When Under Armour first showed us the Infinite Elite 2, it called the shoe “the mileage monster.” The shoe falls under the brand’s Hovr silo, which is the brand’s category of cushioned shoes intended to make you “float.” A shoe aimed for going the distance, the second iteration is even lighter and softer.
Pros
- Cushioned and comfortable
- Sturdy and flexible
- Durable
Cons
- Bulky
| Type | Road |
|---|---|
| Weight | 10.2 oz (M); 8.2 oz (W) |
| Drop | 8 mm |
| Heel Height | 36 mm |
| Forefoot Height | 28 mm |
- Why Run in This Shoe: Plush trainer for long distance running; an option for runners who want more cushioning in their daily trainer
- Preceded By: Infinite Elite
- For Runners Who Like: Hoka Clifton, Saucony Triumph, Brooks Glycerin
- Midsole Foam: Hovr+, supercritical foam
- Key Update: Lighter than previous version; no heel clip
How the Under Armour Infinite Elite 2 Fits
Under Armour re-sculpted the upper of the Infinite Elite 2 to reduce its overall size. The engineered mesh upper—with a neoprene-like collar—isn’t as textured and ornate as the original Infinite Elite, which had an adorned IntelliKnit upper. The 2 is more simplified with less knit pop-outs and more perforations for better breathability. Airflow, after all, is of utmost importance when attempting high mileage.
The shoe has a soft interior that securely hugged my wide feet without a constrictive squeeze. Testers also appreciated the shoe’s comfy fit.
“I did not notice anything about the shoe while running,” said tester Mike Falcone, who compared the Infinite Elite 2 to the Saucony Ride. “They fit perfectly, I never had any issues with my feet.”
Kerry Schulz, who wears a women’s size 9 and previously tested the Brooks Glycerin 21, liked the shoe’s soft touches around the tongue and collar.
“This shoe fits perfect, even on my wider foot,” she said. “The toebox was wide enough that my toes were not rubbing, but also not sliding around. It was comfortable from the first time putting them on and I did not need time to break-in. The padding on the tongue, upper, and collar were soft.”
Our news editor, Theo Kahler, however, felt he needed just a tad more room in the toe area.
“The fit was a little small,” he said. “I wear a 12, and especially with thicker socks, I felt like my toe was crammed a little bit. That being said, I don’t think I would avoid this shoe for that reason. It’s still comfortable.”
RW+ Member Spotlight
Chris Aquino | Los Angeles, California | Scheduling and Coordination Supervisor
- Runner For: 6 years
- Weekly Mileage: 15 to 20 miles
- Average Pace: 11:30
- Shoe Size: men’s 10
- Favorite Shoe: New Balance Fresh Foam X Vongo
Thoughts on the Under Armour Infinite Elite 2
Fit: True-to-size; “The shoes fit perfectly.”
Feel: “The cushioning was my favorite part of these shoes. It felt like running on clouds.”
Ride: “The ride of the shoe was good. As a forefoot striker, I did notice that the slight narrowing in the toebox nudged me towards more of a midfoot strike, which wasn't a bad thing. It was just noticeable at first, and then I got used to it.”
“I preferred these shoes for more easy or long runs. Tempo runs were good with these shoes too, but I probably would want something a little more responsive (and a little less cushiony) for speedwork. [They’re perfect] for a daily driver to log those easy/progression/tempo runs, but I would probably look elsewhere for doing speed-specific interval/sprints.”
Aquino already has several races on his calendar this year, including a half marathon in May, a trail 5K in July, and—maybe—a trail 25K in August and trail half marathon in November. “My goal is to maintain a running base to hopefully tackle some marathons next year!” he said.
Aquino began running to cope with grief. “I lost one of my best friends, Atticus, to brain cancer in 2018. In his final few months, I spent most of my free time hanging out with him, trying to make him feel like a normal dude in his 20s. What that meant for me is that I had to slowly watch his body deteriorate and betray him.
“Six months after Atticus passed, I took up the hobby I thought I never would— running. To my surprise, I enjoyed it. It was so difficult at the beginning, but with consistency, I grew to enjoy it. I run because it reminds me of how lucky I am to be healthy and able enough to do it. I run because I get to—not because I have to.”
How the Under Armour Infinite Elite 2 Feels
Another big update for the Infinite Elite 2 was midsole retooling. For more time on the road, the shoe had to be softer, lighter, and more supportive. Compared to the Infinite Elite’s Hovr+, the full-length foam midsole in the 2 is plusher and airier. To reduce even more weight, Under Armour removed the TPU heel clip (a heel counter stability feature). Instead, a beveled heel crash pad provides smoother landings and some support.
Despite these upgrades cutting over an ounce of weight, the Infinite Elite 2 is still a chonky shoe. A 36mm stack height and billowy heel emphasizes its bulky, max-cushioned look. During their testing, however, our testers found the shoe surprisingly versatile.
How the Under Armour Infinite Elite 2 Rides
The Infinite Elite 2 may look beefy but our testers felt having extra shoe was worth the smooth, springy ride.
“I wore this shoe for everything from short easy runs, to mile pace hill repeats, and long runs,” said Mark DiPaola, whose average training pace is 7:30 and runs with a heel strike. “The cushioning in this shoe has a hint of squishiness and bounciness. The foam is great up to 10K pace, but the rigid shoe shape holds it back once you run faster than that. The cushioning is also a bit too tall and squishy to take on the track, but is great on the road and some compact gravel. I personally like extra cushioning for my workouts, but I would prefer to wear something else and feel more confident if I was going to run 5K pace or faster. This cushioning is forgiving. My legs did not feel as beat up afterwards and I felt better than usual going out for a run the next day.”
Kahler also found the cushioning hit an equilibrium for his training efforts.
“This was a good balance between soft and firm. You got some pop from the foam, but it didn’t feel overly squishy. It felt appropriate for long runs or other easy runs, but the geometry isn’t really set up for faster paces. You could make it work in a workout, for sure, but I’d rather pick a more speed-specific shoe. These has plenty of padding between the ground.”
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.
