Under Armour Flow Velociti Wind 2 review: Lighter, faster and more comfortable

Under Armour Flow Velociti Wind 2 review TL;DR: UA tweaked its fastest running shoe that is now even more appealing. Considering the minor updates, it's not worth the update if you already have the first iteration. The shoes are great, though.

The original Under Armour Flow Velociti Wind was one of the most hyper running shoes of 2021, very rightly so: it was an exciting new franchise built by one of the biggest sports brands right now. The Flow Velociti Wind promised lightweight comfort, Bluetooth connectivity to your smartphone and durability – what's not to like?

And while the shoes were indeed innovative, they also divided runners: not everyone liked the firm Flow cushioning, and some even criticised the fit of the Warp upper. So, as expected, Under Armour went back to the drawing board and made some tweaks to the shoes. Enter the Under Armour Flow Velociti Wind 2, the subject of this review.

Were the tweaks enough to solve the issues with the shoes? Can the new Flow Velociti Wind 2 compete with the big dogs, such as the ASICS Metaspeed Sky or the New Balance FuelCell RC Elite v2? Let's find out.

Under Armour Flow Velociti Wind 2 review: Price and availability

The Under Armour Flow Velociti Wind 2 was released in early 2022 and is available to buy now from Under Armour US, Under Armour UK and Under Armour AU for a recommended retail price of $160/£140/AU$200. Make sure you check our Under Armour discount codes to get the best deal. 

Based on my super thorough research, the shoes are available in at least four colourways, but not all are available in every country. Current colours in the UK are Black / Reflective, White / High-Vis Yellow (tested in this review), and the flashy Quirky Lime / Blaze Orange. 

There are also special versions of the shoes, such as the Flow Velociti Wind 2 Daylight Edition, although from what I can tell, they are exactly the same apart from the colour.

Under Armour Flow Velociti Wind 2 review: What's new?

The Under Armour Flow Velociti Wind 2 is very similar to its predecessor but there are three key changes that were introduced in the updated version. The most significant update is the Tatami Stitch Heel which is said to deliver a more consistent lockdown around the heel.

There is also a new moulded EVA sockliner to improve comfort in the shoes and counterbalance the firmness of the sole. Finally, the overall weight of the shoes has been reduced, albeit only slightly. The tested UK size 10 Flow Velociti Wind 2 weighs 262 grams.

The Warp upper and the Flow midsole are pretty much unchanged and admittedly, these two features were criticised the most in the original Flow Velociti Wind; maybe the third iteration will see these updated?

Under Armour Flow Velociti Wind 2 review: Tech

Most Under Armour running shoes can connect to your smartphone using Bluetooth and feed data into the UA MapMyRun app. And it's not just passive data collection; should you have your phone with you, it can give you advice on how to improve running form real-time. It won't replace your running watch, but I think it's cool that Under Armour can incorporate this technology into its shoes.

The main appeal of the shoes is the one-piece Flow midsole – this technology fuses the outsole with the midsole, making rubber outsoles obsolete without sacrificing grip. The result is a bit of a mixed bag, but on dry tarmac, the grip is not too bad. The weight reduction is certainly a welcome feature!

The outsole's durability has been questioned before, but from what I can tell, the Flow sole won't crumble away after a few runs. The grooves are a bit shallower than the ones you find on standard rubber outsoles, and maybe they will degrade faster, too; only time will tell if this is the case.

The Under Armour FLOW Velociti Wind 2 has an 8 mm offset.

Under Armour FLOW Velociti Wind 2 review: Fit

Let's talk about the Warp upper. This is one of the innovations UA promoted the most, and according to the company, it "optimises containment with lightweight lockdown and allows maximum breathability." Some reviewers complained about the tight fit of the upper and said it wasn't comfortable, contrary to what UA said.

Indeed, the Warp offers a tight fit, but it's far from being unbearable. Considering the purpose of the shoes – you meant to go fast in them – I think the fit is what I would expect of similar shoes. Sure, it's not as comfy as the ASICS Gel-Nimbus 24, but what is? Exactly.

What I like the most about the Warp upper is that it looks like crumpled up paper that was unfolded and flattened by hand. It's firmer than knit uppers, and I guess based on how it looks and what UA told people, I'm not surprised some reviewers said it was too firm. It isn't, but it's not soft either, if that makes sense.

Under Armour Flow Velociti Wind 2 review: Running performance

In a weird, almost masochistic way, I enjoyed running in the Under Armour Flow Velociti Wind 2. I don't mind firm cushioning, and after a while, you'll need a break from soft, carbon-plated, high-stack running shoes, shoes I often wear for testing or pleasure.

I completely agree with people who say the Under Armour Flow Velociti Wind 2 provides a firm ride; it really does. Of course, when I say it's firm, I don't mean it's like running on bricks strapped to your feet. The shoe feels firm mainly because we are so used to soft foam now.

Said firmness gives the Flow Velociti Wind 2 a snappy feel; it moves around quickly, often without making a sound, something I appreciated. I love Nike ZoomX foam, but people can hear you coming from miles away when you wear the Nike ZoomX Streakfly – it makes a squishy sound.

On the other hand, the Flow Velociti Wind 2 provides a near-silent ride. As well as the firm foam, it's probably also thanks to the lack of rubber outsole. Speaking of the outsole: although I tested the shoes in dry weather, I had no problems with the grip. Don't believe the haters!

Under Armour Flow Velociti Wind 2 review: Aesthetics

The Flow Velociti Wind 2 is an instantly recognisable running shoe. The criss-cross upper, bright colours and the curvy flow of the chassis can't be mistaken for any other shoes. It's not a fashion icon, but who knows? Maybe the tenth iteration of the shoes will catch up with the Adidas Ultraboost and the New Balance Fresh Foam series, although I think the racing pedigree (i.e. tight fit) will have to be addressed before the shoes are accepted as sneakers.

It's also possible the UA doesn't want to turn the Flow Velociti Wind franchise into something sneakerheads desire, and that's fine too.

Under Armour Flow Velociti Wind 2 review: Verdict

The Under Armour Flow Velociti Wind 2 is an iteration of the original concept, not a revolution. The Tatami Stitched heel, the new sockliner and the weight reduction all bring minor changes to the shoe that's still very much a firm and light running trainer.

The biggest question UA needs to ask itself is who should wear the flow Velociti Wind 2? Is it for racing or fast training? The firmness puts more strain on the legs, so we can safely assume the shoes are not to replace long-distance marathon racing shoes such as the Nike ZoomX Vaporfly NEXT% or the On Cloudboom Echo. 

Is it for training? It's a bit too firm for that. Taking this firmness into consideration, I can imagine the Flow Velociti Wind 2 remarketed eventually as a racing flat; all UA has to do is reduce the drop of the shoes, and it's good to go.

The Under Armour Flow Velociti Wind 2 is an excellent running shoe, as long as you accept its qualities and approach it with caution. Beginners might find the shoes too firm and tight but runners who want to move away from the softness will like the Flow Velociti Wind 2.

Under Armour FLOW Velociti Wind 2 review: Also consider

The Brooks Hyperion Tempo is light, fast, and has a comfortable upper and softer midsole than the Flow Velociti Wind 2. It's a superb running trainer, especially for those who need a fast training shoe for tempo runs.

The same applies to the Saucony Kinvara 12; it's responsive, snappy and offers sublime ground contact without sacrificing comfort or cushioning. It's also super cheap!