Rad UFO First Run Review: A Chunky Super Trainer That Earns Its Bounce

Introduction

Some shoes announce themselves quietly. The Rad UFO is not one of them. It is a max-cushioned trainer with a bold, unmistakable shape, and if you have never heard of the brand, it would be easy to assume it is a novelty. The first run suggests otherwise.

This is a shoe built around a big dual-layer stack of super foam, a PEA blend that pairs a softer layer for impact absorption with a firmer layer for energy return. It costs £200 or $200, weighs 247g (8.7 oz) for men in a size 8, and has an 8mm drop. The brand positions it as a super trainer for long runs, progression runs, and threshold sessions.

Who the Rad UFO Is For

This is a shoe for runners who like big cushion and a smooth, bouncy ride, particularly over consistent-pace efforts. The brand deliberately leans towards longer sessions and tempo runs rather than interval or speed work, which feels like a smart and honest positioning.

If you want an aggressive racing shoe that pushes you to faster and faster splits, this is not that. But if your ideal run is a steady, comfortable, energy-efficient roll through the miles, the Rad UFO fits the brief well.

Main Strengths

The ride is the headline. The dual-density PEA foam delivers a noticeable bounce that rolls you forward without ever feeling harsh, and the flowing rocker design plus sculpted heel bevel guide transitions and improve toe-off. Over a park run at around 20 to 25 minute pace, the shoe made the effort feel easier than it should have been.

Stability is a genuine surprise. A shoe with this much soft foam in the midsole could feel wobbly, but the wide base keeps it planted. Switchbacks and quick direction changes were easy to handle without worrying about foot placement. A useful comparison point is the original Invincible: a big chunky daily cushion shoe with performance foam applied to a shoe not designed purely for performance.

The upper leans fully into comfort. There is pleasant padding around the ankle collar, a gusseted tongue with well-designed padding, and laces that look odd and pipe-like but tie up securely. Fit is true to size for a UK size 8, with roughly a thumb’s width at the toe and a little wiggle room in the midfoot and forefoot for average-width feet.

The outsole deserves a mention too. It carries a thick layer of rubber, tinted to match the midsole so it is easy to miss, which should help both grip and midsole durability over time.

Things to Consider Before Buying

Design taste is the most obvious hurdle. The bright colourway and unusual silhouette stand out, and if you prefer conventional-looking trainers for everyday runs, that may bother you more than it should. It certainly drew attention before anyone had laced it up.

Price is the other big consideration. At £200 in the UK, this shoe sits in the same territory as highly sought-after options like the Super Blast and Mega Blast, and it is a lofty number for a relatively new brand. Whether it fully matches those shoes remains to be seen, but the first run was genuinely impressive.

Buying Advice

Stay true to your usual size. A UK size 8 tester found the fit spot on with the expected toe room, and the comfortable, cushioned upper means there is no need to size up or down.

Think about how you will actually use it. This is not a shoe built for all-out racing or hard interval sessions, even if some runners report it holding up at faster paces. Its natural habitat is long runs, progression runs, and threshold work where a smooth, bouncy, stable ride pays off. If that describes most of your week, the Rad UFO is a very easy shoe to like.

Conclusion

The Rad UFO is a well-designed shoe doing a good job at its intended purpose, and it is far more than its unusual looks suggest. The dual-layer PEA foam is the star: smooth, energy efficient, and genuinely fun to run in, backed by a stable wide base and a comfort-focused upper. The £200 price tag is the main reason to pause, but after a first run this impressive, it is a shoe worth watching as longer-term testing continues.