Commuting - Underarmor

Jarery: A bit harsh don't you think? For the record, I have Under Armor coldgear and I've never been to Starbucks.

Its a company that is going for fashion,and is priced as such, as others post its 2x the price of similar products. I have 1 heatgear, 2 metal heatgear, and 1 coldgear. Most bought as gifts for me.

The metal i actually like, but would never recomend it over a base layer at half the price. Powerdry is my favorite base layer, and costs a lot less and works better.

The coldgear itself does not work well as a base for an aerobic activity like cycling. It is trying to combine a base layer and mid thermal layer into one and fails, as do most all that try a similar approach. Craft is one of the few that works at doing it. Coldgear would work fine for less aeroic activities though.

A base has 1 purpose. Move sweat away from your skin. Does not matter what season it is or what the outside temperature is.

UA coldgear tries to add warmth, and in doing so it ends up holding sweat instead of pulling it away from your skin and moving it to the other side of the material where it gets picked up by the next layer, typically the mid thermal layer.

A much better, and cheaper solution, is to use a polypro/powerdry/capalene base layer, then a merino wool mid layer, then your outer shell. I still wear my coldgear, it still does the job. Just that other base layers i have do a much better job. With coldgear i arrive at work with a moist base layer. Its just not worth the money. And the original poster sounded as if he was considering buying some.

Edit : forum fubar, somehow my reply is now post #1 instead of like 10, hehe

Your opinions?

Way way overpriced for all pieces.
The heatgear pieces are decent as a base.
The cold gear peices are crap as a base layer.
But they look good as your posing at the starbucks counter.

I wear the coldgear and a jacket down to about 10 F and have found them to be decent for up to an hour (That's about my longest ride, so I won't comment about longer rides). Oh, and nothing form fitting looks good on me.

I went to look at the coldgear stuff, but it was too baggy so I kept on walking.

The coldgear works well for me but this has been brought up before and I'm in the minority.

I didn't purchase the cold gear specifically for cycling, I've been using it for years (about 3) playing outdoor ice hockey.

Way way overpriced for all pieces.
The heatgear pieces are decent as a base.
The cold gear peices are crap as a base layer.
But they look good as your posing at the starbucks counter.

Jarery: A bit harsh don't you think? For the record, I have Under Armor coldgear and I've never been to Starbucks.

thoughts...
sure it works, but so does the cheaper stuff that doesn't have the enpenses of multi-million dollar marketing and those spiffy over muscular models
I hunt, and used to wear cold gear while out in the woods, then I switched to some scent blocker clothing that was made the same, and it worked the same, at half the price
so yeah, it'll work, but you can get twice to thrice the ammount of clothing for the same price by chosing something of a similar nature

Way way overpriced for all pieces.
The heatgear pieces are decent as a base.
The cold gear peices are crap as a base layer.
But they look good as your posing at the starbucks counter.

The "cold gear" is a good way to 'freeze it off'. After about 10 washes, the wicking seems not as good. After a 2mile climb, the decents are brutal...the sweat just sits there. BRRRRRRR

Underarmore = Overpriced

Performance wise, the one I have works well but lower price brands work just as well. The Coldgear stuff doesn't make sense as a base layer because the light fleece lining holds water instead of wicking it. It is better as a light mid later than a base layer.

Underarmor shirts are good for summer. I wear a normal jacket in the winter.

never brought one, way too overpriced, buy all my polyester wicking clothes (baselayers, mid layers, fleece) at $3-5CDN a piece from a factory 2kms from me that makes EMS and REI clothings

http://www.ems.com/catalog/product_detail_square.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524442586950&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=253437430 (http://www.ems.com/catalog/product_detail_square.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524442586950&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302878093&bmUID=1165726608810)2878093&bmUID=1165726608810 (http://www.ems.com/catalog/product_detail_square.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524442586950&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302878093&bmUID=1165726608810)

it's pretty awesome, got a whole wardrobe full of them, i've only spend about $250

never brought one, way too overpriced, buy all my polyester wicking clothes (baselayers, mid layers, fleece) at $3-5CDN a piece from a factory 2kms from me that makes EMS and REI clothings

http://www.ems.com/catalog/product_detail_square.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524442586950&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=253437430 (http://www.ems.com/catalog/product_detail_square.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524442586950&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302878093&bmUID=1165726608810)2878093&bmUID=1165726608810 (http://www.ems.com/catalog/product_detail_square.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524442586950&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302878093&bmUID=1165726608810)

it's pretty awesome, got a whole wardrobe full of them, i've only spend about $250


That price is $25 bucks on that site and not $3-5 CDN. This you can work out something for the fellow BF members north of thr 49th parallel? That factory you're at they have a website? I could use 2-3 base layers myself but can't afford the heatgear stuff. I only have some stuff from Simons from Montreal when I was visiting.

Zero_Enigma

Never used them. I do like my nike drifit shirt.

I have a bunch of the pullovers and leggings. I find no performance advantage over say the Starter clones one can get at Wally-World

I love my underarmour, I got them cheap off ebay, new too. The t-shirts are great down to 40 degrees, in the 30's and 20's I wear the cold gear and I don't need a jacket.

If there was a cheaper alternative (though my t's were 15 and cold gear was 35) I'd be down. Always love a bargain.

BigMacFu
Which cold gear requires no jacket at 40F? Please post a link if possible. Thanks!

BigMacFu
Which cold gear requires no jacket at 40F? Please post a link if possible. Thanks!

40f ? He says he wears the coldgear with no jacket down to 20f........

heh, must be the kind or person i see at 10 below and bare knees.

That price is $25 bucks on that site and not $3-5 CDN. This you can work out something for the fellow BF members north of thr 49th parallel? That factory you're at they have a website? I could use 2-3 base layers myself but can't afford the heatgear stuff. I only have some stuff from Simons from Montreal when I was visiting.

Zero_Enigma

the price is retail on the website, not how much it cost for me to buy from factory, and no, the factory don't have a website

40f ? He says he wears the coldgear with no jacket down to 20f........

heh, must be the kind or person i see at 10 below and bare knees.

Traffic is much kinder when I wear a red one!

At 40F with jacket the shirt keeps the skin dry but the sweat sits on the outter part of the shirt and doesn't wick to the next layer...although the duofold (way cheaper) polypro works well.

http://www.amazon.com/Under-Armour-Mens-Cold-Turtleneck/dp/B00029BM1K
http://ec2.images-amazon.com/images/P/B00029BM6U.01-A2OS1Y72HGJYGC._AA280_SCLZZZZZZZ_V36665688_.jpg

A base has 1 purpose. Move sweat away from your skin. Does not matter what season it is or what the outside temperature is.

I expect my base layer to work a little harder than that...it needs to toss the sweat up to the next layer. Not just sit on the outside of the shirt - sopping wet.

I've found that my UA coldgear shirt (the form fitting one) does a great job of wicking and keeping me warm. I also wear a semi form fitting t-shirt on top to soak up the sweat and take it off the UA shirt. :) Then i'll usually have my jersey on top and maybe a windbreaker. After a long ride the UA shirt will be dry while the t-shirt is pretty moist with sweat. But as long as i'm warm it's all good. :D

Sounds like that's works!. What sort of temp does your setup work with?

It was 43F outside when i tried it. I was comfortable for the duration of my 3 hour sunday morning ride (not my commute). :)

Sorry if that wasn't clear. I use the regular underarmour t-shirts for 40 degrees and above. In the 20's and 30's (this is all Fahrenheit), I use the long sleeved underarmour cold gear, no jacket.

I've got Underarmor,Techwick,REI's house brand,Hind,Alertshirts,and Coolmax. The only real difference I've noticed between any of them is price. Basically,buy what you think looks good,that you can afford. They all wick great,they all dry fast,and they all stink on ice. :p

Slightly off topic,but I recently picked up a zip neck Smartwool shirt,and it's the bees knees. Works as well as the synthetics,keeps me warm with just a t-shirt down to the high 40's,and no smell. Pricy,but worth it IMHO.

I live in my Underarmour. It's the only thing I've found that breaths, fits, and doesn't ride up or bunch. Haven't seen Heatgear or Coldgear in town, so I can't compare.

It's cheaper than buying a new car.

I expect my base layer to work a little harder than that...it needs to toss the sweat up to the next layer. Not just sit on the outside of the shirt - sopping wet.

Is it possible that the coldgear stuff (which I've never seen in person) maintains loft/insulating ability while wet, wool-style? That would be unique among synthetics, but I guess it's a formal possibility anyway.

I agree that coldgear blows. It gets too wet and isn't all that warm. Haven't tried the others since the coldgear was so bad.

The sleeveless appears to be the same material. Totally sexy for hot weather...blows for winter