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Reddit Reviews
I love my pair of VJ XTRM2 - I did the Bob Graham round in pouring rain. Great on wet rock and mud. Fast, light and have a rock plate 👍
Wool socks and vj xtrm 2 👌
I wear a 14 in street shoes, and my current go-tos are Prodigious Pros in a 49.5 (Euro sizing). They are unquestionably the best shoes I’ve ever owned. I’ve worn Speedgoats 3 through 5, Salomon’s, Altras, Sauconys, and I have pairs of Norda 005s and VJ Xtrem2s in the rotation right now, but the Prodigios are always what I want to reach for (except muddy runs, then the VJs)
Depends what tou mean by aggressive. I assume you mean lug depth? Which would be Inov8 Mudclaw, Inov8 Mudtalon both 8mm lugs Inov8 Trailtalon uses 6mm lugs. OMM Fell shoe has variable size lugs that are 8-11mm. Which are the longest I have heard of. Salomon Speedcross aren't big, they're 5mm. VJ XTRM uses 7mm lugs.
Really, it depends what exactly you need them for. A short UK fell race in wet conditions would warrant an 8mm lug shoe, however if youre out on semi soft ground with a few bogs for 20miles, you'd prefer a 6mm shoe. 4 to 5mm are for mostly trails, with a bit of grass in between.
The VJ Sport XTRM 2 fit most of your bill. 24/20 stack, full rock plate. Not the lightest shoe though with such numbers.
+1 for VJsports. I have a pair with spikes that I keep boxed up to come out on the odd icy / snowy run. When they do come out, they’re great. Would recommend non spiky ones for the mud also, they do some good shoes.
End of reviews
Rankings by Use Case
Top recommendations from others in the same boat
Best for Deep mud and soft ground

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Salomon - Speedcross Series
Best for Quick draining and drying for wet trails

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Hoka - Speedgoat Series
Best for Road-to-trail transitions

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Nike - Pegasus Trail Series
Best for Steep technical descents

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Salomon - Genesis Series
Best for Technical rocky terrain

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La Sportiva - Prodigio Series
Best for Ultra-marathon racing

Top pick
La Sportiva - Prodigio Series





