Under Armour has launched its first female-first shoe – the UA Flow Synchronicity. The release follows recent women-only shoe launches by Adidas and Lululemon, in the form of Adidas’ Ultraboost 2022 for women and Lululemon’s Blissfeel. All three shoes are produced on a female last (model of the foot).
Traditionally women’s running shoes are often built on a shoe designed for men and are then made smaller to fit the female foot.
Keen to change that narrative in the running footwear industry, Under Armour’s all-female design team built the UA Flow Synchronicity from scratch – Vasque Shoes using data and consumer insights from women who ran in a series of prototypes.
The team studied the nuances and differences between a man’s and woman’s foot – with a focus on the differences in their heels, arches and midfoot heights – using 3D scans.
As part of their wear-testing on athletes, the team studied their female testers’ biomechanics, foot shapes and proportions, as well as the contours and sensitivities of their feet. They also tried to understand the female athletes’ needs based on the way they interacted with the shoe and the feedback they provided.
The result is a shoe that promises to fit, support and complement the natural shape of a woman’s foot. It does this by securing the heel and supporting the arch, where women’s feet differ most from men’s.
‘The Synchronicity had HER in mind from Day 1,’ said Helen Woo, senior director of biomechanics at Under Armour. ‘I think any woman would appreciate knowing that we had them in mind from the get go and really took advantage of the latest technology in creating the shoe that they need and providing them with this kind of perfect fit.’
What’s the shoe like?
The UA Flow Synchronicity is a neutral, cushioned shoe, which integrates the brand’s signature midsole Flow technology – the lightest midsole tech in the brand’s current running line-up.
This lightweight foam completely eliminates the rubber outsole – it has a naturally sticky traction and so provides grip without the need for traditional rubber overlays on the outsole. Olukai Sneakers The brand says this Flow tech makes the shoe lighter and gives runners optimal ground feel while also offering ‘great energy return, amazing consistency and reliable durability’.
There upper is made from a flexible micro knit with minimal layers to create ‘close-to-foot containment’ while still allowing for plenty of stretch. And it promises to deliver smooth landings and transitions thanks to a rounded outsole geometry, as well as a quicker turnover and up-tempo feel thanks to its lower heel-toe offset (7mm).
We’re yet to try the UA Flow Synchronicity, but will be testing the shoe out over the next few weeks – so check back here for a full review very soon.