RUNNING enthusiasts on the lookout for quality footwear to boost their performance may want to check out Under Armour’s latest line that features its new, cutting-edge cushioning technology called HOVR, which the high-performance sportswear brand said had runners in mind.
Officially launched in the Philippines last week, the UA HOVR is a cushioning platform, engineered to provide the ideal combination of cushioning and energy return.
It is the third cushioning platform from Under Armour, after Micro G and Charged Cushioning, which UA touts will deliver on runners’ needs to have a shoe that provides not only support but also energy return and shock absorption.
In the Philippines, the UA HOVR platform is initially introduced in two styles, namely the HOVR Phantom and HOVR Sonic.
“Running has been big all over the world. Even people you don’t expect going into it have started doing it even for short distances. We always had running shoes and we recognize the needs of the runners which is why we continue to develop technologies for our products,” said Yvonne Tey, marketing director of Under Armour for Southeast Asia, in an interview with BusinessWorld during the launch as she spoke of the main inspiration for the brand in coming up with the HOVR.
“We wanted to create a shoe that would go to distance without wearing you down. With all know it’s very humid in this part of the world and HOVR addresses comfort and breathability of the feet as one runs,” she added.
Both the Phantom and Sonic have the UA HOVR midsole which is made of a proprietary foam compound developed with Dow Chemical, providing a supersoft durometer with incredible cushioning and shock absorption with every single foot strike.
The shoes also boast of the “Energy Web,” a mesh fabric that wraps the cushioning core, to deliver strong responsiveness and energy return.
The combination of the two makes runners feel and perform better with less fatigue, UA said.
The Phantom weighs 300.5 grams and has a plush and responsive ride for runners who want all-around cushioning. It has a knitted collar for superior comfort and adaptation around the ankle with a 5/8” collar and knitted sock-like feel.
The shoe has a microthread upper that dries fast and a 3-D molded midfoot panel with laser perforations for increased ventilation.
It comes in seven colorways for men and five for women spread in three drops. Currently, available colorways are Black/White/Red, White/Steel, and Pierce Red.
The Sonic, meanwhile, weighs in at 272 gm., with an 8-mm offset. It has a light and responsive ride, for runners who put distance first.
The shoe has a microthread upper and a unique tongue construction that is attached to the footbed by stretchable support wings to maintain a snug fit throughout the foot.
A ventilated midfoot panel increases the shoe’s breathability while the removable, anti-microbial sockliner molds to the foot for customized comfort and cushion.
It has four colorways for men and five for women spread in two drops. Available currently are white and red.
While the HOVR technology is found only in their running shoes for now, Ms. Tey said there plans to incorporate it into their other footwear lines.
The HOVR Phantom is available for P8,195 while the Sonic is P6,395 at Under Armour stores, Toby’s and Olympic Village as well as online at www.underarmour.com.ph. — Michael Angelo S. Murillo
