Under Armour - Am i expecting to much from it?

Oddsocks

Oddsocks

Ryder Cup Winner
Joined
Jun 20, 2010
Messages
17,510
Location
Croydon, Surrey
Visit site
So with the temps being low at the weekend (1* when we tee'd off at 9am) i went for the normal attire i would wear in such conditions only to find my trusty thermal under shirt had been left at the girlfriends. Bugger! KNowing the course has a big range of Under Armour cold gear i thought id grab a base layer when i got there.

So after the purchase i hit the course, New baselayer, Thickish Polo and lambswool sweeter equiped. I was still bloody freezing.

Now normally the same thickness polo, any of my lambswool sweaters and a thermal under vest would have done me fine, but the new base layer didnt seem to cut it. more importantly a place that i never get cold is my forearms and even these were like ice blocks.

Has anyone else had a simular experience with the base layers.

As it is im £35.00 short and not entirely happy with this purchase,
 
I thought the same with my stuburt one. First time I had it on temp was about 1* and it didnt do a thing. Next time Ihad the thermal vest in colder conditiond and was toastie
 
Put it down to an exceptionally cold day OS. I wear just an Under Armour tshirt and a baselayer and am usually grand. Saying that, I went from a tshirt and no baselayer, I never use jumpers as I am not old ...yet.
 
Brendy, id dont class myself as old at 31, and to be fair cold never effects me. but this weekend even with the markets best on i was still very chilled.

Down the middle, are you saying like me you found your thermal t shirt better than the under armour. I hope not. My under armour was £35 and my thermal t shirts are 2 for a £10'er, im gonna be pissed if the market cheapies are better.
 
I played the other week in UA cold gear, polo sweater and Nike FitStorm jacket and was "comfortable" (with the exception of my hands) for the whole round and it was around the same temp...Oh I did have UA cold gear troosers on under my slacks too.

To be honest, UA and other compression baselayers were primarily designed for "active" sports to aid muscle compression (to help stop injuries) and "wick" sweat away from the body. They do this very well.

I still find they keep me warm enough on the golf course, so not sure what you're moaning about, lightweight ;)
 
M & S thermals for me. Never feel the cold on the course, although you do need to take them off in the clubhouse, otherwise you melt.
 
You are not alone. I cannot justify £35 for under armour so have a cheaper model.

what i have found is my body temperature remains stable, the basa layer doesn't keep me warm but does enough to keep the cold out.

during these cold spells ihave taken to the course with a base layer, a thin shirt and a slipover, all covered by my jacket, no restrictions for my swing yet enough to keep the cold at bay
 
I have two or three base layers of different make - the warmest (sometimes too warm) are the cheapest of them (Parallel - 2 for £20 in Mountain Warehouse). None of them are cold though.
 
no restrictions for my swing yet enough to keep the cold at bay
Click to expand...

This is what makes them so great.

They were never designed for sub-zero temperatures, but because of their fitting, you can get away with less layers or the same amount but without the bulk, thus not restricting your swing.

I've been down the range the past few times when it's been bitter with UA, a polo and my waterproof jacket and been warm.
 
Woollen thermals over hi-tech base layers every time for me. I have a few of the modern types but usually only where them when I'm cold but likely to sweat (hillwalking, running etc) not for golf. They just don't cut the mustard on a cold, breezy day.
 
Base layers, okay so we need to split them in to three categories.

Thermal properties.
Wicking properties.
Both thermal and wicking properties.

Some are one or the other, some are both.

Typically your M&S base layer would be made from cotton, which is awful for wicking, but they are generally cheaper. Poor wicking essentially means that any body moisture (sweat) will be retained by the item. Which means that your base layer feels damp and therefore chills the body. There-by defeating the theory of it be 'thermal'.

Wicking products do not retain moisture and let it pass through it. Wicking products are generally not very warm. But they do a fantastic job of helping to keep you warm when working out.

It's also worth noting that if you have breathable waterproofs, and wear cotton underneath them, you've just wasted your money on decent waterproofs. As mentioned, cotton retains moisture.

Proper layering is important, and needs to be thought of as a system, and not as individual pieces.

The problem is that very few sales staff understand this concept fully, and are just willing to flog a 'thermal' for £35, without explaining how it works.

With advances in clothing technology, there is no need to feel bulky and unable to swing when it's cold, or even to feel cold.
 
at work I wear asda longjohns (white but now a little grey looking ;) ) and a pringle long sleeved thermal top from Matalan.

I am a telephone engineer and work outside in all weathers, with a pair of decent socks, a polo and a sweater I dont feel the cold at all except on my extremities - fingers & nose mainly. My job requires working in cramped spaces and using my armns a lot and I get no restriction from either for a grand cost of about 15 quid all in.

oh and I am a skinny git, 5ft 10" and 11 stone wet through so no meat to insulate me either :D

I looked at under armour etc but tbh I dont think you can beat good old fashioned cold weather gear :)
 
So after the purchase i hit the course, New baselayer, Thickish Polo and lambswool sweeter equiped. I was still bloody freezing.
Click to expand...

What was the Polo made of ? There may be an issue with the manner that you are layering :eek:

If the polo was cotton, it may have been absorbing moisture from the body. Most of the manufacturers layer systems are based on the layers being man made fibres, base, mid and top layers. Man made fibres don't absorb as much as natural fibres. This seems to work. Why I don't know. Mixing and matching layers is not going to be as efficient.

Many years ago and several stones lighter, I used to be into some serious mountaineering. Around that time, man made fibres came to the fore and to say I was sceptical was an understatement. Wooly breeches for me please ;) Having tried and tested them over many winters in a variety of interesting situations, I can confirm that the manufacturers preferred layering system does work ;)
 
Played a couple of weeks ago and it was cold wore a base layer insula and windstopper i did not feel the cold at all,thin layers so it did not hinder my swing.But i know you was freezing.
 
big fan of under armour here, I tend to layer a lot, usually multiple thin layers on a cold day. Have just managed to pick up some more of the cold gear mock tops at £16 each, a few places knocking them out cheaper of late, I assume a new version coming out soon
 
Save your money and buy a cheap set of thermals, Underarmour, canterbury etc, all over priced and not as warm as a set of thermals from an outdoor retailer.

I got a set of Trekmates zip top and bottoms for £25 and they are miles better than my Galvin Green compression suit and any Underarmour thermal I've owned! They also breath just as well.

FACT.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

BTatHome
Under Armour AllSeasonGear Storm Pant Golf Trousers
Replies
0
Views
2K
BTatHome
BTatHome
HotDogAssassin
Under Armour ColdGear
Replies
5
Views
885
MashieNiblick
MashieNiblick
Top