After using this shoe in a variety of settings during my review period, I think in the future I’ll relegate it to my uninspired after-work jog — at the end of the day, the Charged Bandit Trail 2 is comfortable, it is versatile, it doesn’t nag at me to run faster, and it’s been durable so far. Durability Simply put, Under Armour’s Charged Bandit Trail 2 is best suited for novice trail runners looking to go right from their front door to the nearest dirt. It’s also a shoe capable of growing with that person’s abilities as they reach for greater distances and rougher terrain. Its cushioning can dampen the impact on longer runs and the Charged Bandit Trail 2’s upper will help shed rain on dreary, wet mornings. The shoe’s medium-width toe box and well-padded heel collar should allow it to fit a wide range of foot shapes (though going up a US half size larger than what you typically wear is recommended). All that said, the more specific your end use, the less appealing this shoe might be; it’s not ideal for those who prioritize traction or stability on technical terrain, a soft midsole, a breathable upper, or a low weight. Bottom Line Charged Cushioning® is ideal for cross training, HIIT and gym workouts, helping to absorb impacts from powerful sprints, jumps and lunges. We use it in training shoes like the UA Dynamic Select, UA Charged Commit and the UA Charged Aurora.

The midsole of the Charged Bandit Trail 2 is interesting and suggests collaboration among contrasting teams of shoe designers: how to make a widely accessible shoe suitable for road running, technical trail conditions, and long miles, without resulting in a confusing slurry of foam and rubber?Given how the Charged Bandit Trail 2 resists specificity, it should be a viable option for someone who wants only one pair of trail running shoes for all conditions. The upper looks to be designed with this kind of versatility in mind. Under Armour Charged running shoes include this technical cushioning in many of our most popular runners, including the UA Charged Pursuit 3, UA Charged Decoy, UA Charged Revitalize and UA Charged Breeze. You’ll also find Charged Cushioning® in our trail running shoes, including the UA Charged Maven and UA Charged Bandit.