REASONS TO BUY
Affordable
Very stable
Solid traction
REASONS TO AVOID
Clunky
Heavy
Minimal energy return
Under Armour Charged Assert 10 - Women's Review
Suitable for everyday fitness ventures, this affordable shoe provides stability and durability, though it’s not built for speed
When it comes to a reliable budget buy, this shoe hits the mark.
Credit: Ally Arcuri
RELATED: Best Running Shoes for Women
Our Verdict
The Under Armour Charged Assert 10 is a budget-friendly brick of a shoe that is built for both comfort and durability, making it a practical choice for runners seeking a dependable option. This well-tractioned road running shoe doubles nicely as a gym shoe because of its thick, firm platform. While not the best choice for runners who want to push paces, it provides a 30 mm slab, a traditional 8 mm drop, and hefty stability. Runners who want an everyday shoe for a variety of fitness ventures will enjoy the ride and price point of this updated offering from Under Armour.
Compare to Similar Products
 This Product
Under Armour Charged Assert 10 - Women's | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Awards |  Best Bang for your Buck | ||||
| Price | $75 List $56.99 at Amazon | $120.00 at REI Compare at 2 sellers | Check Price at Amazon | $70 List $54.95 at Amazon | $70 List $69.99 at Amazon |
Overall Score  |
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| Star Rating | |||||
| Bottom Line | With its firm cushioning and 8 mm drop, this shoe is best suited as a dependable option for road runs and gym sessions | Affordable and minimally-minded, the updated Kinvara is a great everyday shoe that is suitable for a myriad of running situations | This shoe offers lightweight simplicity and affordability, making it a versatile choice for moderate paces, heel strikers, and casual outings | This affordable, low-profile running shoe is a good choice for beginners, offering a moderate stack, traditional drop, and a touch of bounce | While not suited for specified running, this shoe offers versatility and reliability for daily activities and moderate workouts |
| Rating Categories | Under Armour Charge... | Saucony Kinvara 15... | Brooks Trace 3 - Wo... | Asics Gel-Contend 9... | New Balance Fresh F... |
| Landing Comfort (30%) | |||||
| Responsiveness (20%) | |||||
| Stability (15%) | |||||
| Upper Comfort (15%) | |||||
| Weight (15%) | |||||
| Traction (5%) | |||||
| Specs | Under Armour Charge... | Saucony Kinvara 15... | Brooks Trace 3 - Wo... | Asics Gel-Contend 9... | New Balance Fresh F... |
| Sizes Available | 5 - 12 US | 5 - 12 US, regular |
5 - 12 US, regular & wide | 5 - 12 US, regular | 5 - 12 US, regular & wide |
| Style | Daily trainer | Daily Trainer | Daily Trainer | Daily Trainer | Daily Trainer |
| Measured Heel Stack Height | 30 mm | 27 mm | 33 mm | 30 mm | 26 mm |
| Measured Heel-to-Toe Drop | 8 mm | 3 mm | 11 mm | 9 mm | 8 mm |
| Plate Type | None | None | None | None | None |
| Rocker Angle | 25.0 deg | 25.0 deg | 28.0 deg | 28.0 deg | 26.5 deg |
| Rocker Apex Location | 62.4% | 64.7% | 59.4% | 58.7% | 54.5% |
| Measured Weight | 8.14 oz | 5.44 oz | 7.18 oz | 7.26 oz | 6.90 oz |
| Upper | Mesh | Mesh | Mesh | Jacquard mesh | Mesh |
| Midsole | Charged Cushioning | PWRRUN | DNA Loft | AMPLIFOAM+ | Fresh Foam |
| Outsole | Rubber | Rubber | Rubber | Rubber | Rubber |
| Heel Tab Type | Finger loop | None | Finger loop | Finger loop | None |
Show full specification details ▼Hide full specification details ▲
Our Analysis and Test Results
The Under Armour Charged Assert 10 shines because of its stability and durability. With a rocker apex location of 62.4% and a per-shoe weight of 8.14 ounces (size 6.5), this shoe is designed to be reliable, tough, and only moderately fast.
Performance Comparision
The Charged Assert isn't the best running shoe out there, but it does offer serious road traction at an affordable price.
Credit: Ally Arcuri
Landing Comfort
The Charged Cushioning midsole of the Charged Assert 10 delivers a unique experience right out of the box. Initially, the platform feels remarkably stiff, but as it warms up, the midsole softens and becomes slightly bouncier, enhancing overall comfort. With a 30 mm heel height and ample padding, this shoe is particularly well-suited for heel strikers. Its 8 mm drop doesn't feel overly steep during runs, though forefoot strikers may notice the thinner cushioning in the forefoot. While it doesn't provide an exceptionally plush ride, the shoe feels protective underfoot, contributing to its solid landing comfort score.
The rearfoot cushioning provides ample softness to absorb impact, even for aggressive heel strikers.
Credit: Ally Arcuri
Responsiveness
The chunkiness of the Charged Assert inhibits a lot of its would-be responsiveness. I found Under Armour's Charged Cushioning to be more comfortable than energetic. While this midsole compound is resilient, it doesn't provide the explosive energy needed for rapid leg turnover. The rocker placement, with its apex at 62.4%, promotes a flat-feeling ride that further limits responsiveness. Great for more moderate efforts and gym sessions, the Charged Assert didn't impress me in this metric.
The ride of the Charged Assert is cumbersome and flat, which is the antithesis of the pep and responsiveness we seek in racing kicks.
Credit: Ally Arcuri
Stability
Stability is where the updated Charged Assert truly stands out. Its secure ground feel and flared outsole work together to inspire confidence during runs. With an overall width of 4.3 inches, the shoe's outsole creates a supportive base that extends beyond the main body for added balance. The heel collar is packed with firm cushioning, ensuring a stable and even ride. While the Charged Assert lacks lateral structures designed specifically for pronation correction, its thick and sturdy textiles provide enough support to encourage smooth ankle transitions.
The width and general structure of this shoe make it a standout in the stability metric.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
Upper Comfort
There isn't anything fancy about the upper of the Charged Assert. It provides a low-tech mesh upper with plenty of padding in all of the right places. Part of what makes this shoe a go-to daily shoe for gym time and mellow miles is the simplicity of the upper. This shoe features a loaded tongue with an equally padded heel collar. Devoid of stretchy gussets or overlays, the upper provides the comfort it needs to, without frills. The overall fit is on the wider side, making it ideal for runners who want a bit of lateral wiggle room.
I grew to enjoy the simplicity of the Charged Assert's upper. It isn't anything fancy, but it gets the job done.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
Weight
A women's size 6.5 shoe weighs 8.14 ounces, which is on the heavier side but not too heavy for a road running shoe. The Charged Assert is the rare shoe whose weight and the ride it offers don't align. I found that this shoe feels noticeably heavy, even though it weighs less than some of the market's more maximalist offerings. The overall ride of this shoe is chunky, which doesn't inspire the nimble, race-ready vibes many runners seek. The actual weight of the Charged Assert isn't a dealbreaker, but runners who want a lightweight feel will have more success with higher-tech options.
The width and build of this shoe make it feel far heavier than it is.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
Traction
The Charged Assert is well-tractioned for a road shoe. This shoe rides as if Under Armour said, “Who cares about the heft? Let's make it grippy!” and proceeded to add ounces in the form of rubbery lugs. While not suitable to take out on the trails, the mostly round lugs provide security and confidence on slick roads. If you want a shoe that is built for potentially damp conditions, I trust the Charged Assert to help keep you upright.
Traction is one area where the Charged Assert performs impressively well.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
Should You Buy the Under Armour Charged Assert 10?
The Charged Assert 10 offers a pretty solid value, despite it feeling like Under Armour has been left in the dust when it comes to technological upgrades. This reliable clunker is available for around half of the price of our favorite options, making it a solid contender for runners who want to keep spending to a minimum. This shoe isn't likely to be your new favorite, but it does what it needs to without breaking the bank.
The Charged Assert will get the job done, but it isn't likely to be your next favorite running shoe.
Credit: Ally Arcuri
What Other Road Running Shoes Should You Consider?
Runners seeking a budget-friendly option should check out the lightweight and bouncy Saucony Kinvara 15. The Kinvara offers a significantly more streamlined fit and is built to feel more nimble and technical. The New Balance Fresh Foam More v5 provides equal traction and noticeably more comfortable cushion while only weighing slightly more. For a more minimalistic approach, the equally wallet-savvy New Balance Fresh Foam Arishi is a slimmer daily trainer that won't break the bank.
—Ally Arcuri
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