I just picked up my Under Armour Speedforms, and to summarize this review, I am quite impressed. These are my new favorite shoes, but just because they are good for me, it does not mean they will be good for you. My review will cover some of the interesting details you can get from marketing material, but will go a bit deeper with details that I hope will help you decide if you want to buy these shoes. Of course, nothing beats trying them on and going for a run, but if you're buying these online, I hope to help you make an informed decision.
I am a relatively new runner. My current 5k PR is 23:24, half marathon 1:57, and I do about 30 miles a week. I've been running in Nike Vomero's, but trying to get into something more minimal. I have a pair of Saucony Kinvara's, but they were somehow too flimsy while providing support in just the wrong spots. They just did not work for me. I also tried Brooks PureFlow and got some severe plantar pain from their support band. Newton Gravity wasn't too bad, but I just couldn't get used to those huge toe lugs. I almost got a pair of Nike Flyknit, but I didn't particularly like the feel of the "sock-like" upper. Hence, back to the Vomeros until I found these shoes.
UnderArmour is not typically known for running shoes, so this introduction is meant to get some attention, and that it definitely does. They advertise that the shoe is designed in a bra factory, and once you try them on, you see what they mean. The shoe really does grip and fit your foot. The material is hard to describe, but it is like a stiffer formed neoprene (but far thinner than neoprene). The entire upper is just 3 pieces a front, a back, and the tongue. The stitching is welded and totally covered up, so no seams to bother you. Inside, the shoe is like a glove. There isn't even a removable footbed. The bottom of the shoe is the bottom of the shoe. It's not quite comfortable enough for wearing sockless, but the effect with a good pair of running socks is quite nice. The upper reminded me a bit of the Nike Free 5.0+, but it just works so much better and fits so much more snugly. A silicone band on the back of the heel forms a nice lock on the foot. I wear a 12 in my dress shoes and a 12.5 in my Vomeros. The 12.5 was exactly the right size for me in the Under Armour Speedforms. The heel cup on the 13 slipped, so it is important to get the right size. I would say I had a bit less toe space in the 12.5 UA Speedform than in other similar 12.5 shoes, but the unique upper meant it didn't matter as much. The slippage of the heel on the 13 wasn't worth the extra toe space.
The sole of the shoes is really unique and possibly overlooked in many reviews. It is well cushioned without being too thick. I land midfoot and found that the forefoot and midfoot are flexible and well cushioned. It is mostly soft, but there is a hardened rubber pad under the big toe, 5 elongated pads under the forefoot, and a small heel pad. The heel pad is good for the occasional time you have to walk, but I wouldn't recommend a hard heel striker wear these shoes.
I do wear an orthotic in my dress shoes and in the Vomeros. I found it fit just fine in the UA Speedforms, but the shoe conformed so perfectly to my foot that I have been running without them with no problem.
I took these out for my first run and did 5 miles on the road with no break-in period required. They were comfortable and flexible from the first step. Transitioning from the heavier Vomeros, these made me feel like I was flying. These are just a tad over 7oz in size 12.5. I knew they'd be good when I watched myself run in them on my local running store's slow speed camera. Just perfect. The combination of the softer soles and the 6mm drop is perfect for those with a neutral gait who want to have a more natural run but who have found that 4mm 0mm drops and hard soles are a little too much. If you don't know about shoe drops, the typical running shoe is 10mm-12mm from from heel to toe. Minimalist shoes are 4mm and below. So 6mm is a nice compromise for those of us "in the middle".
These don't have much traction, but I took them on a trail run and was quite impressed. Despite not having traction, the flexible soles made me feel the trail and were quite responsive. I don't think I'd use these on a really hard or technical trail, but a predominately dirt trail with roots and the occasional rock shouldn't be an issue.
There are a few funny style cues that aren't really necessary. The sole has what I can only describe as molded toe bones for your other 4 toes not protected by the hard rubber. They are likely mostly for effect. Also, the upper has toes moulded into it. I found the division between the large toe and second toe fell right in the middle of my large toe. It was annoying at first. The man at the running store told me it was cosmetic and I wouldn't feel it when I ran. He was right. The "toe moulds" have the cosmetic effect of making the shoes look almost like Vibram Five Fingers from the top, but the effect on running is almost nil. I hope UA removes them in version 2.
Who should not buy these shoes? First, if you are overweight or have major problems with your running gait (excessive pronation, pigeon toed, etc), they are the wrong shoes for you. These are neutral runners that hug your feet but provide minimal motion control. I don't think a heel striker would be very happy with them either. They are also not the greatest for walking or playing sports these are running shoes. However, they are comfortable enough walkers that you can stop for a coffee and not feel like you need to change immediately. I stopped by the grocery store on my way home from a trail run and was fine. I can't say that for shoes like the Newton Gravity (great for those who like them, but annoying for walking).
Finally, colors.... which color to get? These are some wild color choices nothing too conservative. Seeing them in person, I thought the most conservative choice was actually the red. I saw a pair that the shoe store owner had worn for 200 miles and they had darkened to a nice deep red. The blue seemed rather flat to me I like the color blue normally, but it just didn't do much. In the end, I got the green. Depending on the lighting, they look either green or highlighter yellow, but they get compliments and look good, so I'm happy with them.
I was searching for a shoe to train for fall marathons, and I think these are the shoes. I am quite happy with them and I hope my review was helpful for you in deciding what to wear.
Update: I have now logged 60 miles in these shoes, including two half-marathon length long runs (13 miles+) and love them more than ever. They've taken me to a new place in my running due to the light weight and amazing fit. The one downside I noticed was that my white Swiftwick Performance Socks have started to turn a bit green on the instep and outstep, perhaps due to color running from the shoe. It hasn't been severe enough to get on anything other than the bottom of my sock, but I thought I should note it.
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