R.A.D UFO review

After testing the R.A.D UFO, we recommend it for:

• Runners who loved the original Nike Invincible from 2021 and want a similar ride with the same flexible build and even more cushioning underfoot.
• Those looking beyond mainstream brands for a high-performance super trainer that excels during easy and long runs.
• Anyone willing to pay a premium for exceptional comfort and a highly bouncy ride during daily training.
• Marathoners seeking a versatile super trainer for easy runs, long runs, fartlek sessions, and tempo workouts.

If you dislike oversized midsoles, the UFO shouldn't be your next shoe. We found its platform exceptionally wide in both the forefoot and heel, making it a poor match for runners who prefer a more nimble ride. Instead, we think alternatives like the adidas Hyperboost Edge or PUMA Deviate Pure Nitro could be more appealing.

We also believe the UFO's premium price will be a major dealbreaker for many runners. If your budget doesn't stretch that far, we recommend considering more affordable alternatives like the Saucony Endorphin Azura or adidas Adizero EVO SL.

We measured 150 SA in the heel and 127 SA in the forefoot, giving both ends a strong result for shock absorption.

In our view, this is an amazing combination for daily mileage and long runs. Heel strikers get substantial impact protection at the rear, while runners landing farther forward also have plenty of cushioning beneath the ball of the foot.

SUPEFOAM backs up its premium positioning with excellent bounce. We recorded 77.5% energy return in the forefoot and 73.1% in the heel, which is definitely super-shoe territory.

Our heel stack measurement came in at 41.9 mm, almost perfectly matching R.A.D's advertised 42 mm.

This is a true maximalist design for runners who prefer plenty of cushioning between their heels and the road. With its excellent PEBA foam and above-average stack height, we believe it firmly earns its place in the super trainer category.

We found 32.5 mm of stack beneath the forefoot, keeping the front generously built as well.

Runners who land farther forward still get plenty of cushioning under the ball of the foot, making the UFO an excellent choice for long runs and heavier runners who need extra underfoot protection.

We measured an actual drop of 9.4 mm, slightly higher than R.A.D's stated 8 mm. That leaves the heel noticeably elevated above the forefoot, giving the shoe a familiar setup for runners coming from conventional daily trainers.

Another reason why the UFO reminds us of the original Nike Invincible is the softness of its PEBA foam. We measured 27.2 AC in the softer upper layer and 33.7 AC in the firmer lower layer, creating a plush underfoot feel. The upper layer compresses more easily under pressure, while the lower layer provides a slightly firmer foundation. Even so, both layers remain comfortably on the soft side.

Cold temperatures had very little impact on either foam, which is exactly what we've come to expect from PEBA. After our freezer test, the upper layer became just 10% firmer, while the lower layer showed an even smaller 4% increase.

Looking at the side profile, we found a huge heel bevel and a forefoot that curves sharply upward toward the toes. The rounded heel extends far forward, creating a curved landing surface that encourages rolling transitions.

This aggressive shaping gives the shoe a strong rocker-focused design. In fact, we believe this might be one of the running shoes with the least outsole contact area we've ever photographed!

At the widest point of our fit mold, we measured 96.7 mm. That's a fairly conventional amount of internal width, despite the enormous sole surrounding the upper.

We think that there's reasonable space across the widest part of the foot, but the shape becomes more restrictive farther forward. The toebox measurements are therefore especially important for runners deciding whether this fit will work for them.

We discovered that the upper tapers noticeably as it approaches the toes, as there are just 70.6 mm near the big toe.

In our view, this shape is better suited to runners with narrow feet or those who prefer a compact toe area, while broader toe shapes have less room to spread out.

Our lab measurements revealed a toebox height of just 23.5 mm, leaving very little vertical space at the front and making the UFO better suited for runners with low-volume feet.

The upper feels extremely comfortable thanks to its substantial padding, which helps reduce pressure from different angles. However, we believe runners who prefer a generous toebox won't enjoy the UFO's fit.

The R.A.D UFO impressed us with its outstanding performance, delivering insane energy return and impressive shock absorption. However, we found that its traction doesn't quite match those high standards.

While a 0.55 coefficient of friction is far from a bad result, we believe a shoe sitting firmly in premium territory should deliver premium-level grip too. Unfortunately, that's not the case here, and we'd love to see the next UFO push past 0.75 in our traction test.

The outsole features four black rubber pods spread across the forefoot and heel, each with grooves that break up the surface.

We also found exposed foam running through the center and oval cutouts that further reduce rubber coverage, creating a weight-saving design that clearly prioritizes shedding grams.

For a shoe to remind us of the original Nike Invincible, it needs to meet three key conditions: plush foam, high energy return, and low stiffness. The R.A.D UFO checks all three boxes, requiring just 11.7N in our 30-degree bend test and delivering a surprisingly flexible feel despite its massive build.

The UFO's massive appearance hides a surprisingly low weight. Our scale showed just 8.4 oz (238g), which we think is an impressive result for such a tall, wide shoe with generous upper padding.

This lightweight build makes it even more appealing for runners looking to pick up the pace during long runs or use the UFO as a dedicated tempo trainer.

The broad platform is the main structural feature here. We noticed substantial sole flare at both ends, along with raised sidewalls that cradle the foot. Together, these elements create a wide, supportive foundation beneath the ultra-soft SUPEFOAM midsole.

Basically, R.A.D designed the UFO with an extra-wide platform to offset the softness of the foam and its massive stack height. In our experience, this approach works really well for neutral runners, although we don't believe it provides enough support for those with serious stability needs.

Our torsional test returned 12.7 Nm, confirming that the sole has some give when twisted. Combined with the results of our longitudinal bending test, we believe this makes the UFO an excellent choice for runners who dislike the increasingly stiff feel of modern running shoes. Despite its massive build, this one flexes with ease!

We rated the heel counter 3/5 in our lab test, finding moderate resistance when pressing against it. But even with this result, we also strongly recommend the UFO for runners with sensitive heels, as this area offers an exceptionally plush and comfortable feel.

A 127.3 mm forefoot platform is exceptionally broad. We found a substantial amount of sole extending beyond the upper, creating a massive landing area beneath the ball of the foot.

That wide footprint is one of the UFO's defining features, and we could feel its presence with every stride. However, we believe it could also be a real dealbreaker for runners who prefer a more nimble, easy-to-maneuver shoe.

The heel is just as striking... or even more! We measured it at 110.1 mm across its widest point. There's an unusually broad rearfoot platform, giving heel strikers a generous area beneath their landing zone.

In fact, at the time of this review, the Saucony Hurricane 26 was the only shoe we'd tested with a measurement exceeding 110 mm in this area. Well, it finally has some company!

The upper's abrasion resistance was not positive, but we were expecting that. We gave the toebox just 2/5 after our test, with clear damage to the tested material.

The comfortable textile doesn't provide particularly robust protection against this kind of wear, which is a weakness worth considering for runners who regularly damage their uppers.

The heel delivered an excellent result, earning the maximum 5/5 in our abrasion test. The generous collar padding is backed by a lining that held up convincingly during testing.

We measured just 0.6 mm of damage after testing the outsole's abrasion resistance. The rubber lost little material, giving us a positive view of its wear resistance. And this is really encouraging for a shoe intended to handle regular mileage.

We measured 3.1 mm through the rubber pods, giving the covered areas a substantial wear layer. It's a conventional thickness for daily training, paired here with good abrasion resistance.

The outsole design limits coverage, but the rubber itself retains a reasonable amount of material.

The thick, comfortable upper of the UFO has visible ventilation windows, but they didn't translate into exceptional airflow in our smoke test. We gave the upper 3/5, a moderate result.

Under the microscope, we saw open spaces between the yarns, with finer fibers crossing some of those gaps. The complete upper also includes overlays and substantial padding, and we would define ventilation as adequate.

Flat laces run through textile loops, with reinforced four eyelets at the top. This layout lets the laces pull on several parts of the upper, while the upper eyelets provide a firmer anchor near the collar. The contrasting loops also make the lacing system a distinctive part of the design.

But the real attention-grabber is the tongue's 12.5 mm thickness. That's exceptionally generous padding for a running shoe, and it clearly shows the emphasis on comfort over a minimal upper. Could it even be too comfortable for some runners? We think so, especially for faster workouts.

The tongue features perforated fabric that extends along both sides to create a semi-gusseted design, which we believe is the ideal setup for a shoe like this.

The stock insole measured 3.9 mm, a conventional thickness for a running shoe.

We could easily remove the stock insole, making it simple for runners to swap in their own footbeds. But you would certainly miss its eye-catching black-and-white design, which features bold UFO branding and a striking pattern that matches the shoe's futuristic character.

We found no heel tab, so there's no dedicated pull point above the ultra-padded collar.

We also found reflective elements spread throughout the shoe, providing 360-degree visibility in low-light conditions. A nice touch for runners who train after dark or before sunrise.

R.A.D enters the premium running shoe market with the UFO, and we think its pricing is justified.

As a smaller brand that doesn't produce shoes on the same scale as giants like Nike or ASICS, delivering top-tier technology usually comes at a higher cost. And while the UFO is certainly expensive, its price is in line with direct competitors like the Saucony Paramount Max or the ASICS Superblast 3.