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I guess my short answer is that yes, by and large, they look trashy but they perform very, very, very well. Thus, in my book, they are not nearly as trashy as they look.
They are still weird looking for the most part but I play basketball almost exclusively in Under Armour and they turned the corner on Nike in terms of football and training a LONG time ago. You also see them doing literally everything, getting penetration in markets like golf, hunting, tactical boots, soccer, etc. I said two years ago they were a great investment and regret not buying a ton of stock because I was right. They are a very ambitious company.
Now, like you I think a lot of their shoes look funny but when they started showing up in Marshalls for like $20-$40, I tried some on and decided to take a flyer. I do not regret it at all. Micro G cushioning is the best cushioning on the market, bar none, even better than Jordan's big ass Zoom units (which are great), Adidas's Boost, etc. It's lower profile and more responsive than just about anything out there and better yet it LASTS. I could play for four hours and still not have my feet tired, which is a real feat for a shoe. I used to play mostly in Nike Air Max releases and they'd last about an hour of playing before I started to notice them, and they were also heavy. Zoom models were hit and miss, a lot of them just didn't have enough cushioning for me. The Micro G is just as low profile as Zoom but much more effective.
You see how well their football cleats sell and their trainers (e.g. Highlight TR, Cam Newton's signature shoe, Phenom) are awesome. I played ball in the Highlights and suggested them to some people. The grip is obviously a little iffy (not made for bball) but the cushioning is so good that everyone who tried them bought a second pair.
The other thing I first noticed was that the shoes seem flimsy. They are built with very lightweight synthetics, many of which are proprietary, and they are surprisingly supportive and just as durable as Nikes these days. Maybe they won't last like some old leather-and-herringbone classics did or the OG outdoor Reeboks, but they will go toe to toe with any Hyperdunks series release easily. I have a lot of pairs but I play several times a week and I have yet to actually wear any out. The tread could be better for outdoor ball on some models but others are pretty good, all have good traction on all surfaces.
So I guess the shoes look trashy in many cases but are not trashy. I also think some models are appealing or at least different. The Juke 2, Charge BB, Curry models, etc are all not eye sores.
And you will know MY JACKET IS GOLD when I lay my vengeance upon thee.
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