Under Armour Surge 4 review

The Under Armour Surge 4 can be a solid choice for:

• Casual runners on a budget seeking a stable daily trainer for easy runs or jogs.
• Runners who prefer firm cushioning, focus on shorter distances, and want maximum savings.
• Heel strikers looking for a cheap shoe with a thick outsole for extra durability.

We believe the Surge 4 is not the best choice if you want decent performance in energy return or shock absorption. After lab testing, we found both categories fell really short, ranking among the weakest we’ve measured. For a budget-friendly alternative with better bounce, we suggest the Nike Downshifter 12.

We also think the Surge 4 feels overly firm underfoot, which can be uncomfortable for many runners. If you prefer a softer and more forgiving ride but still want an affordable shoe, we recommend the New Balance Fresh Foam Arishi v4 or the Brooks Revel 7. However, don't expect a plush feel—that's impossible at a super-low price point.

Shock absorption is well below average at 114 SA in the heel and 84 SA in the forefoot, which isn’t surprising given the low price, the basic foam compound, and the moderate stack height.

At the time of this review (we can’t predict the future yet), the Surge 4 ranks among the three shoes with the lowest energy return we tested... and we’ve tested hundreds! It scored only 42.4% in the heel and a shockingly flat 39.2% in the forefoot.

This has a crystal-clear message: if you enjoy even a hint of bounce in your running shoes, this one delivers the opposite feel.

The stack height isn’t low at all, despite what the shock absorption results might suggest. At 33.5 mm, it’s close to the average and offers a solid layer of foam underfoot.

The forefoot follows the same trend, with 24.5 mm of stack height, slightly below today’s average. The shoe feels pretty normal in this regard.

We measured an actual heel-to-toe drop of 9.0 mm, which works great for heel strikers but is still usable for nearly any footstrike. This isn’t surprising, as most budget shoes favor higher-drop designs.

When we tested the Surge 4 on our runs, we instantly discovered a firm feel underfoot that's even more noticeable by today’s softer-foam trend.

Our lab confirmed this sensation with a 26.0 HA reading. Still, firmer midsoles can be useful for beginners or casual runners who want a simple option with a stable, no-nonsense ride.

The rocker design of the Surge 4 leans more toward heel strikers, as its curvature clearly favors rearfoot landings. The forefoot rocker is also very mild, something we usually see in budget-friendly shoes.

We made a gel mold of the Surge 4’s interior to analyze its shape.

Our measurement of the upper’s widest section came to 98.5 mm, ranking it among the widest daily trainers in its category.

In contrast, the toebox narrows to a more average 73.2 mm. This classic taper limits space, though it’s worth noting that UA offers a wide version in some markets, which helps considerably.

While the Surge 4 provides solid width, its vertical space is another matter.

Measuring 24.5 mm, we found it to be a low-volume design, so runners with higher-volume feet may need to be cautious here.

One of the strongest features we discovered in the Surge 4 is traction. With a 0.53 score in our demanding wet test over concrete, it shows a confidence-boosting grip that even outperforms many shoes costing 3x more!

The outsole of the Surge 4 features broad rubber coverage with a small section of exposed foam at the center. Large oval and rectangular rubber patches strengthen the heel and midfoot, adding structure where impact is highest.

Up front, the forefoot showcases a combination of rounded-cornered rectangular strips and small circular pods arranged in rows. We believe that this detailed layout feels surprisingly advanced for the shoe’s price, highlighting the outsole as its most refined element.

This shoe is not very flexible, as our 30-degree bend test confirmed with a result of 15.4N, landing right around the average.

At 10.4 oz (295g), the Surge 4’s weight isn’t too bad, especially given its solid outsole coverage. And honestly, we can’t expect a shoe at this low price to pack multiple advanced features or to be super lightweight.

The step-in feel of the Surge 4 is solid, thanks to generous padding in the heel and tongue. The toebox, however, feels less pleasant and doesn’t look especially airy.

We tested ventilation with our smoke machine and saw moderate airflow. It wasn’t impressive but not poor either, so we rated it 3/5.

The upper relies on synthetic fibers that aren’t particularly plush or gentle.

For this reason, going sockless is out of the question. On the plus side, they add extra lateral stability.

Yet in our view, the decent ventilation and the comfortable heel and tongue padding are right in line with expectations. We just wished the mesh felt a bit softer.

Stability in the Surge 4 is surprisingly good, and we think runners with mild pronation might find it secure underfoot. The lateral TPU heel inserts and wide landing base work together to create a really solid support.

The Surge 4 is fairly stiff, scoring 4/5 in our flexibility test, which clearly adds to the stable ride. However, runners who enjoy a more flexible shoe for daily use may prefer another option.

Under Armour kept things simple with the Surge 4, giving it a standard heel counter similar to what we see in many daily trainers, even pricier ones. In our test, it earned a 3/5 score.

The Surge 4 comes with a standard forefoot shape and width, providing a landing base of 116.3 mm at its widest point.

It’s clear to us that the Surge 4 leans more toward heel strikers, which makes sense to us. Budget-friendly shoes are often aimed at beginners, and many in this group land on the rearfoot.

At the same time, this measurement of 94.8 mm reflects a new trend in the market. Entry-level models were once compact, but now we see them adopting wider, stiffer builds as well.

Toebox durability isn’t the strongest aspect of the Surge 4, as our 2/5 toebox score shows. It delivers only modest resistance to abrasion, falling short of more durable options. To be honest with you, we expected a better result here.

The heel padding also scored below average at 3/5, which isn’t great news. Still, given the shoe’s low price, some trade-offs in quality are expected, and this seems to be one of them.

If the upper isn’t a major concern, then the Surge 4 holds up well. Its outsole performed solidly in our last Dremel test, showing just 0.9 mm of rubber wear.

You know, there's a funny paradox in running shoes: buyers of cheap models often expect more durability than those paying 3x or 4x the price.

That’s why brands emphasize long-lasting builds in cheap shoes, even if it means more weight. And that’s exactly what we found here, with the Surge 4 showing an extra-durable 4.5 mm outsole.

The stock insole of the Surge 4 measures 3.9 mm in thickness.

The insole of the Surge 4 is removable, allowing you to swap in a thicker, more cushioned option or even custom orthotics. As for the “Comfort Deluxe System” name... let’s just say it feels a bit exaggerated.

The EVA midsole of the Surge 4 became only 12% firmer after 20 minutes in our freezer. That's a pleasantly unexpected result that helps maintain consistent performance year-round.

The Surge 4 has no reflective elements, so night runners may find this a bit of an issue and should rely on hi-vis clothing or accessories for visibility.

The lacing system on the Surge 4 is unusual for a budget shoe—it skips basic punched eyelets and instead uses stitched fabric loops. However, it lacks an extra top eyelet, limiting advanced heel-lock lacing options.

A usual trick from brands on cheap shoes is to add a bunch of foam to the tongue in order to improve comfort by just spending a few cents, and that's what Under Armour did by using a thick 7.8 mm tongue.

The tongue isn’t gusseted, so it isn’t attached to the sides and may move slightly. This is completely expected for a budget-friendly running shoe.

The main appeal of the Surge 4 is clearly its low price. Positioned at the very bottom of the price spectrum, it targets runners seeking maximum value while spending as little as possible.

The minimal design of the Surge 4 extends to the rear, where it completely skips a heel tab.