Under Armour Spring 2016 Trail Gear Review

Under Armour clothing and sports gear is everywhere.  It’s an American sports clothing and accessories company.  They have also branched out into casual apparel as well.  Under Armour was founded in 1996 by Kevin Plank, who at the time was a 23-uear-old former special teams captain in the University of Maryland’s football team.  Plank started his business in the basement of his Grandmothers Washington D.C home.  In the beginning, he traveled up and down the Eastern United States with a bunch of apparel in the trunk of his car.  He got his first team sale ($17,000) at the end of 1996. (1)

So if this is an American company, why did he chose to use the English spelling of Armour?  Simply because Armour was still available for the toll-free telephone number.  In 2006, Under Armour started selling footwear.  After 20 years in business, they have grown to become one of the largest sports clothing companies in the world and expect to have revenues in 2016 just short of $5 Billion. (1)

I got to test out the ArmourVent Trail Shorts and CoolSwitch Short Sleeve Shirt.  They are both a part of the 2016 Spring Trail Collection from Under Armour.

ArmourVent Trail Shorts

The ArmourVent Trail Shorts are a loose, fuller cut short that is extremely comfortable.  They uses Under Armour’s Storm technology that repels water without reducing the breathability of the material.  Not bad when you are running through a shallow stream and water splashes on your shorts. 

The main part of the shorts utilizes a breathable micro-mesh fabric, which makes it ultra-durable and provides superior ventilation.  The waistband is really cool as well.  It’s super stretchy, which makes it extremely comfortable.  There is a snap closure and a zipper in the front. 

There are two side hand pockets and a low profile cargo pocket to store some goodies.  The shorts are longer than most road shorts with a 10.25” inseam. 

You can buy a pair from Under Armour for $69.99 or on Amazon for as low as $47.96.  The ArmourVent Trail Shorts are so comfortable that I tend to use them when I trail run and even on the weekend around town. 

Pros:

Comfortable to wear, for casual or running use

Water repellant (Storm) fabric

Very breathable material that stretches with your body

Great price $47.96 (on Amazon)

CoolSwitch Short Sleeve Shirt

The CoolSwitch Short Sleeve Shirt is a great choice when you are hitting the trails on those hot summer days.  It features a next to the skin feel without squeezing you too much.  I would describe it as the perfect combination of snugness while still allowing for some airflow in the shirt.  The material is a stretchy 4-way fabric that allows you to have the maximum amount of mobility.

Under Armour utilizes their CoolSwitch technology that is an exclusive coating on the inside of the shirt that pulls heat away from your body.  This will allow you to feel cooler and preform at your peak for a longer period of time (see the video below).  There are mesh panels on the back of the shirt and the underarm area.  That way you get a great amount of ventilation to help keep you cool as well.

The material that Under Armour uses has a Moisture Transport System that wicks sweat away and dries quickly.  There is also an anti-odor technology that they use to prevent growth of microbes that make your clothes smell.

You can buy the CoolSwitch Short Sleeve Shirt from Under Armour for $39.99 or on Amazon for as low as $21.65.  The CoolSwitch Short Sleeve Shirt has a next to the skin feel and was designed to keep you cooler.  This is a great shirt for on the trail, pavement, or around the house.

Pros:

Comfortable to wear, for casual or running use

CoolSwitch material pulls heat away from your skin making you feel cooler

Very breathable material that stretches with your body

Anti-odor and Moisture Transport System technology

Great price $21.65 (on Amazon)

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Under Armour did a really great job in designing the ArmourVent Trail Shorts and CoolSwitch Short Sleeve Shirt.  They are both functional and they look good as well.  They are my go to trail running clothes and if you try them, they will probably be yours too.  Give them a try and let me know what you think.  Check them out on the Under Armour website, at Amazon, or at a local retailer near you (click here for locations).

Note:  I received this product in exchange for a review.  The review is my personal opinion of the product and I was not required to give a particular opinion of it.  I am not a doctor, so please use all of the products that I review at your own risk.

References:

(1) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Under_Armour#Present_day_-_major_expansion_in_other_sports