I didn't think Under Armour could improve its top-tier workout shoes – I was wrong

These days, when a popular workout shoe line drops a new model we don’t always see big changes, it’s often the odd tweak – a little more foam in the midsole, or a slightly redesigned upper, perhaps. Under Armour’s TriBase Reign 6 shoe has had a complete makeover though – with a minimal heel-to-toe drop, a new dual-density midsole, a more durable upper, enhanced flexibility, and a brand-new look.

While their appearance didn’t appeal to me (they remind me of my old P.E. daps), and ultimately led me to leave them in the box for quite some time, I think these changes are for the better. During my two weeks of testing, I found them to be a solid workout shoe; they excelled for heavy lifts with great ground stability and provided excellent flexibility for HIIT and lateral exercises, as well as being a good all-round shoe for general gym use.

Some people may prefer a shoe that offers slightly more cushioning, like the Reebok Nano X5, or Nike's Free Metcon 6. However, if you like shoes that offer more ground contact and can still perform well for various training disciplines, then the Reign 6 could be the shoe for you.

Under Armour TriBase Reign 6 review: Price and availability

The TriBase Reign 6 is available to buy now for a recommended retail price of £125 at Under Armour UK and $130 at Under Armour US. However, you can snag a pair for cheaper through third-party retailers, like Sports Direct and Sports Shoes. There are six colourways available for men and five for women, while in the US there’s an additional colourway to choose from.

Under Armour TriBase Reign 6 review: Design and construction

The Reign 6 looks completely different to any of its predecessors and has been given a complete makeover. I wasn’t a fan at first and particularly wasn’t keen on the upper, as I felt the materials looked like a patchwork design out of my mum’s sewing box. However, it’s grown on me over time.

One distinctive difference between the Reign 6 and previous iterations is the sole, it’s much flatter, with a 2mm heel drop, so you feel more connected to the ground. The cushioning now comes from a dual-density midsole (which is softer in the forefoot and firmer in the heel), as opposed to its previous full-length Micro G midsole. Those who prefer more cushioning may initially find this adjustment a struggle, but I liked it, as I’m a big fan of lower heel-drop/barefoot shoes, like Vivobarefoot’s Motus Strength trainer.

The rubber outsole wraps that go around the midsole of the shoe are higher than on the Reign 5, offering more protection from abrasive movements, like rope climbs, and added stability for multi-directional exercises. On the back of the heel are little ridges, which also offer an added level of protection against CrossFit movements, like handstand push-ups.

The upper consists of Under Armour’s WARP material (a blend of nylon and polyester blended bands) and TPU mesh, which I found offered great breathability, particularly during my sweaty conditioning finishers. A personal gripe, the laces are short. I like to double-knot and all I’ll say is good luck trying to do that in these.

I found the Reign 6 super comfy. Despite them not having lots of additional space above the toes (like the Metcon 9) there was still plenty of wriggle room. Fit-wise, I’d say they’re true to size, with my usual size (5.5UK) fitting me perfectly and are pretty generous in terms of width (they’re definitely not narrow. A small detail, but I liked, the oversized heel tabs, which make slipping these shoes on a breeze! The laces, however, are too short, which was a slight pain as I like a tight double-knot.

Under Armour TriBase Reign 6 review: workout performance

I put the Reign 6 through my strength and hypertrophy-focused workouts, which consisted of a mixture of heavy compound exercises, using gym machines and dumbbells. I also sprinkle in some conditioning at the end, usually in the form of an AMRAP or EMOM.

For heavy lifting, the Reign 6 exceeded my expectations. Initially, I was nervous to test them on my 75kg front squat, because I’ve been so used to training in my R.A.D One V2s which have a much higher heel drop. They felt fantastic though; my heel felt completely locked in, I had plenty of room to splay my toes, and having more ground contact meant I could really push through the floor for better power transfer. This was also the same for my deadlifts, not to mention being closer to the ground meant the barbell had less distance to travel.

Initially, I wasn’t even going to attempt running in these. I just thought there’s no way they’d be comfortable, they’re far too flat and there’s not enough cushioning. However, I took one for the team for review purposes and gave it a go. Again, I was surprised. I only did 6 x 400m intervals and, obviously, there was far less bounce or cushioning than I’d get from a traditional running shoe, but they felt ok and very bearable. I wouldn’t go as far to say these are hybrid workout shoes but, if you happen to do a session that includes some heavy weightlifting and short runs, they can just about handle it.

The Reign 6 also performed solidly in my conditioning sessions, which included a good mixture of moves, from farmer carries to walking lunges, devil presses, hang cleans, and presses (to name a few). The flexibility of the midsole allowed me to transition swiftly from one move to another, while the grooved soles offered sound grip.

Under Armour TriBase Reign 6 review: verdict

Despite its slightly bland appearance, I thoroughly enjoyed training in the Reign 6 – I shouldn’t have put it off for so long. It’s a solid workout shoe, particularly for heavy lifts, thanks to its close-to-ground contact, offering a strong level of stability. If you just needed a shoe for this purpose alone, then the Reign 6 is well worth considering.

However, the increased flexibility and high rubber outsoles also make it excellent for high-intensity training, allowing you to swiftly transition from different movements at speed, whilst offering balance, support and great grip. Plus, running very short distances is about doable (at least it was for me). Overall, the Reign 6 is a workout shoe that can do a little bit of everything, making it a great shoe for cross-training, CrossFit and recreational strength training.

Under Armour TriBase Reign 6 review: Also consider

If you need a shoe that can handle slightly longer running distances but is still solid for heavy lifts, plyometrics, and HIIT then I’d opt for the R.A.D V2. they’re not as flexible as the Reign 6, and are slightly narrower, but they definitely offer a bit more cushioning.

Alternatively, if you do enjoy lower drop heel shoes then I've already mentioned earlier in this article that the Motus Strength from Vivobarefoot (which is a zero drop shoe) is an excellent cross-training shoe. In fact, it was awarded 'Best Workout Shoe 2024' at our T3 Awards.