Disclaimer: I received the UA Horizon RTT Trail Shoes to review as part of being a BibRave Pro. Learn more about becoming a BibRave Pro (ambassador), and check out BibRave.com to review find and write race reviews!
Finding the right shoe for you can be hard, let alone finding a trail shoe that works not only for your running style and foot, but also to the trails you run. I generally run some tame trails, but sometimes I head over to more technical trails to run with my trail loving friends (and on the rare occasion, by myself). I had the opportunity to try a pair of Under Armour Horizon RTT Trail shoes. Choosing a color was tough, but in true Heather fashion, I went with one of my favorite colors — the teal ones (official color is Marlin Blue / Neptune). Picking a shoe size can always be iffy too, but I took the 'what size fits me best test', which resulted in the same size I usually wear.
When I got the shoe, I was intrigued by the traction on the bottom. They looked like they would be great for the really technical trails where you would need good traction to get up some of the trickier hills or to stay on your feet in a muddy situation. I never got to test the latter, as the trails in the area aren't supposed to be run on when they are muddy (to preserve them, and I do my best to follow the rules), but they did work great on getting up hills where I needed a good foothold (better than my usual road shoes).
I am in full marathon training mode, so I was weary of trying them on my long runs, but I did wear them for short/medium runs up to 6 miles. I didn't have any issues with blisters and the fit was great. I'm glad I went with the size that was recommended. I found it was true to size, but sometimes size can be relative, so I'll say the shoes I usually wear for running in the two brands I wear are both the same size, and the Under Armour RTT Trail Shoes are the same.
They were a little heavier than the shoes I'm used to, but I feel like that is standard for a trail shoe – I think they are made a little more sturdy and durable. It didn't bother me, it's just something I initially noticed, but quickly got used to. I felt they moved well with my foot when running and didn't notice any heel or knee pain (something I've been dealing with lately, which I think has to do with running in shoes that aren't a great fit for me, so I am usually pretty weary of new shoe models I haven't worn before for running).
There were a few instances where I was running on rocks that I noticed my ankle rolling a bit, but I honestly think that's just me and my lack of gracefulness and being a bit on the clumsy side. This didn't happen when it was the dirt, tree roots, grass, etc. Just when on the rocks. Nothing got stuck in the bottoms. I felt the cushion wasn't over the top, but there was enough that my heels weren't bothered in them.
I love getting out to the trails; though they are more difficult, which means I'm even slower than usual, I always feel accomplished and I enjoy my time out in nature. Having a shoe that fits the terrain better gives me the excitement and energy to make the trek out rather than just running around the neighborhood (which gets pretty boring).
I would have liked to get out to the trails more, and I did try, but sometimes life gets in the way. I was able to get out there 5 times to test these shoes out for 5–6 miles each time. I tried another day – I got everything ready to go so I could go straight from work and I was so proud and later in the day at work I realized I didn't pack a sports bra... that's not really negotiable, and by the time I got home from work I didn't have the time to get out to the trails before making it to BibChat at 8pm CT that night. I did go the next day, but it just wasn't the same haha.
Some info on the UA Horizon RTT Shoe from the website: These were made for the runner who makes the trail their second home. With superior cushioning & incredible durability, they‘re are ready to put in some serious miles. Product DNA
Durable PU & textile upper for breathability & reliable protection
Reinforced welded synthetic material in critical areas for increased durability
Mesh heel with dual protective welds
Molded collar foam package for added comfort
Charged Cushioning® foam puck placed under the heel for responsive comfort
Lightweight, full-length EVA midsole for optimal cushioning
High traction rubber lug outsole for dependable traction on a variety of conditions
Offset: 7mm
Weight: 9.2 oz.
Imported
Colors:
Marlin Blue (300) / Neptune
Black (001) / Steel
Raisin Red (916) / Black Currant
Midnight Navy (410) / Mediterranean
Pomegranate (693) / Gray Matter
Cost: $109.99
I would recommend these for anyone looking for a trail shoe that is sturdy and durable. I heard a few of the other BibRave Pros even ran through streams and puddles in them and had no issues. Everyone is different, but for me, they were comfortable and worked well for the trails that I was running.
Disclaimer: I received a pair of Adidas UltraBOOST X to review as part of being a BibRave Pro. Learn more about becoming a BibRave Pro (ambassador), and check out BibRave.com to review find and write race reviews!
Finding the perfect shoe for you and running can be a difficult task, one that might take years. I've found two pairs I rotate through that seem to be working well, but I never stop trying other shoes that I think might work for me. If they do, they are added to the rotation. If they don't, they become walking/errands kind of shoes.
When the chance to try the new Adidas UltraBOOST X came along, I jumped at the chance to give them a try. What makes these shoes special? Why did they catch my eye?
The Adidas UltraBOOST X is a shoe designed for women only. It does not come in a men's shoe. Why is this? They were designed to fit a woman's foot and to give them the arch support they need more of. Adidas and can speak a bit more clearer about the design than I can - - "Designed to respond to the way your foot moves through each stride, the shoes feature a floating arch and an Adidas Primeknit upper that hugs and adapts to your foot throughout the gait cycle. boost™ delivers maximum energy return, and a stretchy outsole flexes to adapt to the way your foot strikes the ground."
If you follow me on your Instagram, you might have seen my story of the day I went to Dick's Sporting Goods to pick mine up from the Adidas reps. Most DSG stores don't carry this model in store yet, so if you're interested in them, I'd give your local store a call and see if they have them. If not, you can go into the store and they can order them for you, or you can order them online here. They come in six color options right now (when I received mine, there were only three), so I chose the grey ones. I really liked how they looked - spiffy. Current colors are black/blue/orange, black/grey, blue/corral, coral, grey, and pink. They all look nice.
Traveling in comfort.
Anyway, when I went to the store to try them on, my first thoughts were how lightweight they felt and how bouncy the BOOST sole felt. It's hard to tell if a shoe will work well with your running style in the store, but they felt great. I didn't feel like the arch felt super weird, though I know a lot of the other Pros felt this way when initially trying them on.
The Adidas reps I met with were super awesome and helped me get some fun videos/photos with the shoes. They explained a lot of the technology and the special features of the shoes. I wore them for some errands right after I got them and then for a walk to break them in a little bit. I then started to wear them on my 4 milers (my short runs, I often have 3 in a week). The first run I did in the Adidas UltraBOOST X, I noticed a bit of arch pain during my walk intervals (felt fine during the run). I wasn't sure if it was my PF flaring up because they weren't used to this new floating arch technology, or if it was just that I needed to wear the shoes some more so they would loosen up a bit. I didn't have this problem once I got to my fourth run, so I think it was just the usual aches from new shoes. I know some people can jump right into using new shoes for running longer distances, but I always need to wear mine for a few walks or short runs before I'm comfortable in them for long ones.
I brought the shoes with me to Disneyland and wore them for both the Neverland 5k and Tinker Bell 10k. They felt great and the photographers even got some fun photos of me including the shoes... and it looks like I'm running! So many photos during races, even if I am running, look awful haha. I also wore them for Soldier Field 10 Mile and Ridge Run 5k + countless training runs (actually, they could be counted, but I didn't really keep track of which runs I wore them on or how many miles they gained. While I like all of that data, after Nike updated their app and I lost all of my shoe info, I stopped keeping track. Now I just got my the treads and feel of the shoe for when they need replacement - aka are my knees starting to hurt? Check the shoes.). I would venture a guess and say they've seen about 100 miles already, and they are holding up nicely. While the treads are worn a bit, which is to be expected, they still feel great. I am interested to see about how many miles/months I can get out of them before they need replacing. My current models are around 300 or so.
I had some of my quickest runs in these shoes – not that I'm super speedy, but I had a 4 miler with a pace under 12minute miles, which is crazy for me. I'm happy if I'm in the 12s or 13s. I honestly think the responsiveness and the lightweight quality, along with the boost™, helps me to go quicker without pain or feeling like I'm putting in way more effort than normal. The soles feel so bouncy in a way, it's like each step is on a cloud or something. Getting back the energy I'm putting in with each step helps reduce the feeling of effort.
For me they were very comfortable and I never had issues with my socks falling down or feeling like the shoe didn't fit right because of them. I always wear Feetures or 2XU, if that helps. While the shoe itself felt a bit like a sock and was knit so moved easily with your foot, I personally would never wear the shoe without a sock. To me that's just asking for blisters. Some more information on the Adidas UltraBOOST X: TECHNOLOGY:
Energy-returning boost™ technology in the midsole to provide lightweight cushioning
FEATURES:
Runner type: neutral
adidas Primeknit upper wraps the foot in adaptive support and ultralight comfort
boost™ is our most responsive cushioning ever: The more energy you give, the more you get
STRETCHWEB rubber outsole flexes underfoot for an energized ride
Dynamic arch for adaptive fit; TORSION® SYSTEM between the heel and forefoot for a stable ride
Continental™ Rubber outsole for extraordinary grip in wet and dry conditions
Weight: 8.3 ounces (size 7)
Midsole drop: 10 mm (heel: 29 mm / forefoot: 19 mm)
Imported
Synthetic midfoot overlay for durability
Bootie construction wraps the foot and provides support
I am definitely a fan of these shoes and will keep them in my rotation. Current retail price is $179.99. A bit pricier than my usual shoes, but I think with the extra technology involved to make them, that's not an unreasonable price. I'm sure once they are out longer, too, and aren't so new, the price might come down a bit. Head on over to the Dick's Sporting Goods website to check them out.
