Details
Brand
Under Armour
Heel To Toe Drop
8 mm
Breathability
6/10
Latest Version
Yes
Terrain
Road
Type
Lightweight
Key Features
• UA SpeedForm technology• Anatomical outsole• Charged Cushioning and Micro G in midsole• Pebax propulsion plate• Seamless asymmetric zonal compression• 3D knit upper made of Dyneema• “Burrito tongue
Upper
The SpeedForm Slingshot upper uses a 3D knit woven with the super strong fabric Dyneema to wrap the forefoot area. The burrito wrap tongue gives a precise, comfortable, sock-like fit. There are three different zones of compression: the tight and springy lateral, tightest compression on the medial arch area, and a loose compression on the forefoot. This allows the toes to move around while maintaining a snug fit around the foot. The heel cup stabilizes the foot, the woven pattern allows the foot to breathe, and the overall design acts like a slingshot, maximizing speed and responsiveness.
Midsole
The midsole is made from two pieces of foam separated by a y-shaped plastic plate. The bottom layer is the Micro G foam, designed to be light, bouncy, and strong in order to provide great responsiveness and shock absorption. It is about 30% thinner than other foams, resulting in a lighter weight and the foot is closer to the ground. The TPU Pebax propulsion plate adds support and stability. The top layer is Charged Cushioning, which makes adds comfortable cushioning for soft landings.
Outsole
The SpeedForm Slingshot’s outsole is made of rubber and was designed for traction and durability. It uses two colors and has grooves for flexibility and treads for grip, which makes it ideal for road running. Its anatomical design gives a natural fit and greater responsiveness for better performance. It is thick enough to be durable, but also thinner than some other shoes because it was designed to be as light as possible for speed.
Breathability
The upper provides the breathability of the SpeedForm Slingshot. It uses a woven pattern in order to let air in and allow the foot to breathe. The seamless asymmetrical zoning compression reduces the risk of hot spots and blisters. Reviewers had mixed opinions on breathability. Some of them felt that the shoe offered a good amount of breathability for everyday runs, while others stated that the shoe was not as breathable as they would have liked it to be, especially in hot weather, potentially resulting in problems such as overheating or blisters. The Dyneema fabric makes the upper stronger, but it seems to not be quite as breathable as other materials.
Comfort
Every layer adds comfort to the SpeedForm Slingshot. The outsole uses an anatomical design for a natural fit. The midsole uses Charged Cushioning for soft landings and Micro G foam to make the shoe lighter and more responsive. The upper uses a burrito tongue for a sock-like fit that hugs the foot, as well as seamless asymmetrical zonal compression to reduce the risk of blisters and hot spots. The tongue is also padded for increased comfort and fit. The shoe’s overall low weight also makes the shoe more comfortable because it allows lots of movement is not bulky to carry when running. The only non-comfortable trait was that the upper wasn’t as breathable as some testers would have liked, resulting in hot spots. Many reviewers complimented how comfortable the shoe is, with several purchasing multiple pairs in different colors.
Style
The slick style of the shoe was very popular with reviewers. Men have nine color choices: black/aluminum, steel /white/black, rocket red/white/black, flashlight/black, green, hyper green, systematic/cardinal, blue, and meridian blue. Women have five choices available to them: limelight/Tahitian teal/peacock, London orange/sirens coal, pink chrome, crystal, and steel. The colors are so well-liked that many reviewers stated they ordered pairs in multiple colors, and some even requested more colors so that they could purchase more shoes!
Durability
The footwear team at Under Armour designed the shoe to be durable at all three levels. The rubber in the outsole has enough thickness to last for many miles without the treads wearing down. The Micro G foam in the midsole was designed for strength in addition to being light and bouncy. The upper uses Dyneema, “the world’s strongest fiber,” in the forefoot, which makes the shoe both durable and flexible. However, while most reviewers had no problems at all, some reviewers noticed wearing in the area around the toes within a few weeks.
Protection
The SpeedForm Slingshot offers a nice level of protection. The outsole protects runners from feeling the roughness of the ground. The Micro G foam in the midsole absorbs shock. The woven knit material and Dyneema in the upper protect the shoe and foot against the elements. Many reviewers reported great protection with the SpeedForm Slingshot. Some runners who normally have knee pain, shin splints, cramping, ankle rubbing, and other problems did not experience those problems with this shoe.
Responsiveness
Responsiveness also comes from all three layers of the shoe. The outsole’s flexible treads allow users to run comfortably on roads, and the anatomical fit improves performance. The midsole uses Micro G foam for explosive takeoffs and Charged Cushioning for smooth landings. The Pebax propulsion plate between those layers acts as a launching pad, supporting and stabilizing the takeoffs and landings. The upper uses seamless asymmetric zonal compression around the foot and flexible material to act as a slingshot, making movement faster and easier. The low weight also makes the shoe easier to move in, and the low drop allows the foot to move more naturally. The Under Armour footwear team specifically designed the shoe to make fast runners faster, which means excellent responsiveness.
Support
Although the SpeedForm Slingshot is light, it still gives plenty of support to runners. The outsole lifts the foot off the ground. The midsole uses a supportive Micro G foam under a Pebax propulsion plate to support and stabilize the foot. The upper has a heel cup to keep the heel in place and uses a “burrito tongue” construction for a sock-like fit. The upper also uses three levels of compression: tightest compression on the medial arch area, the tight and springy lateral, and loose compression on the forefoot. This supports the ankle and lateral areas of the foot while allowing the toes to move for takeoffs. The level of arch support was rated as neutral, meaning good for many runners, but runners who require additional support may need to use an arch support or insole. Being a neutral shoe, it also was not designed for over-pronators. Many testers found the shoe to be supportive, although some thought the upper was too flexible for side to side movements.
Terrain
The outsole has flexible rubber grooves and treads, which make the SpeedForm Slingshot ideal for running on roads. It does not have lugs to grip uneven ground or spikes to grip the slippery ground, so it is not recommended for use on trails or wet or slippery terrain. Because of its light weight, some sites categorize the SpeedForm Slingshot under competition, for things such as short races around tracks, although some reviewers commented that the shoe lacks the required stability for long races. Many testers stated that the shoe was fast and reliable for their daily road runs.
Price
The Under Armour SpeedForm Slingshot is slightly expensive for a road running shoe. However, it is extremely light and uses great technology that really springs the foot forward like a slingshot, so many runners will not mind paying a little extra. Some sites are offering a discount because the shoe has been out for a while, runners looking to purchase this shoe may be able to get a discount on certain sizes and colors.
Drop
The SpeedForm Slingshot has a heel height of 22.5 mm and a forefoot height of 14.5 mm, creating a drop of 8 mm, which is 4 mm less than the standard 12 mm drop. This distributes the cushioning more evenly rather than emphasizing the heel and allows more natural foot and running movements. In some runners, a lower drop reduces the level of knee pain and encourages runners to run on their forefoot.
Stability
Stability also comes from all levels of the shoe. The outsole rubber lifts the foot off the ground, using an anatomical design for a natural fit that holds the foot in place. The Pebax propulsion plate in the midsole supports and stabilizes the foot during takeoffs and landings. The upper uses a burrito tongue to wrap and guide the foot, and asymmetric zonal compression to give the most stability to arches, then to the lateral, and then loose compression around the toes to allow them to move enough to spring during takeoffs. The laces and heel cup also stabilize the foot, although a few testers experienced some heel slippage. Many testers liked the stability level of the shoe, while others thought it did not offer enough stability for side to side movements, long races, or over-pronators.
Flexibility
The SpeedForm Slingshot is flexible on all levels, allowing users to move freely and quickly. The flexible outsole gives good traction on roads. The midsole cushioning and foam spring the foot forward during takeoffs and give soft, shock-absorbing landings. The 3D knit material in the upper uses woven in Dyneema, designed to be durable enough to last for many runs, yet flexible enough to allow the foot to push off the ground quickly and easily, achieving their goal of making runners faster.
Traction
The Under Armour SpeedForm Slingshot uses a durable, flexible placed rubber with grooves and treads, which give good traction on roads. It is light and the technology makes the shoe thin yet durable, keeping the foot closer to the ground for better traction and control. The shoe does not have lugs or spikes, so it does not have proper traction to run on rough terrain or on slippery ice or snow.
Bottom Line
Overall, the Under Armour SpeedForm Slingshot is a great road running shoe. Its light weight allows users to carry the shoe quickly and easily, and to maintain their energy while doing so. The attractive style and colors appeal to many people. Its upper fits lock a sock, the midsole uses comfortable cushioning, and the outsole has an anatomical sole giving a natural fit and better performance. The shoe is also incredibly responsive, with the midsole giving great takeoffs and landings and the upper acting like a slingshot, making runners quicker than ever before. Possible areas for improvement include a lower price, more stability in the heel to eliminate slippage, more stability and support in the upper for lateral moves and over-pronators, a more durable upper material around the toes, and bigger or wider sizes. In short, the Under Armour footwear team succeeded in their challenge to defy the limits of speed and created a light, fast road running shoe.
