Being a sports nut, I have been deluged by the Under Armour ad campaign. Being a sucker for marketing, I began to wonder how UA would work for hunting. So, I had a spare hundred bucks to blow, so I bought an olive green set of Under Armour Cold Gear compressionwear.
It is hands-down, the best cold weather undergarment I've ever used. When actively moving (carrying treestand/pack for miles) it wicks away and evaporates moisture, and you actually feel relatively dry. My old cotton thermals would stay wet.
In early archery season, I was wearing only my UA shirt bowhunting, with camo pants. As it is form fitting, you look and feel less bulky on stand, and it is warm enough to wear ALONE!
The negative: 1. Since this stuff is so tight, it actually squeezes the hair on your body, bending the hair follicles in random directions, causing them to hurt over long periods of time. It's kinda like if you wear a tight beanie for a long time, when your head gets a little sore. 2. Since it serves to evaporate sweat so rapidly, it enhances the dissipation of human scent. I needed to be a little more careful and reapply my scent killer a bit more often.
Positives: 1. Warm 2. Form fitting 3. Olive is a good enough color to wear alone in early season 4. Dry 5. Doesn't snag easily 6. Keeps ticks out (but they can still get at your head)
If you buy a set, buy one size larger than you'd normally wear, as it is REAL tight.
It's really funny you decided to write this review and even more funny that for the first time I visited this section of the board. It's funny because I was just looking through the Cabelas catalog and I noticed the Under Armour stuff and wondered if it was any good. Thanks to you next year I will know that I need to buy this stuff. Thanks a lot for taking the time to write this.
Being the cheapskate that I am, I've wanted to try the Cold Gear, but couldn't bring myself to cough up the dough. So I just kept using my old silk undies and a zillion layers to try to keep warm.
However, the other day I went into Galyans and they had size Medium UA Cold Gear tops for sale @ $24.00 ea. (50% off) I bought two (one for me, one for the hubby).
I absolutely love it. It's very warm. Blows away the silk undies I've been using. Haven't had the hair follicle problem. (I guess I'm not that hairy... thank goodness )
The sizes do run small. The medium fits me fine, but is really a size too small for the husband who can normally squeeze into a medium.
Go to an army surplus and get the polyproplyne they have it wll save you alot of money and it's better stuff.Here's an exaple of the stuff I'm talking about. It will cost you $38 and it's expedition weight.
With the extra $60 dollars you can get yourself a couple of the wool sweaters and some good socks.
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I bought a pair of bottoms this fall. I have been rather impressed with them. I used them as a single layer under my wools on "warmer" cold days (around 30 +/-) and with long johns on colder days. I'm a big dude and I thought the 3xl were very comfortable, snug, but comfortable. I wanted to get the top but the 3xl felt tighter and more constrictive so I didn't get them. (i'll lose a little more weight by next year and get a pair) the only complaint i have with the bottoms is they have no fly! It can be hard digging everything out of several layers, especially on a cold day!!
ps - i have cabelas brand "silkies" and Bass Pro "polartec" medium weight top and was pleased with them as well
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I would like to just echo eveything that quick said. I also purchased a set for myself this year and they are great. So great that I bought the wife a set for ski season. Be sure to get them one size larger. They are really tight. I actually tried them on at the store where I bought mine, and I needed an XXL instead of XL.
Used to have the hair problem under my diving suits when I was being trained with the Seals. an old gunny showed me how to use lotion that has oatmeal in it. Just rub it on before you put the suit on and it will grealty reduce the ache that comes with wearing the tight fitting stuff.
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Under Armour Cold Gear
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