Under Armour/BSR-4’s are capable cross-training HIIT shoes; NOT for casual wear!
Loved the white version of these BSR-4’s so much, I bought a second white pair for when this one wears out. (I’m a believer in buying multiple pairs of the same shoe if it works very well for your workouts. Because, inevitably, the next incarnation of this shoe won’t be as good as the last…so, if it’s at a good price, I stock up.) And now the midnight navy/black version just arrived and I love this one, too. Three pairs total…for now. May get a fourth. Also, the midnight navy color is just that…midnight…as in VERY dark. Almost thought the upper was black when I took it out of the box. It’s subtle, the difference between the midnight navy and the black sole and tongue…but I like it! It’s different. But what I love most about these is how they feel during my workouts, lifting, and HIIT. Sure, there are better but pricier cross training and HIIT shoes out there…but for me, at this price point for all that which you get and how these feel with the stiffer sole, stable heel, and yet decent cushioning, these are an excellent shoe for my gym time. (FYI, I always rip out the factory insoles in ALL my training shoes and insert my 10-Seconds brand high arch insoles…so the cushioning is automatically altered from the factory shoe…but nonetheless…the stiffer sole in these is ideal for calves and the stable heel counter provides a secure base for light to medium weight squatting, leg presses, Roman lunges, and hip thrusts. (A stiffer sole means more direct transfer of power from your legs to the ground or machine platform so your effort is not wasted in a more flexible, soft and cushiony sole like running shoes. Same concept with cycling shoe soles that are extremely rigid.) Also, these BSR-4’s have a wide toe box, are ventilated very well, and the gummy sole is very sticky for excellent traction for, say, forward-stepped squats where you lean back on a Smith machine or step forward on a hack squat so your feet are well forward of your butt and likewise, you engage more of your glutes in lieu of your quads…but your feet won’t slip forward due to the sticky soles. As far as other reviews on this BSR-4, one mentioned the midnight navy and black version stained a wearer’s white cotton socks. My rebuttal is two-fold: I personally never EVER wear cotton socks during training or anywhere else. All poly/spandex are ideal for the gym and elsewhere because they wick sweat away from your skin so your feet stay dry whereas cotton socks soak up sweat like a sponge and hold odor. As far as these dark shoes staining white socks…a universal rule of thumb is to never wear white socks with dark shoes due to the fact that the appearance just isn’t right. I don’t make up the rules; I’m just the messenger. However, lately you can get away with black socks on white shoes…but not vice-versa. Again…I don’t make up the rules for gym decorum. Another comment from a purchaser of these BSR-4’s mentioned the ridges on the front of the sole made a sound as you walk…as if it’s a faulty design of the shoe. Are you kidding me??? LOL!!! The ridges are for traction during HIIT workouts; not for the sounds you make walking down grocery store isles! If these complaints are based on the shoe’s performance during casual walking and wearing with jeans, then they probably shouldn’t have purchased these shoes in the first place. These shoes are functional specialized shoes for the gym. I’m so surprised at the amount of reviews on these and other more specialized cross-training shoes from casual wearers, stating these shoes “look nice for casual wear.” THESE ARE LIFTING AND HIIT SHOES; they’re NOT casual tennis shoes to be worn with jeans to the neighborhood BBQ! The amount of reviews on specialized HIIT or cross training shoes like these BSR-4’s from individuals who base their reviews on how the shoes do at the mall or while doing errands is staggering to me. These are lifting/HIIT shoes; NOT casual slip-on’s to be worn outside of the gym. For the casual wearer for whom these shoes were NOT made, of course you’re going to find issues with shoes like these; they’re NOT meant for casual wear; they’re meant for dedicated gym rats. Is it because of the Dwayne Johnson/Rock bull logo that the masses purchase these to show their buds on football Sundays??? Granted, these aren’t extreme top-end cross training shoes…but still, they’re really good for the gym. Likewise, my point being…it’s like people complaining of the stiff suspension of an Indy car driven to Kroger’s for soda and chips! Instead, drive your grocery-getter to the grocery store…while the Indy car is solely for the track. Likewise, these shoes are for gym training; but for everyone else…your flip-flops will suffice for your needs. Read more
