstacle-course races,
so it’s no surprise that the 6mm lugs
are widely spaced, to shed mud as you
move. The bad news is that this same
design feature means it offers an
exceptionally harsh ride on f lat, hard
ground. Our testers unanimously said
the shoe felt too firm for any high-
mileage runs. Contributing to the stiff
ride – and, it must be acknowledged,
impressive protection on technical
terrain – is a full-length rock plate.
The XTRM comes in unisex sizing,
so slim-footed women may need to
order a shoe one size smaller than
their usual one.
IF YOU’RE NEW TO offroad running and
want something a little less fierce than
an all-out trail beast, this shoe will
tick all the boxes. The fit and comfort
are excellent, thanks to a snug but
adaptive midfoot wrap, a stitch-free
upper and an internal sleeve that gently
hugs your foot in key areas. The outsole
lugs are widely spaced, which means
they will not trap any mud or debris,
and they’re not too aggressive, so you
can easily clock a few miles on the
road going ‘door to trail’ in comfort – or
if you are simply switching between
asphalt and grass in your local park.
The ‘Quicklace’ system was a huge hit
with our testers, who simply pulled
the Kevlar drawstring tight, secured
it with a toggle and tucked the loose
end inside a tongue pocket, to keep it
out of the way. Even though the shoe
isn’t waterproof, any water that gets in
drains out easily and quickly.THE ANCIENT SAMURAI were guided by
a code of honour called Bushido; this
aptly named warrior of a shoe is made
for a sole v singletrack match-up. A
reinforced TPU web shields the upper
from trail debris and adds lightweight
stability, while a compression-moulded
EVA midsole is reassuringly firm from
heel to rubber toecap. Two distinct
treads add to the shoe’s armour, with
toothy, multidirectional lugs at the
centre and bevelled lugs that climb
up and over the outsole’s rim. The
combination bites into steep ascents,
brakes hard on downhills and anchors
against sideways slides. Our testers
praised the Bushido’s burly traction
and ruggedness, all in a surprisingly
light package. The forefoot rock plate
didn’t feel cumbersome – even after
our ultrarunners hit mileage well in
the double digits – and was nimble
enough for more technical climbs.080 RUNNERSWORLD.COM/UK SEPTEMBER 2019
THERE WILL BE MUD
GEARGIVE YOURSELF the EDGE
VJ Xtrm
£125, frontrunnersheffield.co.uk
Salomon Sense Ride 2£115, salomon.com/ukLa Sportiva Bushido 2£116.99, sportsshoes.com