Last week Canadian Running was at the Under Armour offices in Portland getting a look behind the curtain at what’s to come in Under Armour shoes, gear and running innovation.
Under Armour got its start in apparel. The company began by doing clothing for football, but doing it better than it had ever been done before. Years later, it’s gotten into the running game in a big way, and its suite of 2019 shoes shows that.
The company has updated its connected shoe experience, bringing runners data collection that you can’t find in any other shoe. In each HOVR 2019 shoe there is a chip embedded in the right heel that can calculate pace, stride length and distance run and provide feedback on your training progress. This data is all connected and downloaded to your phone or watch through the Map My Run app.
HOVR Infinite.
HOVR Guardian.
Phantom SE.
HOVR Sonic 2.
Photo: Joel Vosburg
Photo: Under Armour. Pictured: Phantom SE.
Photo: Under Armour. Pictured: HOVR Guardian.
UA Velociti. Photo: Under Armour.
Photo: Under Armour
Photo: Joel Vosburg
There’s a shoe for everyone in Under Armour’s line of 2019 shoes, and here’s a sneak peek at what you can expect from the company in the new year.
When you want to race
The Under Armour Velociti 2 is the speedster in the lineup. The new Velociti combines a thin layer of HOVR cushioning with UA’s charged cushioning to provide a slightly stiffer ride for speed purposes. This is an ideal shoe to complement the Infinite or the Sonic.
Offset: 8mm
Cushion: firm
Weight: 255 g (men’s size 9)
Available: February 1, 2019
MSRP: $150 CDN
When you want to go far
The HOVR Infinite is designed to take you wherever you need to go. This trainer is for the goal-oriented runner, ideal for someone who’s looking to break their own records. The Infinite features full-length HOVR with a mesh encasement, meaning that it’s super-springy from the HOVR, but all of that energy is directed forward from its encasement. So when you push off, the shoe sends you forward.
Offset: 8mm
Cushion: plush
Weight: 305 g (men’s size 9)
Available: February 1, 2019
MSRP: $150 CDN
When you need a little extra support
The Under Armour Guardian is the snappy trainer that gives you a little extra support through the midfoot. Ideal for the over-pronator, the Guardian is the supportive version of the HOVR Infinite, meaning that it’s the Infinite DNA with a little extra posting to prop the foot up where it tends to collapse.
Offset: 8mm
Cushion: Plush
Weight: 340 g (men’s size 9)
Available: February 1, 2019
MSRP: $150 CDN
When you want to look fly
The Phantom SE is designed for the runner who wants a sock-like fit and feel during their workout, and also wants a shoe that can easily transition from workout to restaurant. The Phantom is more than a pretty face. With a full HOVR cushioning system and engineered mesh upper, this shoe looks great and goes the distance.
Offset: 8mm
Cushion: plush
Weight: 295 g (men’s size 9)
Available: February 1, 2019
MSRP: $180 CDN
When you want to do it all
The HOVR Sonic 2 is an improved version of the Sonic, which launched last year. Still a completely HOVR midsole, most of the updates have been made to the upper. Enhanced cushioning on the tongue and a thin layer of fabric beneath the engineered mesh makes the Sonic 2 upper even better than its predecessor. The external heel counter locks the heel in and guides the foot through the stride. This shoe is designed to take you through a speed workout, long run or time in the gym. It’s the desert island shoe.
Offset: 8mm
Cushion: plush
Weight: 269 g (men’s size 9)
Available: February 1, 2019
MSRP: $120 CDN
