Under Armour Charged Assert 10 review

We think that the Under Armour Charged Assert 10 stands out as an outstanding shoe for the following runners:

• Budget-conscious heel strikers looking for a durable and stable running shoe. 
• Those who value stability and don't mind a firm midsole.
• Beginners aiming for a shoe that not only accommodates casual runs, but is also versatile enough for cross-training or gym workouts.

For those who prefer running on plush midsoles, or even ones that just lean toward the soft side, this shoe is not the best fit. The ride is notably firm. So, if you're willing to stretch your budget slightly, consider the ASICS Novablast 3. Watching your wallet? We lean towards the Nike Air Winflo 9.

Moreover, this shoe isn't tailored for fast-paced runs—it tends to work better during slower sessions. Instead, we'd recommend considering options like the Adidas Adizero Adios 7 or the ASICS Gel Pulse 13.

One of the biggest letdowns with the Charged Assert 9 was its breathability. For a road running shoe, a score of 3 out of 5 was pretty disappointing. That's why we're thrilled to share that this version stepped it up a notch, earning a 4 out of 5 after our smoke-pumping lab test.

The light test indicated the shoe's breathability, particularly in the medial part, has improved. Still, it's not the most breathable shoe in the market—we believe there are better budget-friendly choices for summer training, like the ASICS Gel Excite 9.

When we took a closer look under our microscope, we found that Under Armour sticks with a thick mesh that blocks the air.

Sure, the upper might look like a masterpiece under the microscope—seriously, it's crazy how technology evolves—but we also think that UA needs to step up their game for the next Charged Assert. How about throwing in a few ventilation holes?

When it comes to the durability of the upper, the Charged Assert 9 was seriously underwhelming. Put it up against any shoe and it falls flat every time.

Regrettably, Under Armour hasn't switched up the engineered mesh for this 10th edition, so it's no shocker that it scored again a disastrous 1/5 in our Dremel test. Look at debris flying everywhere!

However, keep in mind that we always conduct this test at the same distance on every shoe. This means the reinforced toe cap in the CA10 remained untouched. But while this reinforcement offers some protection, it won't stop those runners who tend to wear holes in their shoes from doing so in this upper.

The story continues with the heel padding. It also disappointingly scored a 1/5, the lowest grade possible.

What a letdown in an easy-to-improve aspect of this shoe.

After our lab tests, we can say that the Charged Assert series truly represents the epitome of extremes. On one hand, there's an upper that feels really delicate, but on the other, it's balanced out by an ultra-durable outsole that appears to have the longevity of a tortoise.

We found ourselves genuinely impressed with v9 in this regard, but with v10, it's like we've been transported to an entirely new universe of toughness in the outsole. And on top of that, the rubber covers the midsole in a much more clever way to ensure optimal protection.

The rubber hardness here is an awe-inspiring 87.8 HC, which stands as one of the most impressive figures we've ever witnessed in the lab.

And the party goes on. We were already blown away by the above-average 4.9 mm rubber thickness of the prior model, but the Charged Assert 10 takes it up a notch with a jaw-dropping 5.3 mm measurement in our lab.

This is positive for the shoe's lifespan, but it does come with the trade-off of increased weight. Nevertheless, when it comes to budget-friendly running shoes, durability is often the top-priority for many runners.

Indeed, the Charged Assert 10 has gained a bit of weight. Coming in at 10.5 oz or 298g for a US size 9, it's heavier by 0.3 oz or 8g.

Interestingly, it looks like most of the added weight has gone into the rubber.

The stack height in this new edition measures at 32.0 mm. This is not only lower than the average shoe, but it's also 2.0 mm less than its predecessor.

We measured a mere 22.6 mm in the forefoot, including insole and outsole, which implies that the shoe is too thin in terms of foam.

This lack of cushion is not a good thing at all for forefoot strikers.

This measurement confirms what we've been saying: this shoe is specifically designed with heel strikers in mind.

Sure, with a 9.4-mm heel-to-toe drop, it can accommodate midfoot strikers too. But we wouldn't recommend this one for forefoot strikers.

UA decided to play it safe with the insole, which we think is a smart move. At 4.2 mm, it's pretty much the same as any standard insole you'd find out there.

Once again, we're seeing the extremes with the Charged Assert. Measuring at a brick-like 31.1 HA, it's among the firmest shoes we've tested in recent months, which hints at a strategy we believe is quite interesting.

While most of the leading brands are leaning towards softer compounds to cater to the demand for a hyper-plush running experience, UA takes a different road.

We find this approach really cool, as the Charged Assert isn't going to outsell Nike or ASICS shoes in the mainstream market. So, why not think outside the box and serve a niche-market that's largely overlooked by the big boys?

For those curious about soft vs. firm midsoles, be sure to dive into our advanced guide!

The CA10's firm ride intensifies when the temperature drops. After spending 20 minutes in our freezer, we measured the shoe's softness at 38.4 HA.

So, if you thought it was firm in comfortable weather, brace yourself for a real brick in winter.

Even though the Charged Assert 10 becomes even firmer in the cold, it holds up great when compared against other similar shoes, increasing only by 23.3%.

It's particularly impressive given that it's tailored for beginners, a group of shoes that often fall short in such conditions.

One defining feature that sets the Charged Assert 10 apart is its remarkable stability. Naturally, having a firm midsole, as in this shoe, makes achieving such stability much simpler.

To enhance stability from the previous model, the Charged Assert 10 outperformed its predecessor in our torsional rigidity test, earning a 3/5 as compared to the earlier version's 2/5.

Nonetheless, this change is quite minimal and was barely perceptible during our runs.

Under Armour has shown they're attentive to customer feedback by addressing a significant issue found in the CA9 in this new model: heel slippage. The revamped design now features a sturdier heel counter that we've graded as 3/5.

But there's no need for concern—as demonstrated in the video above, a substantial, plush piece of foam shields your Achilles from the heel counter, providing an ultra-comfortable experience for your body's longest tendon.

As we've mentioned earlier, UA aimed to make this shoe more appealing to both midfoot and forefoot strikers, while not losing its core appeal to heel strikers.

This is clear because the forefoot is now wider than ever, measuring 115.7 mm. It even surpasses the width of the average running shoe.

Measuring 91.3 mm, the heel is wider in the tenth edition of the Charged Assert than in its predecessor.

This makes it one of the most stable running shoes for beginners available today.

We initially felt some hesitation before conducting our 90-degree bend test in the lab. The shoe appeared a bit stiff underfoot and during our torsional tests. However, with a measurement of 17.4N, the CA10 maintains impressive flexibility!

For this reason, it's a solid pick for cross training, gym sessions, or even casual walks around the neighborhood.

However, keep in mind that the shoe maintains this level of flexibility only in mild or warm conditions.

As temperatures drop, the shoe stiffens considerably, as we discovered when we needed to make 35N of force following a 20-minute stint in the cold next to the ice cream in our freezer to bend it to 90 degrees.

Believe it or not, that's a whopping 100.9% increase—one of the most substantial we've ever noted in the lab.

If the shoe fits right, why change it? That seems to be Under Armour's thinking, given that there were hardly any complaints about toebox space in the CA9.

With the CA10, they've kept things consistent—the toebox width remains virtually unchanged at a roomy 99.2 mm, comfortably accommodating most feet.

Some users had pointed out that the toe box felt a bit narrow around the big toe in the v9.

That's why Under Armour has expanded this space by 2.4 mm. This change aims to provide a more comfortable fit for runners with wider feet in the toe area. Now, we measured it at the width here at a generous 77.1 mm.

In line with its standing as a value-oriented shoe aimed at beginners or budget-conscious runners, there's no gusset on the tongue, meaning it isn't attached to the sides.

This led to some tongue movements during our fastest runs.

The Charged Assert 10 truly excels in this area, which also explains its heavier weight.

We clocked the tongue at a staggering 8.5 mm, offering exceptional comfort and entirely eliminating the risk of lace bite.

There's still a heel tab, so Under Armour, we love your dedication to quality over cost-cutting here!

Swapping the insole for a custom one presented no problems for us—it's not glued in at all. We had a hassle-free experience with this process.