Under Armour Review: Which Gear Still Earns Its Price in 2026?
Under Armour's basics still pile up thousands of five-star ratings, but long-time buyers say fabrics have changed, so we read the lowest reviews and the return fine print before picking.
The short version
- Returns are free and you get sixty days, longer than most activewear brands, but gear must be unworn, unwashed and still tagged.
- Standard shipping is $8 and free from $75, and original shipping fees are never refunded on a return.
- The Rival Fleece hoodie and HeatGear compression tee are the strongest buys, each with well over a thousand ratings near five stars.
- Recurring one-star themes are thinner fabric than before, small sizing, and online orders that are cancelled or short-shipped.
Scoring Under Armour
Free sixty-day returns and solid training basics, offset by fabric-change complaints, inconsistent sizing and a very poor public service record.
- Product18/25
- Value16/25
- Service14/25
- Trust13/25
The picks
UA Rival Fleece Hoodie $60
Over sixteen hundred ratings averaging close to five stars.
The men's Rival Fleece is an 80 percent cotton, 20 percent polyester fleece, brushed inside, with a kangaroo pocket, ribbed cuffs and an odor-control treatment. It averages around 4.8 out of 5 on the site. The complaints that do exist repeat: some buyers say it runs much smaller than their older UA hoodies, and a few found the waistband and cuffs stretched out after one wash. One owner had the hood stitching split after a wash. Size up if you are between sizes and wash it cold.
- Best for
- Everyday warmth and post-workout layering
- Weak spot
- Sizing runs small for some buyers
HeatGear Compression Short Sleeve $35
The base layer UA built its name on, rated about 4.7 out of 5 by owners.
This men's compression tee goes under pads or a jersey, and football players in the reviews like that it stops chafing. It is a true compression fit, and the low reviews are mostly people who could not get into their usual size, or felt the redesigned version squeezes too hard. Two of the one-star reviews are actually positive and labeled as collected during a promotion, a reminder that some ratings are incentivized. The page also says this item is excluded from promo codes.
- Best for
- Football, lifting and hot-weather training
- Weak spot
- Size up; excluded from promo codes
UA Hustle 6.0 Backpack $60
A 29-liter school-and-gym bag with a 16-inch laptop sleeve and a laundry compartment.
The Hustle uses UA Storm water-repellent fabric, a padded laptop sleeve sized for a 16-inch MacBook Pro, and a separate shoe or laundry pocket. Nearly five hundred ratings average about 4.8 out of 5. The weak points come from parents: a strap that tore off on day three, holes after a month of fifth grade, a front zipper that jammed, and a bag that let heavy rain in and then pooled it on the waterproof bottom. A few buyers also had online orders cancelled without explanation.
- Best for
- Students who carry a laptop and gym kit
- Weak spot
- Water-resistant, not waterproof; durability reports vary
UA Charged+ Assert 11 $75
UA's entry-level neutral running shoe, often discounted.
The Assert 11 has a mesh upper with leather overlays, a Charged+ foam midsole and a rubber outsole; UA lists the men's version at 10.2 ounces. Owners average about 4.6 out of 5, and many call it comfortable for all-day wear. The one-star reviews have an unusual pattern: several owners report a loud squeak within weeks, and once worn outside it cannot be returned. Others found little cushioning or grip. Treat it as a gym and errands shoe rather than a serious running shoe.
- Best for
- Casual walking, gym classes and short runs
- Weak spot
- Squeaking reported by several owners
UA Tech 2.0 Short Sleeve $28
The cheapest way into UA's quick-dry fabric, with thousands of reviews behind it.
It is the brand's basic training tee and has nearly six thousand ratings averaging about 4.6 out of 5. It comes in regular and tall lengths, with tall sizes two inches longer. The low reviews are blunt, though: paper thin, see-through even in black, a lint and pet-hair magnet, and running small. One Trustpilot reviewer singled out the Tech 2.0 as proof that UA has gone cheaper. At this price it is fine for sweaty sessions, but not as a regular T-shirt.
- Best for
- Sweaty workouts and team training
- Weak spot
- Thin and see-through in light colors
Leave these on the shelf
UA Meridian Leggings
The Meridian was once UA's best answer to Lululemon, and at $80 it is priced like one. The newest one-star reviews come from repeat buyers who say the fabric is thinner, the waistband no longer stays up and compression is gone. Its rating sits well below UA's other basics. Until those complaints slow down, spend your legging money elsewhere.
How Under Armour stacks up
Two brands a shopper is likely to be weighing at the same time. Words only; the numbers change too often to print.
| Row | Under Armour | Nike | Lululemon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Range | Training apparel, team sports gear, running shoes, cleats and bags for men, women and kids | Enormous range across every sport, lifestyle sneakers and apparel | Premium yoga, running and casual wear with a narrower shoe range |
| Price position | Mid-priced, with a large outlet section and frequent extra-off codes | Budget basics up to collector sneakers | Premium, and rarely discounted outside its own markdown section |
| Returns | Sixty days, free, unworn and tagged, longer over the holidays | Long window with free returns for members | Thirty days, unworn and tagged with an extended holiday window |
| Standout | Compression base layers and team training gear | Breadth, availability and resale value | Fabric feel and a strong in-store experience |
Shipping, returns, support
Each line below was read on Under Armour's own site in October 2026. Policies move; if one has, tell us.
Right buyer, wrong buyer
Buy if you are
- Athletes who want compression and quick-dry training basics
- Parents buying school bags and team gear on sale
- Shoppers who value free returns over a full sixty days
Pass if you are
- Anyone who wants thick, heavyweight everyday cotton tees
- Long-time Meridian fans hoping for the original fabric
- Runners looking for a serious high-mileage running shoe
Reader questions
Are Under Armour returns free?
Yes, on US orders. You start the return online within sixty days of purchase and drop it at a UPS location or a Happy Returns Bar. Items must be unworn, unwashed and tagged, and original shipping charges are not refunded. Gear bought at other retailers must go back to them.
Do Under Armour clothes run small?
Often, yes, especially in hoodies and compression tops. Low-rated reviews on the Rival Fleece, HeatGear and Tech 2.0 repeatedly mention ordering a size or two up. UA uses named fits from compression to oversized on each product page, so check which fit you are buying before you pick a size.
Are Under Armour product reviews incentivized?
Some are. Armour Access members earn points for one accepted product review a month, and some reviews on the site are labeled as collected as part of a promotion. That does not make them fake, but read the lowest-rated reviews too before you decide.
Bottom line
Under Armour is at its best on the simple things: a warm Rival Fleece hoodie, a HeatGear base layer, a sturdy-enough school backpack. Free sixty-day returns make trying sizes painless, which matters because sizing runs small. The worry is the repeated complaint from loyal buyers that fabrics have thinned and favorites have changed, plus a dismal Trustpilot score. Buy the proven basics on sale, size up, and leave the tags attached until you are certain.
See it at Under ArmourSources
This is desk research: the brand's own pages plus published customer reviews, read in October 2026. Nothing was sent to us and nothing was tried in person.
- Under Armour product pages for the Rival Fleece Hoodie, HeatGear Compression, Hustle 6.0, Charged+ Assert 11, Tech 2.0 and Meridian
- Lowest-rated on-site customer reviews for each of those products, read through the site's review feed
- Under Armour Help Center articles on returns, refunds and Armour Access, plus the shipping page
- Under Armour's Trustpilot page, sorted by most recent