UA Project Rock BSR 5 Review: Thicc But Supportive for Lifting

• You want a budget-friendly gym shoe with a wider, more supportive base midsole and secure upper.
• You’re a fan of the Project Rock line and found the past versions too tight or narrow for your foot.
• You are more of a generalist when it comes to training and prefer shoes with a higher-drop and higher stack height, but still want something that feels stable under heavy load.

Who Should Skip This One?

Without showing too much of my personal bias in shoe preference just yet [I’ll get into that at the end] this shoe might not be for you if…

• You prefer shoes with lower stack heights that allow for more ground feel.
  • Alternatives: Born Primitive Savage 1 or Haze Trainer
• You want something with more flexibility or plushness for high-speed cross-training or running.
  • Alternatives: UA TriBase Reign 6 or Nike Flex Control 4
• You have a higher instep or thicker foot and rely on removable insoles for comfort or wear custom orthotics.

Sizing and Fit

About My Feet: I have a normal arch/instep and my feet come in at an E/EE width. The length of my left and right foot are consistent with one another, and I size as a true US 10 for most companies’ sizing charts.

The BSR 5 is true to size for most foot types. It’s the widest-fitting model in the Project Rock line to date, and the shift from a booty-style construction to a traditional tongue makes it far more accessible.

• Narrow: True to size
• Medium: True to size
• E/EE: True to size
• 3E+: Pass

There is a catch. If you have a high instep or wear orthotics, you’ll want to be cautious. The insole isn’t removable, and the upper volume isn’t super generous.

If you’ve worn other Under Armour models or currently train in Nike or Reebok and are curious about trying out a Project Rock model, your normal size should feel right at home here.

Performance Breakdown

Uncompromising Lifter, 8/10

The BSR 5 performs incredibly well under heavy load. The thicker midsole is dense enough to support heavy lifts without sacrificing stability. I pulled over 400 lbs and squatted 300+ without any issues. The additional sidewalls on the forefoot add to the wide and supportive base, giving you something to really drive into, especially during lateral loading.

One knock on the BSR 5 is you have a hard time grounding your toes during certain movements. The lack of stability at the toes is stereotypical of the entire Project Rock line. It doesn’t offer the flatness or ground feel of some of UA’s other training lines, like the Reign 6. That’s not really what it’s trying to do though, so it can be forgiven to a point. 

If you want a little more structure and cushioning underfoot, this shoe delivers, especially at its wallet-friendly price point.

A Secure, General Cross-Trainer, 8/10

This is where the BSR 5 makes its biggest leap forward over its predecessors.

Previous models struggled with lateral stability and felt a little too soft up top. This version adds structure and support in all the right places. The relatively simple mesh upper is reinforced with synthetic overlays. And the sidewall build gives a solid base of support to drive into during dynamic work.

They handled box jumps, sled pushes, broad jumps, and jump rope with ease. The thicker midsole takes about a week to break in, but once it did, it settled into a nice middle ground of support and responsiveness. Again, it’s not quite as purpose built as something like the Reign 6, close enough for most generalists tossing in a couple cross-training days each week.

A Clunky Runner, 7/10

This is a “get it done” kind of shoe for runs. And even then, barely.

I’d cap it around 800 meters, a mile if you have to. Anything more and the clunkiness of the midsole starts to show up. There’s just not enough articulation or bounce to make this feel smooth during longer distances. That said, for warm-ups or cool-downs, it’s serviceable.

Not My Go-To Daily Wear, 7/10

The 8mm drop and thicker build make this a good option if you like that more structured and cushioned feel for casual wear. Personally, I prefer a more barefoot-style shoe with better ground contact. The BSR 5 isn’t going to be my go-to off the gym floor. 

That said, if you already wear chunky gym shoes as lifestyle shoes, this will probably feel just right. Or if you are a Project Rock stan, this one fits the bill nicely, especially for the price.

It’s all personal preference here.

Construction and Materials

The BSR 5 weighs in at 11.3 oz for my size 10. And with an 8mm heel-to-toe drop, it has a noticeably high stack underfoot. The midsole uses UA’s Charged Cushioning tech, which feels firmer and more supportive than it sounds. It’s not plush, it’s purposefully dense.

Underfoot, you’ve got a full rubber outsole with Under Armour’s signature TriBase tread through the midfoot. The forefoot features some breaks in the tread for additional flexibility. Again, there is no removable insole in this model.

The upper is built from a synthetic mesh with overlays across the toe box and midfoot. It also has a suede overlay starting at the midfoot and wrapping around the heel for some added structure. The traditional padded tongue is a welcome change from the booty style construction of the BSR 4, though it’s not gusseted and tends to roll inward if you’re not careful. It’s a small annoyance, but it can be noticeable during training. There are 5 core eyelets running up the side.

Overall, the build quality feels solid and well done for being a more budget friendly shoe.

Final Verdict: Buy Again?

The UA Project Rock BSR 5 is the most accessible version of this shoe to date, and that matters. It fits better, it performs better, and it costs less than its predecessor. In a market where shoes are steadily climbing in price, it was nice to see UA drop the price of a clearly improved shoe.

It’s not going to convert barefoot or minimalist lovers or fill the gap of a sport specific shoe. It’s a thiccc shoe that prioritizes structure over flexibility. The BSR 5 feels like a Project Rock shoe through and through.

And for the right person? That’s exactly the point.

If you’re someone who wants a gym shoe that’s built for lifting and cross-training, don’t want to break the bank, and found past Project Rock models too narrow, the BSR 5 is worth checking out.

Would I buy it again? Probably not. It’s not my cup of tea.

But it does exactly what it claims to do. And for $90? That’s more than enough.