It’s compression (love it, hate it, don’t give a shit), white, form fitting, dries quickly and has heat guard (consider it kinda like skin cooler). We love our technical fabrics and triathlon specific stuff but why wouldn’t this be a perfect top for some people?
I get there are things you’re giving up like pockets and a zipper but there are plenty of tops out there that are just tight singlets with no pockets.
Have at it. I’m honestly thinking about trying it for a few long bricks before Cozumel.
I’ve never worn it as an outer layer, but I wear a full sleeve version as a base layer for cycling. Works great. I don’t see why a sleeveless version wouldn’t work as a tri top except the no rear pockets thing. For 140.6 and 70.3s I use the back pockets quite a bit.
I’ve used a white compression top (made by Craft, not UA), with a lot of success at hot dry races. However, in humidity, the wicking of a compression top only turns into a barrier to heat evaporation in my experience. I live in Houston, and the same top that helps cool the body at a race like Buffalo Springs only seems to make it worse when I wear it at home.
I’m going to be doing Cozumel as well. I’d suggest giving it a shot in humid conditions before trying it in humid conditions at Cozumel. Maybe you’ll have more success with it than me.
I wore one as a base layer for IM Tahoe (long sleeve though for warmth…). I could definately see wearing one for a tri instead of a singlet. For sprints I do not use the pockets anyway…
I think that there are multiple reasons why you don’t see more of these garments used in long course racing, but one of the bigger reasons is marketing (namely, the lack thereof). I prefer a multi-pocket, zip top for long course racing, but would probably consider a simple compression top if I were into more short course racing.
I think that there are multiple reasons why you don’t see more of these garments used in long course racing, but one of the bigger reasons is marketing (namely, the lack thereof). I prefer a multi-pocket, zip top for long course racing, but would probably consider a simple compression top if I were into more short course racing.
I only do long course racing. Nothing shorter than HIM, simply bc I won’t pay over $100 for an Olympic.
I’ve used pockets in the past and the zipper but now have a bento box and my salt tabs are the only thing I need to carry, I can find another place for them (plus, I hate them all the way in the back in a tight pocket thats hard to get at). And the zipper has always been something I don’t care about. I’d rather pull up the top then zip it down. And the zipper almost always chaffs.
The top getting bad in humidity scares me (especially since I won’t be anywhere humid until race week). Otherwise, I really don’t see a problem with this. Fuck, De Soto has the long sleeve skin cooler top which is “almost” the same damn thing but they charge $82+shipping instead of $23 down the street at any Sports Authority or Dicks.
De Soto has the long sleeve skin cooler top which is “almost” the same damn thing but they charge $82+shipping instead of $23 down the street at any Sports Authority or Dicks.
While I can’t speak directly to the difference/similarity between the DeSoto skin cooler and the off-the-shelf UA type of gear, I will say that DeSoto garments tend to be of a much higher material quality and tuned for better functionality.
De Soto has the long sleeve skin cooler top which is “almost” the same damn thing but they charge $82+shipping instead of $23 down the street at any Sports Authority or Dicks.
While I can’t speak directly to the difference/similarity between the DeSoto skin cooler and the off-the-shelf UA type of gear, I will say that DeSoto garments tend to be of a much higher material quality and tuned for better functionality.
Here’s my thought… you’re comparing the technology of a company that is very very small to a company that literally outfits the entire US military. Literally. The more research I do, the more I think we’re all (including myself) fucking retarded to the “marketing hype” that triathlon specific companies feed us.
I will with out a doubt back all skin cooler type products, they are amazing when used properly and I would assume the De Soto long sleeve top would be great as well. But to say that it’s better than another companies product… a company that has put millions upon millions of dollars into their products; that’s just ignorant.
I have used one a bunch of times and they are fantastic. Real quick on the quality issue - UA is very high quality compared to the competitors. Much better cut and fit and stitching.
The upsides:
Sun shieldwicking/coolingwarmingaero
Downsides:
Can be murder to put on when you’re wet coming out of the swim. Wear it under a wetsuit and you’ll be ok.No pockets on backPutting on race numbers is an issue.
I emailed UA years ago and suggested they make a heat gear shirt with pockets. They said they weren’t interested. I guess you could stitch some on? Anyway, to see Macca get sponsored by them and they still won’t make a heat gear kit was a little weird.
BTW, it’s the ultimate shirt for running long distances. Totally eliminates chaffing. Ultrarunner’s dream come true.
Which one do you specifically wear? Have you used a long sleeve in hot weather, does it help with sun protection or just stick with short or no sleeve?
I wear a UA compression top for cooler races. I can’t tell a speed difference in the pool with the top vs. without it, and it seems it should be a touch faster on the bike vs. skin. I can’t wear it when the temps climb over 70F, though, because it gets too hot on the run. Once they get saturated on a humid day you might as well wear a plastic bag. I’m probably going to pick up a onesie tri suit for next year, though.
Long sleeve on the bike year round. Totally helps with sun protection and they have a dozen colors to choose from. Moving that fast, the cooling effect is good even in high humidity. I’ve got white, silver, orange, yellow… Orange and yellow is good for safety.
Oddly, I use short sleeve in the winter for a base layer on the bike because arm warmers are already doing the job. Long sleeve on the run in the winter for sun protection and warmth.
I have used one a bunch of times and they are fantastic. Real quick on the quality issue - UA is very high quality compared to the competitors. Much better cut and fit and stitching.
The upsides:
Sun shieldwicking/coolingwarmingaero
Downsides:
**Can be murder to put on when you’re wet coming out of the swim. Wear it under a wetsuit and you’ll be ok.**No pockets on backPutting on race numbers is an issue.
I emailed UA years ago and suggested they make a heat gear shirt with pockets. They said they weren’t interested. I guess you could stitch some on? Anyway, to see Macca get sponsored by them and they still won’t make a heat gear kit was a little weird.
BTW, it’s the ultimate shirt for running long distances. Totally eliminates chaffing. Ultrarunner’s dream come true.
I assumed, up until reading this, that the only issue here was whether you could SWIM in the compression top. It is obviously fine for biking and running. Anyone try swimming in one?
That’s what I was thinking… I figured THAT was the purpose of the thread…
What do you mean “THAT was the purpose”? The purpose was to figure out if there was a real reason you couldn’t wear one. I would never plan to wear it in a non wetsuit swim; also, I would never wear the majority of tri tops in a non wetsuit swim unless I wore a swim skinsuit over it. And if it is wetsuit legal, there is no reason you couldn’t wear the UA top.
That’s what I was thinking… I figured THAT was the purpose of the thread…
What do you mean “THAT was the purpose”? The purpose was to figure out if there was a real reason you couldn’t wear one. I would never plan to wear it in a non wetsuit swim; also, I would never wear the majority of tri tops in a non wetsuit swim unless I wore a swim skinsuit over it. And if it is wetsuit legal, there is no reason you couldn’t wear the UA top.
I mean, I thought the bare bones question was “can you swim in it?”, since you can obviously bike and run in it…
Ah, I guess I could see that. Swimming was never part of the question for me as I would never consider wearing a top… I swam since I was 6 and that just seems wrong.
I was more worried about the heat and fit mentioned above. These obviously aren’t created for marathon running or you’d see more people wearing them in open marathons. But it sounds like it’s not
That big of a deal… And they make some with mesh backs. Should eliminate the heat problem.
I wear a heatgear short sleeve as my normal race top. Most of the time I’m in a sleeveless wet suit so it gives a little (emphasis on little) warmth, but prevents underarm chaffing. It dries quickly on the bike, and is very comfortable on the run. Forget about putting in on or taking it off when wet.