A new trend in sportswear is forming among athletes across the country and improving performance clothing in every sport. This miracle attire is known as Under Armour.
Made with fine microfiber fabrics, Under Armor has engineered a moisture transport system in garments that fit over the body like a “second skin” to keep the athlete cool, dry and light throughout the course of a game or workout.
The product is offered to men, women and youth to suit the need of every athlete, young and old.
Under Armour provides their unique undershirt for equipment sports in six diverse lines to cover all seasons, climates and conditions.
Each distinctive line offers different qualities to suit the need of the athlete.
HeatGear is Under Armour’s original product equipping the athlete with a “second skin” to provide compression without restriction.
The fabric pulls perspiration away from the skin and outside the shirt where it can evaporate, leaving the athlete cool, light and dry.
TurfGear takes the same HeatGear fabric and combines it with long sleeve protection against artificial turf.
Eric Hosetler, a sporting goods sales associate at Chick’s Sporting Goods in Chino Hills, said the most popular item purchased was the TurfGear long sleeve, primarily bought by football and baseball players.
LooseGear takes the cooling system concept of HeatGear and adds in a generous cut for comfort.
AllSeasonGear provides protection between extreme temperatures from the heated playing field to the freezing sidelines.
Enhanced Under Armour Metal fabric accelerates moisture transport, while the silver poly inner liner locks in the core temperature consistency to regulate body temperature throughout competition.
While offering the moisture transport system of all Under Armour, the double sided fabric of ColdGear gives the athlete warmth without the weight.
ColdGear disperses the heat from the hotter areas of the body throughout the shirt to regulate the core temperature.
PerformanceGrey is a loose fitting t-shirt delivering the look and feel of cotton, with the moisture transport system of Under Armour.
The product first began in 1996, when Kevin Plank, a football player from the University of Maryland, became frustrated with constantly changing his sweat soaked cotton shirt throughout games. After graduation, Plank designed the first prototype microfiber t-shirt to keep an athlete cool and dry.
Under Armour can now be found in any major sporting goods store, carrying all six individual lines.
Hosetler recalls the product first becoming popular about three years ago, when Under Armour became a regular brand worn among NFL players.
Doug Kappen, back-up quarterback for University of La Verne’s football team, attributes Under Armour’s recent popularity to the media, as the product was featured in the currently playing movie, “Friday Night Lights.”
However, Under Armour’s success can not be solely recognized by their recent popularity or diverse lines, but on how the product actually performs with athletes. The reactions of athletes conclude that Under Armour keeps their promise by providing a product that performs the way it says it will.
“Under Armour is great. I buy a new set every year,” Kappen said. “It’s comfortable and not loose, so you can’t feel it on your body and it doesn’t stretch out.”
The general reaction of Under Armour’s performance remains the same with every athlete purchasing the product.
“Customers love it,” Hosetler said. “It really works and performs the way it says it will.”
Currently being the only company on the market to exclusively sell such a product, Under Armour has taken an enormous popularity lead among other sportswear companies who offer items similar to Under Armour’s merchandise.
However, some athletes have recognized Under Armour’s domination in the business, and as of a result, they see the product for what it is; another brand.
“It’s a good product, but there’s nothing special about it,” said Toso Mata’u, inside linebacker for ULV’s football team. “It’s just another brand.”
Nicole Knight can be reached at stareknight17@charter.net.