Under Armour Velociti Elite 2 Review
By Matthew Klein
While Under Armour is known for many things, it has not been a massive player in the running world. It has had several running shoes over the years but nothing has stood out majorly. UA's first attempt at a super shoe debuted in 2022 with a half PEBAX, half EVA midsole. The result was a comfortable but not true super shoe. Version two returns with additional PEBAX in the midsole, an extremely low drop and a rare anatomic toe box. While the first version did not stand out, the second version has several unique things that may make it attractive for certain runners. There are still some issues (price point and weight) but UA appears to be making some progress in making a unique product.
Under Armour Velociti Elite 2Price: $249.95 at Running Warehouse
Weight: 8.2 oz, 232 g (Unisex men's size 9/Women's 10.5)
Stack Height: 39.5 mm / 37.5 mm
Drop: 2 mm
Shoe Purpose: Carbon Plated Distance Racing Shoe
Pros: Wide toe box snug heel/light upper, great for forefoot strikers
Cons: Extremely low drop, heavier than most, not full PEBAX midsole
RUNNING SHOE SUMMARY
The Under Armour Velociti Elite 2 is racing shoe for those who land farther forward and want a more anatomic forefoot. A unique low drop, high stack height dual-density, slightly firmer midsole and plate combo make for an aggressive toe off that is best for forefoot strikers and those with strong calves. A more anatomic forefoot is combined with a snug heel/midfoot while a low volume fit secures the foot well. The weight is on the higher side of racing shoes, which combined with the partial PEBAX/EVA midsole makes the shoe feel more like a lightweight trainer. However, its low drop, super high stack height and more anatomic fit make it a unique option on the market for those looking for that trio.
SIMILAR SHOES: Altra Vanish Carbon, Mizuno Wave Rebellion Flash 2
PAST MODEL: Under Armour Velociti Elite
FIT
(To learn how a shoe should fit, check out our full podcast on fit by Matt Klein.)
The Under Armour Velociti Elite 2 fits me true to size in my normal US men's size 10. There is a large amount of room in the toe box thanks to the rounded forefoot. I have plenty of room to splay my toes comfortably, which is surprising for a racing shoe (but not a bad thing). This is offset by the upper being low volume as the UA Warp 2.0 sits close across the top of the foot. The midfoot fits snug thanks to a well gusseted and mildly padded tongue. The upper has some additional overlays in this area which provide some light structure. This transitions into a snug heel with a posterior thin counter and mild heel collar cushioning. The counter is thin and moderately flexible. I did notice it due to the lack of padding but it has not been a major irritant. Those sensitive to them may not do well as it does put direct pressure on the posterior heel bone. The security of the upper is good. Despite being light, there is a web-like design that keeps the shoe breathable but secure. I did not have to lace lock the shoe at all but did have to tighten the laces slightly. I would highly recommend socks as the web like overlays create a scratchy feeling on skin. As long as you wear thin to moderate thickness socks, you will be fine.
Typical Size: Men's US Size 10
Shoes that have fit Matt well: Saucony Guide 17, ASICS Kayano 30, Hoka Gaviota 5, Saucony Endorphin Elite, Nike Ultrafly
Shoes that have fit snug: Hoka Arahi 7, Saucony Kinvara 14
Shoes that have fit large: Salomon S/Lab Phantasm 2, Altra Timp 5, Topo Cyclone 2
Doctors of Running Checklist
Is This a Good Shoe for Walking: No
Is This a Good Shoe for Standing: No
Is the Forefoot Flexible: No
How Flexible is the Shoe: Not Flexible (Stiff)
Is This a Good Heel Bevel: Somewhat
Recommended for Haglunds: No
Recommended for Sockless: No
Durability Expectation: Average
PERFORMANCE
The Under Armour Velociti Elite 2 is a carbon-plated distance racing shoe. The midsole is made up of a top layer of PEBAX foam and the bottom layer is EVA Flow. Like the prior version, my first few steps left me questioning whether there was actually PEBAX in the midsole. After a few miles it began to break in, but the PEBAX is overall on the firmer side. It reminds me of the first generation Saucony Endorphin Pro. This creates a unique sensation of hitting the top layer of firmer PEBAX, then a last minute soft feeling as the Flow midsole at the bottom compresses. This is more apparent in the heel given the larger amount of flow, whereas the forefoot feels far more like that firmer PEBAX.
The weight is much higher than the previous version and many other super shoes. My size 10 weighs 9.3 oz, almost an ounce more than my size 10 Velociti Elite 1s (8.4 oz). At normal paces, this shoe feels like a stiff, low drop lightweight trainer. The stack height is maximal and extremely low drop. The forefoot almost feels higher than the heel but per my estimation from online sources, the stack height is 37.5 mm and 39.5 mm. The 2 mm drop is noticeable and my calves were sore after the first few runs in these. The heel transition is fine as there is a bevel and the split heel design causes the lateral side to compress gently. The narrow heel and midfoot are a bit less stable although are slightly offset by the sidewalls. The forefoot is stiff with a large rocker.
Combined with the low drop, it takes a little work to get over it during easy paces. At fast paces, the forefoot really shines. The Velociti Elite 2 respond more the faster you go. My best experience in this shoe was running an impromptu, untapered 5:21 stroller mile. I progressed from 85 second 400s down to 75 seconds and it felt better as I ran faster. I have used this shoe for a tempo run, intervals and the stroller mile (followed by another interval workout). The intervals felt better as I landed farther forward on the shoe and the forefoot PEBAX/plate work best the more force you put through it. The tempo run was only okay as the stiff forefoot got to me. Given that I am a heel striker, loading the rearfoot made the drop even lower. For faster runners and those with really strong calf muscles, this shoe may be great for longer distance efforts.
For someone like me, it feels better as an interval shoe. It can certainly move, but it is also heavier than other options on the market. So most may find this to be better over shorter distances. While the pacing is confusing, the durability is not. Despite having 30 miles on my pair, there is barely any wear on the outsole. This shoe is clearly meant for road and track as my one brief trail effort ended with a rock stuck in the small center that exposed the plate. So as long as you stick to faster efforts on smooth surfaces, the Velociti Elite 2 will be fine.
STABILITY
The Under Armour Velociti Elite 2 is a neutral racing shoe. While the forefoot is wide, the midfoot and heel are incredibly narrow. The narrowness is offset slightly by a small but long sidewall in the heel into the midfoot. The split heel design also allows for lateral compression of the sole at heel strike, which also slightly offsets the medial bias at the heel and midfoot. However, this shoe is still neutral in the heel and midfoot. I found myself fatiguing during longer distance efforts as I need at least mild stability/guidance in these areas. The forefoot is a completely different story. The plate adds a high level of torsional rigidity and stiffness in the forefoot. Paired with a longer medial sidewall in the forefoot and a wide base, the Velociti Elite 2 actually has a fairly stable forefoot.This makes it even better for forefoot strikers/those who land farther forward. However, those with guidance/stability needs in the rearfoot/midfoot may either need to look elsewhere or keep this shoe for shorter distances.
Thoughts as a DPT: Full vs Partial Super Foam Midsoles
By Matthew Klein
At this point, if you put out a max stack height carbon plated racing shoe without a full PEBAX, Peba or Peba mix of midsole, you don't have a true super shoe. Most (but not all) companies have figured this out by now. The use of a dual density midsole with partial super foam is not unique to UA as several companies have debuted super trainers like the Saucony Kinvara Pro, Hoka Mach X, Mizuno Rebellion Flash 2 and the Adidas Boston 12. While these shoes are all fast, they are not the fastest. They are great training shoes and may serve as fantastic racing shoes for those whom super shoes do not work biomechanically for. However, they are not true super shoes. The midsole is the sum of all of its parts. If you have a highly resilient (responsive) foam combined with a less resilient foam, the total resilience should theoretically average out. I say theoretically because there has not been any publicly available research (to my knowledge) on how the body reacts to two different layers of foam. We have some evidence on medial posts, wedges used to modify the foot pathway but not on two completely different layers. So my theory is that the two layers will average out, lessening the potential improvements of a full stack height of super foam. The word improvement is relative given that different people will respond best to different things and running economy is only one piece of the puzzle in performance.
RECOMMENDATIONS
Under Armour has done a few things well with this shoe. The stack height is more maximal, there is more PEBAX foam and it certainly feels more aggressive than the original. However, the massive increase in weight (9.3 oz men's size 10 compared to 8.1 oz in men's size 10 for the original) and the lack of a full PEBAX midsole are disappointing. This is still a unique shoe with a wide toe box and low heel drop, something not common for a Pebax, carbon-plated shoe on the market. It also has the tallest forefoot of any of the current racing shoes outside "illegal" ones like the Prime X (which I would argue is no longer a racing shoe). However, it is not remotely competitive with other super shoes, particularly at this price point.
Like the prior version, I would buy this on discount but would not pay full price for this. I would encourage Under Armour to somehow get that weight back down, finally go with a full midsole PEBAX foam and some kind of real outsole. I will admit that at 30 miles there is far less wear than I expected and it does appear to be durable, but I can't tell if that is just because I am landing so far forward on the forefoot due to the low drop.
So my suggestions are to either replace a majority of the "Flow" midsole in the heel with PEBAX and either keep it as an outsole or replace it will a real outsole. My second suggestion would be to consider using a softer version of PEBAX. This current version feels a little old school at this point, more similar to some of the original versions (again, like the Endorphin Pro 1). There are some new mixes out there that UA may want to experiment with.
WHO IS THIS SHOE FOR?
The shoe is best for those who want a wider toe box, extremely low drop racing shoe that don't mind a little extra weight. For most people I would not recommend this shoe. While I have enjoyed running in it, the design and specs do not match the price point. It is not competitive with others in its price range, does not have a full PEBAX midsole and is heavier than other true super shoes. There is promise in the design though and I think Under Armour is learning. However, we will have to wait until Version 3 to see if they can hit it out of the park.
GRADES
Matt
Fit: A- (Wider but lower volume forefoot with snug midfoot/heel. Stiff small counter with good overall lockdown)
Performance: B/B+ (Snappy forefoot that responds better at faster paces. Low drop feels better for shorter than longer distances. Heavier weight makes it feel more like a lightweight trainer than a racer)
Stability: B [Neutral] (Stable forefoot with narrow heel/midfoot. Best for those who land farther forward)
Value: C (Overpriced for what the shoe provides. Not a complete super shoe and far too heavy for price point)
Personal: B (Comfortable upper but sole is not quite there for me. Low drop, heavier weight is not something I would ever choose to race in. UA still has a great deal of work to make this shoe competitive with others on the market but the pieces are there. This shoe feels better to train than race in and would be more attractive at a cheaper price point)
Overall Design: B
SHOP | SUPPORT DOR
Under Armour Velociti Elite 2
Price: $249.95 at Running Warehouse
Shop Men | Shop Women
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FURTHER READING
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