R.A.D UFO Review: An Out of This World Debut

Introduction to the R.A.D UFO

MEAGHAN: I’m always a little skeptical when a new brand jumps into the running shoe scene. It’s already packed, and let’s be honest – making a shoe that can hang with the big players takes some serious resources.

Enter R.A.D, short for Rally Against Destruction. The name alone tells you this brand got its start in CrossFit (feels one “Stay Hard” away from David Goggins territory). But now, this small, independent company is taking a swing at the running world with its first super trainer, the UFO.

The shoe features a dual-density PEBA midsole, a warp mesh upper, and ample padding around the collar and tongue. There’s also an adaptive lacing system that lets you dial in the fit just how you like it. Visually, it’s anything but subtle: the bulbous midsole, bright pink colorway, and reflective accents make sure of that. So yeah, “UFO” feels like the right name.

But the real question: how does it perform out on the road? Let’s find out.

THOMAS: When I first saw photos of the R.A.D UFO on Instagram, I had zero interest in checking it out. These days, there are so many niche running shoe brands, and honestly, we simply don’t have the bandwidth to test them all.

Then, Bimma Williams DM’d me asking what I thought of the shoe, and my exact response was, “They look like a shampoo bottle or a vibrator.”

I remember someone once saying that when you enter a crowded market, you have to make something ugly enough to get people talking; otherwise, you’re just white noise. Well, R.A.D nailed that part. The UFO’s look definitely got people talking.

It wasn’t until I ran into the owners of The Exchange Running Store in Nashville at the Chicago Marathon expo that my curiosity kicked in. Lauren, one of the owners, was wearing a pair of UFOs, so I had to ask, “Do you actually like those?” She grinned and said, “I love them. We’re bringing them into the store.”

That got my attention. We reached out to R.A.D to grab a couple of pairs for review. I’m glad we did, because these are the real deal.

CARYN: I’m always game for trying something new. I’ve heard so many comments that the running shoe market is oversaturated, and while that may be objectively true, the number of folks joining the running community isn’t slowing down. 59,226 people alone finished the New York City Marathon this year, and they all had something on their feet (I feel like there are still a few barefoot people out there, but you get my point). So, from my perspective, if you’ve got the drive, the ideas, and the resources, bring it on.

I wasn’t expecting to receive a pair of the R.A.D UFO to test, so I was honored to have it show up on my doorstep. Despite having never seen this shoe in person, I had definitely noticed it popping up in various corners of the internet. I found the brand’s origin story particularly interesting as the creators clearly had a vision, as well as a variety of professional and athletic experiences that influenced the development of the UFO.

Opening the box, the neon pink was truly out of this world (lol), so much so that I wasn’t sure I’d be able to take myself seriously in these bad boys. R.A.D’s press materials state that the UFO is “designed to build speed across distance, delivering performance and evoking euphoria in equal measure.” That’s a seriously meteoric statement (I’m done now, I promise), so let’s find out if the UFO delivers.

What we like about the R.A.D UFO

MEAGHAN: I’ll save my thoughts on looks for later, so let’s get right into the step-in feel, which, honestly, surprised me in the best way. The upper is soft and roomy, accommodating my wider foot without a problem. The fit is true to size, with plenty of space in the toe box.

There are a ton of different PEBA blends out there (this shoe uses two of them), but whatever mix R.A.D landed on really works. It’s bouncy and responsive without feeling unstable. I was genuinely shocked at how good it felt underfoot. You get that plush, max-cushioned comfort — think New Balance More v6 — but with way more pop off the ground than your typical marshmallowy cruiser. The closest comparisons for me would fall somewhere between the Nike Vomero Plus and the Asics Megablast — plenty of stack, plenty of bounce.

More than once, I caught myself running faster than planned on easy days, which is always a good sign. The rocker feels smooth and transitions effortlessly on the road. The outsole rubber coverage is limited but strategically placed, providing a bit of traction and durability. Even on slick Baltimore sidewalks, the grip was solid. Sure, the midsole shows a bit of creasing (typical for PEBA foams), but durability’s been great so far. I’m about 35 miles in, and it still feels just as good as day one.

And for the weight, 7.5 oz (210 g) for a US W7.5 with 42 mm of foam and a nicely padded upper is pretty impressive.

THOMAS: The R.A.D team absolutely nailed the upper. Out of the box, you get a near-perfect fit. It runs just a touch on the wide side, but once I cinched up the laces, the lockdown felt secure over that generous midsole. The material reminds me of the mesh Asics uses — it just works. The fit is true to size, the shoe breathes well, and it has zero hotspots or irritation.

The real magic, though, comes from the dual-density PEBA-blend midsole. The ride feels like a cross between the Nike Invincible and the Vomero Plus, but lighter than both. My US M10.5 tips the scale at 9.5 oz (270 g). The SupeFoam compound delivers a max-cushion ride with tons of energy return to keep you rolling forward. In terms of stability, the UFO is more stable than the Invincible and roughly on par with the Vomero Plus.

Performance-wise, the UFO impressed me across the board. Easy miles, faster-paced pickups, long slow distance runs — it handled them all. It’s a true do-it-all trainer that keeps pulling you back in.

The outsole grips well, and the durability feels built to last.

CARYN: I’m going to punt the aesthetics piece of this discussion to a separate section and start with the awesome fit of the UFO. The look and feel of the materials didn’t immediately scream high performance out of the box, so I was extremely pleasantly surprised with the fit on step in. The toe box strikes the perfect balance between spacious and structured, easily accommodating my slightly wider foot with comfort. The lacing system and laces themselves reminded me a lot of the simplicity of Allbirds, but worked extremely well on the run.

I had absolutely no issues with lockdown or rubbing, and didn’t have to adjust the shoe once while I was out there. R.A.D describes its SupeFoam (seriously, we couldn’t spring for the “R” in there?) midsole as a soft yet responsive dual-density PEBA foam. Upon step in, I found the underfoot feel extremely soft and marshmallowy (technical term), which isn’t my cup of tea, but lent itself very well to easy-paced miles.

The shoe felt lighter and much more stable on the run than on step-in, which made it comfortable over a variety of distances. I personally didn’t find the shoe responsive or notice the rocker, but mechanics can certainly impact the perception of some of those aspects of a shoe.

What we don’t like about the R.A.D UFO

MEAGHAN: I get that a new brand has to make a statement, but man, I’m struggling with the looks on this one. I know, I know, it’s all about performance (and yes, that’s what really counts), but let’s be real: looks matter. Look good, feel good is a thing for a reason.

The build quality is definitely there — premium materials and solid construction — but the overall design just comes off a little cheap to my eye. When I wasn’t looking down, I actually enjoyed the ride a lot more.

And then there’s the price. At $200, it feels a little bold for a shoe without a carbon plate. I think the durability is solid, and it’ll hold up over time, but it’s still hard to justify when it’s about twenty bucks more than something like the Nike Vomero Plus, which delivers a similar experience.

THOMAS: If you don’t like a midsole that looks crinkly after a couple of runs, you will be disappointed. But, even with the visible creases, the foam holds up, so don’t worry.

While Meg mentions the $200 price tag, this shoe can cover more bases than other trainers. Otherwise, no issues in my book.

CARYN: First, I really thought we had agreed to leave neon shoes behind in the early 2000s (along with low-rise jeans and tanning beds). I absolutely could not take myself seriously in this very large-profile, completely hot pink piece of footwear.

The $200 price tag on this shoe feels like an absolute crime given that it looks like it was 3D-printed by a third grader. That might sound a bit harsh, but after putting in quite a few miles in the UFO, I genuinely couldn’t believe the price of the shoe based on both performance and looks. I recognize that I’m not likely the target audience for this type of shoe. I don’t tend to love maximum cushion shoes, especially those with no responsive component to the ride.

It felt challenging to access any pace other than my absolute easiest in this shoe. While R.A.D claims that their midsole has a “resilient bottom layer that delivers explosive energy return,” I found the experience to be anything but explosive — more like that of my brother’s favorite moon shoes from the ’90s (please tell me y’all remember these). The UFO reminded me a lot of the Brooks Hyperion Max 3, albeit better fitting, which was marketed as a multi-purpose super trainer but really seemed best suited for easy runs.

Final thoughts on the R.A.D UFO

MEAGHAN: The R.A.D UFO deserves a spot on the podium for most surprisingly enjoyable shoe of the year. My expectations were low going in, but this one completely flipped the script. It turned out to be a genuinely fun ride for just about any kind of run.

There are shoes I have to force myself to lace up just to log enough miles for a review, and this wasn’t one of them. I actually looked forward to running in it, and every run left my legs feeling relatively fresh.

If you’re after a single shoe that can handle a little bit of everything, the UFO’s a strong contender. Sure, the $200 price tag stings a bit (and you might catch a few double-takes thanks to the looks), but your feet and body will certainly be happy.

THOMAS: The R.A.D UFO was an absolute treat. I’m with Meg on this one, it deserves a spot in our Best In Gear 2025 roundup. I’m genuinely glad I got the chance to try it out. Hopefully, R.A.D isn’t a one-hit wonder, because they knocked this one out of the park.

CARYN: I hate to be the odd woman out here, but this shoe just didn’t quite hit. I will acknowledge that the fit is fantastic, and the shoe delivers a max cushion ride in a lightweight, moderately stable profile. But to describe the UFO as “a true unicorn in the world of running shoes” is a bit of a stretch. I’ll have to wait for their next release to hopefully find some magic.

You can pick up the R.A.D UFO for $200 from R.A.D by using the buttons below.