Under Armour SlipSpeed Mega Review
The Under Armour SlipSpeed Mega tries and pushes the envelope for performance footwear with innovation at its core; they cost Rs 16,999
Under Armour’s SlipSpeed Mega training shoes are the continuation of a series that was initially seen as a gimmick but gradually became a favourite among fitness enthusiasts. The SlipSpeed line made its debut in 2022 and quite frankly, it made a splash. It was, after all, a shoe with two modes. One for running and the other for leisureful walks. While some viewed this as a gimmick (as new things always are), some saw it as a necessary innovation. Fast forward to the present day and we have the Under Armour SlipSpeed Mega.
To my surprise, the way a good shoe is made involves way more technology than I had suspected. This is a revelation to me and I am happy I got to know this sooner than later. The more you know, am I right? I received the Under Armour SlipSpeed Mega for reviewing and this is my experience with this pair of training shoes from the US-based sportswear company.
“The Under Armour SlipSpeed Mega is a great-looking shoe.” That is more or less what popped into my head when I first saw the pair. The shoes have a massive base that clearly helps in lateral footing and gives it a dominating appearance.
Another thing that easily caught my eye was the Boa lacing system on the shoes. These dials are essentially used for “tying” the shoelaces which in this case are recycled polyester and polyethylene textile cables.
The SlipSpeed Mega is truly nothing like your conventional training shoe. There are no laces flying around, there is a significant amount of midsole for extra cushioning and there is proprietary technology in play that apparently helps your feet cool down after intense training sessions.
Before I dive deeper into how the SlipSpeed Mega shoes performed, I need to specify how I tested them. The parameters for measuring performance were fairly basic.
The idea was to experience what the shoes feel like when pushing yourself to the limit. The goal was to complete the aforementioned activities in due time and see how the shoes felt after taking them through the ringer.
Test 1 - Jogging for 30 minutes
Honestly, the first test went like a breeze. Jogging for 30 minutes didn’t feel like a task for the SlipSpeed Mega trainers at all. Jogging felt effortless, hence, proving that these shoes handle light to medium movement pretty well.
Test 2 - 1-minute sprints
This activity is the polar opposite of the one mentioned above. Sprints are explosive workouts and I wanted to see if these shoes can handle those kinds of movements. To my surprise, they did. I performed three one-minute sprints as that was all I could handle and the shoes did not, for once, feel like they could not keep up with the pace and intensity. There was enough support and grip to make me feel confident about my strides. This is impressive as the shoes don’t have an additional layer of grip at the bottom. All you need to do is make sure that the laces are not loose and there is enough tension to keep your foot in place.
Test 3 – 15-minute bodyweight circuits
These circuits proved to be much more difficult than I imagined. The shoes handled the movements pretty well but they did feel a little uncomfortable towards the end, especially on the sides. There was ample support when doing rapid lateral movements and jumps and the SlipSpeed Megas handled it pretty well to a huge extent. The insole also plays a huge role here as it offers maximum comfort.
Test 4 – Weightlifting
For those who are looking for a shoe to help them lift weights comfortably and hit PRs on the regular, the SlipSpeed Mega might just be the perfect middle choice. Be it cardio sessions before the weights, be it post-training cooldowns on the treadmill or be it core weight training sessions, the SlipSpeed Mega seems to handle it all. I would, however, like to clarify that these are not exercise-specific shoes. They are not meant to be shoes that are great for squats or shoes that are great for a particular sport like tennis. These shoes are multi-faceted or might I say ‘the jack of all trades and master of none’. Throw them around to perform any task at hand and they will be fine. You do need to remember that they do not specialise in a particular field or sport.
“The most versatile training shoes we’ve ever made with a supersized midsole for mega energy. They feel great, cushion better, fit perfectly, handle your toughest training, AND have a heel that converts easily from recover mode to train mode.” This is how Under Armour officially describes the SlipSpeed Mega training shoes.
You see, the beauty of running/training shoes with big midsoles has always been in the underlying comfort. Now, there are other views on this but when it comes to the long-term benefits of running with virtual clouds under your feet, choosing comfort seems like the obvious way to go. The sole we are referring to here is what Under Armour calls flow technology.
The outer layer of the shoe’s uppers is not mesh and a single look at the material will tell you that. This material can handle a lot more wear and tear than its contemporaries. Hence, sprinting, jogging, plyometrics etc should not be an issue.
Under Armour chose a good quality inner lining for the paddle heel as it has to endure a lot of movement. Additionally, this is the feature that the company is basing most of the shoe’s identity on so they had to make sure that this just works. The heel is made of a durable material and the construction is such that it will not cause any problem during usage. The heel lining is flexible and can take on anything you throw at it.
The inner liner also has something called the Iso-chill technology that keeps your feet cool. This is definitely something that makes a good case for the shoes as temperatures in India are always on the higher side.
This is an area that many people will have strong opinions about. There is basically no rubber outsole making the foamy midsole the only point of contact to the ground. This will definitely result in more wear and tear in the longer run. The question is why did Under Armour choose to do it this way? Regardless, this choice means that SlipSpeed Mega training shoes might not be the best for abrasive and rough surfaces. However, if you’re going to use these shoes in gyms, carpeted playing fields or well-curated tracks, you will be able to prolong the midsole life.
The midsole uses Under Armour’s Flow cushioning technology. Unlike what it seems like, the Flow foam is not that bouncy and instead provides ample stability.
The Boa (displayed as BOA) lacing system on the SlipSpeed Mega shoes is a much better alternative to the traditional laces if you prefer saving time (and looking immensely cool). All you need to do is rotate the knob and tighten the laces. To release the tension, you just need to pull the knob and the laces come loose.
The system uses specialised TX6 textile laces that are made of recycled polyester and polyethylene. This mix is well known for providing extended toughness and durability. The dial, on the other hand, is an L6 dial which enables the tightening and loosening of the laces. It is highly convenient and it essentially takes away the entire hassle of managing laces. These laces were first used on skiing shoes as they could handle extended periods of rough use.
The fact that the SlipSpeed Mega training shoes lack a proper rubber outsole also makes them very light in weight. I have the shoes in UK 8 size and they weigh 280 grams only. These do not feel heavy on the feet and are easy to manoeuvre.
I was never big on slip-on shoes before this. In fact, I just used my regular training shoes as slip-ons when I needed to move quickly. The SlipSpeeds do change your perspective that way. In this case, whenever I needed to just grab the shoes and go, all I needed to do was go into Slip mode. It is that simple. That is when it hits you and you realise the utility of a ‘dual mode’ training shoe. This is, by far, one of the most practical features I have witnessed on a training shoe.
The SlipSpeed Mega is a great shoe when it comes to running activities ranging from brisk walking to jogging to sprinting. They are even better for indoor activities like workouts at the gym. The Flow midsole foam (which also becomes the outsole) is extremely comfortable. It looks soft but it certainly isn't. This is also good for people who need a good rehab shoe or just something to casually wear after intense workouts. Of course, this is also where the Slip mode comes into play. Simply put your feet in the shoe over the heel liner and you’re good to go.
With a price tag of Rs 16,999, the SlipSpeed Mega screams versatility. With a unique blend of technology and practical innovation, Under Armour has created a pair of shoes that caters to a wider audience. So, needless to say, if versatility is a must-have for you, these shoes are a no-brainer. They have different components that make them multi-faceted and well-suited for a variety of situations. Lastly, the dual modes, a major selling point of the SlipSpeed Mega is a piece of innovation that cannot be ignored no matter how gimmicky one thinks it is.
