TRIED & TESTED
Living up to a Good
Reputation
I really enjoyed my first wear-testing opportunity with the Under Armour brand , putting their HOVR Machina neutral road shoe and Sportsmask through their paces , and I was quite impressed with the performance of both … but then , I was actually expecting that . – BY SEAN FALCONER
I
used to have this grey Under Armour T-shirt that I loved . It just sat so well on me , and I wore it so often that eventually the Tee ’ s material grew thinner , until one day my dog excitedly jumped up when I said it was time for ‘ walkies ,’ and ripped the shirt with her claws . It was no fault of the Tee design or material – that shirt gave sterling service – but now it had to be relegated to becoming a washing rag . On the up-side , it was my first experience of the Under Armour brand , and I had nothing but praise for their product quality .
So , when the brand ’ s PR Manager called up and said they wanted to send me some new products to test , I was really keen to see if their running shoes would live up to my experience of their Tee . I know , not exactly comparing apples with apples , but I waited excitedly for my new shoes to arrive . A few days later the courier driver dropped off my goodies , and I immediately took the HOVR Machinas out for a lookover .
My first impression was a most pleasing appraisal of the aesthetics . I love the black / red colourway that I was given , and I could happily wear these with jeans , but they ’ re designed for running , so that ’ s what I did with them . First impression of the fit was snug , thanks not only to the structured mesh upper and well-padded heel collar , but largely due to the elasticated anchor straps connecting the tongue to the midsole . These hug the foot to keep it from moving inside the shoe . I found that the upper mesh does not stretch as much as weave-knit upper shoes currently on the market , but then weave-knit uppers do not offer enough structure and fit for some runners , being too flexible or giving for them , so give the Machina a look in store and decide for yourself if you like snug fit .
Taking Them for a Spin
The next day I got down to the real business of the shoe , the midsole and how it performs . Firstly , there is an 8mm drop from heel ( 26mm ) to toe ( 18mm ), which is standard stuff . Then , there are two layers of foam rubber , with a higher density EVA ‘ Charged Foam ’ layer underneath a more bouncy , lightweight HOVR foam rubber
layer . You can clearly see the different layers – the EVA is the red layer running from the heel to midway through the forefoot , including the midfoot area , while the HOVR layer runs the full length of the shoe , and has the distinctive Energy Web wrapped around it . This mesh , made from thin wiring , gives this squishier rubber a bit more structure for when the shoe compresses and flexes , and helps drive the foot forward , rather than allowing energy to escape sideways , where it doesn ’ t benefit the runner .
The main reason for the EVA layer is to provide a footbed for the real ‘ star of this show ,’ the forked Pebax-carbon Propulsion Plate that runs from the heel , forking into three arms at the midfoot and stretching forwards to the toes . ( You can see parts of it in the midfoot and forefoot if you turn the shoe upside down ). This plate is designed to provide a snappier toe-off , basically making your foot spring forwards and upwards , so it effectively makes you faster .
Several brands currently have propulsion plates in their leading racing shoes , and as a result World Records and PBs are tumbling , sparking much debate in the sport about aided performances , akin to doping . However , the Machina ’ s Propulsion Plate is a not a full-foot plate , so again , it ’ s not apples and apples . But this is where the real trade-off occurs , because shoes with full-length plates tend to be much less flexible in the forefoot . While you get more propulsion and explosive power in a plated shoe , you lose a bit of responsiveness in the ride , i . e . the shoe is more rigid and doesn ’ t give you that feeling of natural ( barefoot ) running . For this reason , a more rigid , plated shoe may suit you for shorter racing distances , but probably not marathons or ultras . Again , that really is a personal preference , and something that you need to decide for yourself .
Further cushioning is provided by a footbed of extra foam rubber , while the innersole insert is 6mm thick , thus enhancing the overall cushioning still further . Overall , I quite liked the bouncy cushioning of the shoe when I started moving around in them . It took time to get used to the forefoot stiffness , as I normally go for a much more flexible shoe , but you soon start loving that plate when you are running – and even more so later in the run as you tire ! Couple that with what I found a most pleasant squishiness of the HOVR midsole , and you get a really decent ride , that definitely makes you actually want to go faster . ( That ’ s why Under Armour talks about “ fast cushioning ” when it describes the performance of this shoe .)
Another Star Performer
Another thing to write home about with the Machina is that it ’ s a ‘ smart shoe .’ You see , the right shoe has an embedded chip in the midsole , which is compatible with the MapMyRun app , part of the world ’ s largest digital health and fitness community
Images : Courtesy Under Armour
48 ISSUE 135 NOVEMBER 2020 / www . modernathlete . co . za