Article by Dominique and Sam Winebaum
Under Armour UA Infinite Elite 2 ($160)
Introduction
Sam: Named the Infinite Elite 2, one might expect a snappy big stack height trainer but that is not what we have here. Rather the Elite 2 is a soft and bouncy riding, broad fitting and friendly trainer with comfort on its mind more than high performance. And that is OK!
It is reasonable in weight at just over 10 oz US9 and sits on a broad platform at what is now a “mini max” stack height of 36mm heel / 28mm forefoot with a solid 8mm drop to help it move along.
Runs on tired legs, easy pace, long distances outings, walks, broad higher volume feet and for all-day comfort. I can well see “elites” and the rest of us reaching for it. Let’s get into the details.
Pros:
Extremely comfortable trainer: DominiqueSam
If you like a soft bouncy mellow ride you’ll find it here: Sam
Roomy toe box and comfortable high volume upper: Dominique/Sam
Shoelace system glides like a charm: Dominique/Sam
Minimalist outsole made of die-cut rubber smooths the ride: Dominique/Sam
Attractive design and dirt resistant in my “Downpour Gray/Fire/Gravel/Dominique
Beautiful color options in the women’s: Dominique
Cons:
High volume upper not ideal for our low volume feet: Dominique/Sam
Wide platform might feel a bit clunky at first: Dominique/Sam
Achilles collar is a bit high and rigid but may need to be so due to lock the foot given rest of the upper : Dominique
Heel lock + tight lacing in order to keep shoe comfortably and securely in place: Dominique
Midsole is on the soft side, lacks pop: Dominique/Sam
Most comparable shoes
Hoka Bondi 9
Brooks Ghost Max 2
Nike Vomero 18
Saucony Ride 18
Please find the testers full run bios at the end of the article after Comparisons.
Stats
Spec Weight: men's 10.2 oz / 289g
Sample Weights:
men’s 9.98 oz / 283g US8.5
women’s 9.4oz / 267g U9S
Stack Height: men’s 36mm heel / 28mm forefoot (8mm drop spec)
Platform Width: 95 mm heel / 75mm midfoot / 115mm forefoot
First Impressions, Fit and Upper
I tend to get intimidated by the term “Elite” in a shoe as I basically run 20-25 miles per week at a fairly slow pace. The emphasis with the UA Infinite Elite 2 is comfort for the long run (pun intended). This is a solid trainer designed to maximize comfort on long distance runs while helping keep your legs feeling fresh.
The fit is true to size though it takes some adjusting given the fairly wide platform and high volume of the shoe. To compensate for the high volume, I have been tying the shoelaces pretty tight.
On the upside, the shoelaces glide like a charm through the webbing eyelets and the fit is extremely comfortable even with a tight lacing. Because of the fairly high volume of the shoe, I opted after a few runs to use the “heel lock” by threading the shoelace in the extra eyelet in order to keep the heel in place. In short, the fit is secure if I use both the heel lock and tie my shoelaces pretty tight.
Look how tight I have to lace to get a good fit and my feet aren’t that low volume
The upper is an engineered mesh designed with enhanced breathability and durability. The padding around the collar is comfortable, however, the heel tab extends a little high without really locking the heel in place.
For a relatively bulky shoe, the look is both attractive and streamlined. The Women’s UA Infinite Elite 2 is available in 7 different colors, including white. Some of the colors enhance the stylish appeal of the shoe, such as “Ether blue/ Midnight Navy” or “White/Aero Pink/Comet Green.”
The color of my pair is “Downpour Gray/Fire/Gravel” which has the advantage of being pretty dirt resistant.
Sam: The design of the Elite 2 conveys and delivers and I will say it again, “comfort”. Sitting on a broad moderately high platform the upper continues the theme with a relatively unstructured construction with the front mesh very open in its exterior main layer. It is fully lined with a soft inner layer which connects to the tongue quite far forward to create an abbreviated and not particularly supportive gusset. A more substantial gusset of more compressive mesh connecting tongue to midsole would, in my view, provide more lockdown in the high volume midfoot area of the shoe.
The heel counter is semi rigid but for the lower part where some stability is provided by both the inner counter and a stitched on leather like overlay which provides the primary support. Interestingly it is a stitched on “clip”. Often such clips are a more rigid plastic piece. I like the approach here as while providing some clear support/stability the rear construction is not over rigid as say the Puma Forever Run 2’s is.
Dominique describes the upper fit very well. I especially concur that this is a high volume shoe.
While I did not resort to a runner’s loop lacing, or feel that my narrow to medium feet were swimming in the shoe I wished for less volume.
I had to lace them quite tight and was grateful the combination of those smooth gliding thin and flat laces and well padded tongue did not lead to lace bite but it was close.
Midsole & Platform
Dominique: The UA Infinite Elite 2 has been designed to maximize comfort and the feel of the midsole delivers just that. Made with UA HOVR+ foam, the midsole is extremely comfortable with plenty of rebound, however, it is a bit on the soft side.
As described in the specs, the 3D sockliner “cradles the foot” for an enhanced cushiony feel of the midsole. Likewise, the wide platform and the fairly high stack height at 36 mm/28mm (8 mm drop) of the shoe heightens the comfort of the midsole and ride.
Despite the soft cushioning, the shoe is fairly stable given the width of the platform and the stiffness of the outsole.
Sam: The midsole foam is an expanded TPU beads compound, so similar in makeup and I found in feel to Saucony’s PWRRUN+ although it seems a bit softer and bouncieryet here.
It is not a supercritical foam and thus is less reactive as say the new Bondi 9, an equally soft shoe but one with supercritical EVA. UA’s superb Infinite Mega (RTR Review), also a soft riding shoe has the same foam as an outer carrier, but with an inner drop in core of of supercritical EVA foam 15mm-12mm thick which gives that equally “soft” shoe noticeably more punch.
The stack height of 36mm heel / 28mm forefoot (8mm drop spec) can and be said to be moderate in these days of increasingly super max trainers heights well above 40mm.
To stabilize the soft foam and broad upper, Under Armour wisely goes with a broad at the ground platform of 95 mm heel / 75mm midfoot / 115mm forefoot. I am happy they went broad at the heel and forefoot while keeping the midfoot platform relatively narrow as otherwise I think the shoe would have been overly mushy and hard to turn over as I found for example the New Balance Fresh Foam 1080 v13.
The resulting midsole and platform delivers, as Dominique says, a soft and bouncy ride suitable for easier pace runs but one that as she also says lacks some “rebound” which a shift to supercritical foam in a next edition could deliver.
Outsole
Dominique: Lightweight die-cut rubber outsole designed for durability. It is a bit on the minimalist side in order to lighten up the shoe but feels plenty protective. The outsole also contributes to stiffening the shoe in order to make it more stable and give it some roll. This is my first time running in a shoe with a die-cut rubber outsole and this minimalist approach is definitely growing on me.
Sam: Dominique is wise to highlight the die cut rubber outsole. I find such outsoles durable and also, as say in the Topo Specter 2, provide enough stiffness and shape to create rockers and stabilize soft foam midsoles. That is the case here in the Infinite. The shoe is stiff to bending in hand with a touch of flex and a mild rocker. I think a yet more accentuated rocker would accelerate transitions to toe off and take better advantage of the narrowish midfoot platform and 8mm drop.
Ride, Conclusions and Recommendations
Dominique:I have been enjoying the ride of the UA Infinite Elite 2l; indeed the depth and the width of the midsole generate an all encompassing comfort feel, though it could be a bit firmer. Despite the high and quite stiff achilles collar, I have experienced zero friction when running or walking.
Although I have remediated the high volume of the shoe via the heel lock and a tight tying of the shoelaces, the shoe might be better adapted to male runners who tend to have wider feet than women. Of course, female runners can have wide feet too, so I feel this shoe might be well suited to them as well. The UA Infinite Elite 2 is a solid and comfortable trainer designed for long distance running, and would especially recommend the shoe for runners who have wider higher volume feet as opposed to narrow feet.
Dominique’s Score: 9/10
😊😊😊😊
Sam: Soft, roomy and comfortable, UA clearly set out to create a “friendly” riding trainer.
Don’t come expecting an uptempo fast feel here but a more mellow and at the same time quite lively and bouncy ride from its TPU foam. I imagine Under Armour elites reach for this Elite for their easy, easy runs.
With so many brands moving to supercritical foams (SCF) in 2025 with their more reactive feel even when soft and lighter weights, I do wish for such a foam here to extend the Elite 2 to more general daily training. At around $160 as here, competitive shoes such as the Bondi 9 and Vomero 18 have at least some SCF foam and in many cases also with yet high stack heights and equivalent weights so value here is affected.
The upper will favor higher volume feet but can adapt to lower volume ones. It could use more structure at mid foot such as a full gusset and some underlays/overlays to lock the foot more securely for me without having to over tighten the laceswhile the heel hold is excellent. Its soft foam and upper clearly make it a neutral shoe while its broad platform does provide some support, particularly at the heel.
The Infinite Elite 2 is a very solid and pleasant ride choice if you prefer soft and bouncy rides. It also feels great as a walking shoe. With some “tuning” of its upper for a more secure lower volume feet fit and its ride for more spring and less of a soft and somewhat sinking in feel, it could become a more all around versatile daily trainer. As is, it is a fine slower paces easy and recovery run option fpr me and one well worth considering.
Sam’s Score: 8.8 /10
😊😊😊 1 / 2
Ride (50%): 8.9 Fit (30%): 8.7 Value (15%): 8.5 Style (5%): 9.3
5 Comparisons
UA Infinite Mega (RTR Review)
Sam: UA’s Mega is higher stack, so more cushioned. It also has a nicely reactive inner core of supercritical foam with its outer carrier the same HOVR+ as in the Infinite. The result is an equally soft ride but a more dynamic one extending its range of paces and uses. The upper is equally large in volume but due to its fantastic BOA system with unique rear wrap and broad midfoot straps, even our testers with very low volume feet (the gals, had a secure, very well locked down and comfortable fit. I did too, and comparatively quite a bit more secure and comfortable fit than in the Infinite. The rub… the Mega is $250 vs. $160 here with Mega the current ultimate in comfort cruisers.
Saucony Ride 18 (RTR Review)
The Ride is very similar in stack height to the Infinite at 35mm heel / 27mm forefoot, is slightly lighter at 9.7 oz / 275g in a US9, and fairly priced at $140 ($20 less than the UA. The Saucony is a more traditional flex based daily trainer to the Infinite more rigid rocker type profile . It rides on a very similar TPU based midsole foam so it is similarly soft and quite bouncy. Its upper is somewhat more structured and secure as well as lower volume (so more suitable for low volume feet and less so for high volume feet). Its ride and uses for me lean more all around daily training than the Infinite although both due to their softness (and TPU foam) are softer than I prefer.
Brooks Ghost Max 2 (RTR Review)
Sam: Clearly heavier at 10.8 oz / 306g US9, the Max is one of my favorite easy days, big shoes of the last year or so. Its DNA Loft v3 supercritical foam is somewhat denser and less bouncy in feel but still pleasant with its midfoot platform considerably broader so it is more stable. Its upper is clearly not as airy as the Infinite’s but si more supportive. Overall it is not as much “fun” as the UA but is more reliable and steady when legs are tired.
Nike Vomero 18 (RTR Review)
Sam: The $150 Vomero 18 has a considerably higher stack height at 46mm heel / 36mm forefoot yet weighs only 0.15 oz more. Its midsole combines an inner core of supercritical ZoomX foam with an outer carrier of ReactX which is somewhat firmer than the Hovr+ in the UA. The result is a more cushioned if a bit firmer and somewhat more reactive big shoe ride. Its upper is similar in comfort to the Infinite but somewhat more dialed in volume, so more secure. Overall, The Nike is more performant while still a comfort focused big shoe.
Hoka Bondi 9 (RTR Review)
Sam: A direct competitor, the Bondi saw big changes for the 9th edition. It gets as a soft and reactive supercritical EVA midsole dropping its weight dramatically to 10.45 oz / 296g US9 so a few tenths heavier than the UA.
It sits on a considerably higher stack height of 43mm heel / 38mm forefoot and with a lower 5mm drop so has more forefoot cushion. Its platform is more “equal” in dimensions along its length at 100mm heel / 85mm midfoot / 100 mm forefoot so broader at the heel and midfoot and considerably narrower up front. The result is a more stable shoe at the rear than the UA with a more agile and flexible toe off upfront and especially so for its bigger forefoot stack height. Its upper is roomy and somewhat more secure.
Playing in the same comfort cruiser category, the Hoka leans more daily trainer than before ue to its weight drop and new foam and somewhat more so than the UA with still clear utility for easy runs as well..
Index to all RTR reviews: HERE
The UA Infinite Elite 2 is available at Under Armour HERE
Tester Profiles
Dominique has run for over 45 years, consistently about 25 miles per week at paces between 11 and 12 minute miles and once a week down in the mid 9 minute miles. She races rarely, but always surprises more hard core runners in her age group when she does. She has a 1985 marathon PR of 3:16 in her second marathon which at the time put her on the top 10 Swiss women’s lists. An avid hiker and trekker, she has been around Mont Blanc 3 times, hiked Chamonix to Zermatt, and completed the 48 New Hampshire 4000 footers. She is the mother of two grown children, both runners post college, and also enjoys nordic and alpine skiing, tennis, and gardening.
Sam is the Editor and Founder of Road Trail Run. He is in his 60’s with 2024 Sam’s 52th year of running roads and trails. He has a decades old 2:28 marathon PR. These days he runs halves in the just sub 1:40 range if he gets very, very lucky. Sam trains 30-40 miles per week mostly at moderate paces on the roads and trails of New Hampshire and Utah be it on the run, hiking or on nordic skis. He is 5’9” tall and weighs about 160 lbs, if he is not enjoying too many fine New England IPA’s.
Europe only: use RTR code RTR5ALL for 5% off all products, even sale products
No comments:
Post a Comment