VJ Ultra 3 Review: Third Time’s The Charm

Introduction to the VJ Ultra 3

TAYLOR: Swing up to the Nordic North, and you’ll learn really quickly that life is extreme. Finland is part of that Northern European group of countries. It’s a land of thick forests and lakes galore, and dips into the Arctic Circle.

Depending on the time of year, you may see light or never escape it, and the average year-round temperature is in the upper 30s℉. For comparison, even Minnesota has an average temperature in the mid-40s℉.

When the Finnish company VJ stepped on the scene, their extreme take on design was a little shocking. It all makes sense, though, doesn’t it? Durability, grip, and a secure fit are all key characteristics for success in such a place. Such qualities found a home in some trail running corners, especially obstacle course racing.

While they gained popularity in niche markets, their shoes became more approachable as they let their abrasive guard down a little. They maintained some top qualities and gained comfort measures for more diverse terrain and runners with options like the VJ Maxx 2, VJ Lightspeed, VJ Ultra 2, and VJ Flow.

In their balancing act, we have found a lot of favor in their VJ’s latest offerings. Based on specs alone, there’s no reason our fond trajectory should change with the VJ Ultra 3. As we’ve seen with many third versions across the industry, the Ultra 3 received an overhaul. It gained some of the TLC their other most recent offerings have with a slightly softer upper construction and a new, higher stack of SuperFOAMance midsole. Equally exciting is that key components like the Fitlock System and Superior Contact outsole were retained.

Either way, the VJ Ultra 3 is an exciting new shoe with striking potential.

SAM: Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade has taken up more of my mind space than usual over the past couple of weeks. I say “more than usual” because lines like “We named the dog Indiana,” “No ticket,” and “He chose… poorly” are seared as deeply into the surface of my subconscious as they are into our cultural lexicon.

My more recent preoccupation with Last Crusade is, in part, because one of my favorite podcasts (the inimitable Blank Check with Griffin and David) just finished a series on the early half of Steven Spielberg’s career, and the episode on the third Indiana Jones movie was a clear highlight. However, that preoccupation is also because I spent several hours running in another third iteration: the VJ Ultra 3. In fact, I think I ran in this shoe while also listening to that aforementioned Last Crusade episode.

The Believe Dirt Division has found much to love in several recent releases from VJ, as Taylor noted above. I’ve also long heard raves about the grip and durability of their outsole rubber. It’s a weird shoe reviewer thing to have a personal outsole ranking. Mine’s been incomplete with the absence of VJ until now. With that done, all that was left was to see if the VJ Ultra 3 merited the same kind of third-iteration success that Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade did.

What we like about the VJ Ultra 3

TAYLOR: Comfort took an obvious leap in the third edition of this shoe, starting with the fit. Like the VJ Flow, this Ultra 3 transitioned to a more anatomical toe box. Both Altra and Topo Athletic are known for such a fit, but the VJ Ultra 3 was a little more trimmed up than either of those. I really like the shape, which helped with a little more of a natural foot splay.

I would say the fit is closer to “average” than “spacious.” It certainly rides the line, though. In terms of volume, it is slightly less than the Topo Athletic Ultraventure 4 and Altra Mont Blanc Speed and on par with the Altra Timp 5 and Speedland GS:SVT.

Lengthwise, the VJ Ultra 3 fits true to size.

A more relaxed upper also boosted comfort. The VJ Ultra 3 has a one-piece light engineered mesh. This particular weave allowed for both a very breathable and tough option. A cross-stitched weave was familiar from the VJ Maxx 2. Stout but minimally adhered overlays provide structure and protection around the upper/midsole juncture. Inner supports through the midfoot and forefoot give just a little more structure and foothold, which I appreciated — especially for those who want a more tech-savvy trail runner.

Medium structure continues via the tongue and heel. Both are more relaxed compared to other VJ offerings, but they are more comfortable and create a solid base for the Fitlock system to do its work. I’m glad this technology remains a staple in VJ’s trail running line. The simple strap connects to the lacing chain on the medial side of the foot. Midfoot Structure and support are bolstered, as is lockdown. It’s a win-win-win scenario.

Overall, the VJ Ultra 3’s fit and foot security make this one of the few high-stack options that one could don on just about any trail, which joins the ranks of the Brooks Caldera 8, The North Face Vectiv Enduris 4, Topo Athletic MTN Racer 4, and the Speedland GS:PDX.

Underfoot, this whole comfort thing continues… which just really baffles me because the whole “comfort” descriptor was far from our minds in some of their premier shoes. I shouldn’t be TOO shocked because this SuperFOAMance midsole has taken VJ’s lineup by storm. The supercritical foam was light, soft, and boasted some noticeable pep — all things I love the further I go.

A light rock plate helps with protection, of course. There was a bit of ground feel, but not much to speak of. That’s not the only benefit to the rockplate, though. Much like the Hoka Mafate X, the plate added a little structure to the mix to stabilize the soft foam.

The full-coverage butyl rubber outsole also performed well. VJ’s Superior Contact outsole does its namesake job by having some of the grippiest and most durable rubber connections for the trail. The 4 mm multidirectional multi-shaped lugs were more than satisfactory over various conditions and trails. They used to tout the #bestgripontheplanet tag, and it’s the absolute truth.

The VJ Ultra 3 was very lightweight as a package. My US M10.5 weighs 10.4 oz (294 g). The only shoe comparable in stack that comes close to that impressive weight is the Topo Athletic Ultraventure 4 (10.9oz/309g), which is a great shoe but doesn’t have quite as much reach as the Ultra 3.

SAM: I’ll be honest, the VJ Ultra 3 had me right out of the box. I’m not talking about the looks specifically — that’s something we’ll touch on later — but in the general construction of the shoe. This shoe features a simple, pared-down upper. It has a thin single-layer mesh, toe protection, and support in the heel. The Fitlock system is a medial strap-like overlay and lateral underlays.

The overall fit is very close to the Speedland GL platform. It has plenty of room for your toes, but not so much that you’re swimming in the shoe. That Fitlock strap keeps your foot secure comfortably, and the heel has the perfect amount of structure and never feels bulky or wobbly.

Underneath the upper is a soft chunk of supercritical SuperFOAMance midsole (a full-length rock plate is also stuck in there), and under that is the heralded full-coverage Superior Contact Butyl-rubber soleplate. In my hand, this shoe looked exactly like what I wanted. On foot, it felt… well, it felt soft.

This wasn’t a bad soft, but it was softer than most trail shoes. Hell, it’s softer on step-in than most road shoes I’ve tested. I’m all for a cushy midsole, but sometimes they can spell instability. Here, luckily, there’s none of that, and VJ treats us to a perfectly soft and responsive trail midsole. It’s fun, bouncy, and the slight rocker geometry makes running in the Ultra 3 feel fast and nimble. The VJ SuperFOAMance foam eased in after about 15 miles, and took on a more aggressive feel that feels less soft and more like pure comfort on the run.

I mentioned above that I was thrilled to be able to include VJ’s outsole rubber in the outsole rankings, which take up brain space I should be using for other things (like more Indiana Jones quotes). It’s really killer stuff. It’s so sticky that it plucks at smooth floors when you walk and pulls at your skin when you press and lift a finger from it, but it’s as durable as that perpetual Energizer bunny.

I think I have over 30 or 40 miles in this shoe, including a few road miles, and there is no outsole wear at all. It sheds mud just fine and grips without fail on every surface I could find. I jumped up and down on wobbly wet rocks without a single slip. So, you’ll find VJ’s Superior Contact in the top tier of my outsole rankings, to be sure.

What we don’t like about the VJ Ultra 3

TAYLOR: All in all, there’s not much to complain about for the VJ Ultra 3. Many of our previous complaints have been wrapped up in “comfort” measures. We’ve talked a lot about this in this review as a vast improvement over past models. There’s still a little work to do.

Just like on the VJ Lightspeed, the ankle collar tends to dig into the front side of the ankle, just not to the same degree. The collar is much softer than any of their previous versions. I always wear crew-length socks, which helped the case as the upper broke in. The more miles I put on the shoe, the less I felt any sort of potential irritation.

My last complaint is about aesthetics. I think it looks nice, actually… but it looks a little too much like another brand to really think that this was a completely original design.

SAM: Like Taylor, the top of the ankle collar on the VJ Ultra 3 dug into my ankle some, right above the final eyelets. I also get a little of that same digging all the way around the collar, especially on hard turns and uneven technical sections.

I think I’m less into the overall design than Taylor is, but it’s perfectly fine for what the shoe is meant for: taking a beating over long miles. But, I, too, couldn’t help but notice that it seems to crib some design from another brand.

Final thoughts on the VJ Ultra 3

TAYLOR: VJ, we see you! If you have run in v1 or v2, forget everything you knew about this shoe because it’s an entirely new package. If you haven’t run in VJ, hold the phone.

With momentum gained from last year’s releases, the VJ Ultra 3 really nails an update with serious performance that will please many a trail-folk. The updated comfort measures from the foam, anatomical toe box, and upper created a shoe that can legitimately go the distance instead of just wanting to. At the same time, fit, grip, and durability all achieve the bar already set by VJ.

Pound-for-pound, not many shoes can boast what the VJ Ultra 3 does in terms of cushion, protection, grip, and foot security. I’m already looking forward to more miles in my pair. This shoe will be a great option for anything from daily trail running to the longest ultras.

SAM: Is there an echo in here? I had to actively avoid copying what Taylor said throughout this review. When all the reviewers on a shoe agree like that, and the results are this good, you know you have a winner on your hands. The VJ Ultra 3 is a supremely comfortable trail shoe for all distances that doesn’t skimp on performance even in the slightest.

You can pick up the VJ Ultra 3 for $190 from Running Warehouse (featuring free shipping and 90-day returns) by using the button below.