Under Armour As Base Layer - Thumbs Down
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Under Armour As Base Layer - Thumbs Down
Has anyone tried Under Armour as a base layer for cold weather riding? I came across a long sleeve Under Armour tee shirt I had bought a couple of years ago but it had mades its' way to the bottom of a clothes dresser drawer and had been forgotten about. Decided to give it a whirl as a base cycling layer and had high expectations that it would work well. On the plus side the tight fitting / body contour nature of the Under Armour base layer made getting a long sleeve jersey over it a snap ... no bunching or having to fiddle with getting my outer jersey correctly positioned. On the negative side it just seems to suck as a base layer. My experience is that it seems to get wet (from perspiration) and stay wet. Poor wicking and drying properties. Not sure if it's due to the very tight fit or perhaps it's a tighter weave of poly propolyene that does not breathe but it just does not seem to work as well as other Nike, New Balance and Asics base layers I have used (all of which fit less snugly). I have been using the Nike, New Balance and Asics stuff given it you can buy it at Dick's Sporting Goods at a fraction of the price you would pay for name brand cycling base layers (such as Craft etc.)
Anyone else have a similar experience.
Anyone else have a similar experience.
#2
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I have been trying diferent ones but none of the more expensive ones. I have one UA shirt and it works ok but not better than my Nike one. I even went to wally world and got a few of their starter shirts to go under my jersey on cool (not cold) days. They work fine for me and they were only $8 (short sleeve) and $14 (long sleeve).
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Merino wool.
That is all.
That is all.
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Speaking as a Canadian who has ridden on many bitterly cold days ... merino wool as a base layer doesn't work.
What does work is a polypro base layer (but not too tight), with a merino wool top over the polypro ... and then a fleece over the merino ... and then maybe a heavy polypro over that ... topped with a jacket with venting.
What does work is a polypro base layer (but not too tight), with a merino wool top over the polypro ... and then a fleece over the merino ... and then maybe a heavy polypro over that ... topped with a jacket with venting.
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Speaking as a Canadian who has ridden on many bitterly cold days ... merino wool as a base layer doesn't work.
What does work is a polypro base layer (but not too tight), with a merino wool top over the polypro ... and then a fleece over the merino ... and then maybe a heavy polypro over that ... topped with a jacket with venting.
What does work is a polypro base layer (but not too tight), with a merino wool top over the polypro ... and then a fleece over the merino ... and then maybe a heavy polypro over that ... topped with a jacket with venting.
I've tried many, including the Under Armour ones. Icebreaker merino is king for me.
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My in-laws live in Williamsburg. I've brought both my bike and my wool down there. Last Christmas, I was happy to have to have my usual layers. As surgeonstone mentions, merino is good for a wide range of weather.
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I have some IceBreaker stuff, it works well. As a cheaper alternative, I've picked up a few of these when they're on clearance - https://www.departmentofgoods.com/sto...ng-sleeve-mens I think that I've gotten them for as little as $15 or so. They're soft, they're comfy and they're lanky, which is nice to maintain coverage when you're riding.
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Sorry dude, but vancouver winter weather is more like Ontario fall weather.
#13
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Have to disagree with Matchka on this one. Merino is all I use throughout winter, spring, summer. It's wicking ability is unsurpassed, it's anti microbial properties keep it from smelling after use, it dries rapidly, it is warm even when wet. It is natures finest athletic material.
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you probably wore the wrong type of under armour
which type was it? Thats all I wear. it's fine. Wicking is overrated. no matter what you wear, after a long, decently hard ride, you are going to have sweat on you. the question is, are you staying warm while riding in those cold temps. Under armour cold gear works great. I wear that with a long sleeve thermal jersey and I'm good to go in temps down to the 20's.
which type was it? Thats all I wear. it's fine. Wicking is overrated. no matter what you wear, after a long, decently hard ride, you are going to have sweat on you. the question is, are you staying warm while riding in those cold temps. Under armour cold gear works great. I wear that with a long sleeve thermal jersey and I'm good to go in temps down to the 20's.
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I use UA cold gear under a long sleeve jersey all the time and it works great.
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Have to disagree with Matchka on this one. Merino is all I use throughout winter, spring, summer. It's wicking ability is unsurpassed, it's anti microbial properties keep it from smelling after use, it dries rapidly, it is warm even when wet. It is natures finest athletic material.
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I use UA cold gear as well and it works great. If it gets down in the 20's I put a long sleeve Merino wool jersey between the UA base layer and a short sleeve jersey. This combo has worked well for me.
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Craft:
https://shop.craftsports.us/base-layer.html
Tailor the type to your riding. I've been using a short and a long-sleeve for . . . I'm not sure . . . 12 years? Same one. It's perfect, doesn't show wear, doesn't smell, dries extremely quickly. Machine washes, covers your butt. Fits snug, which I like and I think one needs. It should touch your skin. I put one on at about 55 and wear them down to whatever. I used to only wear a heavy jersey, but the Craft under is a much better idea.
https://shop.craftsports.us/base-layer.html
Tailor the type to your riding. I've been using a short and a long-sleeve for . . . I'm not sure . . . 12 years? Same one. It's perfect, doesn't show wear, doesn't smell, dries extremely quickly. Machine washes, covers your butt. Fits snug, which I like and I think one needs. It should touch your skin. I put one on at about 55 and wear them down to whatever. I used to only wear a heavy jersey, but the Craft under is a much better idea.
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Have to disagree with Matchka on this one. Merino is all I use throughout winter, spring, summer. It's wicking ability is unsurpassed, it's anti microbial properties keep it from smelling after use, it dries rapidly, it is warm even when wet. It is natures finest athletic material.
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you probably wore the wrong type of under armour
which type was it? Thats all I wear. it's fine. Wicking is overrated. no matter what you wear, after a long, decently hard ride, you are going to have sweat on you. the question is, are you staying warm while riding in those cold temps. Under armour cold gear works great. I wear that with a long sleeve thermal jersey and I'm good to go in temps down to the 20's.
which type was it? Thats all I wear. it's fine. Wicking is overrated. no matter what you wear, after a long, decently hard ride, you are going to have sweat on you. the question is, are you staying warm while riding in those cold temps. Under armour cold gear works great. I wear that with a long sleeve thermal jersey and I'm good to go in temps down to the 20's.
Tempted to give the Icebreaker Merino wool a try but the fact that u can't throw it in the dryer is a big drawback for me and I also worry about it being itchy (I have sensitive skin). That having been said I love my Smartwool beanie and machine wash and dry it in the dryer all the time with no problems so I'm not sure what would happen if u dried a merino wool jersey in the dryer.
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I have two merino wool tops which I've toured and traveled extensively with ... and I've washed and dried both many, many times. They're fine.
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Craft:
https://shop.craftsports.us/base-layer.html
Tailor the type to your riding. I've been using a short and a long-sleeve for . . . I'm not sure . . . 12 years? Same one. It's perfect, doesn't show wear, doesn't smell, dries extremely quickly. Machine washes, covers your butt. Fits snug, which I like and I think one needs. It should touch your skin. I put one on at about 55 and wear them down to whatever. I used to only wear a heavy jersey, but the Craft under is a much better idea.
https://shop.craftsports.us/base-layer.html
Tailor the type to your riding. I've been using a short and a long-sleeve for . . . I'm not sure . . . 12 years? Same one. It's perfect, doesn't show wear, doesn't smell, dries extremely quickly. Machine washes, covers your butt. Fits snug, which I like and I think one needs. It should touch your skin. I put one on at about 55 and wear them down to whatever. I used to only wear a heavy jersey, but the Craft under is a much better idea.
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