Under Armour Men's Charged Assert 9 Running Shoe

Logging regular miles puts steady stress on both the shoe and the foot, and many trainers respond by adding weight or trapping heat. The Charged Assert 9 from Under Armour approaches this differently. A mesh upper carries a three-colour digital print and keeps air moving through the shoe, while leather overlays hold the midfoot in place. Underfoot, an EVA sockliner sits above a Charged Cushioning midsole of compression moulded foam, and a solid rubber outsole is placed across the high impact zones so durability does not come at the cost of extra weight. The offset is 10mm with a standard tie lace.

Note that this is a neutral shoe, built around a balance of flexibility and cushioning rather than added structure, so runners who want a stability model should look elsewhere.

When choosing between versions of this shoe, pay attention to the width fitting available for your foot shape, as a snug midfoot wrap works best when the overall volume matches your foot. If you are a runner who rotates between two pairs, the Charged Assert 9 suits a secondary or everyday training role well, given that the cushioning is built for repetitive mileage rather than race-day speed. Runners with a neutral gait and a mid to high weekly mileage will get the most from it, while those who overpronate noticeably should treat this as a starting point for comparison rather than a final choice.

To extend the life of the shoe, let it air out fully between runs rather than leaving it sealed inside a bag, as mesh uppers dry more effectively with circulation. Avoid machine washing, which can degrade the foam midsole over time. Clean the upper with a damp cloth and mild soap, and replace the shoes when the outsole rubber across the high impact zones begins to wear visibly thin, since the midsole will have compressed before the upper shows obvious signs of fatigue.