Under Armour flow velociti wind vs Saucony kinvara 12: Which running trainer is best?
The well-known brands have both recently released innovation-packed lightweight trainers
(The Independent)Last year, at the beginning of the pandemic, a back-to-basics running boom took off. Many people found themselves with no gym, no workout equipment, and a strong urge to escape their confining four walls and get outside to relieve some stress. So, they turned to (or returned to) running.
Research recently published by Macmillan Cancer Support revealed that an estimated seven million people across the nation turned to running or jogging to look after their mental health during the Covid-19 crisis.
Public Health England’s Couch to 5k app, meanwhile, was downloaded 858,000 times between March and June last year, a 92 per cent increase compared with 2019.
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Running has become increasingly popular – providing indispensable physical and mental health support to so many of us during these trying times. But the best part? All you really need is a pair of trainers.
Normally, I’d recommend any new runners on the hunt for a pair of shoes to go get fitted at a specialist store where they can offer you a gait analysis and look at whether you pronate, how you’re landing, whether you have a neutral foot and what your arches look like in movement.
Of course, right now, this sadly isn’t possible. So many runners are ordering new kicks online. According to City AM, Sports Direct sold 218 per cent more pairs of running trainers online during the lockdown than in the same period last year.
Perhaps you started running last March in an old pair of trainers (found in the deepest, darkest depths of your wardrobe), but since then, you’ve surprised yourself and stuck with running – maybe you’ve got faster and fitter – so you’re now looking to upgrade or invest in a specific type.
Two well-known sports companies, Under Armour and Saucony, have recently released innovative takes on the lightweight trainer. Both promise fast running and both are similar in price. We put them to the test to see which one felt faster.
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As a word of warning, lightweight trainers like these are best saved for race days, tempo sessions and 5k PB attempts – where you want firmer footwear that helps your body explode off the ground – so some runners might not find these shoes to be cushioned enough for long runs or higher mileage days.
You can trust our independent reviews. We may earn commission from some of the retailers, but we never allow this to influence selections, which are formed from real-world testing and expert advice. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent.
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Under Armour flow velociti wind
Category: Neutral
Weight: Women 227g
Offset: 8mm
It’s fair to say that Under Armour is relatively new to the running space. In fact, while many of you may be familiar with the sportswear giant, perhaps you – like me – associate the brand more with the gym than running.
The brand calls the flow velociti wind its “fastest running shoe yet”. But how do you make a running shoe faster?
The designers behind this light and agile shoe have removed what is normally the heaviest part of a trainer – the rubber outsole – stripping away any excess material and replacing it with a new all-in-one cushioning-plus-outsole design. This saves 55-85g, depending on the style of your old shoe.
The upper of the shoe has also been engineered to suit go-faster running. According to Under Armour, the patented “warp” upper features “supporting tapes that act like seatbelts on the foot, placed precisely where our biomechanists found them to be most helpful for a runner”. Not only is it meant to mould to your foot’s shape over time, but the spiderweb stitching is also incredibly breathable – and pretty.
On top of the two brand-new technologies – the flow midsole and warp upper – this shoe can also be synchronised to your phone, so you can track your runs directly with the UA MapMyRun app.
I love the glitter-esque detailing and found them grippy and responsive. On one run, I tried to ignore my watch and just go off feel – aiming for an easier training session – and I was pleasantly surprised to see my splits were a lot faster than they felt. But I did find them a touch too firm – I wouldn’t really want to run further than 10km in them, for example.
Buy now £140.00, Underarmour.co.uk
Saucony kinvara 12
Category: Neutral
Weight: Women 184g
Offset: 4mm
There really is very little to criticise about the Saucony kinvara 12 trainers. This is, unsurprisingly, the 12th iteration of the brand’s trusted go-fast trainer – and the new, lightweight upgrades don’t disappoint.
I have to admit, having previously owned a pair of Saucony ride shoes, I tend to associate the brand with maximalist, super-cushioned running trainers with chunky soles. But the kinvara 12s – with their simplified, breathable mesh uppers – don’t feel thickly cushioned at all. In fact, they’re quite the opposite.
The kinvara 12s use simplified versions of the latest Saucony tech – including the “pwrrun” midsole and the “formfit” upper. They’re pretty snug, so they’re great if you have narrow feet and want them to be “hugged”.
Influenced by the successful Saucony endorphin collection, the kinvara 12s come in the vibrant “bright future” colourway – which I’m definitely a fan of. It’s bold, but not too in your face.
They are lighter than the Under Armour flows – and look a little less fussy. They also have a low offset (the difference in height between the toe and the heel) which discourages heavy landing at the heel and moves you towards a more midfoot- or forefoot-based strike.
So do remember to stretch: that 4mm toe-to-heel drop is noticeable if you’re used to running in a shoe with between 8mm and 12mm (it will seriously test your calves and Achilles).
I immediately felt fast once I put these on (and my Strava account confirmed it) and I enjoyed the snappy, firm and responsive feel. Overall, these trainers are perfect for quick training sessions, high-tempo endurance runs or even races (when they’re back in the diary).
Buy now £120.00, Saucony.com
The verdict: Under Armour flow velociti wind vs Saucony kinvara 12
I hate to break it to you, but running trainers are an individual choice: what feels fast, supportive and comfortable for you might feel like the world’s most uncomfortable shoe to someone else.
In many ways, these two are very similar – but, for me, I preferred the Saucony kinvara 12 trainers. They were a touch lighter than Under Armour’s pair and felt more like racing shoes in comparison.
Does its performance match its looks? We went running and put the new Adidas ultraboost 21 trainers to put them to the test
