Under Armour Scorpio ‘Chrome’ Performance Review

 

Traction:  The Scorpio uses compound rubber throughout the whole contact surface of the outsole. The shoe’s traction is excellent on a variety of surfaces, regardless of the conditions at-hand. The rubber has taken some abuse during my time testing them and it still looks like there is plenty life on the outsole last for some time to come. I wouldn’t recommend running on grass or other wet surfaces (i.e. training drills) because the outsole pattern is somewhat flat, and doesn’t have lugs that would grip properly.

 

 

Cushion: Under Armour went in a different direction with the Scorpio. This runner is a cleat inspired shoe that is meant to react and feel like an on-field cleat but has all the features of a high tech running shoe. The cushioning system used in the Scorpio is a midsole of Micro G foam that is injected up through the TPU spring plate. There is also a 4-D foam insole that molds and conforms to the your foot to allow for less slippage or movement during runs. The combination of the Micro-G foam and the TPU plate made running in this shoe feel like you’re landing on pillows as you’re projected forward by a catapult.

 

 

Transition:  : UA’s goal with the Scorpio was to provide the user a shoe that both fits and performs like a cleat, while having more cushion and energy return. The outsole has flex grooves throughout that allow the shoe to flex without restrictions yet still provide great support and feedback.

 

 

 

Materials:  The upper is made up of a breathable synthetic mesh with synthetic overlays and is finished in a fade print color way with reflective accents in key areas for visibility during night runs. The tongue is also made up of a synthetic material and mesh combined. There is a TPU spring plate with injected Micro G foam that make up both a midsole and a compound rubber outsole.

 

 

 

Fit:  The Scorpio fit like a glove, in a good way. It had a nice solid feel and my feet always felt as if they were being cradled in a solid constructed running shoe with a lightweight platform. Once again thanks to UA and the use of the 4-D Foam being used in the insole, my foot was able to get locked in nicely and not slip anywhere while still having the added cushion the insole (sock liner) provided. Just like most UA running shoes the size ran the same for me (11.5), comparable to the Spine line up and the SpeedForm Apollo.

 

 

Ventilation:  Even though the shoe is made up of a synthetic mesh, I found that it did not breathe as well as Under Armour running models like the SpeedForm Apollo. Granted it does have a ton of mesh used in the upper but the perforations in the toe box are small and air circulation at times seemed to be lacking. The tongue however uses a different mesh material, making that area of the shoe more breathable during runs during the testing period. By no means are your feet going to be leaving the shoes soaked in sweat but you do notice that certain areas of the shoe have less airflow.

 

 

Support:  This shoe offered a fairly good amount of support while maintaining its neutral feel. There is an external TPU heel counter that sits on top of the spring plate, which at first notice looks as if it were one solid piece. By having the TPU heel counter, my foot felt secure and never felt as if I was going to roll an ankle during any directional changes in my runs.

 

 

Overall:  Under Armour gets my seal of approval and recommendation to anyone looking for an out of the norm running shoe with great cushion and fantastic, responsive, energy return. This is just UA showing again why they are a force to be reckoned within the footwear market. If you’re looking for a not so traditional style runner with excellent cushion, great durability and feel like you have springs sending you forward during your runs, then this is a shoe you might want to consider and try for yourself. If I have anything negative to say or any critique, it would be that the upper of the shoe needs to be a mesh that has more perforations to allow for more air flow.

 

The Under Armour Scorpio Chrome and Scorpio can both be picked up today at Finishline

Under Armour Scorpio Chrome for $129.99
Under Armour Scorpio for $124.99

Images via Finishline and Under Armour