Under Armour Men's 3023017-004 Trainers

Product Information

The Hovr Phantom used to be Under Armour’s max-cushion shoe, but the Mega 3 has eclipsed it. This plush trainer features even more midsole foam than the Phantom, along with a new Clone upper. If you want all the padding, the Mega 3 Clone has it. Narrow in the Forefoot: It is a tight fit and my feet are far from fat. If you have big toes or a broader forefoot, they will not be good. The Clone upper stretches and contracts to match the shape of your feet, even as they swell up over the course of your run, so you get a snug fit that won’t feel constricting on longer efforts. The upper also features a rigid external heel counter that supports your heel and ankle, so the shoe won’t feel wobbly when cornering or running across uneven ground. Under Armour released its first running shoes in 2009. After a tough start, it gained traction in the running market in the last 10 years with its SpeedForm running line. Lately, new models like the Flow Velociti Elite prove that the best Under Armour running shoes can keep pace with the big players in running. Best Under Armour Running Shoes Midsole: UA call it ‘HOVR cushioning’. According to the company it involves ‘a full-length, soft HOVR surrounded by a mesh ‘Energy Web ‘ that creates a zero-gravity feel and energy return.’ Wow – zero-gravity feel!!!

a runner who is training for a half or full marathon, or who even runs longer than 6 miles (the Under Armour Flow Velociti Wind is a comfortable and responsive shoe)

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This shoe stands out among trail running models for its lightweight outsole. It’s built on a Vibram Litebase outsole, a new tread design used in trail racers like the Nike Ultrafly and Hoka Mafate Speed 4 to drop some of the weight added by traditional rubber trail outsoles. Outsole: Plenty of rubber provides for ample traction. The rubber seems durable and high quality. After 140km mainly on the road there is no wear that I can see. In English: The HOVR midsole is a new proprietary foam compound, made in partnership with Dow Chemical. HOVR is infused with Olefin, a wax-like synthetic material, which is incredibly strong and resilient. It is soft and feels like a pillow. The soft HOVR midsole has a cage around it made of soft EVA foam, the cage brings some structure and support to the shoe, and in some ways acts like a spring.

The best shoes in the Under Armour lineup fall into two categories–everyday training shoes (including new models for trail running, like the Hovr Speed) and racing shoes. UA shoes can be a bit divisive—the brand gets routinely dragged by users on the Running Shoe Geeks subreddit because of the poor performance of its first running designs. Footbed: There is no removable footbed/insert. There is simply a very soft inbuilt bed to rest your feet on. It’s nice. The sole has pronounced toe spring, where the sole curves upward off the ground under your toes, which helps you roll smoothly from landing to toe-off. It’s topped off with a knit upper that boasts good breathability and creates a secure fit.And just like Under Armour’s other running shoes, the Elite’s Flow midsole is designed to be durable, so there’s no need for a separate rubber outsole. Cutting the rubber out of the design makes the shoe substantially lighter, giving it an edge over racers from other brands (including the Endorphin Elite and the Vaporfly). The ultralight upper on top provides a close wrap around the foot and maximum breathability, so your feet stay cool even when you’re really cranking. In terms of the midsole, I actually found it uncomfortable once my run started getting over 5 miles. Under Armour earned a bad rep among runners early on and hasn’t been able to shake it. Today, the most popular complaint with Under Armour’s current shoes is that they’re too firm. I happen to agree with the sentiment, based on the UA shoes I’ve tried over the past year or so, including the Machina 3 Clone and the Flow Velociti Elite.

HOVR Foam: It is not a hugely soft ride. The Pegasus 37 and Clifton 7; they are both way softer. But you can definitely feel the softness of the HOVR Foam, especially if you are a heel striker. It is an incredibly responsive shoe, fine for long runs or shorter tempo efforts. And, as always, you can count on Under Armour’s signature durability. I’ve had mine for months, and the outsole rubber shows only minimal wear. While it’s not a supremely bouncy trainer, it has plenty of cushioning and staying power for daily training runs. Along with companies like Hoka and On, Under Armour is part of a “new” wave of running shoe brands that launched in the past few decades. Founded by University of Maryland football player Kevin Plank in 1996, Under Armour’s technical base layers rapidly gained popularity among athletes, leading to broader appeal for shorts, sweats, and other athletic apparel. Under Armour brings its Hovr cushioning to the trail with the Hovr Speed. As the name implies, it’s designed to be a lightweight, speed-focused model for spirited trail running and racing.

Finally, the outsole is made from a combination of lightweight blown rubber and tough carbon rubber. The blown rubber reduces weight, while the carbon rubber, placed under the heel, adds durability where you need it most. Both materials are scored with grooves, boosting the shoe’s flexibility. The HOVR Phantom 2 is an awesome running shoe. Looks great, very responsive and fast, yet durable. If you don’t mind a few extra grams, then go for it. The Clone upper, a design feature found across the Under Armour running shoe line, is a woven fabric that’s crafted with a specialized stitch pattern that allows your shoe to adjust its shape to fit your foot when you put it on. That broad derision, however, is based on an antiquated view of the brand. Under Armour has learned from its mistakes, and its recent shoes are better, with improved cushioning foams and supportive, well-fitting uppers. Despite the derision, many runners have found success with UA shoes: Most notably, Sharon Lokedi won the 2022 New York City Marathon wearing a pair of Flow Velociti Elites.