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Under Armour Charged Assert 10 review

8 expert score
10 user's score
As editorial policy, we do not accept free samples. We purchased this pair at Under Armour with our own money.
Review written on 16th December by Larry Lam Larry runs since high school any distance up to 50k.
16 other reviews

Under Armour Charged Assert 10 Verdict

The Under Armour Charged Assert 10 is a budget-friendly running shoe that will meet a lot of needs for many lower-mileage runners. It’s very stable and comfortable enough for those runs that are less than 6-7 miles long. It’s also versatile enough to be an everyday shoe in the gym, for walks, or for errands around town.

The pros

  • Budget friendly
  • Stable
  • Sturdy build
  • Smooth ride

The cons

  • Bulky
  • Needs a break-in period

Rating breakdown

Comfort
9.0
Build quality
10
Upper
8.0
Sole unit
10
Landing
8.0
Transition
8.0
Toe-off
8.0
Traction
10
Durability
10
Value / Price
10

Facts / Specs

Model
Charged Assert 10
Previous model
Weight
9.5 oz (269 g)
MSRP
75.00

Heel
32 mm.
Toe
22 mm.
Heel drop
10 mm.
Carbon plate
No plate

Size/Fit

Sizing
True to size
Heel fit
Normal
Midfoot fit
Normal
Toebox fit
Wide

Cushioning & ride

Type of cushioning
Responsive
Amount of cushioning
Little cushioning
Stability
Very stable
Flexibility
Rigid

Usage

Racing
Speedwork
Daily training  
Long distance racing
Ultra distance racing

Who should buy the Under Armour Charged Assert 10 ?

If you cross train while running a few times a week, this is a great shoe to consider. It can handle your gym routine, your everyday errands, a daily walk, and an easy run all without breaking the bank. If you’re an experienced runner looking for an easy, low mileage day shoe, this could also be a part of your rotation.

Who should not buy the Under Armour Charged Assert 10 ?

If you’re a runner who needs a shoe that can handle tempo, speed, or long runs, then this shoe will not do any of those things. If you consistently run more than 8 miles a day, this might not be the most comfortable shoe for you.

Under Armour Charged Assert 10 Introduction

Picture of Under Armour Charged Assert 10

The Under Armour Charged Assert 10 is a very budget-friendly running shoe. It uses Charged Cushioning, which used to be UA’s premier cushioning before they started using HOVR™ and Flow in their higher end shoes.

Nonetheless, it is still a very responsive and durable foam that is soft enough to handle the impacts of running.

This is a shoe that is built for mostly neutral runners looking for a cushioned shoe in the budget category. I would categorize this for people who mostly do 5ks as part of a bigger workout plan that might include the gym, Crossfit, walking, etc.

Compared to the Charged Assert 9, it doesn’t look like much has changed in terms of the upper, midsole, or technology.

It does look like there are updated color schemes to choose from. This means that the upper is still made of lightweight mesh, the Charged Cushioning still comprises the midsole, and the rubber outsole is still solid enough to last for a long while.

The shoe weighs 9.5 oz, which is slightly heavier than the previous model but still comes in at a 10mm offset.

This shoe retails for $75.00 but is typically on sale on the website with various discount codes.

This shoe maintains its place as a multipurpose shoe.

Under Armour Charged Assert 10 First Impressions

Picture of Under Armour Charged Assert 10


My first impression of this shoe upon opening the box was that it looked bulky. It felt a bit heavy when I picked it up yet it looked very well built. I

t looked and felt like a shoe that would last for a very long time. I got the Academy blue color and I thought it looked stylish enough.

When I tried them on, they felt comfortable. They have an EVA sockliner that makes your foot feel pretty comfortable once you step into the shoe.

The shoe felt very stable. My first run in these shoes was a 7-mile easy run. I could feel a little rubbing on the top of my big toes but generally the shoe was fine.

They felt pretty good for the first few miles but I could feel the lack of high end cushioning after about 5 miles.

Under Armour Charged Assert 10 Upper

Picture of Under Armour Charged Assert 10

The upper is a nice mesh with some synthetic leather overlays. The upper is built well and looks like it can take a beating. It’s not the most breathable shoe although it does just enough. If you’re in very hot weather, you might consider thinking twice about this shoe as it just might run hot. I’ve only tested this is mild to colder weather and I had no issues with breathability.

The laces and tongue on this shoe are just fine. The laces stayed tied even on single knots for all my runs. The tongue is soft and doesn’t seem to get in the way much.

There was some rubbing on the top of my big toe but I mostly noticed that after running in them for more than 30 minutes.

The shoe fits true to size overall and has wide width options in similar color schemes.

Under Armour Charged Assert 10 Sole Unit

Picture of Under Armour Charged Assert 10

The Charged Assert 10 has Under Armour’s proprietary Charged Cushioning as its midsole foam.

The foam itself isn’t the softest nor will it take a lot of the pounding of longer runs but it is just fine for those 3-5 mile runs.

I can say that after some of my shorter runs in that range, my legs felt good. I even kept the shoes on for errands and an afternoon walk with the dogs. The shoes held up well and did their job.

The EVA sockliner inside the shoe adds to the soft feel. This shoe would be considered more firm than soft in terms of cushioning. It doesn’t give you a big bounce or energy return.

After running in this shoe for nearly 60 miles, I would say that there was a break-in period necessary for me to want to run in these shoes for more than 5 miles.

After that initial 7 mile run, I limited this shoe to runs 5 miles or less. My last run in this shoe was 8 miles and it finally felt more comfortable, although not a shoe I would intentionally choose for that distance.

That is all to say that there might be a break-in period for some people before you’re comfortable taking it on a run that is farther than 4-5 miles.

Picture of Under Armour Charged Assert 10

The stack height of this shoe is 10mm. The heel stack is roughly 32mm and the forefoot stack is roughly 22mm. Some might say that this shoe fits heel strikers much better than forefoot strikers.

I’m more of a midfoot striker and didn’t have a huge issue with the shoe. It might have contributed to my feeling of this shoe not being great for slightly longer runs.

The outsole of the shoe is a good slab of rubber that covers all the contact points. It looks thicker and seemingly provides more coverage than previous versions. That might explain the slightly heavier weight of this shoe compared to the last version. The traction of the rubber is great. It handled wet runs, hill repeats on gravel, and grass pretty well.

Much like the review of the Assert 9, I don’t think this shoe is built for longer distance runners.

The cushioning and weight of the shoe just doesn’t fit that population. I loved this shoe for my lifting routine and agility drills.

It also did great for me when I traveled and wanted to only bring one pair of shoes for strength, running, walking, and doing things around town. It’s built for versatility.

Under Armour Charged Assert 10 Conclusions

Overall, this shoe is great for anyone looking for a multipurpose shoe.

While it’s not my first choice as a distance running shoe, it would be something I’d carry along during my travels if I never needed to do more than a few miles.

The cost of the shoe might be its biggest draw. While it retails at $75, I have seen coupon codes on the Under Armour website for 30-40% off.

This shoe will fit into my rotation during my gym sessions when I also might do a light run either as a warm-up or as part of the routine.

How does the Charged Assert 10 compare?

Nike Downshifter 12
Under Armour Charged Assert 10
Asics Gel-Excite 10
Expert score
7
8
8
User score
Best price
Retail price
US$70
US$75
US$85
Weight
10 oz
9.5 oz
10 oz
Heel Drop
10 mm
10 mm
10 mm
Recommended for
Daily training
Daily training
Daily training
Cushioning type
balanced
responsive
balanced
Cushioning amount
Medium cushioning
Little cushioning
Medium cushioning
Flexibility
medium
rigid
flexible
Stability
very stable
very stable
not particularly stable
Sizing
buy half size bigger
true to size
true to size

Why you can trust us

As editorial policy, we do not accept free samples from companies.
We purchased this pair of Under Armour at Under Armour  with our own money.

This page contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Read more about our policy.
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Reviewed by Larry

This review was written by Larry Lam on 16th December.
Larry lives outside of Raleigh, NC with his wife, 3 kids, and his dog. He's been running since high school and loves pretty much any distance up to the 50k. Larry enjoys running for both fun and competition - in that order. Outside of running, Larry chauffeurs his kids around to their various exploits - soccer, swimming, track, dance, music, etc.

User feedback (4)

  • avatar-comment-1042540
    Sara P.
    3 weeks ago

    I have a somewhat wide foot—do these shoes run narrow or would they be comfy enough for me?

    • avatar-comment-1042617
      Larry
      3 weeks ago

      I don’t think they’re narrow. If you typically get a wide width shoe, then this isn’t wide enough to capture a wide foot. If you’re just on the wider side of normal, this should be fine.

  • avatar-comment-1040591
    Sarah D.
    2 months ago

    I’ve always liked Under Armour, but I’m just wondering how the Charged Assert 10 compares to the Brooks Ghost in terms of cushioning and durability? I’m worried that with long-distance running, the support might wear out too quickly.

    • avatar-comment-1040735
      Larry
      2 months ago
      10 score

      In terms of durability, probably even. In terms of cushion, it’s the Ghost that wins out. Even though both are firm, the Ghost will be softer and feel more comfortable on longer runs. I don’t think the Assert 10 is built for anything long.

Lowest price:
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