Alright, let me tell you about this Under Armour field testing gig I got roped into. It was a wild ride, lemme tell ya.
So, it all started when Under Armour reached out – yeah, I know, fancy, right? – asking if I wanted to test some of their new gear. Of course, I said yes! Who wouldn’t? They sent me this whole package of stuff – a new pair of running shoes, some compression shorts, a tech t-shirt, and a lightweight jacket. Looked pretty slick.
First thing I did was lace up those shoes. They felt…different. Super light, but also kinda stiff. I figured, “Gotta break ’em in,” so I went for a short run, just a couple of miles around the block. My initial thought was good. The T-shirt was comfortable and lightweight and not clingy when i started sweating.
Next up was the real test. I’m talking a full-on workout, weightlifting and all. I wore the compression shorts under my usual workout shorts. I’ll be honest, they felt a bit snug at first, but once I got moving, they were actually pretty comfortable. They definitely kept everything in place, if you catch my drift. Squats felt solid, lunges were a breeze, no complaints there.
Then came the running shoes again. This time, I wanted to see how they held up on a longer run, about five miles on a mix of pavement and dirt trails. That’s when things got interesting. The shoes were still stiff, and I started to feel some rubbing on my heels. By mile three, I had a blister forming. Ouch! I had to slow down and walk part of the way. Not ideal.
The lightweight jacket was a different story. I wore it on a chilly morning run, and it was perfect. It blocked the wind, kept me warm, but didn’t make me overheat. Plus, it was super packable, so I could easily stuff it into my bag when I warmed up. Big win there.
After a week of testing, I sent Under Armour my feedback. I told them the shoes needed some serious work on the comfort front, especially around the heel. But I also raved about the jacket and the compression shorts. They seemed genuinely interested in what I had to say.
Overall, it was a cool experience. Got some free gear, got to put it through its paces, and hopefully, my feedback will help them make even better products in the future. Not a bad gig if you can get it.
