Under Armour Flow Velociti Wind 2
Weight: 8.4 oz (M), 6.8 oz (W)
Drop: 8 mm
Under Armour has made minor updates to the second Flow Velociti, continuing the simple formula of a UA Warp upper stitched to a one-piece Flow sole. Introduced in early 2021, Flow is a foam compound that’s so durable it eliminates the need for an outsole, which can cut two to three ounces from a shoe. The precursor to Flow is Hovr, a foam infused with olefin, which results in a more resilient midsole than one that’s EVA-based. Hovr caters to those with a preference for plush, but for those seeking a lightweight, more flexible option: Go with the rubberless Flow. Some runners stress about not having rubber between their sole and the road—the last thing we want to see is a shoe that’s literally grinding away prematurely. However, the absence of an outsole on the 2 didn’t cause any durability concerns, nor lead to any slippage over wet pavement or grass. One tester summarized the Flow Velociti Wind’s traction in a single word: “exceptional.” Credit all those grippy shapes molded into the foam that bite into everything you run over—though they do trap some small pebbles.
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A welcome update is the replacement of the original Velociti Wind’s one-piece tongue, which tended to bunch up after tying. The 2’s lacing system now has a detached minimal tongue. In fact, everything about the new Velocity Wind is minimal—if you look past the loud, hi-viz colors on the upper. Wide-footed runners may want to size up, as it’s pretty low-volume and runs just a bit short. “Comfort was good for about three to four miles,” said a tester, “but the shoes started to feel snug and too tight during longer-mileage days.”—Amanda Furrer
Craft CTM Ultra Carbon Race Rebel
Weight: 6.9 oz (M)
Drop: 11 mm
Boldest statement of 2022 so far: The CTM Ultra Carbon Race Rebel is the breakout hit in the racing-shoe category. Last spring, ultrarunner and RW video editor Pat Heine-Holmberg tested Craft’s foray into carbon-plated shoes, the CTM Ultra Carbon. That road and light-trail model (best suited for nothing more technical than a gravel road) blistered his Achilles because of the high collar. Pat warned me about this before I laced up the Race Rebel for testing. The good news is my ankles are unscathed. Even better: The Race Rebel has earned its place on my shoe rack beside the Saucony Endorphin Pro, Brooks Hyperion Elite, and Asics Metaracer.
You might be asking, “What business does a Swedish brand known for its long underwear have entering the super-shoe ring?” Don’t knock it until you’ve tried it, I say. Of the shoes I’ve raced in—Metaracer, Vaporfly, Endorphin Pro—the Craft feels the most stable. It’s supportive in turns, like the Hyperion Elite. The fit is dialed, with a collar that grips your heel and a tongue that doesn’t go askew midrace. The shoe has a thin but ultraresponsive midsole and ultrathin rubber outsole; its weight is ultralight; and it was created in collaboration with ultrarunner Tommy “Rivs” Puzey. On the heel of the shoe is Rivs’s rebel yell, “Lets rage!” For us amateurs, it’s probably not enough shoe to get through an ultramarathon. But it’s blazing fast for local 5Ks or just logging hard tempos on my usual route. When I lace them up, I follow Rivs’s dictum like it’s my mission.—A.F.
Newton Fate 7
Weight: 9.6 oz (M), 7.1 oz (W)
Drop: 4.5 mm
The Fate uses five rectangular lugs—one for each metatarsal head—under the ball of the foot. Connected to a low-density, full-length plastic plate, the lugs lightly compress underfoot and return a slight bounce experienced across the width of the midsole. It’s a poppy ride that’s unique to Newton shoes, although it reminds me a bit of the “forward-leaning” sensation I feel in Saucony’s Endorphin series. Neither of those shoes are pairs I grab for my daily jogs, but both are fun to keep in my rotation for workouts and faster efforts.
Testers who prefer lightweight and nimble shoes liked the Fate most, though still needed time to get used to the lugs. Others preferred it only as a tool to help them “get up on their toes” and improve their running form. (When I wear Newtons, I notice myself running a little taller and getting my feet to land more directly beneath me, with much less tendency to overstride.) If you’re curious to try it yourself, start with the Fate 7. (Overpronators, check out the stability-minded Kismet 7.) I’ve run in all Newton’s neutral models, and the Fate is my favorite, but that’s not the reason I recommend it first. Compared to the Gravity and Motion lines, the Fate and Kismet have slightly higher heel-to-toe drops and less-pronounced lugs, making them easier for you to adapt.—Morgan Petruny
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Morgan is a gear editor who has been with Runner’s World since 2017. She started as an intern ghostwriting The Warmup, a bygone version of the daily RW newsletter. Now, she tests and reviews anything you might find on runners’ feet-from crew socks and compression boots to carbon-plated super shoes.
A lifelong runner and shoe geek, Morgan has been chasing the perfect pair of kicks since she joined her grade school cross-country team. Since then, she ran as a Division I walk-on for the cross-country and track & field teams at the University of Delaware, where she studied English and Biology. She has one full marathon under her belt, and has raced more halfs and 5Ks than she can count.
Amanda Furrer, Editor, Running Reviews, studied journalism at NYU and writing at Emerson College. She has reviewed gear and covered other topics in the running space for almost 10 years. Since 2013, she has consecutively run the Boston Marathon. She also has a master’s degree in gastronomy from Boston University and was formerly a professional baker for two years before hanging up her apron.
Jeff is Runner-in-Chief for Runner’s World and the director of product testing. He has tested and reviewed running shoes, GPS watches, headphones, apparel, and more for nearly two decades. He regularly tests more than 100 pairs of shoes each year, and once had a 257-day streak running in different models. Jeff can usually be found on the roads, racing anything from the mile to a marathon, but he also enjoys racing up mountains and on snowshoes. When he’s not running, you’ll probably find him hanging from a ladder making repairs and renovations to his house (he’s also director of product testing for Popular Mechanics).
