Women ’ s HeatGear ® Armour High Printed Sports Bra ( R999 )
Women ’ s HeatGear ® Long Shorts ( R599 ) Women ’ s UA Challenger Pro Printed Shorts ( R799 )
TRIED AND TESTED
C o l u m n
Ready to Compete !
Receiving a big box via courier always gets me excited . Receiving a big box from Under Armour makes me even more excited … and when I opened the box to find the new Journey to Compete Collection of sportswear , I knew I was going to enjoy doing this review . – BY ROXANNE MARTIN
As I read through the media release that accompanied my box of new kit , I found myself nodding in agreement , as it struck a chord with me . “ Every young child dreams of one day going to the Olympic Games … Every young boy attends his first rugby game with the hopes that he too will one day take to the field of champions … Every runner dreams of crossing that finish line in record time … and with a sprinkle of grit and a dust of sheer determination , dreams can become a reality !”
“ But a dream has to start with a goal , and a goal has to start with that deep desire to become great . This is the driving force behind Under Armour ’ s vision of celebrating the blood , sweat , and tears of each athlete ’ s journey to greatness .”
The reason this spoke to me is that I am all for it when we are encouraged to be the best we can be as individuals , and similarly , I believe that sportswear should celebrate who we are as individuals , by providing the performance and comfort that supports our unique talents and goals . So , with the Journey to Compete collection promising “ game-changing women ’ s gear ,” I was keen to put the kit to the test .
Getting to the Sweaty Part
As I unpacked the kit , my first impression was psychedelic – there ’ s no way this kit would get lost in a crowd ! More importantly , as a woman who often runs alone , I ’ ve come to appreciate bright colours and patterns for safety reasons . They make me stand out , not only to passing cars , but also to the people I pass , and should I ever be in danger , someone is more likely to come to my aid . Unfortunately , this is the reality we face … Anyway , with that box ticked , it was time to kit up for a run !
Women ’ s HeatGear ® Armour High Printed Sports Bra ( R999 )
The design of this bra immediately appealed to me . The straps have loops to clip into , making adjustments easy once the bra is on , and you can get a comfortable fit without having to dislocate your shoulder . The material is lightweight , with no irritating padding in the bra area , and the bottom strap is a super-smooth and soft elastic band .
As many women know , running makes you hyper-aware of your breasts , and their bounce . Also , being at the end of my cycle meant mine were extra sensitive , and running is usually then a super painful affair , as the bounce physically hurts . But this bra surprised me greatly . Looks can be deceiving , and while it looked like it wouldn ’ t offer enough support , it provided more than my padded bras .
The HeatGear ® tech that Under Armour has designed is a double-sided fabric that wicks moisture from the skin , and it really works . I sometimes think brands use fancy marketing talk to persuade us to buy their products , but this fabric does create a dry feeling . You know you are sweating , but your body stays dry … and that makes me one happy runner . All in all , a great bra – highly recommended !
Women ’ s HeatGear ® Long Shorts ( R599 ) Women ’ s UA Challenger Pro Printed Shorts ( R799 )
I am pairing these two products together , because – full disclaimer – I do not have legs that look good in shorts . I am incredibly self-conscious about them , especially since my pregnancy , which does weird things to your muscle tone , so when I see shorts , I ’ ll be honest , I cringe . Thankfully , these Long Shorts fit nicely under the Pro Printed Shorts , coming to just above my knee , which boosted my confidence during my run .
Again , as many women with bigger legs know , shorts can creep up in the middle when you run , which can cause uncomfortable chafing , so I was keen to see how these shorts would handle things . Great news is that they didn ’ t move up or down , so I didn ’ t have to stop to readjust . Whether walking or running , the shorts stayed put ! I also found the waistband incredibly comfortable . It moved and stretched with me , which kept my breathing comfortable , as I didn ’ t feel constricted with a tight band around my waist .
Images : Courtesy On Cloud , Under Armour
The double wick was also a great feature here , and just like with the bra , even while I knew I was sweating , I didn ’ t feel it . And end of the day , for someone who wouldn ’ t normally go out and buy shorts , I was incredibly impressed by these shorts . I think both are a great buy .
GET THEM HERE :
Based on my testing , I believe the rest of the Under Armour Journey to Compete Collection will be a knockout ! The full collection is available at https :// underarmour . co . za / collections / journey-to-compete-women .
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