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Under Armour Speedform Fortis Review

Under Armour continues to move their running collection in the right direction, and if I can trust the rumors I hear about the 2016 products, Under Armour may finally be a serious player in the running category. The Speedform Fortis is here now and here are our thoughts.

 

The Good

Thomas: The upper, you gotta start with the upper. It is so comfortable, soft, and seamless. It feels like sliding your foot into a pair of slippers. Speedform Fortis has a one piece heel cup with a little bit of silicone rubber around the ankle to comfortably lock in your foot. The shoe is soft and flexible out of the box. No need to break these in. The Fortis cushioning (UA Charged EVA) is the same as the Speedform Gemini, with a more flexibility under the forefoot. There is less EVA and rubber on the outsole. This might be the difference in the weight. The Fortis feels like it has a little more forward lean than the Gemini, even though both shoes have an 8mm drop. The Speedform Fortis in a size 10. 5 weighs in at a decent 9.35 oz. About a full ounce lighter than the Gemini.

Meaghan: The Under Armour SpeedForm™ Fortis is a really nice surprise. This model follows in the footsteps of the Speedform Apollo and the Speedform Gemini. I didn’t have a chance to run in the Apollo, but I had nice things to say about the Gemini. The Fortis holds a lot of the same great qualities – including the Charged Foam midsole and 4D Foam lining. This technology allows your foot to really mold into the shoe. Under Armour reduced the weight of the shoe by removing some of the solid rubber on the outsole and adding a new upper (W7.5 Fortis: 7.2 oz; W7.5 Gemini 8.5oz). The Fortis has a blown rubber outsole with a carbon rubber heel. The shoe feels much lighter underfoot, but hasn’t lost its durability. I’ve seen little-to-no wear after 75 miles. The new ArmourVent™ mesh upper is a really stretchy, light and breathable material. It completes the shoes all-around comfortable feel. I thought UA nailed it with the Gemini, but the Fortis wins in my book…

The Bad

Thomas: The Speedform Fortis isn’t really that far off in character from the Speedform Gemini. That isn’t really a bad thing, but it also makes it redundant to the Gemini. On tight turns, the foot feels less secure. The lacing could be a little more dialed in to provide a better fit.

Meaghan: As I mentioned in my Gemini review, I could use a slightly larger toebox. Wide feet people problems. On that note, I found the Fortis was much more forgiving in the forefoot. There is a lot of flexibility in this area, which I have mixed feelings about. It provides more control for the speedier miles, but seems to lack the structure I want for longer, marathon-distance training runs.

The Conclusion

Thomas: The Fortis is a solid addition to the Under Armour running collection. However, I prefer the Speedform Gemini over the Fortis. There isn’t a ton of differences between the shoes, but the Gemini edges out the Fortis even with the extra ounce. The Fortis would be a good trainer for a light-weight runner, running lower mileage, that needs a shoe that can handle gym. I am excited for the future of Under Armour’s running shoes.

Meaghan: I have to disagree with Thomas. Lighter is better. Almost always. The Speedform Fortis is a really comfortable, light neutral trainer. It’s unlike any other shoe in my rotation right now. There is no sockliner, there are no seams; it’s just one giant piece of (super light) material hugging your feet. If you’re using custom insoles or need a shoe with support, the Fortis is not for you. If you’re anyone else who likes running, give these a go.

 

Did you find this review useful? Head on over to Running Warehouse to try them out!

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  1. I just got these shoes and took them for a one mile spin. So far so good, but it’s way too early to tell. However, the heel cup doesn’t wrap around my ankle as snug as the Gemini’s do. And in trying to tighten my laces, I agree that the lace system needs more refinement. I suppose adding speed laces or bungee laces would help.

    1. Maybe worth a try. Let us know.

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