You’ll be pressed to find a better value shoe than the UA Charged Bandit 3

The Under Armour (UA) Charged Bandit 3 was Canadian Running editor’s pick for best shoe update in our fall 2017 issue.

At $119.99 (MSRP), one of the strongest aspects of the UA Charged Bandit 3 is its value. You get a reliable, everyday trainer that’s versatile (take it on your easy days or long workouts) for less than many other shoes in the running industry.

Upper

One of the first things that comes to mind wearing the Charged Bandit 3 is the premium-knit upper. The everyday neutral trainer, with a simple black and gray colourway in this case, features a seamless toe box upper and is super soft.

Overall, the upper is one of the best you’ll find on any running shoe in the industry. Like many knit uppers, it fits like a sock, snug and conforming to the foot, without feeling too tight. So much so that we would recommend considering going up a half-size as the Charged Bandit 3 fits relatively small, with a narrow toe box. Note that with any knit-upper, the shoe is susceptible to absorbing moisture, an important factor, especially in the winter with snow buildup.

What you need to know

Release date: Available
Type: Neutral cushioning
Recommended surface(s): Asphalt/concrete
Drop: 8 mm (23.5 mm heel to 15.5 mm toe)
Weight: Men: 9.15 oz (259 g) | Women: 7.5 oz (213 g)
Price (MSRP): $119.99 (currently on sale for $89.99)

The heel is quite soft though a plastic plate offers much-needed support offering a nice mix of comfort versus stability. Depending on fit, the plastic plate may aggravate some runners’ heels though CR testers didn’t find the area to be an issue.

Cushioning

The Charged Bandit 3, weighing in between 213-259 g for women’s and men’s models, respectively, feels more lightweight than most everyday trainers. The cushioning is pretty standard – more than a minimalist shoe and less than a max-cushioned shoe – and very responsive. The drop is 8 mm due to a 23.5 to 15.5 mm heel-to-toe drop.

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It’s tough to say how long the cushioning will last for – we’ve tested some shoes that reached 900K-plus – but after 100K or so, the cushioning still feels as fresh, albeit broken-in a bit, as it was out of the box.

Lacing

One of the few aspects of the Charged Bandit 3 that CR thinks could be altered is the lacing system. The shoe’s fit is great. That said, the gaps between lacing pass-throughs could be narrowed to customize the tightness/looseness of the shoe. With the existing number of lacing holes, it’s a bit tougher to maintain a desired hold when actually tying the laces. The additional top lacing hole, which is stacked above another hole, acts as a lock to keep the foot in place, a particularly well-liked feature among testers.

Because of the weight and feel of the shoe, the Charged Bandit 3 is recommended for a runner who likes a lightweight shoe for easy days and wants a versatile trainer for short and long workouts on the roads and track. The Charged Bandit 3 is great for a runner who wants a single shoe for multiple uses rather than dedicated shoes for long runs, workouts and easy days, particularly true in a drier climate as the shoe isn’t the best for wet and slipper conditions. Because of the Charged Bandit 3’s minimal traction, and soft upper, this shoe is not recommended for trails.

You can find the Under Armour Charged Bandit 3 online or at your local running store.