Details
Brand
Under Armour
Heel To Toe Drop
6 mm
Breathability
8/10
Latest Version
Yes
Terrain
Road
Type
Stability
Key Features
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Upper
The upper is covered with ArmourVent mesh that is breathable, durable, lightweight, fast-drying, and stretchy. It uses UA Speedform technology for a close feeling fit so there is zero distraction during runs. The seams have ultrasonic welding covered by smooth Bemis tape to add support to the foot and to be more comfortable by reducing the potential for irriation. Over the heel is a seamless silicone grip heel cup that locks the heel in to prevent rolling or sliding. The tongue is not padded and there is no protective rubber over the big toe, but the lacing system secures the upper and the tongue for a nice fit.
Midsole
The midsole has three different sections. The bottom layer is the full-length Micro-G foam that provides cushioning and responsiveness by softening landings and making explosive takeoffs. Next is the TPU curve below the arch, which adds a good amount of support in order to stabilize the foot. The top layer is the Molded 4D Foam embedded sockliner, which gives support to the underfoot and a customized fit by conforming to the shape of the wearer’s foot.
Outsole
The blown rubber outsole is shaped like the bottom of a foot. The forefoot has indentations where the toe pads are, the midfoot has indentations for the bones, and the rearfoot has a diagonal line with a denser section below it for durability. The big toe and pads of the foot also have oval-shaped sections of the more durable rubber. It adds a slight spring to the wearer’s step, gets great traction and adds cushioning. Its natural fit and flexibility between sections allows the foot to move freely in order to comfortably pick up speed.
Breathability
The upper has excellent breathability. It is mostly covered in lightweight mesh with plenty of holes for air to flow through. The mesh is also fast-drying in case it gets hot or humid outside, or the shoe gets splashed when running over a puddle. The silicone heel area does not take away from the shoe’s breathability. There is also ultrasonic welding with Bemis tape to cover the seams, and the heel cup is seamless in order to prevent irritation, blisters, or hot spots in those areas.
Comfort
The SpeedForm RC Vent is a fairly comfortable shoe. The outsole’s blown rubber gives the first layer of cushioning. The midsole has Mico-G foam to soften landings and a Molded 4D Foam embedded sockliner for a comfortable, anatomical fit that conforms to the wearer’s foot. The upper provides a comfortable, close-feeling fit with its mesh, silicone heel cup, and lacing system. The tongue does not have padding, so some people experienced discomfort due to the lacing system pulling it against the skin. Most testers liked the level of cushioning, but a few felt that the sole was a little stiffer than they would have liked. This shoe is available in normal width (no wide sizes) and the fit of the length is standard. The forefoot and midfoot have standard widths that are neither too tight nor too loose, and the heel counter was designed to “fit like a bra” so it is just the right width to keep the wearer’s foot from rolling or sliding.
Style
The outsole is shaped like the bottom of a foot, while the rest of the shoe is shaped like regular shoes but is intended to give a form-fitting fit. The upper has a lot of mesh with the heel covered in silicone for durability and stability. The colors were bright and neon with black, white, or gray logo and accents. Main color choices included pink, green, orange, blue and red. Some women did not like that certain colors were only available for men, so they ended up converting their size to men’s and ordering the men’s shoe. The color choices were very popular with reviewers, despite being bright colors, which some people do not like, and some people stated that they ended up ordering multiple pairs of this shoe.
Durability
The Under Armour SpeedForm RC Vent is very durable for being so light and using so much mesh. The rubber outsole is very durable, with denser patches in areas that are most likely to strike the pavement. The foams in the midsole were compressed so they are durable yet still responsive and give a customized fit to the foot for at least a couple hundred miles. The TPU curve is also durable. In the upper, the ArmourVent mesh is stretchy yet still durable and able to withstand the elements. The heel cup has no problems with durability.
Protection
The SpeedForm RC Vent offers a small amount of protection. The mesh protects against heat and moisture by keeping the foot ventilated and drying quickly. It only protects a little against the cold or wind because of the high amount of mesh. The TPU curve and heel cup protect the ankle and foot from rolling or sliding, which helps prevent injury. The sole unit protects a little against feeling objects on the ground, although the rubber does not extend up to protect the toes from stubbing.
Responsiveness
The sole unit is very responsive and the upper is flexible and fits like a glove so it does not restrict movement. Under Armour describes the take-offs as “explosive” and testers agreed that it was very easy to move in this shoe and even categorized it under “competition” use. The outsole uses blown rubber that provides a slight bounce as it hits the ground. The midsole’s Micro-G foam was intended for responsiveness, providing soft landings and then launching the foot back into the air again. The upper uses UA Speedform technology so that the shoe stays fitted with the foot and the wearer can pick up speed without being distracted.
Support
The entire shoe was designed to give a form-fitting feel and support the foot. The mesh upper is flexible so that it can support the foot as it moves, and the heel cup surrounds the back of the foot with support. The midsole has a good amount of support that can slow mild to moderate over-pronation. The molded 4D foam embedded sockliner supports the bottom of the foot and contours to the shape of the wearer’s foot, giving a customized fit within a few miles, and the TPU curve supports the arch. Even the outsole gives some support, as it is shaped like the bottom of a foot.
Terrain
The SpeedForm RC Vent was designed for running on roads. Its treads are ideal for paved roads, dirt roads, gravel, paths, on tracks or inside the gym. It can also be worn on light trails that are not too technical, but was not designed to grip soft surfaces, and as a minimalist shoe it is not quite stable enough for technical terrain with lots of objects in the road. It was also not designed for snowy, icy, or slippery terrain.
Price
This shoe is at the high end of the average price range. Lightweight and minimalist shoes usually go for less, but the Under Armour name, durability, and technologies used make it worth paying a little more. The shoe’s mesh, foam, and heel cup all fit like a sock and hug the foot, making the wearer barely notice that they are wearing a shoe. The shoe is no longer available, but Under Armour has other SpeedForm shoes with newer technology that are currently in stores.
Drop
This shoe has a 6mm drop. Six millimeters is about half the size of the standard drop, so it makes for a good transition shoe between regular shoes and barefoot running. Some testers would have preferred a zero drop for a more natural feel, but the 6mm drop maintains some of the foreword momentum of the larger drop, but also allows the wearer to start building up the muscles and tendons in their feet so they can eventually switch to a zero drop shoe without going through the break-in muscle soreness if they want to.
Stability
Although it is categorized as a stability shoe, testers recommended the SpeedForm RC Vent for neutral runners as well. This shoe has some stability from the TPU curve in the upper that keeps the back of the foot in place and the TPU curve that stabilizes the arch to prevent over-pronating. The outsole has a little bit of stability but is also flexible. The midsole’s foams offer support but not enough to stabilize against over-pronation.
Flexibility
The Under Armour SpeedForm RC Vent is flexible enough to both hug the foot and allow it to comfortably move and pick up speed. The outsole bends as the foot does and so do the foams in the midsole. The upper’s mesh material is described as stretchy so that it can move as the toes move without worrying about wearing down. Taking away from flexibility are the TPU curve and heel cup.
Traction
This shoe gets good traction on hard surfaces such as roads and paths. It has treads that are shaped like the toes and bones in the foot so that it can grip in areas that are most likely to come in contact with the ground. Runners can get good enough traction to pick up speed or going up or down hills in the road when going on daily runs. The shoe does not have aggressive lugs for trail traction or spikes for not sliding on snow and ice.
Bottom Line
The SpeedForm RC Vent is a nice, lightweight shoe that allows easy, natural running with its long-lasting and efficient features. It has good cushioning and bounces the foot back into the air after each step. It has a good level of stability and support, yet is flexible enough to allow natural movement and to form to the shape of the wearer’s foot. It is breathable and gets good traction on roads. Areas for improvement include more color choices and padding on the tongue. In short, this is a good racing or daily running shoe for a neutral runner to light over-pronator who is looking for something lightweight and distraction-free.
