Under Armour Apparel Review

(By: GolfSpy Matt) When most people think of Under Armour, they think of football and compression gear, but in the last couple of years they have made a strong push into golf apparel. Today I will be taking a look at one of their polo shirts and a pair of their cold-weather pants.

From the Manufacturer

Under Armour® is a leading developer, marketer, and distributor of branded performance apparel, footwear, and accessories. The brand’s moisture-wicking fabrications are engineered in many different designs and styles for wear in nearly every climate to provide a performance alternative to traditional products. The Company’s products are sold worldwide and worn by athletes at all levels, from youth to professional, on playing fields around the globe.

UA Clubhouse Exploded Logo Polo (MSRP $54.99)

o Designed with lightweight Performance Pique HeatGear® fabrication, this stylish polo also comes equipped with UPF 30+ sun protection and anti-odor technology, and the moisture-wicking fabric will keep you cool, light, and dry.

UA Performance Flat Front Pant (MSRP $69.99)

o Durable woven ColdGear fabric also made with 4-way stretch to keep you mobile and comfortable, maximizing performance even in less-than-ideal conditions.

Cut/Fit

Given the company’s background, I was expecting a cut that was geared more towards Joe Six Pack (abs) rather than Joe Six Pack (beer). Both the pants and the polo met these expectations. While the polo is not quite as slim cut as the Travis Mathew polo of the same size, it is certainly a welcome departure from the oversized cut of many golf shirts. The pants are extremely comfortable. They are not at all tight, but not baggy either. I would refer to the cut as “comfortable/athletic.” If I were to nitpick, I might shorten the sleeves just a touch since having the sleeve in my elbow is a pet peeve.

Score: 14/15

Style

Under Armour’s apparel definitely slants towards a louder, more athletic style versus the traditional look. All of the clothes are made from performance materials, and the colors, patterns, and logos tend to be bold. This is certainly true of the “Exploded Logo” polo which has a, you guessed it, exploded (large) logo on the chest. While Under Armour’s style is bold, it doesn’t often cross over into the outrageous, overly loud, “Look at me” part of the spectrum. All in all, I feel their style gets a solid B.

Score: 13/15

Movement/Performance

More than any other category, I expected the Under Armour apparel to excel in terms of movement, and I was not disappointed. I wore the polo and pants for a couple of range sessions and never thought about them. To me, this is perfect: if I don’t have to think about my clothes, I have more brain power to focus on my game.

One other thing that was considered for this portion of the review was the “Anti-Odor” claim. As many golfers know, moisture wicking shirts are great, but many of them stink. I wore the polo during running and weight training, washed it, and repeated. Result: Under Armour’s Anti-Odor claim is legit. I don’t know how they did it, and I don’t care: the shirt doesn’t stink.

Finally, the Cold Gear pants are exceptionally warm without being bulky. If you plan to play in cold weather and are looking for pants that will keep your legs warm, look no further.

Score: 15/15

Value

With the polo retailing at $55 and the pants at $70, Under Armour finds itself right in the middle of the golf apparel price range. Given the quality of the material and its performance, I think that it represents a solid value assuming that you like the style.

Score: 13/15

Peanut Gallery

The Peanut Gallery gave the Under Armour gear solid reviews. Their feelings fell largely in line with my own: the style is a little loud, but not overwhelmingly so. The prices are fair. The quality of the materials and their movement/performance are definitely above average. Perhaps the most telling thing that I can relay is that almost every member of the Peanut Gallery owns at least one or two articles of Under Armour clothing, which is really the best recommendation that can be given.

Score: 35/40

Conclusion

In sum, Under Armour has made a very strong entry into the golf apparel market place. The quality and performance of the clothing lives up to the reputation that they built with their compression gear. While the style is neither a huge plus or minus for me, I think that given the price, Under Armour represents a very solid value and is definitely something that should be given consideration when you’re shopping for golf clothes.

Score: 90/100