Details
Brand
Under Armour
Breathability
8/10
Terrain
Road
Type
Stability
Key Features
• Charged Bandit 2• Unique heathered upper• Ultrasonic welded seams• High abrasion and blown rubber outsole• Deep Flex Grooves• Micro G footbed• Dual layered midsole cushion• Full length Charged cushion• Rear foot Micro G foam
Upper
The upper of the Under Armour Charged Bandit 2 has been revamped since the previous iteration of the shoe. The re-envisioned upper is made of a new heathered material. The Charged Bandit 2’s upper is stretchy and breathable. Ultrasonic welded seams ensure comfort and produce a snug fit. The tongue connects to the upper so it stays put and helps to lock down the wearer’s foot. The Micro G footbed adds cushion for the wearer.;Another significant change made to the Bandit 2’s upper is the omission of much of the cushion from the tongue and heel collar. The paired down upper allows for a reduced weight and better fitting shoe. The lacing portion of the shoe is also different from the previous version, allowing for a more secure fit.
Midsole
The Under Armour Charged Bandit’s midsole contains a generous amount of cushioning material. You’ll also be well-protected from impact in this shoe. Inside the midsole, there are two layers of cushioning. The first layer is Micro G foam. On top of that, there’s full-length Charged cushioning. The Micro G foam is firmer and is located in heel of the shoe to provide support.;The intention is for the forefoot to be softer to provide increased energy-return and a more efficient toe-off. Some runners, though, noted that the cushioning felt the same throughout the shoe. The cushioning components are the same as in the previous version of the shoe but the Micro G foam has been eliminated from the forefoot region. Several reviewers commented on the improved toe-off feel of the Charged Bandit 2.
Outsole
The Under Armour Charged Bandit 2 has an outsole made of high abrasion rubber. The tough rubber is meant to protect high impact areas from repeated pounding. Blown rubber is also utilized in the forefoot area and adds some degree of cushioning. The shoe is intended to be used on the road running you won’t find aggressive spikes underfoot. The lugs are fairly flat so aren’t meant for technical trails.;Should you encounter rainy weather and get stuck in muddy conditions, you’ll likely have a bit of trouble keeping steady. This shoe is definitely meant to stay on the roads. On the outsole, you’ll notice deep grooves that enable the shoe to flex with your foot. These flex grooves also provide a natural running running experience.
Breathability
The upper on the Under Armour Charged Bandit 2 does an excellent job at keeping feet cool and dry. The newly remade upper on the Charged Bandit 2 has been greatly improved since the previous model. The upper is made of a t-shirt-like material which wicks moisture very effectively. It’s also stretchy which helps to ensure a comfortable, not too snug fit. One negative aspect of the Bandit 2 is the shoe’s poor ability to drain water. In rainy conditions, many runners felt waterlogged. Because the shoe is so breathable, it also lets in a lot of water on rainy-day runs. Many runners found it very uncomfortable to run in wetter weather.
Comfort
Most of the reviewers of the Under Armour Charged Bandit 2 were very pleased with the shoe. They felt comfortable when wearing the shoe for their runs. A few runners did mention that they found the cushioning too rigid and found it impossible to enjoy long runs in the Bandit 2. But these runners were in the minority. The shoe wraps around the foot quite nicely without causing blister formation or putting unwanted pressure on the foot.
Style
The Under Armour Charged Bandit 2 is a shoe with a unique look. Another part of the shoe that has been improved is the visual design of the upper. The Bandit 2 features a very interesting heathered upper that looks a bit space-age. The shoe looks fresh and modern enough to wear outside of training runs. The heathered look may take some getting used to. At first glance, the shoe almost looks as if it’s already been run in! It’s definitely a different look that’s sure to please some runners.
Durability
The Under Armour Charge Bandit 2 is a durable shoe. The combination of high abrasion and blown rubber in the outsole protect the sole from wear and tear. The midsole cushion is also heavy duty enough to take a significant pounding. Runners were able to run hundreds of miles in the Charged Bandit 2 without losing the fresh feeling of the shoe’s cushion. The shoe is well constructed and won’t fall apart despite repeated pavement pounding.
Protection
On the whole, the Under Armour Charged Bandit 2 is a pretty light shoe. Despite its low weight, it still provides enough cushioning, support and protection for the wearer. The midsole offers plenty of cushioning material to dampen the impact of each footfall. Runners felt that the shoe contained enough cushioning to protect from impact forces but they also felt the shoe was light enough to go fast. The shoe is able to handle higher mileage without any problems. There was some concern, though, from quite a few runners that the shoe performs quite poorly in wet conditions. The breathable upper is almost ‘too breathable’ and lets in a lot of moisture when the rain starts to pour. There’s little to protect a runner’s feet from the elements in the Bandit 2.
Responsiveness
The Under Armour Charged Bandit 2 is fairly responsive. The shoe’s midsole Charged and Micro G foam cushioning provide adequate energy return. Coupled with the lightweight construction, the shoe offers a comfortable, fast ride. Some runners did find the shoe was less responsive that they had hoped. They cited the rigid midsole as the main culprit for hurting the shoe’s bouncy feel. These runners found the impact with the ground felt hard and unforgiving which made running with the Bandit 2 very tough. Still, quite a few runners were happy with the shoe’s performance during long runs.
Support
The Under Armour Charged Bandit 2 falls into the neutral category of running shoes. You’ll still get enough support from the shoe, though. You should feel locked in with enough room to breathe. The Ultrasonic panels on the upper of the shoe are meant to keep your foot anchored in. There is also a good amount of arch support. In addition, the heel of the shoe features a heavy dose of foam to add a bit more support for the wearer. The outsole acts to support the wearer because of the traction it provides. Some runners cited fit issues as their main complaint with the Bandit 2. They felt there was too much room inside the shoe and they experienced excessive slippage which caused the stability of the shoe to suffer. It’s possible that sizing down may fix these kinds of issues with the Bandit 2.
Terrain
The Under Armour Charged Bandit 2 performs best on the roads. It can handle running on pavement quite well and is best suited to runners who prefer to stay off of the trails. The high abrasion and blown rubber outsole are durable enough to handle miles of running. The shoe does poorly when it’s used on the trails. The outsole has flat lugs which just aren’t good enough to deal with off-road conditions, especially in wet and muddy conditions.
Price
The Under Armour Charged Bandit 2 is an affordable shoe at a fair price point. The shoe does what it’s supposed to do. It’s meant to tackle road running and performs its best on that kind of surface. The Charged Bandit 2 also happens to be a very comfortable shoe. There’s enough cushioning in the midsole to provide padding for the wearer. It’s also light enough to be used for fast runs. And best of all, it’s aesthetically pleasing so it can be worn casually as well.
Drop
The 10mm drop in the Under Armour Charged Bandit 2 is quite standard. This drop can accommodate all types of foot strikes. Whether you strike the ground with the front of your foot, your midfoot, or your heel, this shoe should work well for you. The shoe is flexible enough to provide a smooth heel to toe transition. It’s not a minimal shoe but it’s lightweight enough to work well as a transition shoe. Running in the shoe feels natural and comfortable but you still get a good deal of protection and padding in the midsole.
Stability
This isn’t a stability shoe. The Under Armour Charged Bandit 2 is best for runners who do not overpronate excessively. Despite falling into the neutral zone, the shoe provides a decent amount of support. The first area that adds support for the wearer is the midsole. Featuring 2 layers of cushion, the midsole’s Micro G foam and Charged cushioning offer a supportive platform. The rubber outsole also adds support by providing traction.;Runners should feel stable in the Charged Bandit 2. The upper is another area that adds support. It locks the wearer’s foot inside the shoe so they do not feel wobbly. The wearer’s foot will feel snugly wrapped inside the shoe thanks to the upper’s Ultrasonic panels. With the right sizing and fit, runners should not move inside the shoe. A small number of reviewers said that the shoe felt sloppy and lacked stability but they were in the minority.
Flexibility
The Under Armour Charged Bandit 2 does a stellar job when it comes to flexibility. The outsole, while being durable is also very flexible. This means that runners can enjoy a smooth ride. Moving forward will feel natural in the Charged Bandit 2. The deep Flex Grooves, which can be seen in the outsole, help to increase the shoe’s pliability. The majority of reviewers were very happy which the shoe’s flexibility.;Even those that commented on the rigid midsole cushion had nothing negative to say about the shoe ability to move with the runner. The shoes’ upper is just as flexible as its outsole. The t-shirt-like material is stretchy and fits snugly around the wearer’s foot. It’s able to accommodate foot swelling and helps to ensure comfort for the runner. Although the shoe is quite flexible, this doesn’t mean it’s unstable. Runners should still feel locked in and stable when running in the Charged Bandit 2.
Traction
The Under Armour Charged Bandit 2 features a fairly durable outsole. It’s made up of a combination of high abrasion rubber and blown rubber. These two materials ensure the longevity of the shoe even if a runner is training for a long-distance race. The shoe performs well when it comes to running on pavement. It’s also good for indoor treadmill runs, track work, or interval training outside. The rubber sole provides good traction when the sun is out and the ground is dry.;When rainy weather comes along, runners will need to be careful because the shoe has trouble when the ground is slick underfoot. The lugs underfoot provide enough grip to ensure stability in nice weather but they are too flat and slick to work well when the ground is wet. A large chunk of reviewers commented negatively on the shoe’s traction. They explained that they had no trouble when it came to fair weather running but when the ground was wet, the shoe’s just couldn’t grip as well. This is probably the biggest problem with the Charged Bandit 2. It’s something that needs to be addressed for future versions of the shoe.
Bottom Line
The neutral Under Armour Charged Bandit 2 is meant for the roads. The shoe is lightweight and can be used as a daily trainer no matter what the training distances. The Charged Bandit 2 has a unique look and the shoe is a huge improvement on its predecessor. The shoe offers a comfortable ride in a lightweight package without bonking on protection underfoot. The shoe offers up great value and will last throughout training. The few issues that bothered reviewers are not deal breakers.;The propensity for the shoe to take on water is a clear sign that the shoe is super breathable. Some runners mentioned the lack of energy return, but they were in the minority. Hopefully, the next Charged Bandit model will remain essentially the same with some upgrades to the shoe’s ability to gain traction on wetter surfaces. The Charged Bandit 2 will work well for the neutral runner who wants to avoid clunky trainers but still wants a fair bit of cushioning to enhance overall comfort.
