Under Armour Infinite Elite 2 review

The Under Armour Infinite Elite 2 delivered a performance that impressed us, and we confidently recommend it to:

• Runners looking for a high-comfort daily trainer with standout energy return for long runs and top shock absorption for recovery days.
• Those with narrow feet or who prefer a snug, secure fit. This shoe excels in that department.
• Loyal UA fans let down by version 1, as this updated model is a massive step forward.
• Anyone sceptical about Under Armour running shoes. You had a point, but this one will change your mind.

We’re convinced that the Infinite Elite 2 is not the best choice for runners seeking a cloud-like underfoot experience. Despite its sky-high midsole, it not as plush as it looks. If maxed-out softness is your priority, we suggest looking into the Mizuno Neo Zen or ASICS Novablast 5 instead.

We also believe this isn’t the top pick for wide-footed runners or anyone who prioritises a comfort-driven fit. The upper lacks stretch and the toebox feels snug, which could be limiting. For a more relaxed, toe-friendly feel, we highly recommend the Adidas Ultraboost 5 with its sock-like upper.

The Infinite Elite 2 pushes the ultra-cushioned concept even further, improving on the original with an outstanding 144 SA of shock absorption in the heel.

We also measured an impressive 121 SA in the forefoot that is well above average. This makes it a perfect pick for runners seeking maximum underfoot protection and impact reduction.

Energy return is excellent, and that really caught us off guard. Not long ago, Under Armour felt a bit lost in the running scene, pushing out average shoes that didn’t justify their price.

But things have changed. With a superb 72.6% energy return, this daily trainer delivers a spring-loaded ride that truly deserves recognition.

From the outside, it already looks huge, and our callipers confirmed it. With a towering 40.1 mm stack height in the heel, the Infinite Elite 2 proudly joins the maximalist club.

Who’s this shoe for? Anyone craving bottomless cushioning, no ground feel, and a long-run-ready build. But if oversized, thick-foam shoes aren’t your thing, the Infinite Elite 2 won’t be either.

We found the forefoot stack height hits an eye-popping 33.1 mm. In our opinion, that’s even more wild than the heel, making this shoe ideal for midfoot and forefoot strikers needing world-class impact protection.

The difference between the heel and forefoot results in a 7.0 mm drop, which feels just right for the Infinite Elite 2. It suits all footstrikes, though midfoot strikers will likely benefit the most from this geometry.

The magic of the Infinite Elite 2 comes from its HOVR+ midsole foam, which we already proved delivers massive energy return. But how does it feel underfoot: soft or firm?

On our runs, it struck a well-tuned balance. It feels less plush than its maximalist build might suggest, yet going any softer would’ve hurt stability too much. The 18.5 HA we measured supports this, being a balanced result that makes sense for us... but can disappoint those looking for an ultra-plush experience.

Despite its towering stack height, the Infinite Elite 2 skips the exaggerated rocker trend and keeps a flatter shape in both the forefoot and heel. That’s why we recommended it earlier for midfoot strikers, as it’s a spot-on match for those runners.

Of course, it can still work for other footstrikes. But if you're into highly-assisted rides with aggressive rockers like the Hoka Cielo X1 2.0, this one goes the other way entirely. And we love having such a classic alternative in today’s market.

Under Armour replaced the knit upper from version one with a more lightweight engineered mesh, which also makes the shoe feel slightly less spacious due to the reduced stretch.

Our initial measurement showed a 95.0 mm width, pretty average and in line with what we’ve seen in many daily trainers currently available.

The second measurement, taken at the big toe area, reached 71.9 mm.

This is where the switch from knit to engineered mesh becomes more evident, making the shoe a better option for narrow-footed runners or those who prefer a snug, secure fit.

The toebox height is generous enough to handle long runs comfortably.

We never experienced any pressure on the top of the toes, and there was enough room to lift them freely whenever we wanted to.

One area that clearly needed an upgrade from version 1 was traction—it was decent, but far from impressive. We discovered that Under Armour stepped up here too, delivering a 0.47 score that ensures dependable grip on both dry and wet surfaces.

The outsole of the Under Armour Infinite Elite 2 features thick black rubber strategically placed over high-impact zones, with a wide central channel running from heel to toe.

These rubber segments are widely spaced and include circular cutouts that expose the white HOVR+ foam underneath, helping reduce weight. At the heel, the rubber forms a horseshoe-like structure, surrounding a large foam section.

Given the oversized midsole, we didn’t expect standout flexibility from the Infinite Elite 2... but we still hoped for a bit more.

It scored 17.8N in our 30-degree bend test, landing above average. This design adds a more grounded, stable feel underfoot, although it takes away slightly from the comfort on easy runs or simply walking around the city.

One of our biggest complaints with the first Infinite Elite was its weight. Coming in at 11.1 oz or 315g, it felt excessive even for a max-cushioned shoe. Thankfully, Under Armour addressed this.

Version 2 drops to a more manageable 10.2 oz or 288g. While it’s still not feather-light, we no longer consider the weight a drawback.

The biggest dealbreaker about the first version of the Infinite Elite was the poor breathability of its knit upper. While extremely comfortable and great for winter, it felt unbearable for summer runs.

Under Armour made a clean break this time, switching to a dual-layer engineered mesh with plenty of ventilation holes. Although it feels less premium than knit, it earned a solid 4/5 in our lab test.

When we checked the upper against a light source, it looked like airflow would be limited. But that’s only because the mesh is fairly thick for added comfort.

Up close with the microscope, we spotted the large ventilation holes typical of engineered mesh and many tiny gaps that are invisible to the eye.

This new upper strikes a well-rounded balance between comfort and breathability, which isn’t easy to achieve.

The Under Armour Infinite Elite 2 is a maximalist running shoe, and that usually brings some instability. However, it includes features that help counter this, like a reinforced heel counter that wraps around the sides, extra-wide midsole dimensions, and high stiffness to reduce lateral movement.

We tried twisting the Infinite Elite 2 and found it to be quite torsionally rigid, scoring 4/5 in our manual test. Once again, it's clear that Under Armour aimed to build a shoe that feels exceptionally stable for a wide range of runners.

The heel counter scores a moderate 3/5, and we appreciate that choice. Many maximalist shoes go too far chasing stability and end up feeling brick-like. This one avoids that pitfall.

You don’t need callipers to realise this shoe is massive, we think that just holding it makes that obvious. Still, our job is to measure every detail, so here we go.

The forefoot came in at 119.0 mm, which is certainly wide, though not record-breaking. Now let’s take a look at what’s going on in the heel.

At 103.9 mm, the heel of the Infinite Elite 2 is what gives it that tank-like presence, and it’s also why the shoe feels incredibly stable for heel strikers despite the towering stack.

As always with running shoes, there’s a trade-off. This time, it’s the lack of agility, which comes as no surprise.

The engineered mesh from Under Armour checks all the right boxes—it’s soft, breathable, and built to last. We put it through our Dremel test and gave it a 3/5, which means it holds up well, even if it doesn’t reach top-tier durability.

With the Dremel still spinning, we moved on to the heel padding. Staying consistent with the strong results across our review, this area also outperformed the average, earning a solid 4/5 in our durability test.

For our final Dremel test, we had to double the tool’s speed, because anything less wouldn’t even scratch the outsole rubber. Once we did, we measured just 0.7 mm of damage, which is an excellent result that left us genuinely pleased.

Under Armour clearly aimed for top-tier outsole durability, combining solid rubber toughness with a thick 4.0 mm layer. Honestly, we think it’s a bit overbuilt, and shaving some off could improve both weight and ride without hurting longevity.

The insole measures 4.2 mm thick, putting it right in line with what we usually see in most daily trainers.

Another plus of the premium foam in the Infinite Elite 2 is how well it handles cold. In our standard 20-minute freezer test, it only became 18% firmer.

Want to use your favourite insoles or custom orthotics? No problem, as the stock insole of the Infinite Elite 2 is fully removable.

Under Armour added six small reflective strips on the heel of each shoe. They shine brightly in low light conditions and offer great visibility for cars approaching from behind.

Another interesting tweak from version 1 is that Under Armour slimmed down the tongue to 5.1 mm, as it was previously at 9.3 mm. That made no sense in a shoe with overweight issues, and we're glad they did.

We also found that it features a loop-based eyelet lacing system with flat, slightly elastic laces that allow easy tension adjustment. Additionally, the last row includes an extra set of eyelets for runners who prefer heel-lock lacing.

The tongue is semi-gusseted, a smart design move for this shoe. It boosts lockdown without adding noticeable weight and never feels intrusive on the run.

The Infinite Elite 2 offers outstanding value considering its bouncy ride and top-tier comfort. In fact, it ranks among the best energy return-per-dollar shoes we've ever tested in the lab!

We found a sleek finger-loop heel tab that blends seamlessly into the design, with bold stitching and a red-accented interior that adds a touch of flair.