Under Armour Horizon RTT Shoes Review

Under Armour Horizon RTT Shoes Review

“Disclaimer: I received the Under Armour Horizon RTT Trail Shoe to review as part of being a BibRave Pro. Learn more about becoming a BibRave Pro (ambassador), and check out BibRave.com to review find and write race reviews!”

SHOES!!! When there is an opportunity to test shoes through Bibrave, I will always throw my hat in the ring. Yes, I have a go to shoe, but you never know if there is a better one out there, especially on the trails.

How about I start with a first impression (I received the Marlon Blue/Neptune color):

They are bulky looking
They are stiff, would they be comfortable?
The tread means business – lots of “lugs”
They look like they can “handle” tough terrain
The material is kind of plasticy

Here is what the website has to say:

These were made for the runner who makes the trail their second home. With superior cushioning & incredible durability, they‘re are ready to put in some serious miles.

Product DNA

Durable PU & textile upper for breathability & reliable protection

Reinforced welded synthetic material in critical areas for increased durability

Mesh heel with dual protective welds

Molded collar foam package for added comfort

Charged Cushioning® foam puck placed under the heel for responsive comfort

Lightweight, full-length EVA midsole for optimal cushioning

High traction rubber lug outsole for dependable traction on a variety of conditions

Offset: 7mm

Weight: 9.2 oz.

Imported

I’ve logged about 43 miles in these shoes, testing all kinds of terrain – single track, dirt, rocks, crushed limestone and even pavement. Here are some highlights from those runs.

July 25, 2017 – First run. I do not run in a trail shoe, so my first run is comparing to my regular go to shoe. 5 miles, crushed limestone. Ok, soooo 5 miles in a new pair of shoes is risky, but I gave this a go. They were stiff & clunky, but seemed to “relax” as I ran. My right foot arch, PF was bothered. I didn’t feel they were very cushiony.

July 27, 2017 – 4 miles, crushed limestone. I had no foot pain, they felt good, it was a run as usual.

July 30, 2017 – 3 miles, various trail surfaces – single track, grass, dirt. I put them to the test. I always felt I had good footing. No foot pain.

August 2, 2017 – 2 miles, pavement run. Say what??? Yep, I ran to the farmers’ market, it was all on paved surface. I was glad I did, I had to run through some mud on the way. I choose to test them on pavement as sometimes when you run trails you have to cross roads or take access roads to get to the trail. I didn’t have any problems, but I don’t think they have enough cushion to run any further than this on pavement.

August 7, 2017 – 3 miles, crushed limestone. No issues. I took a lot of pictures wearing the shoes, so I will keep on with each testing run.

August 8, 2017 – Ran 4 miles at Squire Point, which is a combination of sand, rocks, packed dirt. Felt confident on these trails. I need to go back to this area when it’s wet to test out the tread.

August 10, 2017 – Ran 3 miles on the Hoover Nature Trail, crushed limestone. No problems… the more I wear these the better they feel for me.

August 11, 2017 – 6 miles on crushed limestone. Longest run in them, continue to have no problems

August 14, 2017 – 3 miles on the crushed limestone, no issues.

August 21, 2017 – Solar Eclipse Day! I took a week off from the shoes, but I had a beer run with a friend and a weekend of back to back races. I ran a nice 3 miles on the crushed limestone. It’s one of my favorite places to run, and easy on the joints. The shoes are just like any of my other go to shoes at this point.

August 24, 2017 – 5 x 800 on the crushed limestone trail, total of 5 miles. Who needs a track? Yes, I did speed work in the shoes I initially thought were clunky. No issues, maybe even felt speedy!

Conclusion: These shoes at first were stiff and clunky, but after breaking them in, they are now part of my current shoe rotation. The stiffness is due to their durability on the trail, they can take some abuse. I can also appreciate how they perform on the trail, while I wasn’t running in slippery mud, the lugs made for a great grip on loose crushed limestone. At $109 for a pair of trail shoes, they are a great deal!! I can’t wait to hit the trails.

If you aren’t convinced these are the shoes for you, read what my fellow BibRave Pros are saying: Tedrick – Lindsey – Jessica – Fallon – Casey – Frank– Vanessa