Under Armour ColdGear Compression Mock Review: My honest thoughts on the ‘strikingly tight’ baselayer
I put the Under Armour Compression Mock to the test to see if it made staying active this winter less miserable.
Now Christmas is over, and my best excuse for not exercising has gone with it, I need all the help I can get to force myself out of the door this January to get the blood pumping.
Under Armour ColdGear Compression Mock, £50
I have fitness goals to achieve.
Oh, and I think I want to undo the early-onset beer belly I’ve been developing over the last month.
With temperatures getting towards 0°C, there’s no better time to put the to the test to see if it can make exercising outdoors a bit less gruelling.
How I tested the Under Armour ColdGear Compression Mock
Over the last two weeks, I’ve been wearing this each time I leave the house to exercise.
My goal was to complete three 5K runs each week.
I wanted to see if this mock would keep me from reaching for my puffer jacket the moment I stepped out the door, and that it didn’t cook me once I’d got a sweat on.
It's safe to say over the two weeks the mock has become familiar with my washing machine.
This gave me ample opportunity to see how well it washes, how fast it dries, and (very importantly) if it retains any nasty smells.
Finally, I judged the top on overall comfort: the fit, feel and whether it caused any chafing.
Under Armour ColdGear Compression Mock review: Quick summary
Under Armour ColdGear Compression Mock, £50
Rating 4/5
Pros: Very warming, true to size fit, easy to wash, no chafing
Cons: Tight collar, Pricey
When testing any base layer out, at the forefront of my mind is how warm it is.
This , I'm pleased to report delivers.
Having armed my torso with only this mock and a tee shirt, I found myself surprisingly toasty as I stepped out to run.
Thanks to the breathable design, I never felt overheated once I got going.
The composite material is super soft and stretchy, the compression fit feels snug and chafing is non-existent
The composite material is super soft and stretchy, the compression fit feels snug and chafing is non-existent.
Thanks to this being machine-washable and fast-drying, it is practical to wear multiple times a week.
However, the high, tight collar isn't really for me.
It's great to have your neck covered to keep warm, but the pressure around your neck feels quite strange.
Given the high-quality construction and great performance, this is definitely a 'buy once, buy well' piece
Although not the cheapest base layer, given the high-quality construction and great performance, this is definitely a 'buy once, buy well' piece.
You can grab it now for £50 on the .
UnderArmour Compression Mock full review
Under Armour ColdGear Compression Mock, £50
The is a super-tight underlayer designed to keep you warm and dry while you exercise.
The Under Armour Mock is made from 87% Polyester and 13% Elastane and is available in 5 colourways.
As a 6’1 man with long limbs, I thought it brave for Under Armour’s size guide to recommend ordering a medium, but lo and behold, the mock couldn’t fit better.
I’ve tried my fair share of skins, including others from , and I can safely say that on first donning this mock, it is strikingly tight in comparison.
It is designed to be snug and fits the bill as ‘compression’ apparel and I was impressed with the coverage — it left very little skin exposed.
I was taken aback at how surprisingly toasty I felt wearing just the compression mock and a t-shirt
The minimal, simple design is free of garish patterns or logos and suits me down to the ground.
On heading out for my first run of the year, I was taken aback at how surprisingly toasty I felt wearing just the and a t-shirt.
In addition to staving off the chills, this base layer is breathable and I found this to be a really handy feature, as five minutes in when I am hot and sweaty I never felt like I was being cooked internally.
Under Armour ColdGear Compression Mock, £50
My one complaint is the collar. It rides high and is quite tight.
The pressure I felt around my neck was a little disconcerting; I found myself pulling at it on the first few wears.
My one complaint is the collar. It rides high and is quite tight
Although you get used to it, I'd prefer a looser or lower-riding collar.
Chafing is a major issue I’ve encountered with other underlayers.
Fortunately, this is a real winner on that front because I experienced no chafing whatsoever, which I credit to the snug fit that leaves no room for loose material to rub.
The mock is machine-washable and came out as good and smelling fresh, plus it dried much faster than the rest of my washing, which is especially useful if you’re planning on wearing it multiple times a week.
Overall, I was really impressed with the , and in my opinion, it's a must-buy if you find the cold is preventing you from staying active this winter.
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What do compression tops do?
Wearing compression tops can help you stay warm, but there are claims that they are also beneficial to physical performance and recovery.
The idea is that compression tops aid blood flow around your upper body by gently squeezing the wearer's blood vessels, forcing more blood toward vital organs and muscles.
Anecdotal evidence suggests people do feel more powerful and that they recover faster when wearing these kinds of tops.
While some scientific studies corroborate these impressive claims, many conclude there is too little evidence to say for sure, so the jury is still out.
themselves do not boast any physical performance or recovery benefits.
The brand simply states: "Compression fit [is to make you] feel powerful", with the key word there being 'feel'.
The brand adds that the base layer is also designed to "limit chafing, pinching and snagging".
This said, there’s still real value in wearing something for how it makes you feel.
If you think your body performs and recovers better when wearing compression tops, why stop?
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