Underneath Armour Infinite Elite Introduction
As one of many greatest sports activities manufacturers on this planet, Underneath Armour has the cash to signal a few of long-distance operating’s most distinguished elite athletes like Sharon Lokedi, who received the New York Metropolis Marathon in 2022 and got here third final yr. Underneath Armour ought to have the R&D to even have a number of the finest trainers, nonetheless that hasn’t been the case.
I’ve examined a handful of Underneath Armour trainers in the previous few years and so they have all felt the identical to me: agency, unresponsive and blocky. The $250 Velociti Elite was the worst of the bunch.
The Velociti Elite was probably the most disappointing tremendous footwear that I examined final yr. It was agency, costly, and never very sturdy. It additionally didn’t present a excessive degree of velocity help in comparison with different tremendous footwear available on the market. The Infinite Elite is now the second Underneath Armour operating shoe to hold the identify “Elite”.
The Infinite Elite is designed to be the coaching companion to the brand new model of their flagship marathon tremendous shoe, the Velociti Elite 2, which has just lately launched in some international locations. Underneath Armour says that it’s constructed for endurance and that it retains your legs recent. It doesn’t have a plate in it but it surely does have their newest midsole foam, Hovr+ which they declare to be their springiest.
I used to be excited to check the Infinite Elite with the hope that the brand new midsole foam could be a recreation changer for UA.
The Infinite Elite has an 8 mm drop, prices $160 and weighs 11.5 oz (326 g) which could be very heavy in comparison with trendy coaching companions from different manufacturers.
Underneath Armour Infinite Elite First Impressions
My first run was a gradual, simple run a pair days earlier than my marathon and I wasn’t that impressed throughout that run. My first thought was that it was a lot firmer than I anticipated it to really feel. It has a very thick midsole so I anticipated a plusher trip.
The trip didn’t have a lot vitality return and it felt just like the EVA foams UA has been utilizing of their older trainers. I did benefit from the thick midsole which felt cushioned and the delicate forefoot rocker which made transitions really feel extra fluid.
The higher felt thick however nonetheless comfy and the midsole felt actually secure. The shoe that it jogged my memory of was the Adidas Adistar from 2 years in the past. Each trainers have agency rides, stiff midsoles, delicate rockers and are plateless.
Underneath Armour Infinite Elite Higher
The Infinite Elite has an higher which is constructed like a cushty each day coach higher fairly than a minimal velocity coach higher. It’s made out of a knit which is thick, heat and doesn’t stretch. Operating in cool, winter climates is way more comfy than in summer time ones because of how heat it feels.
Its padded tongue is semi-gusseted so it doesn’t transfer round and the collar/heel padding prevents any heel slippage. Total foot lockdown is superb when utilizing a runner’s knot.
It has a thick, inside heel counter and a heel clip so as to add construction/stability but it surely will increase the burden considerably.
The match is true to measurement but it surely has a really slim design so it’s not appropriate for runners with broad ft.
Underneath Armour Infinite Elite Sole Unit
The Infinite Elite has quite a lot of good issues going for it: it has the cushioned trip, the graceful transitions and the energy-saving rocker however there are 2 issues which forestall it from being a critical contender: its agency trip and its heavy weight.
Its midsole foam appears to be like like a TPU, beaded foam, just like Adidas’ Increase or Saucony’s Pwrrun+ however don’t be fooled: the Hovr+ foam within the Infinite Elite feels a lot firmer and it doesn’t compress a lot.
It must be not less than 25 % softer and squishier for the trip to be extra participating and in keeping with extra trendy foams. Hovr+ lacks the bounce and vitality return of recent foams; it feels flat and a bit boring.
A heavy construct with a agency trip shouldn’t be a great mixture so the Infinite Elite trip feels sluggish. I solely use it for simple runs however I don’t stay up for operating in it- it’s not an thrilling trip. I favor plush using trainers for my simple runs and I want a lighter shoe for velocity work.
The Infinite Elite is a maximalist coach so there’s loads of cushioning coming from the mega thick midsole. You should use it for lengthy distance coaching over 25 kilometres in case you aren’t fearful about tempo. The delicate rocker additionally eases you thru transitions so your ft don’t must work as exhausting.
There’s no plate within the Infinite Elite but it surely doesn’t want one as a result of its midsole is stiff sufficient with out one. The thick forefoot and dense foam end in a stiff forefoot which permits the rocker to perform. The Infinite Elite is even stiffer than coaching companions just like the Endorphin Velocity 3 and Mach X which have plates in them.
Stability is superb due its agency trip and there’s some below arch assist for runners with flat ft. The arch felt actually distinguished in the course of the first couple of runs but it surely acquired softer and fewer noticeable after 20 kilometres of breaking in.
Outsole sturdiness of the Infinite Elite is above common. Its outsole rubber is thick and the uncovered Hovr+ foam is hard-wearing as effectively. To this point, it has held up effectively and I anticipate no sturdiness points. I used the Infinite Elite simply after it had rained and traction was common: it was fantastic on most surfaces however slippery on stone paths.
Underneath Armour Infinite Elite Conclusions
The Infinite Elite is the most effective Underneath Armour operating shoe that I’ve tried but it surely nonetheless falls in need of the competitors and it’s not an awesome coaching companion for the Velociti Elite 2. It’s not the sport changer that I hoped for from Underneath Armour.
I get pleasure from its forefoot rocker and its thick stack top however I can solely use it for gradual, simple runs so it has very low versatility. Its predominant flaws are that it’s too heavy and too agency. It’s presupposed to be the coaching model of the Velociti Elite 2 but it surely’s a lot heavier and doesn’t have a carbon plate just like the Elite. I discover it actually exhausting to keep up a quick tempo within the Infinite Elite.
Underneath Armour must lighten the Infinite Elite by stripping down its higher as a result of it’s too padded and the knit is just too thick. The midsole foam additionally must be made softer and extra bouncy. It at the moment has a really boring trip.
With regards to value, it must be $130, not $160. At $160, you will get a significantly better coaching companion for a similar value.
The Puma Deviate Nitro 2 is way lighter, way more versatile and has a plate in it. The ASICS Magic Velocity 3 can be a a lot lighter, quicker choice.
