VJ began in 1981, when a Finnish shoemaker and orienteer could not find the right shoe for the sport. He built his own shoe factory in Orivesi, launching the brand there. It set out to build shoes that could handle rough, wet and slippery terrain.
Orienteering shoes need to grip in constantly changing conditions, wet or dry, hard or soft ground. VJ built a 100% butyl rubber outsole to meet that demand. This material holds its grip even when the shoe is completely drenched. That matters, since orienteers often run an entire race in wet shoes. The brand also uses non-absorbent materials throughout the shoe, so repeated soaking and drying doesn’t weaken the build.
Branches, rocks and constantly changing terrain put real strain on a shoe. Some models use aramid fibre uppers, five times stronger than steel, for extra protection. VJ also produces metal-studded models, built for icy, muddy or highly technical ground where extra bite matters. The Fitlock system locks the foot in place and supports the arch through demanding courses.
These features have helped VJ shoes win world championships across orienteering, trail running and OCR. At Compass Point, we stock the brand for orienteers who want proven grip and durability on tough terrain.