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Under Armour Shoes: Under Armour Proto Speed Trainer Review | Athletic Shoe Reviews

Under Armour Shoes? Answer Fitness takes the Under Armour Proto Speed Trainer shoe for a run and tells you whether they’re worth the price.

Product Reviewed: Under Armour® UA Proto Speed^TM II Trainer Shoes

Style: 1200280
MSRP (Priced from Under Armour Outlet): $89.99
Availability: Men’s, Women’s, Youth

Manufacturer: Under Armour®

Pros:

• Durable and well constructed
• Good shock absorption, especially through the heel
• Great ventilation and moisture wicking
• Light-weight and comfortable
• Attractive styling and design

Cons:

• For specific types of training - not intended as an all-around “cross-trainer” shoe in the usual sense of the term. Not really a “con” — it’s just important to understand this up-front.
• Unclear Product Differentiation: Product info on website and accompanying the shoes in retail stores not clear about the differences between the shoes and what types of training they are best suited for. But they do explain it better than Nike and Reebock do with their trainers.
• Doesn’t run true to size.

Ratings (1-4 Scale: 1 = poor, 2= fair, 3= good, 4= excellent)

Fit: 3 (Due to issues with the shoes not running true-to-size.)
Comfort: 4
Durability: 4
Product Options: 3.5
Price: 3
Does It Do What It Claims? Yes
Would You Buy It Again? Yes

Overall Rating: 3.5

Under Armour UA Proto Speed II Trainer Shoes Review

When you think of Under Armour, you probably think of tight-fitting, high-performance athletic clothing worn under things like football pads, out for your morning run or to the gym. You probably don’t associate Under Armour with shoes or athletic footwear. But in May, Under Armour rolled out their new line of performance cross-training shoes, entering into the risky, but potentially-lucrative performance footwear market.

It’s no secret that I’m a big fan of Under Armour’s high-performance ColdGear®and HeatGear® lines — especially the compression gear.  I have a drawer full of the stuff, from running shorts and pants, to ColdGear mocks and a couple seasons-worth of collected HeatGear. Once I tried Under Armour, I was hooked and can never imagine going back to cotton exercise gear again.

But I do have to admit that I was a bit skeptical when I heard about the Under Armour shoes.

After all, the performance athletic and running shoe market is already dominated by big brands with strong, existing loyalties like Nike and New Balance. So while I was curious about what Under Armour had up their compression-geared sleeves around their Proto Trainers, I wasn’t sure exactly what they were going to bring to the high-performance athletic shoe market that other manufacturers hadn’t already offered. Granted, they had already carved out a pretty significant niche in the cleats market, but could it take hold with the Proto Trainers as well?

So after a wait and see approach over the summer, last month I ended up with a pair of Under Armour Proto Speed II Trainers in black and graphite sitting in a box on my desk from the Under Armour online store.  I’ve been training in the shoes now for about a month, so I feel like I have a pretty good sense for how the Proto Speed Trainers stack up to my previous training and running shoes, a pair of New Balance 805s.

The question, of course, is whether Under Armour has made me a convert, or whether I’ll be going back to my New Balances in the future. But before I get to that, let’s actually take a look at the Under Armour shoe line, and specifically the Under Armour Proto Speed II Trainers I’ve been putting through their paces for the last month.

Under Armour Proto Speed II Trainers: Bringing The Cross Trainer Back?

Under Armour’s master plan is to bring the cross-trainer back, but with a twist.

Continue reading Under Armour Shoes: Under Armour Proto Speed Trainer Review | Athletic Shoe Reviews…

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Under Armour Cold Gear Review | Fitness & Athletic Apparel Reviews

Under Armour® says when it’s cold outside, you need ColdGear®. Find out whether Cold Gear lives up to its promise.

Product Line Reviewed: Under Armour ColdGear®

Specific Products Reviewed:

• Under Armour ColdGear Legging ($54.99)
• Under Armour ColdGear Long Sleeve Compression Hoodie (59.99)
• Under Armour ColdGear Loose Inferno Jacket ($69.99)
• Under Armour ColdGear Loose Inferno Pant ($59.99)

Manufacturer: Under Armour

Pros:

• Durable and well constructed
• Excellent moisture wicking
• Good thermal transfer and keeps you from overheating, while still keeping you warm
• Smooth seams to cut down on pinching and abrasions
• Looks cool

Cons:

• May be perceived as a bit expensive to some people; but very competitively priced compared to similar products from specialty outfitters like The North Face, Patagonia and Cabelas

Ratings (1-4 Scale: 1 = poor, 2= fair, 3= good, 4= excellent)

Fit: 4
Comfort: 4
Durability: 4
Product Options: 4
Price: 3
Does It Do What It Claims? Yes
Would You Buy It Again? Yes

Overall Rating: 3.8

Under Armour ColdGear Review

In most parts of the country, October means football, falling leaves … and dropping temperatures.

But for fitness buffs, runners, hikers and winter sports fanatics, a drop in the mercury and a little bit of snow and ice is no excuse for staying indoors and succumbing to cabin fever.

Of course, staying fit and active during the winter months means staying warm and dry, even in the face of rain, sleet and snow. And anyone who has ever spent a few hours hiking the Boundary Waters in December or running the streets of New York in January knows that the clothing you choose can be the difference between ecstasy and agony. When it’s hot outside, you can always strip off layers. When it’s cold and damp, on the other hand, what you’re wearing on your back is pretty much what you’ll be wearing until you get back in the warmth of your home, apartment or cabin.

So you better choose wisely.

Under Armour: More Than Just Gear For Athletes

Most people will know Under Armour as the company that started its business creating clothing for athletes to wear under their uniforms or athletic equipment. It was a niche that had gone unfulfilled for years, and Under Armour quickly moved into the space and become the de facto leader in high-performance sporting apparel.

Over the past few years, however, Under Armour has branched out into the general fitness and sports apparel markets, and has introduced a number of popular clothing lines that have broader appeal to sports and fitness enthusiasts. These products now include everything from hoodies, to running shorts, to t-shirts, and most recently, performance athletic shoes and men and women’s underwear.

But Under Armour is probably most well-known for their line of climate/temperature specific athletic and fitness clothing: UA Heat Gear and UA Cold Gear.

Back By Popular Demand: Free Under Armour Shipping!

Answer Fitness readers get complimentary free shipping on any order of $75 or greater from the Under Armour online outlet. To get this exclusive free shipping offer, click here, shop and make sure to use this discount code when you check out:  UAFALL01. This is a limited time offer good through October 31, so take advantage of it while you can.

What Is Under Armour Cold Gear?

UA Cold gear is a line of athletic and fitness apparel for … surprise … when it’s cold outside.

The Cold Gear product line is actually very diverse, and offers not only clothing intended to be worn under your outerwear, but also outerwear itself — things like jackets, gloves and hats.

What’s particularly interesting about the Cold Gear line is that it appeals to a broader group than Under Armour’s traditional customer base – people like hunters, cross-country or downhill skiers, or cold weather hikers and campers.  This has attracted a growing following for Under Armour Cold Gear among not just athletes and fitness junkies, but also outdoor enthusiasts, giving some of the traditional outfitters like Patagonia and North Face a run for their money.

Cold Gear’s claim to fame is that it uses a double-sides fabric that manages to wick moisture away from the body, while still providing insulation. Moisture wicking materials aren’t new — they’ve been widely used among hikers and runners for some time now — but Under Armour has taken this wicking and insulating fabric and fashioned it into a series of specialized clothing for customers who have specific cold weather needs. They’ve also been sensitive to people’s desire to not only stay warm, but look good — so in typical Under Armour fashion, they’ve added some nice styling to their clothing.
Continue reading Under Armour Cold Gear Review | Fitness & Athletic Apparel Reviews…

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