Under Armour Velociti Distance Review | A Shoe Designed for Long Runs

All of us have a short list or rotation of favorite running shoes, which can make it difficult for a new brand or model to land a spot. But once in a while, a new shoe drops and instantly emerges as a favorite. Case in point, Under Armour’s Velociti Distance.

Under Armour’s Velociti line includes several models, each with a specific area of focus. The Velociti Speed is meant for tempo and track sessions, while the Velociti Elite is their race day option.

There are a few more iterations, but I think you get the picture. The Velociti Distance is created for the pillar of every training block, the long run.

I’m a bit of a diva when it comes to shoes I wear for long runs and had zero experience with Under Armour’s footwear, so I was not expecting much out of this shoe. I couldn’t have been more wrong.

The Under Armour Velociti Distance is up for the longest of long runs, and is an absolute blast to rock for all the miles!

This shoe is ideal for long runs, particularly if you’re training for a half marathon and up! It’s not a max cushioned shoe, so if that’s your jam instead this is a moderate cushion with a little bounce that just feels good for miles.

Under Armour Velociti Distance Overview

My first impression when unboxing the shoe was that it looks similar to the Saucony Ride and Triumph, which I occasionally wear for recovery or easy runs.

Although I love those shoes, they aren’t my go-to for long runs, so I was curious to see how the Velociti Distance performed.

Under Armour included light stability elements, soft and snappy HOVR+ superfoam running the entire length of the shoe, and extra foam in the heel to reduce collective joint impact. But what did all of that feel like on the run? Did it live up to their promise of being a shoe specifically for long runs?

Instantly, I put this shoe to work. After an easy run to loosen up the shoe, I wore them for a 16 miler, 18 miles the following week, and finally, a mile repeat session on the track. After around 50 miles of testing, I’m excited to share my takeaways!

Plus, at the $160 price point, this shoe is an absolute steal!

I received the understated white and black colorway, which isn’t typically my jam, but it does look sharp and classic. The shoe also felt a bit heavy to hold, but was smooth on the run!

Under Armour Velociti Distance Fit

Okay, so you’ve probably picked up that I’m a huge fan of this shoe, so it may surprise you to hear that it was not love at first stride.

I mentioned earlier that I have a low volume foot, so I occasionally have issues with my heel sliding to and fro. Unfortunately, I did experience a bit of heel slippage in this shoe, even after locking down the fit in all other areas.

This is my ONLY minor issue with the Velociti Distance. Aside from too much wiggle room in the heel, the shoe fits like a dream.

The midfoot does narrow a bit, but doesn’t feel confining. It’s a cushioned, yet not too plush platform.

The toebox opens considerably, and gives me just enough room to wiggle and splay my toes. It also runs true to size! Both the tongue and heel have a dash of additional padding, which creates a pleasant, foot-wrapping fit.

There are some mild stability elements to this shoe, which I felt mostly on the lateral side of the rearfoot and midfoot. It did feel a touch stiff for the first few miles, but definitely opened up nicely!

Under Armour Velociti Distance Feel

Friends, I’m going to try and not nerd out too much in this section, because I absolutely love the way this shoe feels and performs!

I already mentioned the shoe-length HOVR+ superfoam, but want to share a few takeaways. This shoe is soft, but has a ton of snap.

You’re going to get a pleasant amount of groundfeel, without the pounding that sometimes sets in toward the end of a long run.

Additionally, my legs felt fantastic after two long runs in the shoe, which is not always the case during marathon training.

The most pronounced cushion lies in the heel, so this one could definitely be a home run for heel strikers. The shoe also handled marathon pace quite well, particularly considering it doesn’t have a plate.

More so, I was able to bang out some mile repeats on the track near half marathon pace, so there is some speed there too. I’m all for a do-it-all trainer!

The translucent mesh upper is breathable and should work well in all weather. Plus, the outsole handles wet pavement like a champ.

I want to be clear that if you’re looking for a bouncy, plush long run shoe, this may not be the one for you. But if you’re looking for a smooth, snappy ride, definitely give the UA Velociti Distance a crack in your rotation!

Similar Shoes to the Under Armour Velociti Distance

We’ve tested a few daily trainers that feel similar, but different based on the brand fit. 

Alright, friends! That’s our take on the Under Armour Velociti Distance. Let us know your thoughts about this shoe, and what your go-to long run shoe is!

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