Under Armour Charged+ Assert 11 Review

Equipped with good traction, a fair amount of impact protection, and leather-protected uppers, the Under Armour Charged+ Assert 11 offers everything most walkers need. Budget-conscious consumers will find this shoe to be more than adequate for wearing while going about their day or for casual short and long walks.

Comfort

The Charged+ Assert 11 brings a slightly softer, more forgiving ride to the table than its predecessor. The cushioned heel does a decent job soaking up impact, and the updated Charged+ foam feels a touch more welcoming underfoot than before. The higher 10 mm heel-to-toe drop is still very much present — if you like that traditional, heel-first feel, this heel-to-toe roll is going to be your cup of tea. But if you prefer a low or no-drop shoe, the rise is starkly prominent and may feel intrusive.

Both the tongue and heel collar are equipped with generous padding -— arguably a little too generous. If you lace things up tight, you may still feel some pressure across the instep, and the collar can crowd the Achilles a bit, like it's giving your ankle an overenthusiastic hug. After walking a 5-mile loop, our ankle area and Achilles felt warm from rubbing, but not raw.

Out of the box, the Assert 11 still leans toward a snug fit, particularly in the toe box, though it tends to ease up a bit after some break-in time. Even so, some users report minor foot movement inside the shoe, which can shift pressure toward the instep. We didn't experience much movement, other than a bit of Achilles-area up and down sliding.

It's a neutral shoe and does not currently offer wide-width options, so wider-footed walkers may want to consider other options entirely. For those with a neutral foot shape, dialing in the lacing can make a noticeable difference in overall comfort. The shoe uses a fairly standard lacing system with multiple eyelets, though Under Armour removed the heel lock eyelet in the Assert 11, which is disappointing. Still, we made lacing adjustments during our long walks that improved the overall fit and comfort.

Breathability continues to be one of this shoe's standout traits, with the mesh upper doing a solid job of letting air flow through. Your feet won't feel like they're trapped in a sauna on a hot day, which is always a win. It's also fairly easy to slide on and off, so long as you don't have to lace them down too tightly in order to achieve the fit you want.

Support

The Charged+ Assert 11 continues to hold its own in the support department, with a few small refinements that make it feel a bit more balanced overall. In our flex testing, the forefoot shows some give while the rest of the sole stays relatively stiff — exactly what you want in a shoe that aims to keep things stable without feeling like a brick. Lateral movements feel controlled, and the platform does a decent job keeping things steady side to side. That said, medial support is on the lighter side, so if your ankles like to wander inward, this shoe isn't exactly going to stage an intervention. Think more “gentle suggestion” than “strict chaperone.”

The laces do their job and stay put during use, though the removal of the heel lock eyelet made it so we couldn't fully lock in the heel during our testing. The padded collar remains generously cushioned, which helps a bit with locking the ankle in place, but it can feel a bit overzealous. Between not being able to lock down the heel and the large amount of cushion, we have concerns that our Achilles would dig into the collar material over time, or vice versa.

Our twist test shows a moderately rigid sole, meaning the shoe resists torsion well and helps keep your foot aligned through each step. That rigidity contributes to overall support and reduces unnecessary strain, especially during walking or light running. As a neutral shoe, the Assert 11 is best suited for those with a neutral gait who don't need extra arch support — it's here to keep things steady, not to reinvent your stride. Support is adequate, but not overly impressive.

Durability

This is one area where the Charged+ Assert 11 shines. During our testing period, having put thousands upon thousands of steps in, we detected no signs of excessive wear or material breakdown. This is a well-built shoe, regardless of its budget price.

The rubber-covered outsole looks nearly brand new after all of our testing, with the tread showing virtually zero wear. Plus, that rubber tread continues up the front of the shoe to protect the toe box. And we really like the new leather overlay design — not only is it slick, but it gracefully covers all of the areas of most concern, spots where you may accidentally kick a rock or scrape past low-lying vegetation.

Traction

The Charged+ Assert 11 performed well in all of our traction testing across a number of indoor and outdoor surfaces. The outsole is mostly covered in rubber that has some modest depth to the tread, giving it decent grip on loose surfaces like dirt and small gravel. Under Armour says that tread has “strategically-placed flex grooves for proper toe-off”. But these aren't high-end running shoes. What the upside-down V-shaped tread pattern really does is give you the best traction for taking forward steps while also providing anti-slip grooves that'll hold onto surfaces decently well when you're walking downhill, whether that be on pavement or dirt.

All that said, we were impressed with the traction on the Assert 11. The tread pattern is ideal for walking. But don't try to play basketball or dance in these shoes, as the lateral traction is the tread pattern's weakness.

Weight

Weighing in at 11.28 ounces per men's 10.5-sized shoe, or about 22.5 ounces for the pair, the Under Armor Charged+ Assert 11 is middling in its category. It's not excessively heavy by any means, nor is it close to being ultralight. It's fine, and that's fine. We didn't experience any undue fatigue during testing due to the shoe's weight.

The shoe doesn't look bulky, either. And when handling the Assert 11, the weight distribution feels properly balanced from heel to toe.

Should You Buy the Under Armour Charged+ Assert 11?

If sticking to a budget is one of your priorities, then yes, the Under Armour Charged+ Assert 11 offers top-quality performance in its price range. It's fairly comfortable, incredibly durable, and won't cost you an arm and a leg. But even if your budget is what matters most, you'll want to look elsewhere if you have wide feet. The fit is rather slim, and there are no width options beyond its standard sizing.

What Other Men's Walking Shoes Should You Consider?

Another budget-friendly shoe that we like a lot is the Asics Gel-Contend 9. It feels more forgiving for wider feet, is lighter in weight than the Assert 11, and has a heel lock eyelet. Alternatively, it's a little further up the price chart, but the Hoka Clifton 10 is a superbly comfortable walking shoe with regular, wide, and extra-wide width options.