Vimazi Z60 and UA Flow Velociti Elite: Running shoes with advanced technology

My pace times have dropped while testing these two new shoe models

My wife bought me a pair of Brooks Ghost shoes many years ago because she was advised they were built for heavier runners and at 245 pounds I’m clearly not your typical long distance runner. Since then I’ve been buying the Brooks Ghost models every year, typically at the Rock ‘n Roll Half Marathon where I saved about $20 each year.

I’ve been quite happy with the development of and performance experienced with the Brooks Ghost shoes, but a couple of companies reached out to gauge my interest in trying out some new modern shoes. One is a pace-based shoe and the other is a new “super shoe” and I have seen my pace drop after running in both of these shoes. Maybe it’s due to having new shoes, losing a bit more weight, or actually the result of the performance of the shoes.

Vimazi Z60

There are a lot of options out there for running shoes and they differ in their styling, weight, support, and more. Buying running shoes to match your running isn’t easy though so it was interesting to hear from Vimazi as they launched a lineup of shoes for men and women that you select based on your average running pace.

They have six models designed for a 4:30-5:30 minute per mile pace up to 10:00-12:30 minute per mile pace. The shoe models start at Z20 and go up to Z70. I tested the Z60 model that is designed for a 8:30-10:30 pace. I sometimes run faster than that, but figured that is a good average pace for me and I love the orange and black color scheme too.

The shoes are tuned for the different paces through heel density, forefoot design, drop level (6mm for the Z60), sole design, and midsole material. The Z60 has offers a wide platform for stability and roll prevention. They are very comfortable and I never experienced any discomfort or foot strain while using the shoes.

The foam sole is durable and still looks almost brand new after many miles. The heel support is rigid while the area up the ankle is like a neoprene sleeve. The tongue is light and stay firmly in place.

The Z60 weighs just over 9 ounces for the size 12 I ran in. They are available now for $175 and I look forward to many miles with them.

Under Armour Flow Velociti Elite

A couple of years ago I tested out a couple of pairs of Under Armour running shoes with Bluetooth sensors inside that then connected to your smartphone for detailed tracking of your running. Last week Under Armour announced the UA Flow Velociti Elite and I’ve been running in a pair for a couple of months.

I was sent a size 12 pair in white and black to test out. They are available now for $250. They are also available in Aqua Foam/Lime and White/Beta/Quirky Lime colors for various sizes. It is a Unisex shoe model that has been advertised and promoted with professional athletes racing in the shoe.

Obviously, I am far from professional level when it comes to running, which may mean more of my readers can associate with my level of running as they consider the shoe.

The shoe is very light at 7.5 ounces and the weight was one of the first things that appealed to me. The upper is also very light mesh material so you can see your sock color through the upper. Despite the transparency, the structure is strong and supports your foot well.

My heel feels a bit high inside the shoe and I did notice a bit of buckling around the ankle opening when I was running. It didn’t cause any issues, but looked a bit unusual as I ran. The shoes are quite flexible and comfortable.

I haven’t tried many shoes with a foam bottom before, but the Supercritical Flow foam bottom has held up well and provided good traction while running on the road.

The toebox area is wide and my wide foot was very comfortable with no pinching or anything in the shoe. Whether it was a placebo effect due to running in new and light shoes or something else, my first few runs with the shoes showed a nice decrease in my average pace.

I’ve been running in the shoes for a couple of months and they have held up very well. I like these for the light weight and flexibility, but also really like the Vimazi V60 for the support. It’s a great time to be running so get out there and do your best.

*Disclosure: I only recommend products I would use myself and all opinions expressed here are my own. Vimazi and Under Armour sent me these shoes for evaluation purposes, but the company has no influence over the content in this article. All opinions are my own. This post may contain affiliate links that add no additional cost to you and I may earn a small commission.