You get what you pay for

By Mark Stanish, PCI #697
Long Beach PD, NJ
IPMBA Industry Relations Committee

Comfort, fit, reliability, and appearance. That's how I would answer someone who asked me what I need in a Bike Patrol uniform. Whether it's MOCEAN or one of our other uniform suppliers, we all have the need to strike a balance between functionality and outward appearance. But like they always say, "it's what is on the inside that counts".

This is where the Under Armour clothing and accessory company has concentrated their efforts. Armour was started in 1996 when a collegiate athlete grew tired of the discomfort provided by his cotton undershirt during competition. We have all shared that same frustration, from the shirt bunching up as you ride to it retaining every drop of sweat you pump out. We all agree that comfort is a major part of a successful Bike Patrol. If you are uncomfortable during your patrol you start to look forward to it being over rather than what you can accomplish during it. Or as Kirby Beck said in an earlier article, you'll be "less likely to ride, more likely to hide."

A box arrived at my house, thanks in part to the efforts of Membership Coordinator Chris Davala, which contained two items upon which Under Armour has built their solid foundation - a Heat Gear full "T" and Heat Gear compression shorts. Both of these items feature Under Armour's Moisture Transport System, which is designed to pull sweat away from your body to the outside of the clothing, where it can run off or evaporate. This aids in maintaining comfortable body temperature while operating in warmer environments. I recently taught a Police Cyclist course here on the east coast of New Jersey and used this as the perfect time to put Under Armour to the test.

Under Armour claims that the Moisture Transport System keeps you cooler, lighter and drier during physical exertion than do other fabrics. They were right on every count. We were training on days when it was eighty degrees or more, with no clouds and high humidity, and the clothing was a pleasure to wear. Add to this the fact that these products are compression garments, which aid in the reduction of muscle fatigue during strenuous activity, and you have what would seem to be a perfect fit for Police and EMS on bikes and any recreational rider anywhere.

As an added test - and for the benefit of the officers in the class (and those around us) - I put these two items through the washer and dryer at the end of every day. They never lost any of their form-fitting ability or showed any wear and tear. Many of you may have passed on Under Armour, as I did, because you could not see paying $25 for a "T-shirt". I'm a firm believer in the saying "you get what you pay for", but after using these products for that week, I think we are getting one over on the folks from Under Armour. Convince yourself to give something from their extensive product line a try and then thank me at the 15th Annual IPMBA Conference and Product Exhibition in Scottsdale, Arizona, in 2005.Who knows, you may be able to thank the people from Under Armour directly at the Conference. We would love to have them there!

Most of their products come in sizes small through triple-X, and in a variety of colors. They have a full line of tactical gear and an extensive network of law enforcement and military suppliers who carry their products. They recently added a line of women's wear.

Check out their stuff at www.underarmour.com and keep watch for a review of their line of Cold Gear products from IPMBA in the future.

Mark can be reached at lbt407@comcast.net.

© 2004 IPMBA. This review first appeared in the Summer 2004 issue of IPMBA News.