Imagine that you have forgotten your smartphone or GPS-watch at home. Or that your smartphone or GPS-watch runs out of battery during your run. Or perhaps you don´t want to bring your phone on your run but still would like to know the distance travelled afterwards. What to do then?
There is a solution and its called Under Armour HOVR Infinite 2. Its a smart and efficient running shoe for the scenarios mentioned above. Does it sound too good to be true? Just wait! Read my review and you will be surprised.
Many are perhaps familiar with Under Armour for their clothing range and does not associate the brand with running shoes. That is also how I felt. But Under Armour is doing surprisingly well in the running shoe market. In fact, I would go so far as to say that they are actually further ahead than any other brand when it comes to technology.
Under Armour HOVR Infinite 2 – the running shoe
Lets first go into Under Armour HOVR Infinite 2’s design, functionality and how it works.
HOVR Infinite 2 is created to get you through an infinite number of kilometers. Everything about the shoe has been developed only for that purpose. Its a neutral high-mileage training shoe which you can use for all your daily runs - from short recovery workouts to long high-mileage runs.
Under Armour’s special midsole material HOVR-Foam covers all of the midsole providing you with great return energy. All the energy you put into the shoe is returned to you with a minimum of energy lost. At the same time, HOVR foam also provides an amazingly soft and comfortable run. Not so soft so you feel like you're getting into a waterbed and just can´t get out again. Its more the feeling of bouncing on a trampoline. It provides you with a soft landing but also sends you well on your way forward again.
So you get a super comfortable shock absorption, which will keep you protected during even the longest workouts.
Under Armour HOVR Infinite 2 fits really nice. It sits - and feels very well on your feet.
The heel cap itself is extra padded to reduce friction around the Achilles tendon and also to protect the ankle even more. In addition, the heel cap is also relatively stiff to give a more stable feel during your runs.
You should be aware that Under Armour HOVR Infinite 2 has a somewhat small fit. There isn´t much room in front for your toes. So I would recommend that you go half a size up compared to what you usually do, so you have room to move your toes and do not risk touching the edge on your runs. That would otherwise quickly lead to sore toes and nails.
By comparison Under Armour HOVR Infinite 2 is very similar to ASICS Gel Nimbus, Brooks Glycerin, Saucony Triumph, Mizuno Wave Sky and Nike Vomero in relation to being a neutral, high-mileage running shoes with maximum comfort and shock absorption in the midsole.
BUT! In one very unique area, the Under Armor HOVR Infinite 2 stands out from the above models - and all other running shoes in the market.
Under Armour’s ingenious feature
I began this test by asking if you have ever been frustrated by a dead battery or no GPS-signal? Or been annoyed that you needed to bring a GPS-watch or smartphone on your runs in order to know the distance you travelled.
Then you will enjoy Infinite 2 and Under Armor’s ingenious built-in chip which measures a lot of data on your runs.
Under Armour HOVR Infinite 2 may not only become your new fantastic high-mileage training shoe, it can also become your new tracker and running coach. It can help organize and improve your workouts.
Infinite 2 is equipped with a small sensor in the midsole, which tracks, analyzes and stores detailed information about your run (s). All this data is stored in the MapMyRun app, which is completely free to download and use.
MapMyRun is a training app for your smartphone which in many ways works just like Endomondo. You can start and track your runs according to how far, how fast and where you run. You can save your runs and use the app as an exercise diary.
BUT! Where MapMyRun differs from Endomondo is that you can use MapMyRun WITHOUT your smartphone and thereby WITHOUT the use of GPS.
You only have to put on your HOVR Infinite 2 running shoes and you will still be able to keep track of the distance you have travelled + a number of other cool features.
Track your run without a GPS-watch or smartphone
All data from the chip is automatically uploaded to MapMyRun via Bluetooth. And the best part is that the chip will never run out of power as the battery keeps going as long as you use your Infinite 2.
So what exactly is the chip in Infinite 2 capable of?
It can track the distance travelled, keep track of your pace, measure your pace and stride length - all without the use of GPS. Data in Infinite 2 is measured via an accelerometer, which is used to estimate distance and pace in terms of how far and how fast you run. So all you have to do is put on your shoes. And when you get home you can launch the MapMyRun app on your smartphone (with your shoes nearby) and a few seconds later, all data from your run is automatically synced to your smartphone. Really easy and ingenious.
HOVR Infinite 2 tracker – how it works
The interplay between Under Armor HOVR Infinite 2 and MapMyRun works both with and without your smartphone. In the following section, I will show you how amazingly it works.
On my first run in HOVR Infinite 2 I ran without a smartphone, while on the subsequent runs I ran with my smartphone to see if there was a difference in data.
To compare data, I also did all the workouts with my GPS watch, the Garmin Forerunner 645.
Running without your smartphone
As I have mentioned earlier, the most ingenious and smart thing about MapMyRun and Infinite 2 is that you can run WITHOUT your smartphone and just let Under Armour HOVR Infinite track your run. You don´t even need to open the MapMyRun app before running. Just put on your shoes, leave your smartphone at home and enjoy a gadget-free ride.
When you get home, open the MapMyRun app and the synchronization of race data will take place completely automatically. You don't even have to rush to sync HOVR Infinite 2 and the MapMyRun app. The shoes store data from your run for up to 7 hours.
Watch the video below to see how to use the MapMyRun app without your smartphone
I have to admit that I am really impressed with the precision of the chip's measurements. When I compare with my GPS watch, Garmin Forerunner 645, then there was only a 300m difference in distance. That is certainly impressive when data is based solely on acceleration data measured by the chip in the shoe.
Left: Data from the MapMyRun app. Right: Data from Garmin Connect.
Running with your smartphone
If you want to run with your smartphone and listen to music among other things you can still use MapMyRun without any problems.
When you are ready, simply press start on the MapMyRun app (just like on Endomondo). Along the way, you will be able to get ongoing information about your race, eg learn about the distance travelled, your speed. etc. Of course, this requires that you have headphones connected.
When you are finished, simply press "stop" in the MapMyRun app. Your run will be saved and the same data (as if you ran without a smartphone) will be available in the app.
Watch the video below to see how to use the MapMyRun smartphone app.
Before taking off I expected there would be a difference in the measurements, in relation to the MapMyRun app being able to use the GPS signal from my smartphone to track the distance. But when I compare the run with my smartphone to my GPS watch, the data was (again) surprisingly similar. I would even say astonishingly similar within a completely credible measurement.
Its difficult to say if it's my GPS watch or the chip in Infinite 2 that measures correctly. Perhaps the right distance is somewhere in between the measurements?
Left: Data from the MapMyRun app. Right: Data from Garmin Connect.
There was only around a 100m distance which could easily exist between two GPS-watches. The only difference is of course that on the GPS watch you have the option to press start and stop along the way e.g. at traffic lights while it is somewhat more difficult to get your smartphone out of your pocket to press start/stop. Therefore, the MapMyRun app and Garmin Connect shows two different "total time" for the race, as I stopped my Garmin Forerunner 645 at traffic lights, etc., while the MapMyRun app just continued.
That means MapMyRun shows the total time from when you go until you get home while Garmin Connect shows your real time in motion, ie. race.
Difference in running with or without your smartphone
Whether you choose to run with or without a smartphone has no bearing on the data you receive from the shoe chip. There is surprisingly little difference.
I would definitely not hesitate one second to run without my smartphone if I just need to get out and enjoy a run without having to think about pace, distance or anything else.
The only difference is that you get real-time information about your race WITH a smartphone (if you have headphones connected). At the same time you get a map drawn up of your exact running route, which includes an altimeter among other things.
HOVR Infinite 2 running coach – getting help to become a better runner
Thanks to HOVR Infinite 2,
- You can get a very comfortable run
- assistance to track to workout
But you can actually also get help to become a better runner. You get coaching tips on how you can run more efficiently based on the data the chip collects.
HOVR Infinite 2 measures, among other things, the following parameters;
Top left: Step length. Top right: Foot strike angle, ie. how you land on your foot (forefoot, midfoot or heel). Bottom left: Pace, ie. number of steps per minute. Bottom left: Ground Contact Time, ie. how long time your foot is in contact with the ground.
Based on this data, you get personal coaching tips via the MapMyRun app on how to optimize your run (and thus your running technique) on your next run.
Overall impression: Infinite 2 og MapMyRun
I have nothing negative to say about the shoe itself. Infinite 2 is a pleasure to wear on slow paced and long runs. Its stable and very comfortable.
The interaction with the chip in Under Armor's running shoes and the MapMyRun app is absolutely ingenious. Really user-friendly and intuitive for new and experienced runners regardless of how much you want to use the data.
If you can´t get enough of race data and are already hooked up to apps like Garmin Connect and Strava, then you will be pleased to know that you can connect the MapMyRun app with Garmin Connect and from there on Strava. All completely automatically once you have set it up in the MapMyRun app.
On the ohter hand if you just want to run for the sake itself, the MapMyRun app will be a big help. Unfortunately, the app doesn´t connect to Endomondo if you normally use that app. It's a bit of a mystery why MapMyRun and Endomondo cannot sync when Under Armor owns both.
But I wonder if they won´t sort it out in the future - if its even necessary.
Conclusion
If you are looking for an everyday running shoe which can provide you with a lot of exciting data about your training, then Under Armour HOVR Infinite 2 is a perfect choice. Its a 3-in-1 running shoe.
I'm a huge fan of the fact that you can just pop into your shoes and get reliable data on your run afterwards.
Now it is no longer necessary to bring your smartphone or GPS watch. Instead you have the opportunity to just enjoy the essence of running; freedom and fresh air.
It doesn´t make the experience any less cool that Under Armour HOVR Infinite 2 is a neutral, soft and comfortable running shoe. Its perfect for your easy going recovery runs or when you just want great comfort on all your runs.
Whether you want to use the smart-functions or not you get all your money´s worth with this shoe!
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PSSST. Did you know that at Runningxpert.com we go to great lengths to make sure you find the right shoes. Therefore you get a 60 day satisfaction guarantee on all Under Armour shoes. This means that you can use the shoes and run as much as you want - and if you find out within 60 days that they weren´t the right shoes for you, we will be happy to help you exchange them free of charge. You can also get a refund if you prefer.
Buy Under Armour Hovr Infinite 2 here
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