Below Armour Infinite Elite Introduction
As one of many largest sports activities manufacturers on this planet, Below Armour has the cash to signal a few of long-distance operating’s most outstanding elite athletes like Sharon Lokedi, who received 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 a few of the greatest trainers, nonetheless that hasn’t been the case.
I’ve examined a handful of Below Armour trainers in the previous couple of 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 12 months. 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 in the marketplace. The Infinite Elite is now the second Below 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 not too long ago launched in some international locations. Below Armour says that it’s constructed for endurance and that it retains your legs contemporary. 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 sport 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 trendy coaching companions from different manufacturers.
Below Armour Infinite Elite First Impressions
My first run was a sluggish, straightforward 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 snug 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.
Below Armour Infinite Elite Higher
The Infinite Elite has an higher which is constructed like a snug each day coach higher quite than a minimal velocity coach higher. It’s constituted of a knit which is thick, heat and doesn’t stretch. Operating in cool, winter climates is far more snug than in summer time ones on account 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 burden considerably.
The match is true to measurement but it surely has a really slim design so it’s not appropriate for runners with vast ft.
Below Armour Infinite Elite Sole Unit
The Infinite Elite has plenty of good issues going for it: it has the cushioned trip, the sleek transitions and the energy-saving rocker however there are 2 issues which forestall it from being a severe contender: its agency trip and its heavy weight.
Its midsole foam seems to be 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 at the very least 25 p.c softer and squishier for the trip to be extra participating and according to extra trendy foams. Hovr+ lacks the bounce and vitality return of contemporary foams; it feels flat and a bit boring.
A heavy construct with a agency trip will not be a superb mixture so the Infinite Elite trip feels sluggish. I solely use it for straightforward runs however I don’t sit up for operating in it- it’s not an thrilling trip. I favor plush using trainers for my straightforward 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 for those who aren’t frightened about tempo. The delicate rocker additionally eases you thru transitions so your ft don’t should work as laborious.
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 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 great due its agency trip and there’s some below arch assist for runners with flat ft. The arch felt actually outstanding through the first couple of runs but it surely obtained 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. Thus far, it has held up nicely and I anticipate no sturdiness points. I used the Infinite Elite simply after it had rained and traction was common: it was positive 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 an awesome coaching companion for the Velociti Elite 2. It’s not the sport changer that I hoped for from Below Armour.
I get pleasure from its forefoot rocker and its thick stack peak however I can solely use it for sluggish, straightforward runs so it has very low versatility. Its most important flaws are that it’s too heavy and too agency. It’s imagined 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 laborious 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.
In relation to value, it ought to 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, far more versatile and has a plate in it. The ASICS Magic Velocity 3 can also be a a lot lighter, quicker choice.
