What we like about the Under Armour Velociti SPD
RENALDO: Starting from the top, we’ve got a Leno Weave upper that’s, honestly, pretty good. It’s breathable and light, almost reminiscent of racers from a few years ago, when running was on everyone’s lips, it seems. UA at least must have looked back on those days with some fondness, and I actually praise them for opting for a “less is more” approach here. A lot of older Under Armour shoes often appear to have some extra rubber or plastic on the upper, primarily for looks, from what I could gather, but it just made the shoe look tacky. So, glad there’s none of that here.
Working our way down, we have the Hovr Plus beaded foam midsole, which, I gotta say, makes this the absolute best Under Armour shoe I’ve ever stood in. I feel like that’s all I really should have to say on that, but this is a review and I’d like to try and keep some integrity here. With that 8 mm drop, this shoe feels very natural on foot. Each step actually bouncing right back at all the right pressure points you’d really want a daily trainer to coddle on the run. I can’t speak enough about it, and I actually encourage you to try it. It’s Under Armour; your local shoe store will let you try it.
Carrying all this is a real-deal rubber outsole, a serious improvement to the Flow sole of yesteryear. This simple change makes the Velociti SPD quite the weapon in a runner’s arsenal. But unlike an arsenal, you will more than likely be wearing these than carrying them in an attache case.
The feel of this shoe on your foot makes you feel almost like an action star. The propulsion is practically automatic, giving you a ready-to-rip feel. Personally, I find my niche with this shoe as an actual, factual, everyday wearable, from work, to the supermarket, to a quick jog, to a full-on long run, to getting jiggy on the dance floor. The Velociti SPD handles it all surprisingly well with a feel that’s rather addictive. I’m no professional, but if this is what they’re giving them only a few miles away, this is something I can be proud of.
