nike vaporfly 3 vs under armour velociti elite

Nike Vaporfly 3 vs Under Armour Flow Velociti Elite

Under Armour Flow Velociti Elite Nike Vaporfly Next% 3
under armour flow velociti elite
nike vaporlfy 3
Buy From Under Armour
Buy From Nike

PLEASE NOTE: Whilst I paid for the Nike Vaporfly 3 trainers myself, I was gifted the Flow Velociti Elite trainers by Under Armour to give a honest review. This page contains affiliate links. Making a purchase via our affiliate link means we may receive a small share of the sale.

Both the Nike Vaporfly 3 and Under Armour Velocite Flow Elite are considered a keen purchase by anyone with a need for speed, whether that’s tackling a 5k run to a full-blow marathon.

In this guide, we’ll look at how the trainers differ from one another and what makes them stand out individually.

Hopefully, by the end of this in-depth guide, you’ll know which one is the right match for your running needs.

What Is The Difference Between The Under Armour Velociti Flow Elite and Nike Vaporfly 3?

In order to get a balanced view, this guide will get to grips with the design features of each trainer. From the heel difference to the stack and weight difference, let’s dive in to see which ones come out on top.

The Heel Difference

nike vaporlfy 3 vs under armour velociti elite heel comparison

Both trainers come without a heel loop, which is not an issue as both are really easy to get on.

Both trainers provide great comfort around the ankle but the main difference comes from the Nike Vaporfly 3’s padding around the heel.

The Nike Vaporfly 3 has padded cushioned areas for your achilles and ankle to prevent rubbing, where as the Under Flow Velociti Elite lacks padding in these areas.

Just like its predecessor the Nike Vaporfly 2, its latest update has kept the squared-off design.

The ZoomX foam is something that has been used before in the Vaporfly collection and is a great material for helping put a spring in every step you take when running.

For the Under Armour Flow Velociti Elite, the Flow foam has a fairly standard heel height that offers a similar density in the cushioning of the heel to the Vaporfly 3.

Uppers Difference

nike vaporlfy 3 vs under armour velociti elite uppers comparison

Both materials used on the trainers boast breathability. With the Nike Vaporfly 3, you’ve got specifically selected Flyknit yarns that bring ample breathability and are both soft yet supportive. The result is one that contours to your foot, that is comfortable and breathable.

In comparison, the UA Floe Velociti Elite offers it's Warp™ 2.0 upper and is one that helps optimise containment of the foot, allowing for lightweight locking in and lots of breathing room too.

Both trainers are designed in such a way that blisters are unlikely to appear and hopefully, you should get a long and happy life out of both of these trainers without any rips or toe holes.

Outsole Difference

nike vaporlfy 3 vs under armour velociti elite outsole comparison

Both trainers provide good grip but the main difference is the Under Armour Velociti Flow Elites durability of the outsole.

Nike Vaporfly 3’s updated thin outsole rubber uses fewer materials and exposes the carbon plate. A new waffle outsole pattern is helpful in saving on weight and delivers great, multi-surface traction for various weather conditions but parts of the foam are left exposed which will breakdown over time.

Comparing that to the UA Flow Velociti Elite, its Flow technology helps to eliminate the necessity for a rubber outsole, making it too, lightweight and adaptable on any surface.

The outsole material of the UA is a extremely impressive and durable that helps improve ground traction but does not break down when exposed to harsh elements like track sessions.

Both trainers offer a similar sized width when it comes to the outsole difference.

The Midsole Difference 

nike vaporlfy 3 vs under armour velociti elite midsole outside comparison

nike vaporlfy 3 vs under armour velociti elite midsole inside comparison

The midsole bulges from the Nike Vaporfly 3 by the heel to help reduce the weight and pressure put on the inner area of the foot. This provides a more stable ride for the user.

UA Flow Velociti Elite’s one-piece flow midsole is again another responsive part of the trainer that provides long-lasting cushioning, needed for runners and those who are doing intense training.

The midsole is probably the part that surprised me the most with the Flow Velociti Elite and is not to be under estimated. 

The Weight Difference

The trainers weigh in at similar amounts, with both making changes to their updated designs by removing bulky and heavy materials.

From thinner outsole rubbers to Flow technology that has helped create a more lightweight feel in the trainers, both are deemed some of the best for a weightless feeling in your feet.

The Nike Vaporfly 3 comes in at 194 grams whereas the UA is slightly heavier at 212 grams. However, in comparison to other trainers and brands, they’re some of the lightest available.

Many runners have raved positively about both trainers being light and putting a spring in their step when running.

The Stack Difference

Both these trainers are almost identical in their stack difference with Nike Vaporfly 3 just pipping it to the post at 40mm vs UA’s 39mm stack.

A difference of 1mm is not necessarily going to be noticeable so you’ll benefit from both trainers, regardless of which one you get when it comes to cushioning your foot and keeping things comfortable on your run.

Under Armour Flow Velociti Elite Nike Vaporfly Next% 3
under armour flow velociti elite
nike vaporlfy 3
Buy From Under Armour
Buy From Nike

Is The Price Worth It?

What are the price points for these trainers?

Well, you’ll be shelling out a bit of dosh in order to get your hands on either. The Nike Vaporfly 3 comes in at a price tag of £234.95, whereas the UA is slightly cheaper at £225. 

Despite the eye-watering prices, both trainers offer a considerable amount of durability and perhaps if you’re dedicated to the running life, then these are trainers worth the investment.

The Velociti Flow Elite offers better value for money thanks to its durability.

Conclusion

To conclude, both trainers offer a really great ride, are light weight and responsive.

For me, both trainers are perfectly suited to the shorter distance races like the 5k and 10k, as well as speed and interval sessions when you want to feel fast but they are both versatile enough for the longer distances like the marathon as well.  

There’s not a huge amount of difference between the two, the Vaporfly 3 is a little bit better in performance but the Velociti Flow Elite is the surprise package offering exceptional value for money thanks to its Flow midsole durability.

Where To Buy

You can buy both trainers easily online or in-store depending on your preference.

Here are links to the brands directly:

Under Armour Flow Velociti Elite Nike Vaporfly Next% 3
under armour flow velociti elite
nike vaporlfy 3
Buy From Under Armour Buy From Nike

Questions

If you have any questions you would like to ask about the Under Armour Velociti Elite or Nike Vaporfly 3, please ask below in the comments.

Share

If you found this blog post useful, please share it using the social media buttons below

Nike Trainer Comparisons

If you found this guide useful, have a look at our other Nike trainer guides:

Under Armour Comparisons

If you found this guide useful, have a look at our other Under Armour trainer guides:

Back to blog

Leave a comment

Please note, comments need to be approved before they are published.