If you're looking for a sneaker which feels like part of your foot, and has loads of smart technology built-in, Under Armour has just dropped what it's calling its "fastest performance shoe yet", the UA Flow Velociti Wind.
Designed to feel like the "flow state", which is the feeling runners get at a certain point when they feel relaxed and energised, the latest bit of kit from Under Armour incorporates a number of cool features. In time, they might even crack the ranks of the best running shoes for men and best running shoes for women.
It's been designed with a single block of foam at the bottom as the sole, said to be a a "responsive, grippy, and supportive singular-foam compound". Without any rubber around the outside, it's said this allows for more comfort and more traction on the road.
It's also between two and three ounces lighter than most running shoes with the rubber still attached, so it's sure to feel practically weightless. Just throw your best running headphones on and enjoy the ride.
Embedded in this foam midsole that tracks, analyses and stores detailed running metrics. If you've got the MapMyRun app from Under Armour, this sensor can automatically send your running data to your app, giving you vital information not just about your distance and time, but also your gait, stride length and more with its Form Coaching.
This isn't the first time Under Armour have tried this, as they've done it with the HOVR range. Other products such as smart insoles can provide this even with "analogue" running shoes, but it's good to see it here.
The shoe's upper debuts a new technology called UA Warp, which tightens around your foot like a seatbelt. It's said to eliminate buckling and pinch points as the material gets pulled into specific points with laces: instead, the shoe relaxes and tightens to move naturally with your foot, which is sure to be handy to make sure your foot is glued to that high-tech foam sole.
The shoe launches globally on March 3, and will be priced at $160.
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