The Under Armour HOVR Rise shoe line continues to fly fairly under the radar in the cross-training shoe world. Both the UA HOVR Rise and HOVR Rise 2 perform subtly well across the board for a variety of cross-training activities.
I’ve been a fan of the first two Under Armour HOVR Rise models, so I had super high hopes for the Under Armour HOVR Rise 3 especially with its new addition of the UA TriBase tech in this shoe’s outsole.
Across the board in my testing, the UA HOVR Rise 3 has done it again with performance subtleties that make it a good all-around cross-training shoe.
Who Should Buy the UA HOVR Rise 3?
The UA HOVR Rise 3 is a great shoe for the lifter and athlete who likes to vary their training on a regular basis. This model can support heavier lifting and does a fairly good job with lighter runs and agility workouts.
The UA HOVR Rise 3 is not incredibly niche like some other CrossFit shoes, but as recreational cross-trainers, they’re pretty good across the board.
If you’re looking for a cross-training shoe to tackle lifting, agility workouts, classes, HIIT training, and even to wear on a daily basis, then I think the UA HOVR Rise 3 is worth looking into.
UA HOVR Rise 3
$110
Best For
- HIIT Training
- Class Workouts
- Recreational Lifting
- Short/Mid-Range Runs
Falls Short
- For Rope Climbs
- For Maximal Lifting
UA HOVR Rise 3 Pros
There are three big pros and benefits that I’ve found with the UA HOVR Rise 3 throughout my testing protocols.
- TriBase Outsole Addition
- HOVR Midsole Construction
- Durable Upper Construction
The first pro with the UA HOVR Rise 3 is the addition of Under Armour’s signature TriBase tech on the outsole. UA utilizes this construction feature in a wide variety of their shoes, so it’s really cool seeing them finally add it to the HOVR Rise line. TriBase tech works to promote a tripod foot position for additional stability in a variety of training settings.
Personally, I like this for the UA HOVR Rise 3 because it adds to this shoe’s effectiveness for lifting. I felt grounded in all of my tests and like the outsole construction as a whole.
The second pro is the HOVR midsole tech that UA uses in this shoe. They reworked the midsole in this model compared to the UA HOVR Rise 2 so the midsole is a tad thicker. When I first received this model, I actually wasn’t the biggest fan of the beefed-up midsole construction, but it’s slowly grown on me.
Overall, the midsole on this model does a pretty good job at being responsive enough for runs and agility training, but also stable enough for heavier lifting.
The final pro with this model is the upper construction and how durable it is. This model has an abrasion resistent 3D print around the outside of the upper which gives it a nice gritty, durable feeling. Personally, I haven’t experienced any breakdown issues yet with this model’s upper and it should go the distance because the HOVR Rise 2 was also fairly durable.
UA HOVR Rise 3 Cons
As a whole, I really like the UA HOVR Rise 3, but I do think there are a couple of cons worth noting about this model.
- Slight Price Increase
- Long-Term Lace Durability
The first con is that the price has increased slightly for the UA HOVR Rise 3 compared to the UA HOVR Rise 2. The HOVR Rise 2 came out to a flat $100 USD and HOVR Rise 3 is retailing at $110 USD. It’s not the biggest deal and difference, but it does shift this model further away from being super budget-friendly.
Personally, I do think the extra $10 USD is worth it for this model because the construction was updated by a fair amount. I think it would be tougher to swallow if the shoe barely changed at all.
Another drawback is the long-term lace durability. I like the theory of the upper TPU materials, but I worry that they’re going to cause the laces to fray due to friction. The UA HOVR Apex 2 has this issue, too, and while the HOVR Rise 3’s TPU has internal rings to limit friction, I could still see it being a problem.
Again, this isn’t the biggest deal but can be an inconvenience nonetheless. I would say pay close attention to your laces when rocking this model frequently to avoid having them break mid-workout.
UA HOVR Rise 3 Performance
To test the UA HOVR Rise 3, I put it through my normal battery of tests. These tests focus on how this model performs in lifting settings, plyometric/agility workouts, runs, and on a daily wear basis.
Lifting
In a lifting setting, the UA HOVR Rise 3 does a fairly good job. I’ve worked up to 435 lbs with high-volume trap bar deadlift sets and this model did a pretty good job at supporting the load. I noticed a bit of compression, but overall, the HOVR midsole and TriBase outsole stood up to the test.
I wouldn’t recommend training much heavier than 435 lbs in this model. For the recreational lifter that isn’t necessarily maxing out in this shoe, I think they’ll perform really well in lifting settings.
Plyometrics and Agility Workouts
For plyos and agility workouts, I really like this model. It has a bootie construction that feels secure and athletic, and when you blend that with the midsole and outsole, this shoe feels fairly athletic. Plus, it’s decently lightweight so it doesn’t feel super heavy on the feet.
On top of the above, I like the upper construction for the context of this training because if you are doing bounding activities or things like burpees, the durability of this shoe should stand up to these tests really well.
Runs and Daily Wear
For shorter to mid-range runs, I think most will like this model. The HOVR midsole provides enough responsiveness to help give this shoe a nice spring and pop feel. In the context of running, I think most will find this model fairly comfortable when training around 3-5 miles and below.
On a daily basis, this model is comfortable, however, there is a caveat. Compared to the previous model, the HOVR Rise 3’s upper is a bit more snug through the mid-foot. I think this could get uncomfortable during long-duration wear for those with higher arches.
UA HOVR Rise 3 Sizing
For most lifters and athletes, they should be safe going true-to-size in the UA HOVR Rise 3. The length fits true and they have a “regular” width and fit.
The only caveat about their sizing compared to the UA HOVR Rise 2 is that their bootie construction feels a bit tighter through the mid-foot. To be honest, they feel similar to the UA Project Rock BSR in regard to their bootie construction as a whole.
The tighter mid-foot fit could be an issue for the small population of athletes and lifters that have higher arches, however, for most, this model should still fit true and may just be a bit tighter when breaking them in.
Construction Details
If you’re interested in the construction details for the UA HOVR Rise 3, I’ve provided what I think are the most important callouts below.
If you want to see a visual breakdown of the HOVR Rise 3’s construction, then skip to 7:53 in my review video above.
- Heel-To-Toe Drop: Unconfirmed, but it feels similar to the last model which was 8mm
- TriBase Outsole Tech
- HOVR Midsole Construction
- Abrasion-Resistant 3D Mesh Upper
- Stretch Bootie Construction
- TPU Mid-Foot Wrap
Despite not being certain about the lacing durability due to the TPU wrap, I like the construction of the UA HOVR Rise 3 as a whole.
Takeaway Thoughts
Across the board, I think the UA HOVR Rise 3 is a good all-in-one style cross-training shoe. It’s not going to be your best for diehard CrossFit workouts, but for the recreational lifter and active individual, it’s a really good pick with a decent price point.
If you have any questions about the UA HOVR Rise 3, drop a comment below or reach out via Instagram (@jake_boly)!
Phil
Hi,
I recently purchased the rise 3 and the inner soles are removable and I have put my orthotic in.
Same as with the apex 3
Ah, awesome, Phil! And thank you for sharing.
Whenever companies use that thin layer of adhesive to keep their insoles in I generally label models as non-removable insoles. I can start noting that though and think you make a good point here. I’ve had a situation in the past where someone took out their insole despite it having adhesive and me saying it was “fine”, then them not being happy with how the insole interacted with the shoe so I always air on the side of caution now when companies use adhesive in their models!
Stephen
Hi Jake,
Detailed review and thanks for the recommendation.
I have one question.
Are the sole liners seen in like they are on the PR3’s or are they removable for use with orthotics?
As an owner of flat feet, not being able to use my custom soles drives me loco and leaves me in pain after a solid plyo session.
Perhaps in future reviews, add in whether the soles are removable for peeps like me.
Regards Stephen
Hey Stephen! The insoles are not removable in this model, unfortunately. I love that recommendation, I’ll be sure to start adding that in in a FAQs section moving forward.
Phil
Hi Stephen,
I also wear an orthotic and just bought the rise 3.
The inner sole did come out.. it was slightly sticky but came out all good.
It also comes out of the reign 3 and apex 3.
With the reign 3 I found that unfortunately it lifted my foot above the heel lock.
Cheers
Phil
Phil — I appreciate you sharing your thoughts and insights here, sincerely! It helps add depth to the content and build on to the community side of the site I want to continue to build. Thank you!