I missed my old S/Lab Sense SG and was looking for something similar for a while and thought I had finally found my holy grail. It had everything I was looking for in a longer distance shoe but the fit is simply not for me.
Grip is good, exceptionally so on wet rocks. They are light and feel decently nimble and quick, trail feel is spot on, feet protection is great, cushioning is just right, build quality and materials are superb...BUT heel cup is too wide so my heels tend to lift and move around. Time to lock them down with that extra eyelet you'd say? Yeah... No. It does lock the heels down but it creates a massive pressure point where the laces sit so not an option for me. Also the upper wich seem designed for chubbier feet than mine needs to be tightened more then necessary to prevent undesirable movement. Forefoot portion is perfect though, roomy enough without being loose. Another thing: sizing. You do need to size 1/2 up. I usually wear size 10 US in Salomon, 9.5 in some other brands and went for 10s in these and ended with my toes touching the tip of the shoes on downhill portions. So overall they are awesome shoes simply not for me :(

I have been running mountain trails for the past 30 years, including racing half marathons in very technical terrain at high altitude. At 67 I have tried almost all existing brands for my actual training runs. Very technical 1000 meter total elevation variation 5 mile runs that change with the seasons including loose rock and scree hard packed rocky terrain wet grass and a very sticky muddy clay in winter. I finally settled for the VJMaxX2 and have 2 pairs. Nothing comes close to it. Supple,nimble, perfect fit and cushion in fact the best cushion and grip of any shoe period. If I could change something I would have 5 mm lugs instead of 4 and 2-3 extra mm of superfoamance. I am an 80kg midfoot athletic runner and I could train and race ultras with that extra. Anyway this is the pinnacle of trail running shoes for me.

I liked the original MAXX shoe, the others were too narrow. But VJ hit a homerun with the MAXX2! It is so comfortable. The sizing is very different from their other shoes and most brands. Softer cushion than other brands I have yet feels great when running. Highly recommend, especially when on sale as these are very pricey.

Several years ago, I took a chance, ordering a pair of VJ XTRM, and I loved the grip and how fast they felt. Not great for longer distances though. So I ordered a pair of the ULTRA 2. They still had great grip, and I could wear them for longer outings, but I still needed more cushion. I am now on my second pair of MAXx2, and though I still have a pair of the XTRM for shorter, fast runs, I have used the MAXx2 for longer runs, and for backpacking adventures. The cushion is a nice balance of absorbing some of the jarring but maintaining a good feel of the ground. The tight weave kept fine dust out of my shoes as I backpacked up in the Mt. Hood area, which meant I didn't get blisters. And they were not so warm as to cause blisters. The toe box and last of the shoe is a bit wider than the XTRM or the ULTRA, which made my feet much happier. I did size them 1/2 size down from my XTRM and ULTRA, and they are perfect.

The MaxX2 are ok on flat ground, but unstable on technical terrain. I loved the original MaxX and wish I could find more. I have many versions of VJ's, Maxx, maxx2, lightspeeds, xtrms, ultras, & sparks. I have found that in the Original Maxx is the best choice for the New England White Mountain terrain but can no longer find them. Please consider bringing the original Maxx back as that was my favorite shoe and I cannot keep from rolling my ankles in the new version. Thank you for your time, Jason