Thomas: Let’s start with the upper. The Under Armour Gemini has a near seamless upper that wraps the foot like a glove. The heal counter has a neoprene like material that is supported by a flexible plastic welded overlay. It cradles and holds the heal in place. A sticky rubber strip runs along the inside collar to add to the locked down heel feeling. The tongue on the Gemini is an unusual asymmetrical shape. It resembles a grand piano, sorta heart shaped and wide at the top. The tongue is thin and stays put and unnoticeable. Did I mention there is no insole? You don’t need it in this shoe. The material used over two thirds of the shoe reminded me of old mesh basketball shorts. It is soft and very breathable. All these features together help the upper disappear on the foot while running. We can move onto the midsole and outsole. The cushioning on the Gemini is sooooo dialed in. Somewhere between a HOKA and a Kinvara (that is a big somewhere, but when you try the Gemini you will know what I mean) the cushioning doesn’t feel sloppy and is so sweet to your feet. I ran an 18 mile run out of the box in the Speedform Gemini and my feet didn’t just feel okay after the run, they felt like I hadn’t run. Even with the abundance of cush, the shoe is flexible with good road feel. The outsole has plenty of carbon rubber coverage for traction and durability. For those of you that want the drop it is 8mm. Top to bottom this shoe is stellar and looks HOT.
Meaghan: My first experience with an Under Armour running shoe was a HUGE flop. I was excited but also skeptical to test out the Speedfrom Gemini. Totally different experience. The Gemini is unlike any shoe I’ve worn (in a good way). The upper is constructed with an amazingly soft, stretchy mesh that molds around your feet. Truly. Sometimes I feel like this shoe was specially crafted for my slightly odd shaped feet. Maybe making shoes in a bra factory is the way to go? The heel cup is deceivingly wonderful. At first glance I thought it looked blister-prone but UA nailed the fit. The foam collar is super comfortable and locks the foot in place. The footbed is also a beautiful thing. The more I wear these shoes, the better they feel. There’s no insoles… which makes me question all insoles. The transition from landing to toe-off is super smooth. There’s a nice bounce and just the right amount of cushioning (in my opinion). These guys seem pretty durable. Although many of my miles are on the treadmill these days, the road miles have left little to no wear.
Thomas: The weight. It isn’t even really that bad but I gotta think of something, right? For a size 10.5 mine weighed in at 10.85 0z. The other thing to be cautious of is sizing. While I was fine in the normal 10.5 I wear in running shoes, many others will recommend going up a half size.
Meaghan: I could use a wider toebox. It’s not a deal-breaker since the upper is super stretchy, but if I could, I’d give my toes some extra room. I also wish these shoes were a little bit lighter. My W7.5 weighed in at 8.5oz. If UA could knock an ounce or so off these guys, I’d probably wear them for Boston.
Thomas: Finally, finally, finally! UNDER ARMOUR HAS DONE IT! I have slammed Under Armour running shoes for the past few years, and I wasn’t the only one. The Speedform RC is a good shoe but a bit on the niche side leaning towards the minimal cushioning. I wouldn’t consider it a shoe for the majority of runners. The Speedform Gemini is the first all around trainer from Under Armour that is not just good, it is above the running shoe crowd. I would happily recommend this shoe to any runner at any level. It is going to be hard to keep this shoe out of my top shoes of 2015. It is only March, but we may already have the top tier running shoe for 2015. Amazing that it is coming from Under Armour. I am excited to see what will come next from UA in the running category.
Meaghan: Under Armour was kind enough to show us around their Headquarters and talk all things running. I’m excited to see their progress in the running world this year. While I haven’t gone full Fanboy (cough, ^Thomas, cough), I think UA has a great shoe with the Speedform Gemini. It’s an everyday trainer that will work for lots of different people. If you’re looking for something fresh in the world of daily trainers, give the Gemini a try.
Slide the UA Speedform® Gemini on & you immediately want to run. The precision-fit upper—crafted in a clothing factory—is unbelievably comfortable. New Charged Cushioning delivers every advantage at once: energy return, impact protection & adaptive support for every runner.
Shoes were provided by Under Armour
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I wish I could find these in person!
Did I miss it or is the cost not listed?
Suggested retail is $129.99.
Stefan, you can find these at your local run specialty retailer – and if they don’t carry them, ask them to order them for you from UA!
Thanks Sean.
hi all–i’ve seen heel-toe offset measurements as high as 15 mm. (you can guess where.) does it feel that way at all to you? does 8 seem pretty accurate?
thanks.
Yes, it is 8mm
I’ve never tried UA but after the review had to try them. The fit was as advertised. Unbelievably comfortable. Had to go up 1/2 size which was no big deal. Used them for a 10 miler out of the box at an easy pace and all was good until about 7 miles in when I felt some rubbing on my left foot. Ended up having 2 large blisters. Have used many shoes before, all different brands, and have never had blisters like this on an easy run. Not sure if its just my experience but something to look out for. Super comfortable fit but didn’t work for me. Returned them.
Hmmm, I wish you had the shoes so I could see where on the shoe it was rubbing. Meaghan had a small issue, but it did not cause blistering.
Stuck between this and the Zante. Which would you suggest for a runner over 170.
Gemini. Little more cush. I preferred the Gemini anyhow.