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What Under Armour’s Smart Running Shoes Track: HOVR Sensors and Form Coaching

Under Armour’s connected HOVR shoes used a midsole sensor and MapMyRun to track running metrics such as pace, cadence, and stride length—not jump height. Learn what the legacy system offered and what to verify before buying a shoe advertised as smart.
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Under Armour’s connected HOVR running shoes used a sensor in the right shoe’s midsole to send running data to MapMyRun over Bluetooth Low Energy. The company listed distance, pace, splits, cadence, stride length, and lifetime distance—not jump height or jump-event measurements—as tracked metrics.

“Smart” refers to that connected sensor-and-app system, not to HOVR cushioning alone. The reviewed sources do not establish whether legacy shoes still pair with current phones and app versions, so check the exact model and current support before buying.

What Under Armour’s connected HOVR shoes tracked

Under Armour’s 2018 account described a high-fidelity sensor housed in the right shoe’s midsole and paired with MapMyRun using Bluetooth Low Energy. The company said the sensor was protected from the elements and would last the shoe’s lifetime without charging. It listed these running metrics:

Metric What the company said it tracked
Distance Run distance
Pace Running pace
Splits Split information
Cadence Step cadence
Stride length Stride length
Lifetime distance Accumulated distance associated with the shoe

Under Armour also described personalized coaching based on gait and stride information. In its 2020 announcement, the company said runners using connected footwear with a phone could receive real-time Form Coaching through MapMyRun.

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#1 Best Overall
Sale
Under Armour Men's Charged+ Assert 11, 001 Black, 10.5
  • Athletic mesh upper with durable leather overlays for added dimension & midfoot support
  • Charged+ midsole cushioning provides unmatched softness & all-day comfort
  • Durable rubber outsole provides traction & durability with strategically-placed flex grooves for proper toe-off
  • Upper contains at least 30% recycled content
  • Weight: 10.2 oz , Lace type: Standard tie, NEUTRAL: For runners who need a balance of flexibility & cushioning

Does the connected HOVR shoe measure jumps?

The reviewed Under Armour material does not say that the connected running shoe measures jump height or detects jump events. Running metrics such as cadence and stride length should not be recast as jump measurements without evidence.

HOVR is also a cushioning technology. Under Armour describes HOVR cushioning as energy-return cushioning inspired by gravity, and its catalog includes a HOVR Skyline High Jump track spike. Those facts do not establish that a connected HOVR running shoe tracks jumps: cushioning, a high-jump spike, and the legacy connected-shoe sensor are distinct features.

What did Form Coaching report?

Under Armour reported that MapMyRun Form Coaching users ran 7% faster and 3% farther than the broader MapMyRun runner population in its comparison. The company said its analysis used anonymous data from 86,887 Form Coaching users and compared runs recorded from January 1 through September 25, 2020. A run had to be at least 1,600 meters to qualify for a Form Coaching tip.

This was a company-reported comparison of coaching users with the wider platform, not a randomized test. The result does not establish that coaching caused users to run faster or farther.

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Rank #2
Under Armour Men's Charged Surge 4 Sneaker, Khaki Base/Black/Black, 10.5
  • The Under Armour Charged Surge sneaker is designed for the individual who never slows down.
  • Breathable mesh upper with synthetic overlays for added structure & support.
  • Charged Cushioning midsole provides all day comfort with responsiveness & durability.
  • Deluxe Comfort System sockliner molds to your foot for ultimate step-in comfort.
  • Durable rubber outsole provides traction & durability with flexibility where you need it.

How to check a shoe before buying

  1. Check the exact model and listing for an explicit connected-sensor feature. The HOVR name by itself does not verify that a shoe contains the legacy sensor.
  2. Confirm the phone, app, and regional compatibility with current MapMy support before purchase. The reviewed evidence does not establish present-day pairing for every legacy shoe or feature.
  3. Check which metrics and coaching features are currently supported rather than assuming all features described in older product announcements still work.
  4. Assess fit, cushioning, intended use, and model-specific specifications as you would for any running shoe.

For example, Under Armour’s 2022 HOVR Machina 3 article lists an 8 mm offset and weights of 10.6 oz for a men’s size 9 and 9.3 oz for a women’s size 7. Those specifications apply to that model and should not be generalized to other HOVR shoes.

What is known—and what remains uncertain

Under Armour’s current HOVR catalog shows HOVR footwear, including the Skyline High Jump, but does not establish that current HOVR running shoes include the older connected sensor. MapMyFitness support material includes an Under Armour Connected Footwear category; a surfaced troubleshooting entry was updated in August 2024. That documentation does not prove that the hardware still pairs or that all features work in October 2026.

For a used or new listing described as “smart,” verify the sensor in that exact shoe and check current MapMy support for your phone and region. Do not assume a current HOVR shoe is connected just because it uses HOVR cushioning.

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FAQ

What do Under Armour smart running shoes track?

Under Armour listed distance, pace, splits, cadence, stride length, and lifetime distance for its connected HOVR shoe. The reviewed source does not list jump height as a tracked metric.

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Rank #3
Under Armour Men's HOVR Sonic 7, 101 Gray, 10.5
  • Triple jacquard upper material is light & breathable
  • 3D-molded sockliner cradles the foot for enhanced step-in comfort
  • Softer, lighter UA HOVR cushioning is responsive, reduces impact, returns energy & helps propel you forward
  • One-piece rubber outsole provides durability & rebound
  • Offset: 8mm

Where was the connected-shoe sensor located?

Under Armour’s 2018 account placed the high-fidelity sensor in the right shoe’s midsole. It described pairing with MapMyRun over Bluetooth Low Energy.

Do all Under Armour HOVR shoes have a sensor?

No such conclusion is supported by the reviewed evidence. HOVR is a cushioning technology, and the current catalog does not verify that its listed running shoes contain the legacy connected sensor. Check the exact model and listing.

Can I still connect a legacy HOVR shoe to MapMyRun?

Present-day compatibility is unresolved in the reviewed sources. Check current MapMy support for the specific shoe, phone, app, and region before relying on its features.

Did Form Coaching cause runners to improve?

The reported 7% faster and 3% farther result was a comparison of 86,887 coaching users with the broader platform, according to Under Armour. It was not described as a randomized causal test, so it does not show that coaching caused the difference.

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Quick Recap

SaleBestseller No. 1
Under Armour Men's Charged+ Assert 11, 001 Black, 10.5
Under Armour Men's Charged+ Assert 11, 001 Black, 10.5
Athletic mesh upper with durable leather overlays for added dimension & midfoot support; Charged+ midsole cushioning provides unmatched softness & all-day comfort
$56.25
Bestseller No. 2
Under Armour Men's Charged Surge 4 Sneaker, Khaki Base/Black/Black, 10.5
Under Armour Men's Charged Surge 4 Sneaker, Khaki Base/Black/Black, 10.5
Breathable mesh upper with synthetic overlays for added structure & support.; Charged Cushioning midsole provides all day comfort with responsiveness & durability.
Bestseller No. 3
Under Armour Men's HOVR Sonic 7, 101 Gray, 10.5
Under Armour Men's HOVR Sonic 7, 101 Gray, 10.5
Triple jacquard upper material is light & breathable; 3D-molded sockliner cradles the foot for enhanced step-in comfort
$93.97

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

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