Under Armour TriBase Reign 5 Review

The Under Armour TriBase Reign 5 is the latest cross-training shoe to debut for Under Armour. This model is the fifth iteration in the popular UA Reign cross-training shoe line and it received a few notable upgrades.

I liked the performance of the TriBase Reign 4 for the most part, so I was excited to test the TriBase Reign 5’s performance. Thus far in my testing, I’ve found the Reign 5 to be a nice continuation for this shoe line.

This shoe is stable for heavy-weight training, versatile for athletic workouts, and seems pretty durable for CrossFit.

If you need a training shoe that can do a little bit of everything and has a more rigid midsole then you’ll enjoy the UA TriBase Reign 5. This model works well for lifting and CrossFit, and it typically sizes well for flatter feet.

Who Should Invest In the UA TriBase Reign 5?

The Under Armour TriBase Reign 5 is a good cross-training shoe for the athlete and lifter that does a lot of strength training and CrossFit on a weekly basis. This shoe is designed to be somewhat all-encompassing and it delivers across the board.

This shoe’s Micro G Foam midsole is stable enough to support 400 lb squats and 500 lb deadlifts and its TriBase outsole has a nice level of tread for lifting on different surfaces. If you’re only planning to lift in the TriBase Reign 5, then I think you’ll enjoy this shoe.

On top of its lifting performance, the Reign 5 can also be a good shoe to explore for the avid functional fitness athlete that wants a stable shoe with a lower heel-to-toe drop. This shoe’s 2mm heel-to-toe drop makes them one of the few good cross-training shoes on the market with a lower drop.

For HIIT and versatile training sessions, the TriBase Reign 5 also does a good job and can match the needs of those who regularly tackle these styles of workouts. This model has a nice athletic fit and its WARP upper breathes pretty well.

UA TriBase Reign 5

$130

4.6

Stability

4.6

Versatility

4.6

Durability

4.5

Pros

• The Micro G Foam midsole is dense enough for heavy lifts. I've squatted 405 lbs and deadlifted 505 lb in this shoe, for example.
• The UA WARP upper tends to durable against abrasion which makes this model a good pick for CrossFit WODs and cross-training.
• The TriBase outsole is great for promoting better balance and it gives this shoe a nice platform to train on.

Cons

• The midsole isn't the most articulative and it can feel a little stiff and clunky if you like flexible training shoes.
• If you like a higher drop in your training shoes, pass on this model as it has a flatter feel and lower 2mm heel-to-toe drop.
• The asymmetric lacing system feels interesting and it can be hit or miss for some lifters and athletes.

Best For

• Recreational Weight Training
• CrossFit
• Cross-Training & Athletic Workouts
• HIIT Workouts
• Lower Heel-to-Toe Drop Lovers

Falls Short

• For Wide Feet
• For Longer Runs

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Who Shouldn’t Invest In the UA TriBase Reign 5?

While the UA TriBase Reign 5 performs pretty well across the board, they will fall short for some athletes and lifters. More specifically, I think if you like training shoes with more flex and articulation, then you may want to pass on this model.

This shoe’s Micro G Foam midsole takes a bit to break in, and even when broken in, they’re not the most articulative training shoes on the market regarding their ability to flex and twist and promote foot connection with the ground.

Another context where I could see the TriBase Reign 5 falling short is for athletes and lifters who like a higher drop in their training shoes. If you like having a bit more heel for things like squats and WODs, then you may want to look at shoes with a higher drop, like the TYR CXT-1 Trainer and its 9mm heel-to-toe drop.

UA TriBase Reign 5 Pros

Over the course of my workout sessions and testing of the UA TriBase Reign 5, I’ve found multiple things to like about this shoe.

1. Good Training Shoe for a Bit of Everything
2. Micro G Foam Midsole Is Stable and Responsive
3. WARP Upper Is Secure and Has a Good Volume

The first aspect to like about the UA TriBase Reign 5 is its performance for lifting, CrossFit, and versatility. Whether I was training heavily, doing explosive work, or tackling CrossFit WODs, I thought the TriBase Reign 5 held its own for the task.

For example, this shoe was stable enough for my 515 lb deadlifts and if you’re buying them for general strength work, then I think you’ll enjoy their performance for your asks. This shoe’s outsole grip is also solid on different surfaces and machines.

On top of their stability for lifting, they also did a good job in the contexts of CrossFit and cross-training. This shoe’s upper did a good job with abrasion resistance from rope climbs and for plyometrics, the Reign 5 has a nice athletic fit to them.

I could also see these being a good shoe for the athlete who wants a model for lifting, jumping, sprinting, and tackling functional fitness workouts here and there. If you vary your training often, the TriBase Reign 5 should stand up to the tasks well.

Another thing to like about the TriBase Reign 5 is its Micro G Foam midsole regarding its stability for lifting and responsiveness for things like sprints and plyometrics. If you like denser midsoles in training shoes, then I think you’ll resonate with the Micro G Foam.

This shoe felt stable for squats up to 405 lbs and heavier leg presses, and my feet always felt grounded when training. When jumping and sprinting, I liked the density of the midsole because it helped add to the ground feedback I got when driving my feet into the floor.

The last aspect to like about the UA TriBase Reign 5 is its reworked WARP upper. This shoe features Under Armour’s signature WARP upper construction and I really like this change from a breathability and fit perspective.

I found the WARP to breathe pretty well throughout my training sessions and I also enjoy that this model’s upper feels to have a little more volume through the toe box.

In my opinion, the volume gives this shoe a slightly wider fit (emphasis on the slightly) despite having a similar last construction to the TriBase Reign 4.

For multi-directional exercises, I also like the security that the WARP upper provides. Sometimes uppers can lack security when they have more volume, but I don’t feel like that’s the case with this shoe and its reworked lacing structure may play a role here because it follows the foot’s shape.

UA TriBase Reign 5 Cons

While I like the UA TriBase Reign 5 and think it’s one of the stronger models for this shoe, there are a few cons to note about this model before investing in them.

1. Laces Can Be Hit Or Miss
2. Midsole and Outsole Still Run a Little Stiff
3. Not the Best Model for Wide Feet

The first drawback that I have with the UA TriBase Reign 5 is the laces and how the lacing system interacts with some feet. When breaking these in, I noticed that I had a little pressure on the top of my foot and I think this has to do with how the top eyelet comes up higher than the lower four eyelets.

On top of this, the skinnier laces can be a little more prone to coming undone during workouts and lack security. I’ve had my shoes come untied during two sessions when doing explosive work which was somewhat annoying.

Another drawback with the UA TriBase Reign 5 is that it’s still a pretty thick and clunky training shoe. If you weren’t a fan of the TriBase Reign 4 how thick and clunky that model could feel at times, then you won’t enjoy how the 5 feels, in my opinion.

This shoe’s Micro G Foam midsole provides a nice level of stability. However, it doesn’t have the best articulation and flexibility. For example, in some workouts, I find the TriBase Reign 5 to feel a little clunky, and that’s similar to the 4.

To add context here, despite this shoe having decent stability for things like deadlifts, I do find their thicker stack height to take away from their performance potential in this setting. On top of this, they don’t have the best flexibility for things like walking lunges where you want more forefoot and midfoot flex in your shoes.

The final drawback of the UA TriBase Reign 5 is that it’s not going to be the best cross-training shoe for wide feet. I do think this model “feels” wider than the Reign 4 and Vital due to its WARP upper, but its last is still more neutral in width.

If you found the TriBase Reign 4 to run a little too narrow for your feet, then I would not expect the 5 to feel any better and I’d suggest passing on this iteration.

Performance for Lifting, CrossFit, and Versatility

To test the performance of the UA TriBase Reign 5, I took this shoe through a variety of workouts and training contexts. I tested how this shoe performs for lifting, CrossFit, versatile training, short runs, and daily wear.

Since the TriBase Reign 5 is designed for a variety of training settings, I wanted to push their performance in different contexts so you can cross-reference how you train with their performance.

Testing the UA TriBase Reign 5 for Lifting and CrossFit

When it comes to lifting, the UA TriBase Reign 5 delivered a pretty strong performance across the board. Similar to the TriBase Reign 4, this shoe’s stability is solid and it should work for most strength training contexts.

Regarding lifting thresholds, I’ve squatted 405 lbs in the TriBase Reign 5 and they provided enough stability for that task. These shoes also felt solid for clean and power cleans at 255 lbs and were stable enough for 500-plus lb deadlifts.

The TriBase outsole provides a nice grip level of traction on wooden platforms, rubber gym floors, and machines, so I don’t think traction will be an issue for you regarding general weight lifting and strength training.

In the context of CrossFit, the TriBase Reign 5 did a pretty good job. These shoes felt super similar to the TriBase Reign 4s so if you’re familiar with that model and use them currently for CrossFit, then you should enjoy the 5s as well.

This model’s blend of stability and versatility make them good shoes for most WODs and their durability regarding their sole and upper seem to be good for most demands from CrossFit as well. With rope climbs, the WARP upper did well with abrasion resistance and the toe wrap feels durable for burpees.

My only complaint about the TriBase Reign 5 with lifting and CrossFit is that it’s still not the most mobile shoe. It’s better than the 4, but if you’re a huge fan of training shoes with a lot of articulation like the Haze Trainer, then you may not resonate with the stiffness, at least initially, with the TriBase Reign 5.

Testing the UA TriBase Reign 5 for Versatile Workouts

For workouts where you’re blending a little bit of everything together, I thought the UA TriBase Reign 5 did a pretty good job. They held their own for most of my HIIT workouts and athletic workouts where I was adding more explosive movements.

The Micro G Foam midsole’s density gives you a nice bounce and level of ground feedback for repetitive plyometrics and jump rope. I also like that the forefoot has breaks in the rubber similar to the TriBase Reign 4 because it helps give the toe box a little more flex once broken in.

I also like the TriBase outsole and how it supports balance when doing single-leg work, like skater strides and skips. The tread also grips turf, rubber gym floors, and wooden platforms pretty well, so I don’t think you’ll have traction issues in multi-directional contexts.

On top of the Reign 5’s midsole and outsole, I think the WARP upper was also a nice positive addition to this model. The upper has a nice level of volume and security to it so it gives the forefoot a little more space for toe splay while providing a good level of security.

My only complaint with the UA TriBase Reign 5 when it comes to versatile workouts is that the top eyelet and lace can create a little pressure on the top of the foot, especially as you break these in. If you have a thicker foot or high arches, you may want to consider this before investing in this model.

Testing the UA TriBase Reign 5 for Short Runs and Daily Wear

When it comes to running, the UA TriBase Reign 5 will work fine for shorter runs, but you’ll likely want to pass on them for long-distance runs. If you’re running more than two miles at a time in this model, you may find them to be a little stiff and firm.

For short runs programmed in WODs and for shorter interval runs, I like the UA TriBase Reign 5 and it should be comfortable enough for these running contexts. The Micro G Foam midsole’s density has good energy return for faster forefoot-biased running settings.

On a daily wear basis, the UA TriBase Reign 5 can work and it’s comfortable enough, but it’s not a cross-training shoe that I would first reach for when it comes to all-day wear. I think you’ll get more out of the TriBase Reign 5 if you save them for training.

Plus, while I the appearance of these shoes, they’re not a more “casual” looking trainer. For example, if you want a trainer for travel and all-day wear, then you might want to explore something like the STR/KE MVMNT Haze Trainer.

UA TriBase Reign 5 Sizing

When it comes to sizing in the UA TriBase Reign 5, I think most lifters and athletes should be safe going true to size in this model. This shoe’s length fits true, and they have a neutral width to them or a “regular” fit per Under Armour’s notes.

If you’ve ever worn Under Armour training shoes before, then I’d suggest going with the same size in the TriBase Reign 5 that you’re used to going with your other models.

Regarding width, this training shoe should work for narrow, neutral, and slightly wider feet. The WARP upper has a decent volume to it so it should feel more accommodating than training shoes with lower-volume uppers. Note, for notably wide feet, these are likely not going to give you enough width.

For flat feet, this model may also work well for your needs. There’s not a ton of arch in this shoe so it shouldn’t feel super offputting through the midfoot if you typically like flatter training shoes.

• UA TriBase Reign 5 Sizing Thoughts: Go true to size.

If you have additional sizing and fit questions about the UA TriBase Reign 5, drop a comment below and share what shoe and size you currently wear and I can work to help you out accordingly.

Construction Details

The UA TriBase Reign 5 has received some notable upgrades from the 4, while some construction features have remained the same. Below are some of the key details to note about this shoe.

• Heel-to-Toe Drop: 2mm
• Weight: 12.6 oz (for my size 10 model)
• Removable Insole: Yes
• TriBase Outsole
• Micro G Foam Midsole
• UA WARP Upper
• External Heel Clip
• Padded and Wide Mesh Tongue
• Unilateral Lacing Structure
• 5 Core Eyelets

If you have additional questions about the UA TriBae Reign 5’s construction, drop a comment below.

Takeaway Thoughts

I’ve enjoyed the performance of the Under Armour TriBase Reign 5 across the board. It’s a good follow-up trainer to the TriBase Reign 4, which was also a versatile cross-training shoe.

I think the WARP upper construction was a nice improvement on this model and the midsole and outsole remain relatively unchanged from the UA TriBase Reign 4.

I do think the reworked lacing system will be a little hit or miss for some and if you’ve worn the Reign 4s and really enjoy their midfoot construction and you’re debating the 5, then you may want to stick with the 4s and invest in pairs while they’re discounted.

If you have additional questions about the UA TriBase Reign 5, drop a comment below or reach out to me personally via Instagram (@jake_boly or @that_fit_friend)!