TRIED & TESTED
Bringing the to Gym Class
Our Marketing Director , Roxanne Martin , is a rather big fan of Under Armour , so she was thrilled to receive a special parcel from them , full of new women ’ s workout gear to test .
I
need to start with a disclaimer right up front : I love Under Armour Gear ! It ’ s my first choice for gym and running , and thus I was beyond excited to receive their top of the range gym kit to try out . In fact , I was so excited I actually went to gym for the first time in quite a while . With COVID restrictions closing many gyms on and off during the last 18 months , I have been doing mostly spinning at home to keep fit , but this new gear was too good not to go for a proper gym session !
GOOD BRA , GOOD WORKOUT
Any woman will tell you that a good sports bra is a vital part of your gym experience . When you are doing jumping squats and burpees , you develop a true appreciation for gravity as you experience the true meaning of having breasts , especially you ’ ve been breastfeeding for a while and they aren ’ t as perky and firm as they once were . The same goes for running , of course – the right sports bra is a mist-have – but that is a whole article on its own .
WOMEN ' S UA HEATGEAR ® ARMOUR MID CROSSBACK SPORTS BRA – R699
• Compression : Ultra-tight , second-skin fit for a locked-in feel
• Best for A to C cups
• Delivers strategic support , tailored for medium-impact activities like cycling , weight training & boxing
• Soft , breathable cups provide extra structure & coverage
• Removable cups have helpful R & L arrows for easy reinsertion
• Crossover straps with feminine keyhole detail
• Updated elastic band feels super-smooth & soft
• Super-smooth , double-layer HeatGear ® fabric delivers superior next-to-skin feel
• Material wicks sweat & dries really fast & light
• 4-way stretch construction moves better in every direction
I was sent two Under Armour bras for testing , the HeatGear ® Armour Mid Crossback Sports Bra and the Infinity Mid Run Sports Bra , and straight out the box , my favourite was the Crossback . The design is beautiful and elegant , and thoughtfully done , with the elastic perfectly positioned to sit below the cup . Also , while the front offers a firm fit , there is still space to breathe , and the cross at the back is a clever design – it is virtually impossible to get twisted , meaning you have all the benefits of cross support , but without those all too common design flaws that I have experienced with other bras through the years .
My training programme said I needed to do an indoor cycling session , so I decided this would be the perfect way to test the moisture-wicking HeatGear fabric , as we all know that an indoor training session means you really build up a sweat . To say that I was impressed is an understatement … Firstly , the bra provided incredibly comfortable support , feeling like a second skin . It didn ’ t dig into my skin , and I didn ’ t feel like I was strapped in . Secondly , it excelled at the job of pulling the sweat away from my body , keeping me dry and cool .
Any woman will know what I mean when I say that not having a sweat pool forming on and under me made a huge difference to my gym session ! So would I pay the R699 to buy this bra ? Honestly , yes I would , as it ’ s by far the best sports bra I have tried in a long time !
COMFORT AND PERFORMANCE
Now let ’ s talk about the Infinity Mid Run Bra , At first , I was a bit daunted by the challenge to get the bra on – with a crossover back and a clip , it felt like I would need to do some fancy gymnastics to get myself into it . Therefore , my advice is to slip into it , then clip it from behind . It takes one or two tries to master the clip , but once you overcome that obstacle , the bra is actually quite comfortable .
With the focus on support , I wore this bra for a gym session to see how it would feel doing a heavy cardio session . I focused my session on a lot of movement , doing burpees , mountain climbers , jumping squats , etc , so not only was I sweating , but I was also moving my whole body . I was impressed again by the moisture-wicking sweat control these bras provide – the sweat was drawn away from my body , and the bra , though tight , moved seamlessly , so I had no chafing or uncomfortable elastic digging into the skin .
I must add here that it seems clear to me that it must have been a woman who designed these bras , as they are built with comfort in mind . The price tag may seem high , but if you are looking at a sports bra designed
WOMEN ' S UA INFINITY MID RUN SPORTS BRA – R1199
• Fitted : Next-to-skin feel without the squeeze
• Delivers strategic support , tailored for medium-support activities like cycling , weight training & boxing
• Moulded , PU-injected one-piece padding for ultimate support , comfort & coverage
• All-over mesh body fabric for added breathability
• Smooth , sweat-wicking band has easy hook & eye closure for easy on & off
• Adjustable straps with wordmark detail for a custom fit
• Material wicks sweat & dries really fast
Images : Courtesy Under Armour
60 ISSUE 145 SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2021 | www . modernathlete . co . za