Under Armour Coldgear 1/4 Zip - Women's Review

Likes

Almost everything I liked about this active top from Under Armour was also something one might complain about. It is a versatile top in that you can wear it for a lot of activities, but at the same time, it is limited, quite simply, by how warm it is. I first tested it at an early morning boot camp in cooler temperatures. I loved it for the first 10 minutes or so, but after that, I had to strip down as the top was making me overheat! However, the weather never really warmed up, so I was glad to put the Coldgear top back on as soon as we started our cool down. Next up was a foggy, drizzly hike no high speeds or major climbs and I was thrilled with how warm I stayed. The ¼ zip at the neck was a nice feature for temperature regulation, and while the top wasn't super breathable, it did dry quite quickly.

The favorite feature for me is the fit of this top very fitted, long in the torso, and nice long arms. My wide shoulders didn't feel too constricted, and because it is so tight, the top is great for climbing, road cycling, or any activity when you cant have a lot of baggy fabric. I preferred the fit as much as the Asics Favorite, which took top honors in my book. The appearance of the top, in true Under Armour fashion, is stylish and just a

bit retro. Good seam placement and a cool, two-color design on the sleeves and torso combine to make a high tech workout top look a little bit old school. A great choice for pre- and post- workout hanging out!

Dislikes

As I said, what I love about this top, others might steer away from, and I can understand why. The Coldgear is warm, to say the least. It is a great choice for winter sports or early morning, chilly workouts, but I never wanted to wear it running in nice weather. Also, the tight fit, while nice for certain sports, tended to feel just a bit restrictive when the heart rate went up.

The collar, in keeping with the retro feel of the top, is on the bigger side, and I felt like it simply got in the way a lot when it was unzipped and I was moving a lot. Not much of a problem for just hanging out or gym workouts, but definitely a nuisance when inverted or running.

Finally, for being somewhat limited to cooler weather, specific activities, this base layer top is on the expensive side.

Application

A great choice for cooler activities, such as winter trail running, cycling, or skiing. Also a perfect layer for warming up and cooling down before and after exercise. When a warm, fitted top is a must, this is perfect.

Value