Under Armour ColdGear vs HeatGear: Which Baselayer Should You Buy?

Under Armour sorts its baselayers by temperature. ColdGear is the cold-weather family, built to hold heat. HeatGear is the hot-weather family, built to move sweat and keep you cool. The names make the basic split clear, but the shelf is more crowded than that. There are compression and fitted versions of ColdGear, a new ColdGear NEOLAST line, and HeatGear tops that people wear under football pads in August.

This comparison uses Under Armour's own US product pages to explain what actually differs between the main options: fabric, fit, ventilation, care and price. It also covers how to choose between them. We have not worn these shirts ourselves. Ratings quoted below are the averages shown on UA.com at the time of writing, and all sources are listed in the References.

The short answer

• Training or playing in the cold? Choose ColdGear. Under Armour describes it as a dual-layer fabric with a brushed interior that holds heat.
• Training in the heat, or need arm coverage under pads in warm weather? Choose HeatGear. Under Armour says its HeatGear compression shirt is "built for heat & under-pad coverage—not cold weather."
• Want warmth without the squeeze? Choose a ColdGear Fitted top, which uses a tight but non-compression fit.
• Want the newest ColdGear fabric? ColdGear NEOLAST uses a different stretch fiber and costs a little more.

ColdGear vs HeatGear at a glance

Prices and ratings change. Check the product page before buying.

What makes ColdGear warm

Every ColdGear top in this comparison uses what Under Armour calls a dual-layer fabric. The inside is soft and brushed, which traps a layer of warm air against the skin. The outside is smooth and dries fast. The idea is that sweat moves out to the surface while the brushed side keeps heat in, so you stay warm without a bulky sweatshirt.

ColdGear is not sealed up completely, though. The standard ColdGear Compression Mock and the ColdGear Fitted Crew both have stretch-mesh panels on the back and under the arms. Under Armour says these vent heat "where you need it most, without giving up warmth." That matters if you run, lift or play hard in cold weather, because a baselayer that cannot release heat soon gets clammy.

Other features shared across the ColdGear tops:

• 4-way stretch that moves in every direction.
• Odor control technology, which Under Armour says minimizes odor.
• Ergonomic seam placement that keeps stitching off high-abrasion areas.
• On the mock-neck versions, extra neck coverage for warmth.

The ColdGear Compression Mock product page says it is meant for athletes "training in cold conditions" who need next-to-skin warmth "under pads, a uniform, or just a baselayer they can wear by itself."

What makes HeatGear cool

HeatGear works the other way. Instead of a brushed inner layer, the HeatGear Compression Long Sleeve uses what Under Armour calls super-light fabric that wicks sweat off the skin and dries fast. The page describes it as "a hot-weather baselayer designed to keep you cool."

A long-sleeve shirt for hot weather sounds odd until you look at who buys it. Under Armour lists it as best for "hot-weather training & baselayer coverage under football & lacrosse pads." Its details reflect that use:

• Mesh underarm and back panels to release heat during movement.
• Flatlock seams along the full sleeve, which Under Armour says prevent chafing under pads and grass burns.
• Hybrid raglan sleeves to open up shoulder movement for reaching, throwing and swinging.
• Sleeves that stay in place under shoulder pads without riding up.
• A write-in locker tag on the back of the neck for initials or a number.

The HeatGear shirt also has a higher elastane share in its main body fabric (16% versus 13% in ColdGear). Under Armour does not explain the reason. In general, more elastane means more stretch and recovery, which helps a compression shirt stay in place.

Compression vs fitted: the other big decision

Under Armour defines its fits on every product page, and the difference matters as much as the fabric:

• Compression: "Ultra-tight, second-skin fit that squeezes your muscles to make you feel more powerful."
• Tight: "Snug & form-fitting without the squeeze of compression."
• Fitted: "Close to the body for a streamlined look & feel."

The ColdGear Compression Mock and the HeatGear Compression Long Sleeve are both compression fit. The ColdGear Fitted Crew is labeled "Tight" in its fit selector, and its product details describe a fit that "runs snug & form-fitting without the squeeze of compression." It also has a dropped, shaped hem.

If you want a warm layer for skiing, winter hikes or cold commutes and do not like a squeezing fit, the Fitted Crew is the more comfortable choice on paper. If you are wearing it under pads or a uniform, compression keeps the fabric flat and in place.

Where ColdGear NEOLAST fits in

ColdGear NEOLAST is the newest version of the line on UA.com, listed at $70 for the men's compression mock long sleeve. It keeps the dual-layer ColdGear construction, with an "ultra-warm, brushed interior & a smooth, fast-drying exterior". The change is the stretch fiber. Under Armour describes NEOLAST as a "high-performing alternative to elastane" that offers stretch, durability, comfort and improved wicking. It says NEOLAST is designed to "begin addressing sustainability challenges associated with elastane." The label reads 87% polyester and 13% elastoester rather than elastane.

Under Armour also says the fabric was engineered to shed fewer microplastics. Unlike the standard ColdGear Compression Mock, the NEOLAST page does not mention stretch-mesh vent panels.

With only one rating on UA.com at the time of writing, there is not yet enough buyer feedback to compare it with the long-running ColdGear tops, which have hundreds of reviews each. If you want a well-reviewed cold-weather compression top, the standard ColdGear Mock is $10 less. NEOLAST is the choice if the elastane alternative matters to you.

How to choose: four common situations

1. Fall and winter football, soccer or lacrosse. Under Armour positions ColdGear compression for cold-weather athletes wearing it under pads or a uniform. The mock neck adds coverage.

2. Summer two-a-days, baseball or hot-weather training. HeatGear Compression Long Sleeve. It is built for heat, gives you arm coverage for sun or turf, and is designed to stay put under pads.

3. Cold-weather running, hiking or everyday warmth. ColdGear Fitted Crew if you prefer a snug fit without compression. The mesh panels still help when your effort increases.

4. Mild shoulder-season days. Under Armour does not give temperature ratings for either line, so there is no official cut-off. Its own HeatGear page says the shirt is "not cold weather." If it is cool enough to want warmth, the brand's guidance points to ColdGear.

Care: the same rule for both

Under Armour's care instructions for both families are almost the same. Machine wash cold with like colors, use non-chlorine bleach only when needed, and tumble dry low. Do not iron or dry clean, and do not use fabric softener. The ColdGear and HeatGear pages explain why: softeners "coat fibers & degrade wicking." If your baselayer feels less effective at moving sweat over time, softener is a likely cause.

Sizing, shipping and returns

Each product page links to Under Armour's Size & Fit Guide and shows the model's height and size. The men's ColdGear NEOLAST mock is also offered in Tall lengths, which Under Armour says are 2 inches longer than regular sizes. Available colors and sizes vary by product and change often.

UA.com advertises free standard shipping on orders of $99 or more. Its product pages say purchases made on UA.com or in the app can be returned free within 60 days through Happy Returns. For more on how UA.com and outlet orders work, see our Under Armour outlet guide, and for current outlet pricing, our November outlet sale report.

Bottom line

ColdGear and HeatGear are not better or worse versions of each other. They are built for opposite conditions. ColdGear's brushed, dual-layer fabric is meant to hold warmth, and HeatGear's lighter, mesh-paneled fabric is meant to shed heat. After that, choose compression if you want the shirt to stay locked in place under gear, or a fitted top if you want warmth without the squeeze. The standard ColdGear and HeatGear compression tops have the largest number of buyer ratings on UA.com.

References

1. Under Armour, ColdGear Men's Compression Mock Long Sleeve (style 1366072) product page, accessed November 4, 2026. https://www.underarmour.com/en-us/p/coldgear_mens_compression_mock_long_sleeve/1366072.html
2. Under Armour, ColdGear Fitted Men's Crew (style 1366068) product page, accessed November 4, 2026. https://www.underarmour.com/en-us/p/coldgear_fitted_mens_crew/1366068.html
3. Under Armour, ColdGear NEOLAST Men's Compression Mock Long Sleeve (style 6013961) product page, accessed November 4, 2026. https://www.underarmour.com/en-us/p/coldgear_neolast_mens_compression_mock_long_sleeve/6013961.html
4. Under Armour, HeatGear Men's Compression Long Sleeve (style 1361524) product page, accessed November 4, 2026. https://www.underarmour.com/en-us/p/heatgear_mens_compression_long_sleeve/1361524.html
5. Under Armour, US homepage (shipping threshold), accessed November 4, 2026. https://www.underarmour.com/en-us/