When it comes to training, few celebrities—or even athletes—have a reputation like Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. The wrestler-turned-movie star has built his brand around hard work and ceaseless commitment to his workouts, driving his profile as a musclehead even higher by using the gym as an outlet to speak directly to his fans on Instagram.
That stature gives him ample opportunity to show off his Under Armour Project Rock gear, which he tests and displays prominently in all of his posts. That’s why, if you’re a fan, you’ve already had a good look at his latest drop, the Project Rock 2 training shoes. The actor has been teasing the kicks since last December (and if you have especially sharp eyes, he’s been rocking them for even longer in his workout posts), and they finally go public today.
The new shoes are a direct follow up to the first Project Rock trainer, which came out last Memorial Day and marked the start of the brand’s push to make his training line more than just a few t-shirts with The Rock’s Brahma Bull logo slapped on. Lead designer Justin Howe told Men’s Health last year that when it comes to the design and testing process, the actor in very involved and has high expectations. “Everything starts with Dwayne,” Howe said last year. “We collaborated with him all the way from the very first sketch all the way to production. It’s really extensive.”
I had an opportunity to test out the PR2 shoes just ahead of the launch. The blood orange colorway pops on the foot, and the prominent Bull logo and “Blood. Sweat. Respect.” mantra make them unmistakable in a gym full of drab trainers.
Under Armour
The PR2 takes a few design cues from the first model of the line, but there are some major differences. The new shoes are cut slightly lower, and the toe box is narrower. Gone is the specialized TPU platform in the heel, replaced with Under Armour’s Hovr energy return foam and Tribase outsole. This is an upgrade, in my opinion, since you’ll be able to move quickly for agility or speed training more easily without compromising lifting performance.
The PR2’s knit upper feels tighter than the PR1, which is a good thing, and the lockdown is more secure once you lace them up. I took on a lower body day sporting the kicks and found the shoes provided a light, stable base that were equally adept to heavy squats and more dynamic movements like loaded lunges and sit-thrus.
The new shoe will also bump up a price tier, from $120 to $140. For the first time, the line will be available in Women’s and Youth sizes, too. The PR2 drops today, along with other gear in the “Iron Will” collection and a bright new colorway of The Rock’s wireless on-ear headphones to match the kicks.
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