Under Armour HOVR Phantom 3 Review: The Running Shoe Redefining Comfort

Each major player in the sneaker industry has their respective athlete range, featuring everything from running to trail shoes. Knowing what to look for is not always easy unless you’re a professional runner. Whether you’re flat-footed, need a higher arch, gait cycle and more, there’s an endless list of checkboxes. Furthermore, the running style and what you want to achieve from it. For the most part, finding a balanced approach to your daily running is the easiest option. Shoes with stability and comfort are key factors here. The Under Armour HOVR Phantom 3 running shoes are an option for those mentioned above.

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Having spent the better part of a month with these running shoes, I can draw some conclusions on where they shine and what it does to differentiate themselves from the rest.

Under Armour HOVR Phantom 3 Design and Build

While this is arguably still a trivial aspect of the running shoe, it’s still a differentiator for runners who are undecided on their next pair of daily drivers. Most of the design elements on the modern running shoe form a dual purpose in adding to the performance gains and the overall aesthetic. Using the elements to tie into something unique is where the sweet spot lies.

From my history of runners across three decades, the shape of HOVR Phantom 3 is a relatively new concept. It doesn’t follow the standard design approach, from its midsole to its heel counter.

Starting at the top, the upper is crafted from a knitted material, UA IntelliKnit. It has a sock-like finish and fit, breathable and stretchy enough for all your lateral movements. The tongue also forms part of the knitted upper, with a few lateral stitches to provide a secure fit. Its breathability is derived from the diagonal elements across the upper, which appear as perforated edges. In addition, there is a thicker overlay stitched to the main section, which runs from the centre medial to the later side.

Four eye stays on each side, forming part of the lacing system. While the sock-like construction makes for a comfortable fit, the laces add more support if needed. Three eye stays form part of the overlay, also distinguished by orange. The fourth eye stay sits on the toebox – a little more conventional approach.

The midsole has a flat finish in comparison to most other runners. It’s a surprising approach for a running shoe. But more on its performance later. The crosshatch pattern in the centre, which contrasts the colourway, stands out in the design.

Lastly, the heel counter is TPU plastic to stabilise your run. It stands out from the rest of the shoe with its large-sized approach and features the Under Armour logo.

Overall, it is quite a nifty-looking approach to the shoe’s design. The aesthetic allows wearers to easily transition from a run on the streets to their daily routine. It looks the part in both scenarios.

Quality

Under Armour was built from the ground up to meet a specific requirement in the athleisure segment. It has prided itself on delivering quality performance products across its range and continues to do so today.

Its range of running shoes offers the same levels of quality, which is evident in the design and construction of the HOVR Phantom 3. After a month of regular use as my daily runner and doubling as my go-to walking shoe, its quality shone through. Although its white base picked up a lot of dirt over time, there were no indications of any wear on the shoes. Each of the edges, stitches, and construction points all held up.

I won’t say that I was surprised by the quality of the product overall, but even putting it through its paces and having not the slightest sign of wither makes for great optimism for its longevity.

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Performance and Comfort

Where the HOVR Phantom 3 stands out is in its comfort. A nice dose of cushioning around the foot prevents any strain from basic movements. It also offers cushioning underneath your foot with the SpeedForm® 2.0 sock liner. This provides support and stability, preventing your foot from sliding on a run.

In addition to this, it is also exceptionally stable underfoot. There was very little play or slippage during my regular runs, even on changing terrain. I was initially suspicious of the flat sole approach on the design, thinking it would lead to heavy landings and poor toe-off. However, this was not the case at all. Instead, the landing felt well-adjusted and controlled, with the toe-off also providing sufficient support.

That being said, this isn’t competing against your carbon-based running shoes. It’s not as heavily cushioning as offering additional bounce on the landing. It’s more of a back-to-basics runner that works well in all the mechanical aspects.

That’s not to say it doesn’t provide adequate cushioning, which it does. But you won’t get that responsive approach that sometimes leaves you feeling disconnected from the road. As a result, it provides much more stability and control while protecting the ankles and supporting areas around the foot from injury. You will feel much more strain than other runners in your calf muscles, as it requires more effort to perform better.

However, where the HOVR Phantom 3 does much better than an everyday running shoe is an everyday walking shoe. More often than not, I don’t double my running shoes as shoes I’d walk around with, given their midsole cushioning and exaggerated gait cycle that doesn’t lend itself to a slower pace. But the Phantom 3 offers plenty of support here, providing structured walking even when unexpected.

Compared with the much more cushioned approach of the adidas X_PLRBOOST sneaker that has abundant cushioning to keep your foot on cloud nine, the HOVR Phantom 3 takes a much different approach in providing stability and control to bring comfort. And it works.

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Is the Under Armour HOVR Phantom 3 Worth It?

The Under Armour HOVR Phantom 3 running shoes are more than just that. It doubles well as both a running and walking shoe in various scenarios. It offers comfort and balance for those constantly on the move. Besides being heavy and requiring much more mechanical effort than modern-day running shoes, it’s an excellent back-to-basics approach.

The shoe has a retail price of R3,199 but has also been available at a reduced rate recently. Those looking for their next daily driver can view the options available via the official online store. There are several colourways to choose from.