Under Armour’s recently launched Charged Bandit 5 running shoe is a neutral shoe for runners who want a balance of flexibility and cushioning.

A lightweight running shoe

Billed as a lightweight running shoe and weighing in at 201 grams with an 8mm drop, the Charged Bandit 5 consists of a Dual-layer Charged Cushioning® that is firmer below the heel and softer below the forefoot, for a blend of support and comfort. 

As well, it also has a two-toned mesh upper construction for increased ventilation.

Receiving the shoes

Under Armour sent me their new Charged Bandit 5 shoes in my size, for me to use and review.

The unit I received was Blue colour, which I really liked, because it is bright and vibrant – and bright colours generally agree well with me. 

As well, I thought that the appearance of the shoe is also pretty appealing, and pleasant to the eyes too. It is a shoe that stands out, without being an eyesore.

The other colour combinations that are available are Black and White.

Fit true to size

Personally, I found that the shoes fit true to size – and with enough room in the toe box for me. 

However, if you have wide feet, then I think it may be advisable to get at least half a size bigger.

Cushioning was quite firm

When I took the shoes out for their first 10km run on the road, however, I thought the cushioning in the shoes had felt quite firm under my feet compared to what I am used to.

Perhaps this could be due to the fact that the design of the shoes are possibly targeted towards heel strikers, of which I am not. This makes sense, because the majority of the running population are heel strikers.

Since then, I have done a number of runs with the shoes, ranging from a speedy 5km run to a long 21km easy run session. 

In addition too, I have also done a track interval session using the Charged Bandit 5. 

Altogether, I have clocked approximately 160km in the shoes, to date.

Versatile and responsive

And I have found the Charged Bandit 5 to be a versatile pair of shoes, that are well-equipped for all types of run sessions.

They are lightweight and responsive enough so as to not feel like they are weighing me down during my speedier runs, but at the same time, the shoes are able to hold up well and alleviate any aches when I am doing my longer runs. 

During my interval session, I have to say that running on the soft track surface had somewhat mitigated the firmness of the cushioning of the Charged Bandit 5 and I was able to run better than I had expected, with the shoes propelling me along.

And my legs and feet still felt quite good towards the end of my 21km run, too, despite the firm cushioning, and I was even able to maintain a pretty constant pace throughout the whole run. Perhaps this had indeed been Under Armour’s Charged Cushioning® technology at work. 

I would say that I originally had my doubts about taking these shoes out for a long run due to the firmness of the cushioning, but I must say that I was rather surprised by the result, when I did. So it looks like Under Armour’s Charged Bandit 5 could just be my next marathon shoe.

Cushioning rebounds fast

Using the shoes for back to back runs, I also found that the cushioning rebounds and recovers well enough – to continue to support my legs and feet for the second running session.

Whether the cushioning will eventually soften up with more usage, though, I guess I will have to run more with the shoes, in order to find out for myself.

Breathable 

The two-toned mesh upper construction also ensures that the shoes are breathable, which is good for running in the tropics. 

So this means that my feet remain cool towards the end of my runs – thanks to the increase in ventilation and air circulation, provided by this feature.

Feet stay in place

When I am running with the shoes, my feet also stay well in place, thanks to the Moulded Comfort Collar which locks in the heel and prevents it from slipping.

This feature is good in terms of preventing rubbing and blisters, of which I have not experienced at all, when I am using the Charged Bandit 5.

Lack of grip

The Charged Bandit 5 are also supposed to have flex grooves that offer flexibility in key areas, but I find that this feature does not really help much in terms of the grip of the shoes though.

This means that if you are caught in the rain during a run with the Charged Bandit 5, then you may have to be more careful in watching where you are running, so that you do not slip.

Though I have been lucky to not have been caught in wet weather with the shoes on, I have felt this lack of friction when I am walking on marble tiling or other smoother surfaces with the Charged Bandit 5 on my feet. 

But on pavement or concrete, which is generally rough by nature, I have no issues.

Where to get the shoes

The Under Armour Charged Bandit 5 retails for S$139 per pair and you can get it from Under Armour stores and resellers throughout Singapore.