RAD UFO Review

RAD UFO Key Specs

The RAD UFO is a big shoe, but its weight is surprisingly competitive considering the amount of cushioning underneath you.

Weight: Around 270g
Heel stack: 42mm
Forefoot stack: 34mm
Drop: 8mm
Price: £180
Best for: Long runs, easy runs and recovery mileage

At roughly 270g, it is heavier than something like the ASICS Megablast at around 249g, but considerably lighter than the Nike Vomero Premium.

That puts it somewhere in the middle of the modern max-cushion category.

One thing worth noting is that the shoe feels quite different depending on where you land. The forefoot feels slightly firmer, while the heel is noticeably softer and more forgiving.

Upper – 5/5

The upper is one of the strongest parts of the RAD UFO.

It uses a soft micro-mesh material that feels much more comfortable than some of the scratchier technical uppers found on performance shoes.

There is also plenty of padding.

The tongue is plush, the heel collar is well cushioned and the whole upper has a comfortable, premium feel.

The heel counter is relatively rigid lower down, which helps with lockdown, but becomes softer around the Achilles area.

I had no issues with irritation or rubbing.

The fit is also generous.

I wore a UK 9.5, although I think I probably could have got away with a UK 9. For longer runs, going up half a size can be useful anyway, particularly once your feet begin to swell.

I used a runner's knot and had absolutely no problems with lockdown.

Upper score: 5/5

This is exactly the type of upper I want on a shoe designed for long, comfortable mileage.

Midsole – 4.5/5

The midsole is where the RAD UFO becomes interesting.

There is a dual-density construction, with a softer layer above and a firmer, more structured layer underneath.

The softer section gives you compression and bounce when you land, while the firmer lower portion helps control the movement of the shoe and keeps the ride more stable.

RAD also uses what it calls Center Path technology, which helps keep the foot moving forward rather than allowing you to collapse excessively medially or laterally.

The result is a soft but controlled ride.

You sink into the foam slightly, get some compression and then receive a gentle rebound forward.

It is not an explosive sensation.

Compared with something like the Megablast, the compression and rebound happen more slowly. The Megablast feels more immediate and energetic, whereas the UFO gives you a calmer, more relaxed bouncing sensation.

That is why I would describe the UFO as more of a cruiser.

It works brilliantly when you simply want to settle into a pace and accumulate mileage.

The rocker is noticeable but not particularly aggressive. You get some roll through the forefoot, but it does not feel like a heavily rockered shoe where you are constantly being pushed forward.

Instead, it is more:

land → compress → rebound → roll forward.

That makes it extremely pleasant at easier paces.

There is, however, a difference between the heel and forefoot.

Towards the end of my 20-mile run, I started to feel some fatigue through the forefoot. When I deliberately moved my foot strike further back, the shoe suddenly felt much softer and more comfortable.

That makes me think heel strikers may get even more from the UFO than forefoot runners.

Midsole score: 4.5/5

It is an excellent midsole for comfort and long-distance cruising, but the Megablast offers a little more energy and responsiveness.

Ride

The best way I can describe the RAD UFO is soft, controlled and relaxed.

This is not a shoe that constantly encourages you to run faster.

Instead, it allows you to settle into an easy or steady rhythm and simply keep moving.

There is enough bounce to prevent the ride from feeling dead, but it is not especially aggressive.

For long runs where the priority is getting the distance completed comfortably rather than hitting a particular pace, that works extremely well.

I have used the UFO for:

• 20-mile long runs

• 10-mile runs

• recovery running

• easy mileage

• days when my legs and feet felt tired

And that is really where the shoe shines.

Stability – 4 to 4.5/5

Considering how soft and cushioned the RAD UFO is, stability is very good.

The biggest reason is the enormous platform.

The heel is extremely wide, giving heel strikers a huge landing area.

There are also substantial sidewalls wrapping around the foot, helping keep you centred over the midsole.

The Center Path design further reduces excessive medial and lateral movement.

This means the shoe never feels as unstable as you might expect from something this soft.

The only factor stopping me giving it top marks is the outsole grip, which can reduce confidence in wet conditions.

I would say the UFO is more stable than the Nike Vomero Premium, although not quite as stable as the Megablast.

Stability score: approximately 4–4.5/5

Outsole – 3/5

The outsole is probably the biggest disappointment.

There is rubber covering the important wear areas, but the compound simply is not particularly good in wet conditions.

During my wet 20-mile run, I experienced some slipping.

Grip is worse than the Megablast and noticeably behind something like the Vomero Premium.

It reminds me a little of the Novablast 5 outsole, which I also do not consider particularly strong in the wet.

This feels like an area RAD could improve relatively easily in the next version.

A tackier rubber compound would make the UFO a much more complete shoe.

Outsole score: 3/5

Durability – 4/5

After 100 miles, the RAD UFO is holding up very well.

There is some wear around my main landing area, but nothing concerning.

The outsole tread is still largely intact, the foam appears to be maintaining its structure and the upper has held together extremely well.

I have not noticed any meaningful issues with glue, construction or separation.

Modern max-cushion daily trainers generally seem to be becoming more durable, and the UFO appears to follow that trend.

Based on what I have seen so far, I expect it to handle considerably more mileage.

Durability score: 4/5

Speed – 3/5

Speed is not the RAD UFO's strength.

The foam compresses nicely, but the decompression is relatively slow.

You land, sink into the foam and then receive a gradual bounce back.

That feels great at easy pace, but it makes the shoe less suited to hard efforts.

The Megablast is considerably faster because the foam rebounds much more quickly.

Even the Vomero Premium gives me a slightly more pronounced forward bounce.

I think you can comfortably take the UFO up towards marathon pace, but that is about as fast as I would want to go.

I would not choose it for:

• intervals

• short tempo sessions

• track workouts

• racing

Speed score: 3/5

That is not really a criticism as much as an acknowledgement of what the shoe is designed to do.

The UFO is built to cruise, not race.

Long Runs

This is where the RAD UFO makes the most sense.

If you have a 20-mile run on the plan and the objective is simply to accumulate mileage comfortably, this is exactly the type of shoe I would consider.

You can throw miles at it.

The cushioning protects the legs, the broad platform keeps things stable and the plush upper remains comfortable as the run progresses.

After several long runs in the shoe, I also found that my legs generally felt good the following day.

That protective quality is probably one of the UFO's biggest strengths.

For runners who do not care about pushing the pace on every long run, it is a very good option.

Recovery Runs

The UFO also works extremely well as a recovery-day shoe.

When my feet or legs feel tired, this is the kind of shoe I can put on knowing that the cushioning will do a lot of the work.

Heel strikers should particularly enjoy it.

The rear of the shoe is extremely soft, while the enormous heel platform provides both cushioning and stability.

If your recovery days are genuinely recovery days rather than disguised tempo sessions, the UFO fits that purpose extremely well.

RAD UFO vs ASICS Megablast

The ASICS Megablast is the faster shoe.

Its midsole compresses and rebounds more quickly, giving you considerably more energy return and allowing it to handle faster workouts and even racing.

The RAD UFO is softer and more relaxed.

If I wanted:

Speed and versatility: Megablast
Softness and easy long-run comfort: RAD UFO

The Megablast has the better outsole and greater performance range, while the UFO delivers a more tranquil cruising experience.

RAD UFO vs Nike Vomero Premium

The Nike Vomero Premium is considerably heavier and has an enormous stack height.

The RAD UFO feels more manageable underneath the foot and is also more stable.

The Vomero's pods provide a more pronounced forward bounce, whereas the UFO gives you a softer and more muted ride.

If you like maximum cushioning but find the Vomero Premium simply too much shoe, the RAD UFO sits in a very interesting middle ground.

RAD UFO vs Mizuno Neo Vista 2

The Mizuno Neo Vista 2 is probably one of the closer comparisons.

Both work well for easy and long-distance running.

The RAD UFO feels more plush through the upper and offers a wider platform.

The Neo Vista 2 has slightly more forward momentum, helped by its plate, whereas the UFO delivers more of a relaxed bouncing sensation.

The other significant issue is price.

I have seen the Neo Vista 2 discounted considerably, which makes it difficult for the UFO to compete purely on value.

Who Is the RAD UFO Best For?

I think the RAD UFO is particularly well suited to runners looking for:

• comfortable long-run shoes

• recovery shoes

• max-cushioned daily trainers

• high-stack shoes with good stability

• plush uppers

• softer heel cushioning

• shoes for steady rather than fast running

Especially good for heel strikers

Heel strikers may get the very best experience from this shoe.

The combination of the massive rear platform and softer heel cushioning produces a very comfortable landing.

Less suited to

I would look elsewhere if you primarily want:

• speed sessions

• intervals

• tempo workouts

• racing

• aggressive rocker geometry

• very fast energy return

Value – £180

At £180, I think the RAD UFO is expensive.

I managed to get mine discounted to around £153, which makes the price much easier to justify.

The problem is not necessarily that the UFO is overpriced in isolation.

It is that there are very good competing shoes available for less money, particularly once models such as the Mizuno Neo Vista 2 begin appearing in sales.

At £180, I would want buyers to be very clear about what they are buying.

This is primarily a premium comfort shoe.

If that is exactly what you want, the price may be worth paying.

If you are looking for maximum versatility, there are better options.

What I Like

The RAD UFO gets a lot right.

The upper is excellent.

The cushioning is soft without becoming uncontrollable.

Stability is impressive for such a high-stack shoe.

The wide platform inspires confidence.

Durability after 100 miles looks very promising.

And most importantly, the shoe does what it is designed to do extremely well: eat up long, steady mileage in comfort.

What I Would Change

There are three main areas I would like RAD to improve.

Grip

The outsole needs a tackier rubber compound, particularly for wet roads.

Energy return

A little more snap through the forefoot would make the shoe more versatile over very long runs.

Price

At £180, there is serious competition from both established max-cushion shoes and discounted alternatives.

Final Verdict

The RAD UFO is a very impressive first entry into the max-cushion running-shoe category.

After 100 miles, it has proven comfortable, durable, stable and extremely protective.

It has rescued my legs on more than one long run and has become the type of shoe I reach for when I simply want to get the miles done without worrying about pace.

The outsole grip needs improvement.

It is not particularly fast.

And £180 is a substantial amount of money.

But if you want a shoe for recovery runs, easy mileage and 20-mile long runs where comfort matters more than speed, I can absolutely recommend it.

For me, the RAD UFO sits nicely between the ASICS Megablast and Nike Vomero Premium.

It is softer than the Megablast, more manageable and stable than the Vomero Premium, and delivers its own distinctive relaxed, cushioned ride.

RAD should be pleased with what they have produced here.

They now have my attention.

RUNNABL3 Scores

Upper: 5/5
Midsole: 4.5/5
Outsole: 3/5
Stability: 4–4.5/5
Durability: 4/5
Speed: 3/5

Best for: Easy runs, recovery runs and long steady mileage
Avoid if: Your priority is speed sessions or racing
Recommended: Yes