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Reviews Shoes Cross Training Shoes

UA HOVR Rise 2 Review | An Underrated Cross-Training Hero

Jake Bolyby Jake Boly Updated May 11, 2024 2 Comments

UA HOVR RISE 2 Review

That Fit Friend is supported by its readers. I [Jake Boly] run this site myself and buy the gear I review. If you purchase through my site, I may earn commissions on sales, read more here!

The UA HOVR Rise 2 training shoes are seriously an underrated model. This shoe is not necessarily a game-changer in any one performance category, but they’re consistent across the board and come with a great price point

They’re awesome training shoes for recreational lifters who vary their training regularly on a week-to-week basis. Since its release, I’ve used the UA HOVR Rise 2 training shoes for a variety of lifts and have narrowed down the scope of who this shoe is best for.

Who Should Buy the UA HOVR Rise 2?

If you’re a recreational lifter who wants a training shoe that provides a decent amount of stability and a responsive midsole for plyometrics and agility training, then this model will be a good fit for you.

With a price point of $100 (and often on sale, too!), this model is a great shoe for versatile training and it can accommodate a moderate amount of loading.

UA HOVR Rise 2

UA HOVR Rise 2 (1)
4.2
Stability
4.0
Versatility
4.3
Durability
4.1

Best For

  • Recreational Lifting
  • HIIT Workouts
  • Classes

Falls Short

  • Heavy Lifting
  • Longer Runs
Click to Shop Amazon

UA HOVR Rise 2 Pros

In my opinion, there are three big pros that come along with the UA HOVR Rise 2 training shoes.

  1. Lightweight Construction
  2. HOVR Midsole
  3. Rigid Rubber Outsole

The first pro that I really with the UA HOVR Rise 2 training shoes is their lightweight construction. This model has a breathable and lightweight upper and the midsole and outsole are both lightweight as well. I think this model does a really solid job at accommodating recreational lifting, classes, agility work, and plyometric training for this reason.

Another pro worth mentioning in this model is how Under Armour utilized its HOVR tech in the midsole. The HOVR midsole in this model is responsive and does a fairly good job of accommodating various loads. Since this model’s midsole is a bit thinner than traditional HOVR midsoles in UA shoes, I think most lifters will really like this aspect.

Under Armour HOVR Rise 2

The final pro and aspect that I like about this shoe is the rigid rubber outsole. This outsole accommodates forward, lateral, and backward movement really well and provides a good level of traction on multiple surfaces. Personally, I think this outsole construction works really well with the HOVR midsole to provide a unique blend of stability and versatility.

UA HOVR Rise 2 Cons

I’ve only really found two potential cons with the UA HOVR Rise 2 that I think will apply to some lifters with specific performance needs and preferences.

  1. Not the Most Stable
  2. Bootie Construction

The first potential con is that this model is not going to the most stable option on the market. While the midsole and outsole do a decent job of accommodating various loads, they’re not going to be the best for maxing out barbell lifts when sets exceed 425 lbs.

Another con is that this model has a bootie construction which means there is no separate tongue. If you’re someone that loves having a separate tongue with their training shoes, then this could be an issue for you. However, I do think this model’s bootie construction walks a good line between form-fitting, yet not too tight.

UA HOVR Rise 2 Performance

Across the board, I think the UA HOVR Rise 2 does a fairly good job at supporting performance. It’s not going to be the most niche trainer in certain categories, but it does a really good job at being solid in a variety of activities.

Reebok HOVR Rise 2 Cross-Training Shoe Performance

Lifting

From a lifting point of view, the UA HOVR Rise 2 does a solid job of supporting a variety of loads in various exercises. It’s stable when performing unilateral lower-body work due to its rigid rubber outsole and allows you to grip the floor.

As for poundage, I’d say limit loading to around ~400 lbs in this shoe. When deadlifting heavy over that weight, I did notice some compression, so that’s worth noting if you want this model for heavy training. In addition, this model also has an 8mm heel-to-toe drop so if you want a more grounded trainer, then that is something also to consider.

Agility and Plyometrics

I enjoy this shoe for agility and plyometric training, especially for recreational training. It’s not going to be the most niche model for this style of training, but for the recreational trainee, I think this model is great.

The HOVR midsole is lightweight and responsive so it provides a great level of responsiveness during bounding activities and does a good job of providing some support for landing. Additionally, the lightweight upper also makes this model a good choice for this style of training.

Day-to-Day and Shorter Runs

For day-to-day wear, I like this model a lot. It’s comfortable and does a really good job of being comfortable all day. If you need a shoe for running errands, wearing to work, or rocking to walk the dogs, then I think you’ll enjoy how this shoe feels on your feet.

As for shorter runs, this model does a pretty good job. I haven’t run over 3 miles in them in any one bout of activity, so I can’t speak to longer runs here. However, for shorter runs, the overall construction of this is great for recreational running before or after training sessions.

Sizing and Fit

When it comes to sizing and fit, most lifters will be safe going true-to-size in this model. I haven’t had any issues with room in the toe box in this model and its length is true so there’s no toe bunching when running, walking, or jumping.

Price

For the UA HOVR Rise 2 training shoes, you can expect to pay around $100 USD. The good thing that I’ve noticed about this model is that it’s often on sale on Under Armour’s site depending on what promotion they’re running. I think if you shop around or look on Amazon, you can probably find a model for even less than the original asking price.

UA HOVR Rise 2

UA HOVR Rise 2 (1)
4.2
Stability
4.0
Versatility
4.3
Durability
4.1

Best For

  • Recreational Lifting
  • HIIT Workouts
  • Classes

Falls Short

  • Heavy Lifting
  • Longer Runs
Click to Shop Amazon

Construction Details

Below, you’ll find the construction details for the UA HOVR Rise 2 which Under Armour provides on their site. If you want a visual breakdown of these details, then skip to 4:35 in my video above!

  • UA HOVR™ technology provides ‘zero gravity feel’ to maintain energy return that helps eliminate impact
  • UA HOVR™ foam is contained within firmer EVA midsole for perfect blend of comfort & performance
  • Lightweight, abrasion-resistant mesh upper with 3D print is durable & breathable for any workout
  • Stretch-bootie construction for easy on/off
  • External strap helps lock your foot in place
  • Full rubber outsole to enhance multi-directional traction & durability
  • Offset: 8mm

Overall, I’m a fan of the construction that Under Armour has used in this model. They did a good job at creating a recreational trainer that uses UA proprietary construction traits to boost performance.

Takeaway Thoughts

If you’re on the market for a training shoe to tackle a variety of tasks and rock on a day-to-day basis, then I think the UA HOVR Rise 2 will be a good option for you.

This model is consistent across the board and has a very fair price point for what it delivers.

Jake Boly

About Jake Boly

CSCS, MS Sports Science

Jake Boly is the Founder and Editor-In-Chief of That Fit Friend. He's often regarded as a go-to resource in various performance shoe communities. He’s been formally reviewing shoes and training gear for over 7 years and has hand-tested over 400 pairs of shoes. Jake is known on the internet and YouTube for blending his review process with his educational, strength sports, and personal training background.

Jake has a Masters in Sports Science, a Bachelors in Exercise Science, a CSCS, and he's been personal training for over 10 years helping hundreds of clients get stronger, lose weight, and accomplish their goals. He uses his exercise science brain and personal training background to make curated and thoughtful review content on the fitness gear he's testing.

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Comments

  1. Gabriel

    Tue, May 18, 2021 at 4:22 am

    Hi,

    First of all, thank you for all the reviews on YouTube and the in-depth written reviews. Just starting following and I’m a fan.

    I noticed in this review, there is mention of the Tribase Outsole tech available on this shoe, but in looking at the pictures and video, and I’m not seeing the Tribase/triangle design. Perhaps I’m misunderstanding what UA Tribase design is supposed to look like.

    Best,

    Reply
    • Jake BolyJake Boly

      Tue, May 18, 2021 at 4:28 am

      Hey Gabriel —

      First off, thank you so much!

      Second, you’re totally right. I totally goofed when putting this article together and totally got my review notes switched around for the HOVR Rise 2 and HOVR Apex 2. I have Google Docs where I keep shoe notes, so I must have seen “HOVR” and “2” in my notes and accidentally pulled an Apex Pro into this article. Thank you so much and great catch here, I really appreciate your eyes — I’ve updated the article with my original notes! I think I need to stop writing so late at night, lol

      Reply

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Jake Boly

About Jake Boly

CSCS, MS Sports Science

Jake Boly is the Founder and Editor-In-Chief of That Fit Friend. He's often regarded as a go-to resource in various performance shoe communities.

He’s been formally reviewing shoes and training gear for over 7 years and has hand-tested over 400 pairs of shoes.

  • YouTube
  • Instagram
  • Linkedin
  • Reddit

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