Below Armour Infinite Elite Introduction
As one of many greatest sports activities manufacturers on this planet, Below Armour has the cash to signal a few of long-distance operating’s most distinguished elite athletes like Sharon Lokedi, who gained the New York Metropolis Marathon in 2022 and got here third final 12 months. Below Armour ought to have the R&D to even have among the greatest trainers, nevertheless that hasn’t been the case.
I’ve examined a handful of Below Armour trainers in the previous couple of years they usually 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 one of the vital disappointing tremendous footwear that I examined final 12 months. It was agency, costly, and never very sturdy. It additionally didn’t present a excessive degree of pace help in comparison with different tremendous footwear in the marketplace. The Infinite Elite is now the second Below Armour operating shoe to hold the title “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 not too long ago launched in some international locations. Below 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 may be very heavy in comparison with fashionable coaching companions from different manufacturers.
Below Armour Infinite Elite First Impressions
My first run was a sluggish, 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 extremely thick midsole so I anticipated a plusher trip.
The trip didn’t have a lot power return and it felt much like the EVA foams UA has been utilizing of their older trainers. I did benefit from the thick midsole which felt cushioned and the gentle forefoot rocker which made transitions really feel extra fluid.
The higher felt thick however nonetheless snug and the midsole felt actually steady. 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, gentle rockers and are plateless.
Below Armour Infinite Elite Higher
The Infinite Elite has an higher which is constructed like a cushty every day coach higher fairly than a minimal pace coach higher. It’s comprised of a knit which is thick, heat and doesn’t stretch. Operating in cool, winter climates is way more snug than in summer time ones as a consequence 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 excellent 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 load considerably.
The match is true to measurement but it surely has a really slender design so it’s not appropriate for runners with extensive toes.
Below Armour Infinite Elite Sole Unit
The Infinite Elite has plenty 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 stop it from being a severe contender: its agency trip and its heavy weight.
Its midsole foam seems like a TPU, beaded foam, much 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 no less than 25 p.c softer and squishier for the trip to be extra participating and in step with extra fashionable foams. Hovr+ lacks the bounce and power return of recent foams; it feels flat and a bit boring.
A heavy construct with a agency trip isn’t an excellent mixture so the Infinite Elite trip feels sluggish. I solely use it for simple runs however I don’t look ahead to operating in it- it’s not an thrilling trip. I desire plush using trainers for my simple runs and I would like a lighter shoe for pace work.
The Infinite Elite is a maximalist coach so there’s loads of cushioning coming from the mega thick midsole. You should utilize it for lengthy distance coaching over 25 kilometres when you aren’t anxious about tempo. The gentle rocker additionally eases you thru transitions so your toes don’t need to 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 lead to a stiff forefoot which permits the rocker to operate. 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 great due its agency trip and there’s some below arch assist for runners with flat toes. The arch felt actually distinguished in the course of the first couple of runs but it surely bought 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 nicely. To date, it has held up nicely and I count on no sturdiness points. I used the Infinite Elite simply after it had rained and traction was common: it was high quality on most surfaces however slippery on stone paths.
Below Armour Infinite Elite Conclusions
The Infinite Elite is the very best Below Armour operating shoe that I’ve tried but it surely nonetheless falls wanting the competitors and it’s not a fantastic coaching companion for the Velociti Elite 2. It’s not the sport changer that I hoped for from Below Armour.
I take pleasure in its forefoot rocker and its thick stack peak however I can solely use it for sluggish, simple runs so it has very low versatility. Its fundamental flaws are that it’s too heavy and too agency. It’s purported 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 take care of a quick tempo within the Infinite Elite.
Below Armour must lighten the Infinite Elite by stripping down its higher as a result of it’s too padded and the knit is simply too thick. The midsole foam additionally must be made softer and extra bouncy. It at the moment has a really boring trip.
Relating to worth, it needs to be $130, not $160. At $160, you will get a a lot better coaching companion for a similar worth.
The Puma Deviate Nitro 2 is way lighter, way more versatile and has a plate in it. The ASICS Magic Velocity 3 can also be a a lot lighter, sooner possibility.
