I wore the Under Armour Flow Dynamic training shoe to the UA Next academy, where the likes of Anthony Joshua have trained, to take part in six professional athletic tests — and here’s how the shoe fared. 

If you haven’t heard of the UA Next academy before, Under Armour athlete Anthony Joshua unveiled the facility earlier this year in Spring 2023. The athletic program has been designed to ‘identify, train and develop’ young athletes between ages 16-20 by testing and training at the facility. 

Keen to understand the hype around this shoe, I headed to the London-based facility to test the Under Armour Flow Dynamic training shoe myself, putting it through the paces with six athletic tests used in the program. Here’s what happened.

What is the Under Armour Flow Dynamic training shoe? 

The Under Armour Flow Dynamic training shoe has been marketed by Under Armour as “One shoe. Every workout.” To an extent, sure, I can get on board with that. The high-tech slipper is the most comfortable training shoe I’ve stepped into for a long time — and I’m basically a Nike Metcon 9 cult member. 

I’ve run a comfortable 5K and hit CrossFit workouts wearing them since testing, so if you’re packing light and need a training shoe that tackles sled pushes, treadmills, or agility work, this one fits the bill. 

Given the choice, I’d still pick the Asics Gel-Nimbus 25 running shoe for a longer run or another pair of the best running shoes for extra cushioning and better energy return (there’s noticeably better cushioning in the forefoot than the heel). But I’ve chosen these training shoes over my Metcon 9 several times already — even during mid-weight strength training. They’re just so darn comfortable. 

The UA Flow Dynamic training shoe has been designed for multi-faceted team sports athletes, bringing together the cushioning of running shoes and the grip and support of the best cross training shoes or weightlifting designs.

The training shoe retails at $130/ £115 direct from Under Armour in various colorways. These training shoes aren’t cheap, but they can replace several pairs in the gym if you like hybrid workouts. 

I wore the Under Armour Flow Dynamic training shoes during 6 professional athletic tests — here’s how they fared 

The six tests were developed by top sports scientists and “represent the six foundational areas that high-performing athletes need to master to maximize their game.” These include athletic intelligence, strength, power, speed, agility and endurance. Of the six tests I undertook, four were relevant to testing the Flow Dynamic training shoe, so here they are.  

Power

To kick things off, several of us journalists lined up to take the power test. One by one, each of us approached a pad on the floor. We started with feet hip or shoulder-width apart and had to jump as high as possible while UA’s tech measured how long we spent in the air. You can bend your legs to jump, but your legs must be straight when you leave the ground.

The Flow Dynamic training shoe has an internal shank to support underfoot during explosive movements like jumping. The bouncy, lightweight sole gave a spring in my step as I jumped, and my ankles felt secure as I landed without losing stability. The soft sole absorbs impact without sacrificing power during the jump. It was a good start.

Speed

For our next test, we had to sprint between two sensors that could measure speed over a short track, testing explosive forward propulsion. Throughout, I found the rubberless soles gripped so well that I don’t think even a sweaty CrossFit floor could have taken me down. 

I love that the slip-on design behaves like a well-thought-out bootie; these shoes encase the foot like one piece of material and offer seriously impressive traction underfoot. The UA IntelliKnit upper wraps the foot with the stretch and breathability that allows me to strike freely and run naturally, and it works for wider feet.

The midsole of the Flow Dynamic training shoe is plush and bouncy, with brilliant forefoot cushioning that has me reaching for them again and again. The built-in tongue may divide crowds, but I much prefer it. At no point did these training shoes feel unstable despite the slip-on design.

Agility

The agility test starts with the athlete standing opposite a sensor that turns green when it’s time to run. I had to run to my right and step my right foot over a line, then run to the left and do the same with my left foot, returning to the center position as fast as possible.

The lateral TPU wrap supports multi-directional movement, and I felt secure moving from side to side at speed. Despite the training shoe having a slipper-like feel, it doesn’t compromise on support, and you can tell the design process had the athlete in mind for multi-directional training. This test was one of my most successful rounds (I ranked second place), and the UA Flow Dynamic training shoe felt responsive at every step while securing the ankles during fast turns. 

Endurance

Last up — the dreaded bleep test. The rules are simple enough — run from one line to one opposite after the first bleep and return before the third bleep. You must hit the second line before the second bleep. 

I found the Flow Dynamic training shoe responsive enough during the endurance run, but I’m not convinced I’d wear them for more than a 5K. I love the one-piece Flow midsole lightweight cushioning, and I found the shoe responsive, but there are other brands I’d choose for serious running efforts — we’ve rounded up these Asics running shoes deals if you’re looking for a new pair.  

Here's where the bootie-like design stepped up. I didn't experience any sore points, chaffing or rubbing like you might get with a pair of running shoes, instead, I felt connected with the ground, flexible and nimble as I ran. 

Under Armour Flow Dynamic training shoe verdict

Since, testing, I’ve worn the UA Flow Dynamic training shoe during snatches, power cleans and jumping rope — and it excels. I found the shoe stable and supportive enough during the foot transfer of power cleans, and the 8mm drop provides a middle ground between high (weightlifting) and minimal offsets. 

For heavier weightlifting, I’d opt for a shoe with a firmer heel and sole, like the Nike Metcons 8 or 9, or a traditional weightlifting shoe. We cover cross training vs weightlifting shoes if you’re unsure which model to choose. Granted, you won’t run any distances in the Metcon range (they don’t offer much bounce or cushioning), but you’ll be thankful for the stiffness when you lift.

The Under Armour Flow Dynamic training shoe from Under Armour markets as a hybrid shoe for runners and cross training, but I don’t think long-distance runners will commit to this shoe over Asics or Hoka. That said, the shoe delivers for cross training and smashed it during the Under Armour testing.

The mark of good training shoes is if I reach for them without thinking when I dive into the shoe cupboard — and I do with these, over and over again.

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Can a pair of carbon-fiber supershoes really turn you into a faster runner?

I'm currently training for the London Marathon; it's been 10 years since I've run a marathon, and a lot has changed since then. For one thing, I'm a lot older, and, thanks to my general lack of running the past five years, I'm a good deal slower, too. 

But there's been a revolution in running shoes, thanks to the introduction of carbon fiber plates, which literally put a spring in your step as you run. Carbon fiber running shoes are a must-have among elite athletes. But how would they work for an average joe like me? To find out, I ran in the Under Armour Flow Velociti Elite, the company's first pair of carbon fiber shoes, which will be released on April 13.

The Velociti Elite debuted last year, and were worn by Sharon Lokedi when she won the 2022 NYC Marathon. Surely, these $250 shoes could help me too, right?

I ran for about 20 miles so far in the Velociti Elite — two short runs followed by a 13-mile run — and compared them with the Under Armour Charged Gemini and the Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 39s, both of which cost around $100, but are some of the best running shoes around. Here's what I found.

I'm faster (I think)

I'm not going to set any course record — at my best, I finished a marathon in 3 hours and 52 minutes — but I definitely felt faster when wearing the Velociti Elites. My stats would seem to back that up; on my short runs of about 3 miles, I averaged around a 9-minute mile, versus 9:24 when wearing the Under Armour Charged Gemini (the company's $100 all-around running shoe).

However, on my 13-mile run, my average pace wearing the Velociti Elite was 10:19, not that much different from the 10:24 pace I had the previous week when I ran 11 miles in another running shoe.

I then went to the track, and ran a mile each wearing the Velociti Elite, the Under Armour Charged Gemini Running shoes, and the Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 39, which is currently at the top of our list of the best running shoes. When I looked at the results from my Garmin Epix 2 watch, I found that I ran each mile at almost exactly the same pace: 8:25. I did notice that my cadence was slightly faster when wearing the Velociti Elites, though. 

My toes were colder (at first)

In order to shave their weight (my size 12 models weigh 9.3 ounces, compared to 10.95 for the Nike Pegasus 39 and 11.6 ounces for the UA Charged Gemini), the Velociti Elite uses some pretty thin material. How thin? I can read the writing on my socks through the top of the shoe. In the picture above, you can see the light shining through the side of the shoe.

The first time I stepped out on a cold winter's day, I definitely noticed the difference when the wind cut right through, chilling my toes. However, once I had a mile or two under my belt, my feet warmed up, and I didn't notice the cold.

Still, the thin uppers on the Velociti Elite also made me much more conscious about avoiding puddles; I didn't test it, but it looks like any splash of water would go right through to my feet.

I'm not working as hard

The Velociti Elite's carbon fiber plates create a funny sensation when you're running; I felt as if the shoes caused my heels to "pop" off the ground, which made it feel like I had to put less effort into lifting my legs than with other running shoes. 

It definitely made it feel like the shoes were doing a lot more work than other running shoes, and as a result, made it easier for me to move along at a faster pace without working as hard. 

I have to be more careful on corners

Common to many carbon-fiber shoes, the Veloci Elite aren't as stable as other running shoes. I found my ankles rolling a bit more, especially when running around corners, or trying to make a sharp turn.

The lack of ankle support also showed up when I was running along the side of a road; if the road has a camber (meaning, it's highest in the middle, and curves down toward each curb), you'll have more trouble keeping your ankles straight if you're running along the side of the road.

They're not as effective on hills

When going up hills, I found that, because my heel wasn't pressing as hard against the pavement as when I was on level terrain, I wasn't getting the same effect from the Velociti Elite's carbon fiber plate. There wasn't that same bouncy return in my heel. 

That being said, I did notice some benefit compared with the other running shoes; hills did seem a bit easier in general. 

Under Armour Flow Velociti Elite: Overall impressions

I'm still finalizing my review of the Under Armour Flow Velociti Elite, but overall, I'm pretty impressed with the shoe. My times may not seem like I'm running faster, but I certainly feel like I am. These shoes definitely put a spring in your step that lets you run with less effort. 

While an average runner like myself probably won't get as much benefit out of the Velociti Elite as someone with a Boston marathon qualifying speed, I did appreciate their responsiveness as well as their light weight, and look forward to seeing how they feel once the weather gets warmer — and my training miles get longer.

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The JBL UA True Wireless Streak is the latest collaboration between the audio and sportswear brands that packages bass-forward sound and fitness-friendly features into a waterproof design. It also comes with multiple ear tips and a free year of service to one of the best running apps for Android and iOS: Map My Run.

After a week of testing, these sporty wireless earbuds showed their worth in some areas, while disappointing in others. Strong audio performance will boost your adrenaline during workouts, and features like Ambient mode are ideal for increasing awareness when jogging outside. However, the Streak’s lack of app support, extra features, and responsive controls are blunders that hurt its overall value. Keep reading our full JBL UE True Wireless Streak review to find out why it won't be joining the ranks of the best sport headphones. 

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JBL UA True Wireless Streak review: Price and availability

• $149 at Amazon
• $99 at B&H

The JBL UA True Wireless Streak can be purchased for $149.95 directly from Under Armour or at major online retailers, including Amazon and B&H, the latter currently selling it for as low as $99.95. Four colors are available: Black, Red, Teal, and White.

This set of buds falls right in between the cheap and sub-luxury price points. By comparison, the Streak is more expensive than critical darlings like the Jabra Elite 65t ($99) and Klipsch T5 II Sport ($129), but cheaper than higher-priced models like the Bose Sport Earbuds ($159) and one of the best wireless earbuds out there, the Beats Powerbeats Pro ($199).

For the latest wireless earbuds’ sales, feel free to bookmark our best headphones deals page.

JBL UA True Wireless Streak review: Design and comfort

• Fully waterproof
• Secure fit, but at the cost of long-term comfort

Besides the Project Rock special editions, all other JBL x UA products bear monotonous designs, the Streak falling into that category as well. JBL focused on sustainability over style, which shows in the craftsmanship. These buds come with an IPX7 rating that makes them fully waterproof in up to 1 meter of water for 30 minutes. The sturdy plastic shell ensures you they won’t break when hitting the concrete.

There isn’t much detail in the design other than the UA logo imprinted right on the front. JBL’s decision to give some of the colors a translucent exterior gives the buds a cheaper look as well.

The charging case is the most attractive component of the Streak. Its pill-shaped form is striking and fits nicely into denim pockets or a gym bag. I also like the UA branding on the inside lid, which also has a powerful magnet that keeps the case tightly shut. The LEDs on the front and embossed UA logo at the top are neat touches too. At 2.2 ounces it’s not the lightest charging case, but isn’t something that will weigh you down when sprinting to the gym.

The UA True Wireless Streak and the best running wireless earbuds have two things in common: quality comfort and fit. JBL achieves both with the Streak. Multiple ear tip sizes and fins come bundled with the purchase to accommodate different ear shapes. I was fine sporting the preinstalled pairs, which enhanced stability and produced a tight seal that kept the buds locked in. Be mindful that the Streak was designed for exercising, not casual listening, so wearing them longer than two hours will result in some fatigue; the cavity increasingly applies pressure to the concha.

JBL UA True Wireless Streak review: Controls and digital assistant

• Inaccurate tap recognition
• Questionable input assignments
• Weird Siri integration

The Streak’s touch controls are confusing and frustrating to operate. It seems like JBL didn’t give much thought to the control scheme, divvying commands awkwardly between each bud and not integrating a triple-tap gesture that would have made usability more convenient. Onboard volume controls are another notable omission.

Listeners have a variety of media controls at their disposal such as playback, call management, voice assistance, and the ability to switch between listening modes. Unfortunately, the touch panels make most of them difficult to execute by struggling to register double taps accurately. A single tap on the left earbud enables TalkThru or Standard mode, while a double tap activates Ambient Aware mode; it would have made more sense to have one function that lets you cycle through all three modes.

Another letdown is the voice assistant feature, something that has become an ongoing trend with recent JBL models such as the Club Pro Plus. While you’re given access to Google Assistant and Alexa, which work decently to execute voice commands, users must de-select the two voice assistants in the companion app to use Siri on iOS and macOS. There isn’t any indication to do this in the quick start guide or product page, leaving you to either discover this through some troubleshooting or word of mouth. You’re welcome. 

JBL UA True Wireless Streak review: Audio quality

• Warm but balanced
• Minimal distortion
• No ANC but good passive isolation

JBL’s sound profile leans heavily on the warm end of the audio spectrum, but the engineers did a surprisingly good job of balancing out frequencies to give the Streak a nice mix of punchy lows and crisp highs. You get a nice feel for this on jazzy Hip-Hop tracks like A Tribe Called Quest’s “Jazz (We’ve Got”), where the pounding drum loop lands hard and horn samples remain melodically striking throughout the recording.

But what you really want is boom-filled sonics to fuel your workouts, which the Streak delivers. Putting on 2Pac’s “California Love” revved up the engine before a 5K run, giving the pulsating bassline extra oomph that competitors like the T5 II Sport and Bose Sport Earbuds couldn’t match. It was also great to hear Roger Trotman’s synthesized hook crystal clear. Even on super-boomy tracks like KRS-One’s “Outta Here,” the Streak kept bass response in check and never distorted vocals or veiled background instruments.

Jazz records are my go-to for post-workout recovery and the Streak did a fine job of helping cool things down. The choir-esque harmonies at the beginning of Donald Byrd’s “Cristo Redentor” sounded soothing and offered relief during stretches, though it was the build-up to Byrd’s vibrant sax play that sent a jolt of energy through my ears and lifted me off the ground. Despite the T5 II Sport producing better instrumental separation and clarity on such tracks, the Streak proved that it’s no slouch either.

These buds might not come with active noise cancellation, but the passive noise isolation they provide is effective to minimalize ambient noises that enter your ears. The tight seal created by tips prevents sound from bleeding out as well. Volume isn’t hazardously loud either, but don’t take that as an open invitation to blast music during runs.  

JBL UA True Wireless Streak review: Special features

• No app support
• Pass-through modes helpful but imperfectly implemented

The Streak isn’t compatible with the JBL Headphones app, which is baffling, especially when there are other JBL x UA products that support the software. This was a greatly missed opportunity that would have given owners several useful features, including an EQ with multiple presets and the Check My Best Fit setting to determine the best ear tip size for optimal fit.

At least you get two listening modes that come in handy when commuting: Ambient Aware and TalkThru. Both of them work similarly in that they open up the mics and let in more ambient noise to increase your environmental awareness. Sadly, the results don’t compare to what you get from JBL’s more expensive models. 

TalkThru is the better-performing mode and lets you communicate clearly by dropping volume down to 20 percent without pausing music. The issue is that enabling it creates this whooshing effect that makes you feel like you’re underneath an air vent. Ambient Aware won’t let you hear much either; whisking cars were all that caught my attention during daytime jogs. There were even moments when my wife thought I was ignoring her during the testing phase.

JBL UA True Wireless Streak review: Battery life and charging case

• Middling battery life
• Inconsistent discharge rates

JBL rates battery life at 6 hours, which is really about 5 hours after factoring in volume, streaming, and listening modes. This is practically equal to the Sport Earbuds (5 hours) and lower than the T5 II Sport (8 hours). Another downer is that the buds only come 20% charged out of the box; my sample unit did, anyway. 

USB Type-C fast-charging is supported, though there is very little information shared other than a full charge can be accomplished in 2 hours. That doesn't sound particularly fast. My testing did see the right bud go from 10 to 70 percent in 15 minutes, while the left remained at 10 percent, a clear indication that the Streak has discharge issues.

Complaints aside, a full charge is sufficient for about 3 to 4 days of workouts before tossing the buds into the charging case, which holds up to 18 hours fully charged. This falls short of the average industry time set by the AirPods’ charging case of 24 hours. Popular features like a Bluetooth pairing button and wireless charging are missing as well. Something else worth noting is that the USB-C port on the rear doesn’t have a flap to protect it from dirt or moisture damage.

JBL UA True Wireless Streak review: Call quality and connectivity

• Good wireless range
• Low clarity in calls

If you’re in a pinch and need to make a call, the Streak will suffice, but it won’t be a go-to for long conversations or business calls. One positive is that you’ll hear those on the opposite end loud and clear. That performance isn’t reciprocated, as there is muffling and some minor cutout that occurs on your end, no matter the environment. My wife could tell I was outside and heard everything around me; JBL’s dual beam-forming mics picked up a lot of ambient noise. When inside the house, she said my voice was audible, but was still cutting out every few seconds. Video chats were also unsatisfying with clients sounding very buzzy during Google Meet calls.

Bluetooth 5.0 is outstanding on the Streak. Removing the buds from the case automatically places them in pairing mode. Google Fast Pair does speed up the process on Android devices, but you won’t have any issues connecting to iOS/macOS devices either. Range is the Streak’s unsung feature and is actually higher than what’s advertised, giving you about 40 feet of wireless listening before audio stutters.

JBL did program the Streak to be used in stereo or mono (just leave one bud in the case), though they excluded its proprietary Dual Connect+Sync technology to easily switch connections from one device to another.

JBL UA True Wireless Streak review: Verdict

If you happen to be a longtime JBL or UA fan, and want reasonably affordable workout buds with dynamic sound and a near-damage-proof design, you may wish to check out the Streak. The engineers did right by the sound signature, which balances impactful bass and crisp highs very well. Waterproof protection also grants peace of mind when engaging in sweat-inducing activities or lounging by the pool area. Bluetooth is strong as well to maintain a steady connection in most settings.

However, the Streak kind of feels like an unfinished JBL product with a UA logo slapped on it. I say that because there are some bugs that were never flushed out, and JBL has yet to make Siri more conveniently accessible to users. On top of that, the controls and transparency modes don’t work well, which strengthens my belief that JBL rushed these buds off the assembly line.

Even so, the Streak is also overpriced at $149, and you can find other elite-performing alternatives like the T5 II Sport and Elite 65t that offer more performance more significantly less cash.

• More: The best headphones with a mic for voice and video calls