Under Armour Velociti Pro 2 Review: Gaining Velocity

Introduction to the Under Armour Velociti Pro 2

CHAD: I have been anxiously awaiting the day that the Baltimore-based Under Armour would give the Baltimore-based Believe in the Run something to be excited about. Jonah Koech, an Under Armour Elite athlete, winning the 1500m USATF Championships, was definitely something to write home about. But in the running shoe game generally, for the masses, the brand has always fallen a bit flat (emphasis on for the masses, because 2022 NYC Marathon and 2025 Boston Marathon champion Sharon Lokedi seems to do okay in them).

I thought the Veloici Elite 2 was a decent offering, even choosing to wear it for the Broad Street Run in 2023. But for an elite race day shoe, it just didn’t compete with the other major brands’ offerings. Suffice it to say that I wasn’t expecting much when I received the Velociti Pro 2 late summer during my Chicago Marathon build, but I still had to get my miles in for testing. Under Armour claims the Velociti Pro 2 is a “speed day workhorse,” tagging it as lightweight and explosive. Did it live up to that moniker?

CARYN: The Under Armour ColdGear mock turtleneck is, to date, one of the greatest pieces of athletic apparel ever created. Layered under a Lax Splash tee shirt and paired with oversized mesh shorts (don’t forget the XL hair ribbon) — perfection. Growing up in Baltimore in the late 90s, Under Armour was the name of the game. Founded in 1996 by Kevin Plank, a football player at the University of Maryland, the company’s original goal was to produce a shirt to keep athletes cooler during workouts. Those who suffered through the “athletic apparel” of those dark times know this was truly a novel concept. With its original popularity primarily found in team sports, Under Armour didn’t enter the running shoe market until 2009.

While it feels a bit harsh to say, 16 years haven’t resulted in Under Armour gaining much, if any, traction against the heavy hitters of the running industry. With multiple competitive distance running teams and unique, valuable contributions to the local Baltimore running scene, I’m always rooting for Under Armour to succeed. You better believe I was hopeful when I received the Velociti Pro 2 to review — let’s see how it stacks up.

RYAN: It feels wild to say it, but I, too, have been at this whole running thing since about 2009. I mean, I haven’t been as consistent as Under Armour — I definitely took a few years off in there — but I’ve been trying. Even funnier, I was also founded — or whatever — in 1996. As a result, I’ve pretty much grown up right alongside the beloved, Maryland-based brand.

I can still remember two of my favorite hoodies from middle school and high school, both of which bore the iconic UA logo. One of them stuck with me for several years beyond that point, warming me through cold-ass State College winters and reminding just about everyone that yes, I was the basic kid who went to a big state school after graduation. And yes, I also had a ton of bright, neon-colored Under Armour apparel that I wore for cross country practices over the years — but never on race day.

But, no matter how much Under Armour clothing I picked up over the years, I never touched its shoes. Something about an outsole made out of midsole and a Hovr technology that seemed firm as a rock just never really enticed me. I watched local runners join the Flow Elite team for our annual Baltimore Running Festival, and each time, I wondered whether they were actually enjoying the experience.

Now, though, I have an entire quiver of Under Armour shoes. I was sent this model, the daily training Velociti SPD, and the top-tier Velociti Elite 3, and I’ve been getting miles in all three. My fellow reviewers gravitated towards the Velociti Pro 2, though, so you’re getting these thoughts first.

What we like about the Under Armour Velociti Pro 2

CHAD: Starting with the aesthetics, this shoe is pretty decent. It has what Under Armour calls a Leno weave upper, which provides a really good, comfortable feel with some give to it, while still providing a solid hold on the foot. I received a greenish-greyish-blueish colorway, and the placement of the UA logo on the top-lateral side of the shoe really pops. When it comes to fit, this shoe definitely ranks up there when it comes to volume, so wide-footers and high-volume folks should do alright in the Velociti Pro 2.

The shoe gets even better when it comes to its performance. I was absolutely shocked by how much I enjoyed this shoe’s ride at any pace I took it. First run out of the box was a 5-mile easy run, and the shoe felt light, snappy, bouncy, and surprisingly stable. I love that Under Armour abandoned the concept of having no outsole on their shoes and provided a nice, grippy rubber that I think lends itself to stabilizing the ride. The next run I did in the Velociti Pro 2 was a speedwork session with half-mile repeats at 10k pace, and this shoe did exactly what I needed it to, and more.

The feel of this shoe reminds me a lot of the Saucony Endorphin Speed 4, arguably my favorite speed day shoe of all time, but with more bounce to it. I like the fit of the UA shoe a bit more up front, because the toebox was very tapered in the Speed 4. When running at faster paces, it was hard to limit myself at a 10k pace to ensure I would finish all my intervals; this shoe just wanted to keep going faster. The plate is noticeable in providing some snap and stability while not being harsh on the foot. Precisely what I want in a shoe I take at various paces during runs.

CARYN: To be honest, I was pretty indifferent about the Under Armour Velociti Pro 2 when I pulled it out of the box. Nothing about the looks offended me, but it wasn’t especially exciting. I was grateful for the muted branding and the lack of neon, though, so that was a good first step. What got me most hopeful was the fit of the shoe. My only experiences with prior Under Armour shoes yielded extremely narrow midfoots and tiny toe boxes. This was wildly different — the toe box was luxurious, albeit a bit long, with ample width and a soft knit Leno weave upper. The foam underfoot felt comfortable but not too soft.

On the run, the shoe performs extremely well. I initially rolled the Velociti Pro 2 out for 8 miles, and it didn’t disappoint. It was easy to click off miles as the shoe totally disappears underfoot. While Under Armour markets the shoe as a tempo or speed day shoe due to the plastic plate included, I found the feel to be more like that of a multipurpose, lightweight daily trainer. I was able to take the shoe to a variety of paces comfortably, though I would not utilize it for true speed workouts.

I wore the shoe for one long run and really enjoyed it over a distance, as well. The mark of a great shoe is that you forget about it while running, and the Velociti Pro 2 does just that. There were no hot spots, rubbing, or instability while running — it was easy to lock down the upper and get out there (with some seriously long laces, but if that’s all I have to complain about). I’m thrilled the brand has added outsole rubber to their shoes — the durability and traction in sketchy weather will undoubtedly improve. This shoe reminds me, in purpose, of an Asics Novablast or New Balance Rebel — lightweight, adaptable, comfortable, and simple.

RYAN: I won’t lie — I’ve been putting off how to start the things I like about this shoe. It’s not that I think it’s a bad shoe, but, like Caryn, I’ve been left a little confused. I expected it to feel like the Endorphin Speed equivalent in Under Armour’s lineup, and it has all the right pieces to do so. It’s got a smooth rocker, a helpful but unobtrusive plate, and beaded foam from heel to toe.

All of that is fine and dandy, yet I can’t seem to squeeze the speed out of this shoe that I was hoping for. It’s good for everyday miles, but UA’s Velociti SPD is good for those, too. I dunno, I’m sure I’ll find somewhere to fit this into my lineup, but I think I’d reach for the Elite 3 for workouts first.

Anyway, I do like the look of the Velociti Pro 2. I think it’s just Seahawks-y enough without being too neon, and it really works for me. In fact, I’d say I like all of the recent Under Armour launches, which finally look more like running shoes than gym shoes you could also run in. So, if you want aesthetics, come to me, but I don’t have much to offer in terms of proper runs — I did ’em, I just don’t have much to remark on.

What we don’t like about the Under Armour Velociti Pro 2

CHAD: Very little, if anything, to write here. I think the shoe runs a bit long; my US M12 had more than a thumb’s width in front of my big toe. Combined with being a bit high-volume, my foot moved around a little bit, even with the laces cinched pretty tight. Speaking of the laces, they are way too long. Even when double-knotted, I had a significant amount of excess lace, so much so that I could feel one shoe’s laces hitting the other as they passed by each other.

CARYN: I don’t have much to say here, which is surprising, but awesome. I really enjoyed the fit of this shoe (which matters most), but style-wise, there’s room for improvement. I’ve loved the vintage looks and throwback colorways I’ve seen this year from other brands, and Under Armour could absolutely dip a toe in this space (they have origins in the 90s, after all). Based on the description and tech sheet, I also didn’t feel like this shoe was quite as responsive as I anticipated. As someone who finds just as much value in a well-fitting, lightweight daily trainer, I can barely call this a complaint.

RYAN: This time, I can actually agree with my fellow reviewers — this shoe runs long, and its laces run even longer. It’s not so long that I can’t run in it, I can, but it’s long enough that I feel my toes shifting a little at the end.

On a more performance-related note, I think my problem with the Velociti Pro 2 is that it dulls the things that work about both the SPD and the Elite 3. See, the daily trainer lets you enjoy all HTPU, all the time, and it’s great. It has a soft, bouncy ride that helps tick off the miles. The Elite 3 is good, too, with a carbon fiber plate to add more bounce to the Hovr Plus compound. This shoe, though, manages to put a plastic plate in an otherwise good base, and it just winds up a little dead.

Final thoughts on the Under Armour Velociti Pro 2

CHAD: Under Armour has done it! They have created an awesome running shoe that performs as well as their marketing materials say it does. The Velociti Pro 2 would in fact make for a great speed day workhorse, and I could even see using it as a budget race day shoe, same I felt for the Saucony Endorphin Speed 4. Probably one of the best things about the Velociti Pro 2 is that it comes in at $160, just barely undercutting several other brands’ tempo-day offerings.

That all being said, even though this shoe is great and on par with the Speed 4, that means UA is at least a year behind other brands. Will they catch up? I certainly hope so.

CARYN: Ok, Under Armour! Dare I say, this shoe feels like a bit of a banger? Perhaps my bar is low, but I really enjoyed the underfoot feel and overall performance of this shoe. At $160, there are certainly equivalent options at slightly lower price points, but the Velociti Pro 2 is absolutely worth considering for an all-around, multi-purpose addition to your shoe rotation.

RYAN: I know I just said the Velociti Pro 2 feels a little dead, and I stand by that. However, it might be a “me” thing, as both Caryn and Chad enjoyed it quite a bit more than I did. And, for my first crack at an Under Armour tempo shoe, I have to give the brand some credit. My bar is probably pretty low, but at least this proves that UA can make a shoe with workouts in mind. Would I buy it over Saucony’s Endorphin Speed? No, but I think we’re on the right track here.

You can pick up the Under Armour Velociti Pro 2 for $160 by using the button below.