REASONS TO BUY
Cheap
Decent traction
REASONS TO AVOID
Terrible midsole
Clunky design
No support
Abrasive upper materials
Heavy
Under Armour Charged Assert 10 Review
A cross-training shoe in disguise, this is not a good running shoe
Credit: Natalie Kafader
RELATED: The Best Running Shoes for Men
Our Verdict
The Under Armour Charged Assert 10 is the worst running shoe we've ever tested. That's thanks to a midsole that feels more like a brick than foam, a cumbersome and clunky overall design, abrasive upper materials, and poor support. We think that some runners who don't have strong stability will run into issues with this shoe due to the poor support and overly stiff, non-rockered geometry. In reality, this cross-training shoe is marketed as a running shoe. It'd be at home in the weight room or playing pickleball, thanks to the flat outsole and firm, wide base, but it is far outside its element when it comes to running. For the same amount you'll spend on this shoe, you can buy a marked-down version of many other shoes in our lineup that will serve you far better in your running journey.
Compare to Similar Products
 This Product
Under Armour Charged Assert 10 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Awards |  Best Value Men's Road Running Shoes | Another Great Value Road Shoe | |||
| Price | $75 List $74.95 at Amazon | $135 List $111.49 at Amazon | $130 List $127.95 at Amazon | $70 List $59.95 at Amazon | $100 List $99.95 at Amazon |
Overall Score  |
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| Star Rating | |||||
| Bottom Line | Better suited to a gym than the roads, this is a bad choice to run mileage | A daily trainer that blends comfort and versatility at a reasonable price | One of the best value daily trainers we’ve tested | A budget daily trainer that works, but is easily outclassed | An affordable daily trainer that isn’t great for lots of daily training, but is fine for walking |
| Rating Categories | Under Armour Charge... | Puma Velocity Nitro 3 | Adidas Adizero SL2 | Asics Gel-Contend 9 | Brooks Trace 3 |
| Landing Comfort (30%) | |||||
| Responsiveness (20%) | |||||
| Stability (15%) | |||||
| Upper Comfort (15%) | |||||
| Weight (15%) | |||||
| Traction (5.0%) | |||||
| Specs | Under Armour Charge... | Puma Velocity Nitro 3 | Adidas Adizero SL2 | Asics Gel-Contend 9 | Brooks Trace 3 |
| Sizes Available | 7-15 US, regular & wide | 7 - 14 US, regular | 4-19 US, regular & wide | 6-15 US, regular & extra wide | 7-15 US, regular & wide |
| Style | Daily Trainer | Daily Trainer | Daily Trainer | Daily Trainer | Daily Trainer |
| Measured Heel Stack Height | 32 mm | 38 mm | 38 mm | 33 mm | 36 mm |
| Measured Heel-to-Toe Drop | 9 mm | 11 mm | 9 mm | 9 mm | 14 mm |
| Plate Type | None | None | None | None | None |
| Rocker Angle | 25.0 deg | 18.0 deg | 21.0 deg | 25.0 deg | 23.5 deg |
| Rocker Apex Location | 62.0% | 66.7% | 53.3% | 65.6% | 66.7% |
| Measured Weight | 11.44 oz | 10.07 oz | 9.36 oz | 10.21 oz | 9.91 oz |
| Upper | Engineered mesh | Engineered knit | Engineered mesh | Engineered mesh | Engineered mesh |
| Midsole | Charged Cushioning | Profoam | Lightstrike Pro, Lightstrike | AMPLIFOAM+ | DNA Loft v3 |
| Outsole | Rubber | PumaGrip | Rubber | Rubber | Rubber |
| Heel Tab Type | Finger loop | None | Pull tab | Finger loop | Finger loop |
Show full specification details ▼Hide full specification details ▲
Our Analysis and Test Results
Running mileage can get expensive, especially if you're shelling out cash to buy premium trainers. There are a few ways around that: purchasing a budget shoe, buying premium shoes on sale, or hunting for last year's model of a premium shoe. The Under Armour Charged Assert 10 fits into that first category but is exceptionally representative of why we do not recommend that route. The poor midsole and upper materials, overly stiff design, and lack of support all work to make running in this shoe thoroughly unenjoyable when compared even to other budget options.
Performance Comparison
This cross-training shoe is not a good running shoe. Don't buy it if you plan to run regularly.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
Landing Comfort
The Charged Assert 10 midsole is hard—not firm, but hard. It experiences almost no compression when running, and no resilience for energy return, so the shoe does very little to insulate you from the pavement. We measured 32 mm of foam at the heel, with a 9 mm drop. That's on the low end of our test, but it isn't the lowest. However, landings in this shoe were the least comfortable in the lineup. The firm foam gives way to extremely rough transitions at the midfoot. We noted that this shoe is wildly uncomfortable, especially for mid- and forefoot strikers. The combination of poor midsole foam and high longitudinal stiffness without a rocker could be an issue for some runners.
This shoe recorded the worst landing experience during runs that we have ever tested.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
Responsiveness
As mentioned, the foam in the Charged Assert 10 has no noticeable resilience. The shoe is very stiff, without a rocker to help the runner move through the transitions of their footstrike. Finally, the shoe is very heavy. When you combine all those factors, you get a very unresponsive shoe. This is not a good choice for running, much less running workouts.
No rocker and a stiff midsole make for an unresponsive ride.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
Upper Comfort
The materials used for this shoe are pretty rough. Although the fit is good, we experienced rubbing at and around the heel collar and the seam between the sock liner and the upper. The upper materials of the Charged Assert 10 are also not very breathable. We found the upper to be passable but not good.
Upper materials are poor compared to the competition.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
Stability
Regarding lateral stability, the Charged Assert 10 is excellent. It has a broad base and a low, hard midsole, making it very stable when moving side-to-side. On the other hand, there is little to no support under or along the foot outside the flat, brick-like midsole. That means that runners who need or prefer some support, particularly along the arch, will likely have issues with this shoe. Yet again, it's worth pointing out that this shoe is more of a cross-training shoe than a running shoe. Its lateral stability is excellent for hitting the gym. Its lack of support is less than ideal for most runners.
A wide base helps create some lateral stability.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
Weight
That great traction comes at a cost, though. We weighed the Charged Assert 10 at a whopping 11.44 ounces per shoe (size 10.5). That's one of the heaviest shoes in our lineup. However, the actual heaviest shoes in our lineup have phenomenal cushioning, making them worth the weight penalty. The Charged Assert has no good reason to be so heavy.
The Charged Assert performs poorly and is cumbersome as well.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
Traction
Under Armour gave this shoe excellent traction, although it's better suited to an indoor environment than wet roads. The full rubber coverage is great for grip and likely excellent for durability.
The rubber outsole coverage is clearly inspired by basketball shoes and is better suited to an indoor environment.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
Should You Buy the Under Armour Charged Assert 10?
This might be a shoe to consider if you plan to spend your time in these shoes lifting at the gym. Otherwise, you're better off elsewhere. We know we repeat this regularly, but it can be extremely easy to find premium running shoes marked down, especially if you're willing to buy last year's model. They will massively outperform budget trainers like this one, making your runs more enjoyable.
What Other Running Shoes Should You Consider?
In our opinion, every conversation about budget trainers should start with the Puma Velocity Nitro 3 or Puma Velocity Nitro 3. These excellent, approachable, all-around daily trainers massively outscore the Charged Assert in our testing. Budget-conscious runners could also consider shoes like the Saucony Kinvara 15 or the New Balance Propel v5, which offer good overall performance at a more wallet-friendly price point.
—Nathaniel Bailey
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