Under Armour is a sports equipment brand that is very well established in the USA but still relatively unknown in France. Having heard a lot of good things about it, I decided to test it to see what it was really like.
I used to wear Nike, Adidas or Asics, but Under Armour turns out to be a very good alternative to these brands that are over-represented on the sportswear market, and which is also slightly less expensive.
Disclaimer: this is the first article dedicated to sportswear on BonneGueule, more specifically for running. The aim of this article is to introduce you to a brand that is still little known in France but in no case to give you advice on how to run better, etc. I have neither this pretension nor this legitimacy: other blogs do it very well 🙂
But to be completely honest with you, I also wanted to test the brand that dresses the greatest superheroes! Under Armour got a special collaboration for the latest Avengers: Age of Ultron , released in 2015, in which Tony Stark wears their t-shirts under his armor, and Captain American during a running scene…
The "Transform Yourself" spin-off collection, which features real superhero t-shirts, is currently sold out on the site. You'll need a little patience to become one 😉
Under Armour, a sports brand at the cutting edge of technology
The origin of the brand: the need for a light and breathable t-shirt
Brand founder Kevin Plank played fullback and captain of the University of Maryland football team in the mid-1990s.
It was at this point that he noticed that his T-shirt and that of his teammates, worn under their shoulder pads, were very quickly soaked with sweat and therefore much heavier. At the time, technical clothing made of polyester did not exist (or very little) and/or was very expensive.
The famous "pads", shoulder pads in French, emblematic of the equipment of American football players.
It was impossible to stop there. After graduating, he decided to start researching to design the perfect T-shirt, capable of staying dry and light even in very hot weather. He thus produced his first prototype, which he had his former teammates who had been introduced to the National Football League (NFL) try on. Just that!
After several months of work and research, prototype #0037 was born: a t-shirt designed with moisture-wicking synthetic fibers that keep athletes cool, dry and therefore light.
At that point, Plank works out of his grandmother's basement and sells his revolutionary T-shirt all over the East Coast of the United States, out of the back of a car.
The company was truly born in late 1996, when it registered its now famous ColdGear® performance fabric. Its headquarters are now in Baltimore, Maryland.
Under Armour Compression Crew Neck T-Shirt made with ColdGear® fabric.
Little by little, the brand became known and appreciated in the United States. It signed equipment contracts with big names such as Warner Brothers for films or universities like Georgia Tech.
In 2003, Under Armour released its first TV spot with a slogan that would become a rallying cry in the sports world: " Protect this house. I will ."
An offer that has expanded: towards connected sports products
Today, the brand has greatly expanded its product range, offering a complete wardrobe of sportswear and sneakers for women, men and children.
Its strong point: the development of increasingly high-performance technical fabrics . For example, in 2011 it registered Charged Cotton®: a fabric designed from a mixture of hydrophilic fibers (which like water) and hydrophobic fibers (which reject it).
Result: the brand produces high-performance jerseys that absorb sweat from the skin and distribute it to the surface where it evaporates best. All this while maintaining the comfort and softness of cotton!
But Under Armour does not stop there and is always developing more high-performance fabrics, which address the problems encountered during sports effort . Thus, it is developing a number of ranges to stay cool, warm, in action... All these technologies are explained on the site (I will come back to some of them later in the article).
To date, the brand is competing for second place as a company specializing in sports equipment with Adidas and dreams of dethroning Nike. It has just launched the Speedform Gemini 2 Record Equipped : connected sneakers that measure the cadence, duration and distance of training.
No need to run with your smartphone, these connected sneakers record all the data and later transmit it to your mobile via an application.
But why stop his race when he is on such a good path?
The Health Box will be released on June 30, 2016 : a box that includes a connected bracelet measuring the quality of your sleep and your daily efforts, a scale that monitors your weight and fat mass and, finally, a heart rate monitor that warns you when you are pushing yourself too hard during exercise. .
Under Armour is then totally in line with its credo: to make athletes even more efficient than they already are. More than an equipment brand, Under Armour seeks to position itself in the sports coaching sector (a bit like Nike which fits into a lifestyle).
The brand dresses big names in the sports world
Under Armour has gained a lot of legitimacy in recent years, allowing it to sponsor big names such as American professional golfer Jordan Spieth, currently ranked second in the world.
Jordan Spieth in his Under Armour technical clothing, whose logo is quickly recognizable.
In 2013, she also obtained a contract with NBA player Stephen Curry (until then sponsored by Nike) and released two models of sneakers, signatures of the leader, which did very well: the Curry 1 and the Curry 2.
Curry 2 Model - Under Armour.
The brand is present in all sports environments, without exception. It is therefore logical that it also equips big names in the NFL like Cam Newton and Tom Brady, but also the great Scottish tennis player Andy Murray since 2015, or the classical dancer Misty Copeland.
Here is one of the outfits entirely signed UA, worn by Andy Murray for the 2016 edition of Roland-Garros.
It is also making its way in Europe, as it has been the supplier of the Wales rugby team and, in France, of the ASM Clermont Auvergne team (playing in the Top 14) since 2010.
We can still recognize the UA logo on the ASM Clermont team jerseys here 😉
Finally, it also entered the world of football by signing a partnership with the English team Tottenham Hotspur.
Today, the brand is not stopping since it has just signed the most expensive equipment supplier agreement in the history of amateur sports with UCLA. (a 15-year, $280 million contract).
A UCLA x Under Armour banner in the colors of the prestigious university.
A promising brand... but what does it deliver in practice?
Under Armour, the test in live conditions
When I was offered to test the brand, I immediately accepted because I had only heard good things about it, both online and around me. I really wanted to form my own opinion.
I'm not a big runner (I'm literally a "Sunday runner", because it's the only day of the week I have some time for it) but I still had time to appreciate the clothes and the running shoes .
Before writing this article, I wanted to test them over time (I must have run a good hundred kilometers with them) in order to give you real feedback.
Now let's see if Under Armour lives up to its reputation.
Compression clothing to support muscles during exercise
I can see you frowning already, what is a compression garment? Well, it's a garment that will stick to your body and support your muscles. What's its use? A muscle that is better supported during exercise is a muscle that performs better and, in this case, is more enduring.
No joke about the muscles, I'm not built like the Under Armour models 😉
The leggings and top are made of HeatGear® technology . This material acts like a second skin; once you put it on, you completely forget about it and focus on the essential: the effort 🙂
The first few minutes, you may feel a little tight (like in a good new selvedge jean). However, the material will relax very quickly, to be forgotten thanks to its 4-Way Stretch. Rafik could easily do the splits .
These shorts have the particularity of being 2 in 1 : shorts and compression stockings up to mid-thigh, for the reasons mentioned above.
I really liked this 2 in 1 because you feel supported from start to finish. And in terms of length, it's perfect! It's a personal choice, but I'm not a fan of running shorts that are too short and unsupportive and let air through.
At the back, you have a small pocket to store your keys, quite practical and well located (between the lower back and the buttocks).
Whether it's the top, the leggings or the shorts, all three are very light (without being transparent). The fiber guarantees very good heat transfer, which helps you stay dry. I tested it in all conditions (cold, wind, light rain, sun) and I noticed that at the end of my run, I had sweated but my body was dry. Something that was not necessarily the case with entry-level compression tops and bottoms.
And for the record, you don't have to play the contortionist when you take it off to go to the shower, because the garment is also (almost) dry: it wicks away moisture and therefore doesn't stick to your skin. Practical!
It is with this HeatGear® technology that Under Armour became known to athletes: the beginning of the saga! Note that these are not seamless pieces, but they are really flexible: they do not itch, you do not feel them. A detail that deserves to be highlighted, especially when they are worn next to the skin.
Just like the HeatGear line, UA has also developed SwitchCool® technology. It is recognizable by the crystal print on the reverse side of the garment. It keeps you cool and dry throughout your workout!
A triple action but be careful, you won't turn into an astronaut!
I haven't had the opportunity to test clothes with this technology but I plan to do so in the coming months (especially for the height of summer). It seems particularly suitable when temperatures rise!
The second layer of clothing useful in cool weather
The second layer garment is the one that will protect you from the wind, rain and will accompany you in cool weather, like a mid-season jacket. I personally tested the long-sleeved t-shirt.
It fulfills its function as a second layer very well. On the menu: zip to protect yourself from the cold, or on the contrary to bring a little freshness; intentionally looser cut, while keeping fitted sleeves to not let drafts pass through.
Very comfortable to wear, soft to the touch, it can even be transformed into clothing for chilling at home on Sundays 😉
What is the effect of these textile technologies on the body? During exercise, the slower your body temperature increases, the more it facilitates its proper oxygenation over time (dehydration is its enemy). Less water in the body, less oxygenation (a bit like "no arms, no chocolate" ), it's as simple as that.
Sportswear that makes design efforts
I always had trouble understanding why brands offered multi-colored, even flashy, clothing. A symbol of vitality linked to sport? To be seen by dangerous elements like motorists? Maybe... In any case, wanting to let off steam or have fun should not rhyme with looking like a DDE agent!
Great progress has been made in recent years, driven by Nike, but also by Under Armour. This is achieved through sportswear clothing lines, particularly running clothing, with a refined, fairly graphic design, with well-chosen patterns. And above all, the brand respects a certain association of colors : the famous "rule" of no more than three!
You see, it's not colorful, there's orange that's calmed by black. And you don't overdo it because the most flashy color is not the most present on the garment.
If you're not too comfortable with orange or bright colors, just add a simple piece of clothing (in a dark color, like black, navy, or gray). These kinds of pieces tone down the rest of the outfit.
Last thing, you can add shorts like I did to get a more versatile look 😉 (and if you're not comfortable running in leggings in the street, it took me a while to get used to it).
Under Armour Men's Running Shoes: A Great Satisfaction
Basically, I knew Under Armour for their clothing but much less for their shoes. This was an opportunity for me to test one of their latest models, the SpeedForm® Gemini 2.
To be honest, at first, I had a hard time getting used to the orange that was quite present on the shoe (vs my black and grey Nike Pegasus) but finally, once inserted into the outfit, the result is nice.
Running experts (at least in France) swear by Asics, which is the benchmark on the market (and rightly so), but I can tell you that these UAs have energy and comfort to spare.
Technology developed for the comfort and support of your feet
SpeedForm® technology, with its seamless heel cup, eliminates any risk of discomfort or even irritation. The fact that the heel is made of textile and reinforced by the shell is an interesting compromise. It combines:
- Flexibility in the Achilles heel, which can sometimes rub if it is in contact with a part that is too rigid,
- And rigidity, with the shell which wraps the heel well.
Having covered a hundred kilometers with it, it is a real shoe from the first time I wear it (no blisters to be noted).
The upper (the entire textile part of the shoe) is designed in a factory that makes… bras! This is one of the reasons why you feel so good in it right away: it is made with precision and without any seams inside.
The only seam you will find is smooth, being ultrasonically welded and fitted with a Bemis strip that is found in bras. You can't feel it at all!
And of course, your feet stay dry because the textile is perforated on its first layer.
It's a big trend right now, to make textile uppers for more flexibility and comfort. The support is very good thanks to the heel cup, and the asymmetrical tongue that fits well against your foot.
In addition, if you are on a downward stride, the reinforcement at the end of the foot prevents you from accidentally hitting a few stones.
And that's not all! The ArchForm® technology of the insole allows you to keep your feet stable , especially when you lengthen your stride uphill. It's tested and approved, my legs still remember it 😉
A well-designed sole, adapted to a universal stride
This is certainly the most important part of a pair of running shoes. It provides cushioning for the shocks caused by the stride and, therefore, overall comfort. If you want to start running seriously, you will have to invest: your knees will thank you .
So, very importantly, this shoe will not be suitable for pronation or supination strides, only for neutral/universal strides.
Little explanation:
- Pronation : When you run, your foot collapses inward;
- Supination : it’s the opposite, your foot goes outwards;
- Universal : your ankle is aligned with your heel, your foot attacks the ground evenly.
How to know your stride type?
The easiest way is to look at the most worn parts of the sole on your shoes. For example: if it's the inside, you're probably a pronator. If you're a universal like me, it's the front of the sole in the middle that will be the most damaged.
There is no harm in being one or the other, the universal is as its name indicates the most widespread (45% of runners). Choosing your running shoes according to your stride is important, otherwise you are heading straight for tendonitis.
Let's get back to our soles!
Under Armour has chosen to add cushioning to the arch and heel to provide more comfort (each manufacturer has its own technique).
In any case, on the different runs that I was able to do, with different paces, I always felt real comfort. Which gives, in the end, a drop of 8 (= your heel is raised by 8 mm), but some will prefer to run flat (without drop): it's a question of taste .
I run 10 to 15 km every weekend and I have never felt any pain in my knees , something that had already happened with other pairs of running shoes. Very good point then!
Running shoes that keep up the pace at another speed
Let's be clear, I'm neither a performer nor a marathon runner, just someone who likes to let off steam by running (and to maintain my football past). I'm used to giving it my all in the last kilometers and I can tell you that the carbon rubber outsole really grips the ground well (whether on the road or the trail).
The energy transfer from rear to front is very good. Especially since the rebound is excellent.
After a good hundred kilometers, the sole is like new, thanks to the rubber/carbon composite 😉
The sole of the shoe is not flat in order to better transfer the energy of the stride, from the back to the front (from the heel strike to the traction, via the arch of the foot).
My review of the sports brand Under Armour
It is undoubtedly a very good surprise, which confirms the reputation that the brand has built up in Uncle Sam's country. The quality/price ratio is there:
- Leggings for €45,
- Shorts at €45,
- Compression top for €30,
- Long-sleeved T-shirt for €55,
- Shoes for €130.
These are even prices below those practiced by Nike or Adidas , for example . On the other hand, UA is not comparable to these two brands in terms of design and colors: their shoes are not, for the moment, intended for urban use.
We will still remember that considering the price, the details and the product innovation, Under Armour is making a place for itself in the sportswear market. The products are of good quality and accessible, whether you are a beginner or an experienced user.
The product that most seduced me is without a doubt the pair of running shoes, for its versatility and dynamism. My Pegasus have something to worry about... 😉
This brand with little visible marketing in France should quickly establish itself!
