UA Velociti Elite 2 Performance Review

Prior to the release of the first Velociti Elite, it’s no secret that Under Armour was struggling in the running shoe industry. Not only in running performances from their athletes, but in developing high level running shoes. Before we jump into the UA Velociti Elite 2, let’s rewind to the first model of this super shoe.

The Velociti Elite was UA’s introduction to a super shoe and it was the company’s way to build legitimacy in the run space. The Velociti Elite has all of the tech it needs with Pebax, a lightweight upper and a carbon fiber plate. But with its low stack and narrow feel, it came off closer to a firm, but fast half marathon race day shoe. Maybe even a tempo day shoe. It was hard to agree with UA that this was a high end marathon day shoe.

I put it to the test on the streets in Baltimore and discovered a few issues with it. The toebox was too narrow and I was getting blisters from the shoe after 10+ mile runs. The shoe’s midsole wasn’t just made of PEBAX, but Flow as well. A proprietary foam that I believe has haunted them for years. Flow is heavy, firm and doesn’t leave much to the imagination. So, did Under Armour fix these problems in the second model?

I’m happy to confirm that the Velociti Elite 2 increases in stack, and presents a wider toe-box than the last version. But were these changes enough to put it next to the best race day shoes in the world? If you ask Sharon Lokedi, Under Armour’s New York City Marathon-winning athlete, she would probably agree. But for the rest of us plebeians, I’m not so sure. As someone who lived in Baltimore for over 6 years, I could see the UA headquarters across the harbor on my daily runs, and these days I can’t help but want to root for them.

Performance

The UA Velociti Elite 2’s upper is made with WARP 2.0. It’s basically this translucent and very thin material with lattice wrapping for a secured fit. The tongue is thin and there’s no gusset, allowing for a very lightweight option. To my delight, Under Armour fixed the toebox and widened it just a little bit more to avoid hotspots and blisters.

I love when a company recognizes where it went wrong and fixes those issues. Bravo to you Under Armour. Overall, the upper was a delight. It’s breathable, thin, lightweight, and an upgrade from the previous version. I believe the upper is better than some other race day shoes on the market.

The midsole is where things begin to get a bit more dicey. With the upgrade in stack, the shoe feels much more protective and higher off the ground, something I love. There’s a Pebax layer on the top with a bottom layer of Flow. This cushion setup makes the shoe feel responsive, but when I was going through my stride, I could still feel a firm and dense foam. I was looking for a sink-in type feeling that never came. It feels like your foot sits on top of the foam, rather than working with it and sinking into a plush and comfortable ride.

My suggestion from the first to the second version is the same. Lose Flow. Flow is heavy and takes away from the magic of the Pebax. The carbon fiber plate is stiff and rigid which makes for a very propulsive feel, but it lacks flexibility. Losing Flow would not only make the shoe lighter, but softer too, especially on landings. Soften the Pebax, retain the 39.5mm of stack and you’d have an extremely appealing race day shoe. 

There’s no outsole rubber, as is always the case with Under Armour’s Flow (as you can see on the most recent Steph Curry shoe, the Curry 11). This is done intentionally to save weight. I had no issues with cornering or the traction (Editor’s Note: we see the same in basketball shoes with Flow. It’s only true issue as an outsole is long term durability).

Pros

• Wider toebox helps avoid hotspots and blisters
• Secure, lightweight, and breathable WARP 2.0 upper
• Increased Pebax in the midsole made for a more protective and enjoyable ride
• Feels propulsive when going fast

Cons

• The Flow midsole foam is heavy and lacks plushness
• Heavy for a race day shoe
• The TPE sockliner is super thin and disappointing

Is the UA Velociti Elite 2 wide foot friendly?

The UA Velociti Elite 2 is pretty roomy in the new and improved toebox but I still wouldn’t call it wide foot friendly. Wide footers will need to go up a half size or skip this one.

Is the UA Velociti Elite 2 worth $250?

The UA Velociti Elite 2 struggles to justify the $250 price point. $250 and above is the domain of elite marathon racing shoes and the Velociti Elite 2 just doesn’t have enough of a the soft, bouncy ride to live full time in that category. It’s easy to find something lighter, softer, bouncier, and more propulsive at that price point.

UA Velociti Elite 2 Summary

Under Armour is making subtle changes and fixes to their shoes which are pushing all of their shoe models in the right direction. With the implementation of Pebax and a higher stack, the UA Velociti Elite 2 is moving toward a high performance race day shoe.

I’m just not sure why they feel the need to hold onto Flow. Maybe it’s a cost thing or they’re trying to justify their investment into Flow. Once they replace Flow with full Pebax, the Velociti Elite line could be a winner. I just hope they do it sooner rather than later…for the sake of Under Armour’s running line as a whole. Otherwise the Velociti Elite 2 is great, and can perform at the highest level.

It’s hard to argue against a shoe that is consistently on the podiums of major marathons. But as we all know, the person in the shoe is who runs the race, not the shoe itself.

How does the Author Run?

Brandon Rossi (age 25, 5’7″, 140 lbs): Runs 4-5x per week. Ran in college and has been reviewing running shoes for 3 years. Enjoys max cushion and high-tech shoes. Competes in distances from the 800m to Marathon. 

Disclosure

While Under Armour did provide pairs of the UA Velociti Elite 2 to facilitate this review, they had no involvement in this review, didn’t receive an advance look at it, and have not attempted to influence it.