American sportswear giants Under Armour, who refer to themselves as 'the golf brand for athletes', are back for 2022 with a new range of HOVR shoes in an attempt to build upon their position as the number two in market share for men's footwear after just five years.
Under Armour HOVR Drive 2 Shoe
Said to be the best performing spiked shoe that Under Armour has built, the HOVR Drive 2 uses data driven design to maximise performance and ensure that the Dimensions of Traction - Rotational, Horizontal, Vertical and Internal - are used as a basis.
There is a new upper design which aims to eliminate gapping between the foot and the shoe, bringing the upper closer to the foot for a more locked-in fit and better comfort levels.
A new 3D molded heel cup is designed to lock in the heel and Under Armour says it feels as if a vacuum has been formed around the heel when you put the shoe on. This saves weight compared to previous external heel counters, making this an easier shoe to walk in whilst still providing all of the stability you need.
The HOVR cushioning foam provides energy return and comfort whilst walking and swinging.
Placed in the midsole to support the biomechanics of the swing, the shoe uses a combination of softer cushioning in the heel and medial forefoot for more energy return, with firmer EVA on the lateral wall to improve traction.
The shoe also uses UA Storm waterproofing and Never-Wet technology, ensuring that the shoe is fully waterproof with a 1 year guarantee.
The UA HOVR Drive 2 is available now at an RRP of £140.
Under Armour HOVR Tour/ Tour SL Shoe
The new HOVR Tour SL is designed for golfers looking for the ultimate spikeless traction, with all of the performance benefits of a tour-level spiked shoe.
The full-knit upper on the new shoe uses Under Armour's Intelliknit technology to combine stretch yarns and lockdown yarns to provide more stability in the golf swing, locking you down in the areas where you need support and allowing for more stretch where you need flexibility.
The Intelliknit has also been treated with NeverWet technology and finished with a waterproof membrane, so that golfers can wear the shoe in even the worst weather conditions without fear of water getting in.
The design of the outsole is a combination of rotational, horizontal and vertical traction technologies which encourage golfers to better transfer power from the ground into the swing.
The HOVR Tour SL provides spike-like stability and grip thanks to a combination of a lightweight TPU, UA Rotational Resistance Traction and injected rubber spikes in the heel and forefoot.
On the outsole there are also strategical flex channels to further increase traction, stability and power by keeping the foot grounded through the swing for longer.
An external heel counter locks the heel further back into the shoe, creating a fit that promotes maximum stability and power.
The UA HOVR Tour SL is available now in both Black and Grey colourways at an RRP of £150.
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