UA Dynamic Intelliknit Review | Good for Hybrid Workouts?

The Under Armour Dynamic Intelliknit training shoes have flown relatively under the radar in the cross-training shoe scene. I feel like that’s similar to the original UA Flow Dynamic, as in, they were somewhat popular but never really caught mass public consumption.

To give you context, I wasn’t the biggest fan of the Flow Dynamic model. I found the upper security to be lacking, and the Flow midsole’s long-term durability can be spotty, especially when used outdoors.

For the Dynamic Intelliknit, I wasn’t sure what to expect, but I’ve been pleasantly pleased with this model. A lot of my original gripes with the Flow Dynamic seem to have been fixed in this shoe.

The upper has better security, and this shoe feels “athletic,” which makes it solid for general hybrid workouts where you’re blending some lifting with running. This shoe will still have its shortcomings, and I’ll talk about those below; for the most part, though, they feel A LOT better in the gym.

Training Stats In This Shoe

Lifting Sessions Logged: 12	Cross-Training Sessions Logged: 12	Total Miles Logged (Walking and Running): 18
Max Deadlift Performed In These: 315 lbs	Fave Exercises In These: Jump rope/box jumps	Running: Broken up into 400-1,000 meter intervals
Max Barbell Lunge Performed In These: 175	Least Favorite In These: Heavy Sled Pushes On Turf (Grip Issues)	Walking: Didn’t test them outdoors to preserve outsole
Max Power Clean In These: 195	Are They Good for Classes: Average

Who Should Buy This Shoe?

1. You like to lift and run in the same session. This shoe can be great for workouts where you’re doing some casual strength work blended with a few miles, whether that’s pre-, post, or during your workout.
2. You want plusher training shoes that are super lightweight. This model doesn’t have a rubber outsole, and I know that’s an acquired taste. If you traditionally love lighter-weight training shoes and use running shoes (or trainers) that don’t have heavier rubber outsoles, then you’ll resonate with this shoe.
3. You have a medium foot width and prefer a little arch support. This shoe has a tapered toe box, so it will definitely work best for narrow and medium-width feet, and it has arch support if you like having some support when lifting, jumping, and training.

Who Shouldn’t Buy This Shoe? And Alternatives

1. Wide feet. I have E/EE-width feet, and I’m pushing the limits of this shoe’s comfort. I think if you have EE+ width feet, you’ll have spillover issues in this model and find that the upper is lacking from a security context. You’ll probably spill over more in this shoe (meaning: your foot hangs over the midsole).
2. You need a trainer for heavier lifting. If you’re looking for a training shoe for heavy squats, deadlifts, and machine work, look into other shoes. I wouldn’t push this shoe much past 315 lbs with your lifts, and I think you’ll notice a fair amount of midsole compression past this point.
   • UA Alternative: The UA TriBase Reign 6 works great for heavy lifting.
3. You like to train a lot outdoors or do a lot of sled work on turf. Outdoors: the issue with this shoe is its foam midsole. Concrete can wreak havoc on this shoe’s long-term durability. On turf, the foam doesn’t grip that well with sleds, and you’ll likely find yourself sliding around a lot in these.
   • Hybrid Alternative: The Inov8 F Fly does well outdoors and for turf training.

Specs to Know

• Heel-to-toe-drop: 8mm
• Stack Height: NA
• Removable Insole: No
• Weight: Size 10 Shoe 10.05 oz (0.348 kg)

My Review Video

 

Sizing Tips, My Suggestions

For the UA Dynamic Intelliknit Training Shoes, I think you’ll want to go true to size if you have a narrow, medium, and slightly wider foot. This shoe has a medium-width bias to it.

If you currently wear Under Armour shoes, go with the same size in this model as you go with your other shoes. I find these shoes to also fit similar to Nike and Reebok if you’re coming from those companies.

Here’s how to find your foot width if you’re not sure what width your feet are. Outside of width, below are a few other tips I have when thinking about the sizing of these shoes.

• If you have narrow, medium, and slightly wider (E…pushing EE) feet, then you should be okay with these.
• The insole isn’t removable, and the upper has a lower-profile fit. If you have thicker feet or use custom orthotics, please keep this in mind before you buy.
• For feet wider than EE-widths, I’d pass on this shoe entirely.
• This model does have some arch to it, so you’ll want to consider this if you have flat feet and can’t stand arch in your shoes.

Performance Assessment

To test the Dynamic Intelliknit, I primarily focused on using this shoe for lifting, cross-training, and short runs. Most of my runs were on the treadmill, and I didn’t test these for daily wear because I want to preserve their midsole, but they are comfy AF.

For Lifting, They Lack Stability

• I mentioned this above, but I’d cap your weight in these to around 315 lbs for squats and deadlifts. Past this, you’ll likely feel more compression and a bit more forward pitch.

• For single-leg work, these models can also be hit or miss from a stability context. I didn’t love these for things like single-leg RDLs, where you’re fully balancing on one leg. For lunges and split squats, they’re okay, but you will notice the lack of stability, IMO.
• With general stuff, they do a decent job. For example, if you like to do some dumbbell work, lighter barbell training, and machine work, I wouldn’t stress too much about stability.
• On machines, I didn’t notice any super glaring grip issues, BUT with foam outsole shoes I’d highly suggest keeping an eye on this if you’re loading up your leg press and hack squats. Machines and their platforms can vary greatly with this.

• The higher drop also gives this shoe a bit more forward pitch, which can be a knock for those who like flatter shoes. For context, even though models like the UA PR BSR 4 have the same drop, it feels flatter, and I think it has to do with it having less toe spring and heel bevelling.
• Summary: Not great, not completely terrible. If you buy these with intentions to lift in them, just make sure you know what you’re getting and that there will be caps on this shoe’s ability to promote maximum stability.

Much Better for Cross-Training, Still Some Concerns, Though

• For workouts where you’re jumping rope, doing agility work, and things like box jumps, these shoes work MUCH better than their predecessor, the Flow Dynamic, in the context of upper security.

• The upper around the midfoot and forefoot have more security, and the TPU around the midfoot and boot helps provide additional lateral support in these shoes.
• The Flow midsole has a nice bounce to it, and for forefoot heavy work, these shoes give you a good amount of ground feedback when driving into the ground. These are good “athlete” shoes in that vein.
• I also appreciate that these shoes break in wicked fast. The Flow midsole has good mobility, and even though the stack height is higher, these never have a “blocky” feel like other UA trainers, such as the PR 6 and 7.

• Two complaints I have with this shoe for cross-training are its grip on turf for sled (mentioned above) and the fact that you still can have spillover in this shoe. For wider feet, I think you’ll notice the spillover issues more than others, and for sled work, anything over 3-4 plates you’ll find yourself sliding with.
• Summary: If you want these for classes here and there, some HIIT training and cross-training blended with lifting, they’ll work fine. As you get more specific with your training, you may want to find something with more grip and lateral security.

Honestly…Pretty Good for Short Runs

• For running, I used this shoe for intervals that ranged from 400-1,000 meters. I primarily ran on curved treadmills or treadmills with a 1-2% incline, and I really enjoyed the feel of these shoes.

• If you’re running fast, I think you’ll love the pop of the Flow midsole. I’ve used other Flow models from Under Armour, and I’m always impressed with their ride comfort and “pop” when running hard.
• FYI: I ran these distances because I’m prepping for HYROX, and my longest accumulation in a workout was six miles, and for that, these felt solid.
• That said, I wouldn’t wear these for HYROX due to their outsole not gripping enough for the sleds, but if you’re in a hybrid season of training and life, then these can be a good option to explore.

• For outdoor runs, you can use these — but I’d suggest keeping an eye on the durability and avoiding wearing them on damp and muddy days. That can wreak havoc on the foam midsole in this model.
• Summary: Pretty dang good for running jaunts where you’ll be doing mileage between 1-6 miles. They’re poppy enough for intervals and comfortable enough for some short to mid-range runs.

Final Remarks: Would I Buy Again?

The Verdict: I would!

After not liking the Flow Dynamic, I have to say I’m a fan of the Dynamic Intelliknit. It feels like an all-around improved shoe, and its performance met my expectations.

I didn’t expect them to be the best for heavy lifting, and I also knew that they’d fall short of heavy sleds due to the tests I’ve done on similar models. With that in mind and my expectations in check, I was happy with these.

The upper security should be more than enough for most, and the Flow midsole is the star player of this shoe, giving them a responsive and comfortable ride.

If you have addtional questions on this shoe, drop a comment below or reach out via Instagram!