I was excited to try the Under Armour Charged Bandit Trail 2 Shoe. It’s the first UA shoe I’ve tried in a couple of years, and it’s always exciting to see their progress. Under Armour is one of the biggest sports industry names, yet it isn’t one of the biggest in the running world. That seems to slowly change as they design more shoes and sponsor more professional athletes.
Under Armour Charged Bandit Trail 2 Quick Facts:
Weight: 9 oz
Heel Toe Drop: 8 mm
Price: $90
Under Armour Charged Bandit Trail 2 Shoe Intro:
First, the name is too long for a shoe, but I digress. UA states the shoe is built for trail running with “crazy cushioning” and traction that grips all terrain. So is the Under Armour Charged Bandit Trail 2 Shoe suitable for track running? At $90, it’s one of the cheapest running shoes out. Not only that, but I’ve seen it marked down on sale already on Under Armor’s website.
Shoe Fit:
The UA Charged Bandit Trail 2 Shoe features a lightweight, engineered two-toned mesh upper construction which increases ventilation. Running on Mojave Desert trails in the summer, I’m all about the ventilation, and my feet need to breathe!
The “UA Storm Upper” also repels water while maintaining breathability. I recently used them for a trail run/hike with stream crossings and no issues. Of course, when your feet are fully submerged, they will get wet, but they get less wet and dry quickly.
There are also “strategic overlays” for more protection and durability. The rigid heel counter keeps your foot in place without significant issues or rubbing.
The best-running shoe uppers disappear off your feet, and for the most part, I found that with the Under Armour Charged Bandit Trail 2 Shoe. It’s incredibly comfortable once you find the right size. I usually wear 10-11 wide running shoes and need the most extensive range. The UA Charged Bandit Trail 2 Shoe fits slightly short, and I found myself most comfortable in size 11. One thing Under Amour has consistently done is good fitting uppers with minimal issues. They are comfortable and don’t have hot spots.
Under Armour Charged Bandit Trail 2 Shoe Ride:
The Under Armour Charged Bandit Trail 2 Shoe midsole is soft. The shoe has a high stack height for trail running shoes (26mm/18mm). That 8 mm stack height on the trails occasionally feels unstable on extremely technical terrain (mainly downhill technical). On sand dune trails, it’s comfortable. UA calls the cushioning “charged cushioning.”
Durability and Traction:
These two categories are entirely different. I’ll start with the traction, and I was surprised by how it responded on wet rocks for a shoe that is designed to have a lot of traction. I didn’t feel it had enough traction when climbing over wet rocks, and I nearly fell a few times when using it on mud but I found it to respond well on dry trails like sandy dunes. It would not be my first shoe for wet and muddy conditions.
As far as durability, all I can say is wow. I’ve put over 100 miles on the Under Armour Charged Bandit Trail 2 Shoe, and it looks and feels brand new. It will last 400 (or maybe more) miles, which is impressive, considering the shoe is only $100.
I’ve found the best trails to use the Under Armour Charged Bandit Trail 2 Shoes are dry and well-groomed trails. As mentioned, it has been great for climbing up and down sandy trails. There is a lot of cushioning, and I’ve run 10-15 miles and had no issues. I probably could run further, but I just haven’t tried. The only time I probably won’t use it is there are better shoes if I’m trying to run fast in wet conditions.
Cost:
I don’t usually add a cost section to shoe reviews, but it’s hard to beat the $100 price point for the UA Charged Bandit Trail 2 Shoe. Even at $100, it’s a high-quality shoe. Plus, when writing this review, select colors were for $70. The more prominent sports brands (UA, Nike, and adidas) can all afford to put their shoes on more extensive sales than smaller niche-focused brands like Brooks or Hoka. Anyway, I digress. At $100, it’s tough to beat that price point for a running shoe.
Under Armour Charged Bandit Trail 2 Shoe Conclusion:
For $100, this is one of the best deals for a trail running shoe. Plus, it appears there are a lot of sales on it. Remember when most running shoes were around $100? Anyway, it has plenty of cushion and durability. The traction in wet conditions is somewhat lacking, but the UA Charged Bandit Trail 2 Shoe does many things well.
Who should buy the Under Armour Charged Bandit Trail 2 Shoe? If you are looking for a trail shoe that can handle most conditions, it’s a great option. It’s also one of the best (in my humble opinion) trail shoes for new trail runners. It’s inexpensive and can handle most types of trails well.
Who should not buy the Under Armour Charged Bandit Trail 2 Shoe? You’ll probably want something with more traction if you are exclusively running on wet and muddy trails.
My Current Shoe Rotation:
Easy/Daily Runs: Antepes Muscle Runners, Tracksmith Eliot Runner, New Balance 1080v12, Newton Gravity 12, 361 Degrees Centauri, ASICS Superblast
Speed Work: Hoka Solimar, Altra Vanish Carbon, 361 Flame, Nike Tempo Next%, Reebok Float Ride Run fast Pro, Nike ZoomX Streakfly
Long Runs: ASICS Superblast
Trail Running/Hiking: 361 Futura, Brooks Caldera 6, Hoka Tecton X2 Shoe Review Speedland SL: PDX,
Races: Nike ZoomX Streakfly, New Balance Fuelcell 5280, Reebok Run fast Pro, Nike Vaporfly 3 Hoka Rocket X 2 ASICS Metaspeed Edge+
You Can See All Current Shoe Reviews Here.
Are you looking to learn more about running shoes? In my ebook, I talk about why you need a good running shoe, a shoe’s anatomy, neutral vs. stable, and even myths about running shoes.
Questions for you:
What is your favorite trail shoe?
Have you tried the UA Charged Bandit Trail 2 Shoe?