UA TriBase Reign Vital Review | Good Budget Cross-Trainer?

The Under Armour TriBase Reign Vital is the latest cross-training shoe to debut from Under Armour. This model is the first of its kind in that it’s a spin-off shoe from Under Armour’s popular Reign training shoe line.

Timeline-wise, this model was released pretty much at the same time as the UA TriBase Reign 5 and appears to have taken a more budget-friendly approach. I like the 5 and its updates, and I was excited to put the Reign Vital to the test.

I was most interested in how its lower price point would influence its performance for cross-training, CrossFit, and lifting. Overall, I was a fan of the TriBase Reign Vital’s performance and I like that it adds depth to Under Armour’s training shoes.

Who Should Invest In the UA TriBase Reign Vital?

I think the Under Armour TriBase Reign Vital can be a good cross-training shoe for anyone who wants to save a little money and plans to primarily use this shoe for functional fitness, lifting, and cross-training.

This shoe delivers a very similar performance to the UA TriBase Reign 5 but with a price point that is $30 USD lower. If you’re not hyped about the TriBase Reign 5’s colorways or appearance, then the Vital can be a valid substitute.

The Micro G Foam midsole in this shoe has a good level of stability and worked well when supporting heavier deadlifts and squats, and the outsole is aggressive and should fare well for different types of training on various surfaces.

To add to the above, I also think if you train on turf more often or want a shoe for HYROX-style training, then you want to also consider the Reign Vital over the Reign 5 because I do think its traction will be a little better regarding bite for things like heavy sled pushes.

Overall, I like the Reign Vital’s performance and I like that it adds to the range of the TriBase Reign shoe line for those that may have different financial means or specific training asks like turf-focused workouts.

Who Shouldn’t Invest In the UA TriBase Reign Vital?

While I like the UA TriBase Reign Vital’s performance, it definitely has a few limitations. For starters, I think you’ll want to pass on this training shoe if you have wide feet, especially through the forefoot and midfoot.

This model’s mesh upper has less volume than the Reign 5’s and it gives this shoe a snugger feel through the toe box. In addition, I’m not a huge fan of the foam heel “clip”. From a durability point of view, I’m not sold that this will last for high-volume wall sliding.

For a little bit of everything at a price of around $100 USD, the Vital outperforms most budget-friendly training shoes, but it’s not perfect and you’ll want to consider your foot anatomy and training specificity regarding CrossFit before investing in these.

UA TriBase Reign Vital Pros

Over the course of my testing process and training in the UA TriBase Reign Vital, I’ve found a few pros to enjoy with this model.

1. One of the Better Budget Trainers for Lifting/CrossFit
2. Outsole Is Aggressive for Turf Training
3. Good Training Shoe for Narrower Feet

The first thing to like about the Under Armour TriBase Reign Vital is its performance for lifting, CrossFit, and cross-training. When you look at the landscape of training shoes that cost $100 USD or lower, the Reign Vital is definitely near the top of these models for performance.

For example, despite being the “less-premium” model in the TriBase Reign shoe line, I don’t feel like this model really lacks to a noticeable degree in the gym. There’s less contrast in performance which is awesome for those that align with the Vital more than the 5.

For deadlifts up to 500 lbs, the Reign Vital provided a nice level of stability and this translated to heavier back squats as well. If you’re wanting this model for weight training and like denser midsoles, then I think you’ll enjoy how the Reign Vital performs.

For CrossFit, the Reign Vital performed exceptionally well for its price when tackling a wide range of WODs. If I were to compare it to something like the PUMA Fuse 2.0, a CrossFit-focused shoe for the same price, I’d go with the Reign Vital due to its well-rounded performance.

Another thing to like about the UA TriBase Reign Vital, and I mentioned this above, is its outsole construction. This shoe features Under Armour’s signature TriBase tech which helps give this model a nice balanced feel when training.

Additionally, the lug tread patterning on this shoe is also more aggressive than the normal TriBase Reign, so I see this shoe as a viable option for the athlete that regularly trains on turf or the HYROX-focused athlete that needs a shoe with a good bite for sled pushes.

The last thing to like about the TriBase Reign Vital is that I think if you have a narrow or neutral-width foot, then you’ll really resonate with the fit of this model. In my opinion, this shoe has a snugger fit than its other TriBase Reign peers.

I see this as a good thing for those with narrow and neutral-width feet because this model will have an athletic fit and work well for your foot anatomy. If you typically like how Nike Metcons or PUMA shoes fit, then you’ll enjoy the fit of the Reign Vital.

UA TriBase Reign Vital Cons

Across the board, the UA TriBase Reign Vital has been a strong-performing shoe, however, it does have a few cons to note before investing in them.

1. Sole Is Stiff and Takes a Bit to Break-In
2. Foam Heel Mold Isn’t the Most Durable
3. Toe Box Is Snug, Not the Best for Wide Feet

The first drawback with the UA TriBase Reign Vital is that it’s a pretty stiff training shoe regarding its sole construction. This is something that I also have as a drawback for the UA TriBase Reign 4 and 5.

This shoe features a Micro G Foam midsole that runs a little stiffer than the Reign 5 and it takes a little longer to break in. I think this has to do with the density of the midsole and how the forefoot lacks the second break in the outsole construction.

If you like training shoes with more flexibility and articulation, then you’ll want to consider this because I’m not sure you’ll get the flexibility and ground feel that you like in the TriBase Reign Vital.

The second drawback is that the heel foam mold on the heel may have issues with long-term durability. I like the idea of this feature in theory, but the issue is that foam can break down pretty fast when you’re creating friction on this material.

After one session, I was already noticing the heel of my Vital start to take a beating. I think if you’re buying this shoe for CrossFit, then you’ll want to limit how much handstand push-up volume you’re doing in these to prevent breakdown from wall slide.

The last drawback that I have with the TriBase Reign Vital is that its toe box is pretty snug. This shoe’s last construction seems pretty much identical to the 5, however, its fit is a little different. 

The mesh upper on the Vital gives this shoe a snugger feel through the toe box and even midfoot, and if you have a wider foot or have found TriBase Reign models to fit too snugly before, then you’ll want to pass on this shoe because it’s not any better when it comes to width.

Performance Breakdown

To assess and get the full picture of the performance of the UA TriBase Reign Vital, I put this shoe through various training contexts. I tested this model specifically for lifting, CrossFit, versatile sessions, short runs, and daily wear.

If you train in a dynamic or diverse way, hopefully, this performance breakdown can help you cross-reference this shoe’s strengths and weaknesses with your training demands.

Testing the UA TriBase Reign Vital for Lifting and CrossFit

When testing this shoe for lifting, I took them through a variety of workouts. I used them for heavy deadlifts, back squats, and lower body sessions where the stability of the shoes would actually be pushed.

As mentioned before, these shoes did a good job at providing enough stability for deadlifts up to 500 lbs, which I really enjoyed because most budget training shoes start to fall off around 400-455 lbs when it comes to their midsole stability.

For back squats and things like split squats and lunges, these shoes also performed well and I like the traction that you get from them. I never had slip issues during my leg days and they gripped machine platforms well.

In the context of CrossFit, there are things to like about the Reign Vital and a few things where this shoe falls short. I think for a budget model, this shoe performed very strongly, especially when you compare it to hyper-specific CrossFit shoes like the RAD ONE and TYR CXT-1 Trainer.

This model is versatile enough for WODs where you’ll be doing double-unders, box jumps, rope climbs, and dumbbell work, and it’s stable enough for sessions where you’re ramping to a top single in a set amount of time.

My only complaints with this model for CrossFit, and lifter for that matter, is that the foam molded heel I don’t think will be the most durable and this shoe’s toe box could be a little wider. If you buy this shoe for CrossFit, you may want to skip its use for high-volume handstand push-ups.

Testing the UA TriBase Reign Vital for Versatile Workouts

When it comes to versatile workouts where you’re blending different training styles into one session, I thought the TriBase Reign Vital did a pretty good job. More specifically, I like this shoe’s performance for athletic-style sessions.

I really enjoyed the Reign Vital’s performance for sessions where I was blending things like power cleans, plyometrics, and conditioning into one workout. For this reason, I like this model for athletes needing a trainer for their off-season work and gym sessions.

For HIIT workouts, this shoe did okay. I found them to be fairly responsive in my HIIT sessions and they were fairly comfortable for things like box jumps and light strength and bodyweight movements like squat jumps and explosive lunges.

I also like the upper security that you get with the UA TriBase Reign Vital for things like multi-directional work. I’ve actually used this model for hours of pickleball and they’ve done a really good job with traction and security.

Granted, I did rip my shoe’s upper playing pickleball in them going for a dig, so keep that in mind if you’re an avid pickler who likes using their training shoes for this context as well.

The only thing that I would change about this shoe for versatile sessions is its overall width. I think its narrower and snugger fit is its biggest drawback, especially for those who enjoy shoes with wide toe boxes for training.

Testing the UA TriBase Reign Vital for Short Runs and Daily Wear

For short runs, I think most athletes and lifters will enjoy the performance of the TriBase Reign Vital, especially if you understand where they’ll excel in this context. This is a model you’ll want to use exclusively for short runs and sprint work.

For these running styles, I enjoyed the responsiveness of this shoe and I enjoyed sprints on turf in this shoe as well due to its outsole. This shoe feels like an athlete’s shoe in that it should work well for sessions where you’re blending sprints, lifting, and agility work.

If you’re wanting to run long distances, then you’ll want to pass on this model and opt for shoes more specific to your needs. Models like the Under Armour Flow Velociti Wind II would be worth exploring.

For daily wear, you can technically wear these shoes and they’ll be moderately comfortable, but I think most will want to pass on these. I found this shoe’s upper to be a little snug for my liking regarding all-day wear.

If you like more upper volume for breathability and a wider base for toe splay, then I don’t think the Reign Vital will be your best day-to-day training shoes. In addition, you’ll get more out of these shoes if you keep their use to the gym.

UA TriBase Reign Vital Sizing

For the UA TriBase Reign Vital, I think most lifters and athletes will want to size these true to size. The length of the Reign Vital runs true and they have a neutral or “regular” width per Under Armour’s site.

When comparing the Reign Vital to previous Reign models, it has a slightly snugger fit and feel compared to the Reign 4 and 5. The mesh upper hugs the foot a little more in the Vital and you get more volume in the 5 and the 4, respectively.

To add depth here, I think the TriBase Reign Vital will work best for anyone with narrow or neutral-width feet. The way this shoe fits feels like it biases these types of foot anatomies.

For wide feet, I would suggest passing on this model. I think even if you size up, you won’t have the width that will give this shoe a comfortable fit for your foot anatomy. This stands true for anyone who has also felt TriBase Reign shoes have felt too snug in the past.

• UA TriBase Reign Vital Sizing Thoughts: Narrow/Neutral-Width Feet, Go True to Size.

If you have additional sizing and fit questions about the TriBase Reign Vital, drop a comment below and let me know what shoes you currently wear and in what size.

Price Assessment

For the UA TriBase Reign Vital, you can expect to pay around $100 USD. As a budget-friendly training shoe, I do think the price is pretty fair for what this shoe offers regarding its performance.

I also like its price for those that want a TriBase Reign model for turf workouts. For context, I think when you compare this shoe’s price and construction to other budget gym shoes, it’s one of the better options on the market.

Now that being said, the UA TriBase Reign 4 is still available and this model has some pretty steep sales at the moment. In my opinion, unless you’re in love with the Reign Vital’s colorway or have very specific use cases with its construction, then the 4 can be a good option.

In my opinion, you’ll likely be able to save a little more money by opting for the Reign 4, a typically more premium training shoe, and it’s a strong-performing cross-training shoe that is fleeting with its inventory as the 5 rolls out.

Construction Details

The Under Armour TriBase Reign Vital’s construction is relatively similar to the Reign 4 and 5, however, there are a few nuances to them. Below are some of the key construction details to know about this shoe.

• Heel-to-Toe Drop: 2mm
• Weight: 12.4 oz (for my size 10 model)
• Removable Insole: Not Technically
• TriBase Tech On Outsole
• Medial and Lateral Side Wall Wraps
• Mesh Upper
• Extended Foam Heel Mold
• Padded Mesh Tongue
• External Heel Loop
• 5 Core Eyelets

If you have additional questions about the TriBase Reign Vital, drop a comment below and I can work to answer what you have.

Takeaway Thoughts

The Under Armour TriBase Reign Vital is a good budget-friendly cross-training shoe for tackling functional fitness workouts and recreational lifting. I think this shoe performs better for lifting compared to most training shoes around $100 USD.

I also like that the Reign Vital adds more depth to the Reign training shoe line and its more aggressive outsole adds a nice area where this shoe may have uses over the core Reign models in certain contexts.

That being said, there are a few things that could be improved on the TriBase Reign Vital like its snugger fit and stiffer construction, but overall, it’s been a good training shoe.

If you have additional questions about the UA TriBase Reign Vital, drop a comment below or reach out to me personally via Instagram (@jake_boly or @that_fit_friend).