Under Armour offers an interesting proposition with its latest running shoe release. After making its debut in UA football shoes, the UA HOVR Mega 2 Clone is Under Armour's first running shoe offering a 1:1 personalised fit. 

This is done through the new UA Clone technology that flexes and adapts to your foot as you move through your stride. According to Under Armour, the UA Clone upper locks in and centres your foot over the UA HOVR midsole for a smoother run and better energy return.

Interestingly, the woven structure of the UA Clone upper is designed to get stronger when stretched, becoming thicker perpendicular to the applied force. This internal layer of flexible, auxetic material moulds around the foot for a precise, glove-like fit and feel that's customised to every foot.

HOVR is, of course, also present, being Under Armour’s proprietary midsole tech, designed for a “zero-gravity feel and great energy return”.

We’ve seen HOVR doing its business in the Machina (review) and Sonic 4 (review), with the UA HOVR Mega 2 Clone offering maximum cushioning, thanks to a 32 mm stack height (24 mm forefoot), aligning the shoe towards runners who want the most protection for their training

 The American apparel company notes the transition from landing to toe-off feels smooth with an exposed UA HOVR foam outsole through the midfoot and forefoot pressure zones, providing a soft and pillowy yet responsive ride.

 With comfort as a priority in the design of the shoe, the HOVR Mega 2 Clone features a padded heel collar that protects the Achilles from irritation, a padded tongue, a thick sockliner and an upper constructed specifically to meet the runner’s anatomical need. There’s also wide heel and forefoot gauges for a more plush feel.

A 3D moulded sock liner made of 6 mm open cell PU foam cradles the foot with enhanced step-in comfort, allowing the HOVR Mega 2 Clone to perfectly adapt to the runner's foot - not vice versa.

 The carbon rubber in the heel of the outsole extends durability in high-impact landing zones, and the exposed foam on the outsole ensures a comfortable heel-to-toe transition. An external heel counter locks in the heel and guides the foot into its most efficient foot strike, adding to the effortless and plush feeling the HOVR Mega 2 Clone running shoes offer. The blown rubber frames the forefoot outsole to maximise cushion with minimal weight, with the shoe weighing 309 g for the men’s size 9.

The Clone 2 is also home to UA MapMyRun functionality, that connects the shoes for real-time Form Coaching tips based on your cadence, pace, and stride. An embedded sensor tracks, analyses and stores detailed running metrics to inform ways to improve performance. Under Armour’s research notes that in 2020, UA MapMyRun Form Coaching users ran 7% faster and 3% farther.

The cushy but efficient UA HOVR Mega 2 Clone running shoes are great for long runs and high mileage training, and are available for R3 199 both online (https://underarmour.co.za/) and at UA Brand Houses across SA.