When selecting between Under Armour and Adidas for your organization’s branded apparel, it’s not just about choosing a popular name. It’s about finding the right fit for your team, event, or initiative. Both brands are leaders in custom activewear, offering high performance gear that reflects professionalism, comfort, and style. From employee uniforms to corporate wellness programs and client giveaways, understanding the differences in design, functionality, and value can help you make a more informed decision. Here’s how Under Armour and Adidas compare.
Brand Overview: Under Armour vs Adidas
Whether you prefer the sleek, modern look of Under Armour custom gear or the sporty-yet-timeless style of custom branded Adidas apparel, both brands have something to offer for anyone looking to enhance their performance and style while staying active. Here’s how they compare at a brand level.
Under Armour
- Founded on performance innovation and athlete-first technology
- Known for compression wear, moisture-wicking tech, and high-function training gear
- Emphasizes grit, intensity, and peak performance
- Mainly sought after for athletic, exercise, and outdoor performance apparel
- Specializes in sports like golf, football, basketball, and soccer
Adidas
- Heritage-rich global brand with crossover appeal in fashion, sports, and streetwear
- Strong presence in both elite sports and lifestyle sectors
- Balances performance tech with iconic style and sustainability efforts
- Renowned for virtually all major professional sports, including golf, baseball, soccer, football, tennis, and even F1
Style and Aesthetic
Under Armour and Adidas might make fairly similar products for fairly similar uses, but they reach their markets through different design characteristics.
Under Armour
- Functional, training-focused aesthetic that prioritizes performance over flash
- Modern, athletic appearance with clean lines, bold geometric patterns, and colors that pop on the field or in the gym
- Projects strength, determination, and serious athletic intent
- Features strategic color blocking, performance-driven details like ventilation panels, and a look that’s consistent with training, athletics, and personal fitness
Adidas
- Blends sleek, contemporary design with carefully curated retro influences
- Toes the line between high-performance sportswear and street-ready relaxed fashion
- Boasts iconic three-stripe branding, refined color palettes, and expertly designed silhouettes
- Represents an elevated, lifestyle-oriented appeal that goes beyond typical athletic wear
Which to choose: When it comes to aesthetics, Under Armour is the better bet if your audience is interested in purely functional athletic wear; meanwhile, Adidas custom apparel offers a more versatile style for those who like to take their activewear beyond the gym, field, or court.
Product Performance and Functionality
Now that we’ve set up a baseline understanding of key differences between Under Armour vs. Adidas, let’s take a look at how some of their top custom products from their most popular product classes stack up. I’ll dig into attributes like material, comfort, performance features, and price points to help you find the perfect custom garment.
Short Sleeve T-Shirts
Under Armour Team Tech T-Shirt vs. Adidas Pregame T-Shirt
True to form, the Under Armour Team Tech T-Shirt offers excellent moisture-wicking properties via Tech Fabric, making it fast-drying and super-soft, while giving it a more natural feel than many other athletic polyester shirts. It also comes in a wide range of colors and offers both front and back printing options.
The Adidas Pregame T-Shirt takes a similar performance approach with a sustainability twist. Made from lightweight 4.4 oz. 100% recycled polyester, it uses AEROREADY moisture management to keep wearers dry, and a heat-seal label keeps it tag-free. Just note that a heat-seal Adidas logo sits on the center chest, so plan your design placement around it.
Our verdict: Under Armour’s softer, natural-feeling Tech Fabric tee gets the win.
Under Armour Team Tech T-Shirt
- +5 colors
Made from 100% recycled polyester with anti-odor technology, it prints with no minimum, so it works for a single team or a full company event.
8 reviews
Best for: Gym, outdoor company events, branded giveaways
Crewneck Sweatshirts
Under Armour Team Icon Fleece Crewneck Sweatshirt vs. Adidas Fleece Crewneck Sweatshirt
The Under Armour Team Icon Fleece Crewneck Sweatshirt comes in at an 80/20 cotton/poly blend with a brushed interior, giving it a bit more softness to go along with its loose, relaxed fit. At 8.26 oz., it’s a midweight layer that works year-round, and ribbed cuffs and hem help it keep its shape.
The Adidas Fleece Crewneck Sweatshirt comes in at a slightly heavier 8.9 oz. with a 70/30 cotton/recycled polyester split, giving it a slight edge on toughness but sacrificing a little softness. Its regular fit is a bit trimmer, and the embroidered Adidas logo sits on the left sleeve, leaving the chest open for your design. Both brands offer printing and embroidery.
Our verdict: Under Armour takes the cake with a softer, roomier option.
Under Armour Team Icon Fleece Crewneck Sweatshirt
It pairs with the Team Icon Fleece Hoodie for a coordinated team set. Print with no minimum, or embroider starting at six pieces.
Best for: Work from home packages, athletic uniforms, corporate giveaways, trade shows
Hoodies
Under Armour Team Icon Fleece Hooded Sweatshirt vs. Adidas Fleece Hooded Sweatshirt
The Under Armour Team Icon Fleece Hooded Sweatshirt features a super-soft 80/20 cotton/poly blend with a brushed interior and a relaxed, loose cut, ideal for layering or casual wear. Its contrast embroidered logo sits on the center chest, and it supports both printing and embroidery.
The Adidas Fleece Hooded Sweatshirt offers a similar option with a 70/30 cotton/recycled polyester blend, a slightly heavier 8.9 oz. weight, and a classic regular fit. For its part, Adidas keeps its logo on the left sleeve, as opposed to the chest where Under Armour’s is featured, which is a helpful design choice for a custom hoodie. Both also offer printing and embroidery.
Our verdict: Tie. These are pretty similar offerings with minimal differentiation in terms of construction, quality, and fit.
Under Armour Team Icon Fleece Hooded Sweatshirt
- +1 colors
A front pouch pocket and ribbed cuffs and hem finish a midweight hoodie that layers easily over uniforms. Print with no minimum, or embroider starting at six pieces.
Best for: New hire kits, trade shows, team morale gifts, team uniforms
Polos
Under Armour Tech™ Polo vs. Adidas Performance Polo
The Under Armour Tech™ Polo features moisture-wicking, odor-fighting capabilities you’d expect from one of the leading purveyors of custom performance polos. With a lightweight build and trim, modern silhouette, it’s also a versatile choice that’s ideal for the golf course or the office.
Meanwhile, the Adidas Performance Polo comes in with an ultra-light 3.8 oz-build, moisture-zapping hydrophilic finish, and UPF 50+ protection. Not to mention, it offers a ton of great color choices to go along with the contrast color heat transfer logo on the right sleeve.
Our verdict: Weighing Under Armour vs. Adidas polos and outerwear, Adidas wins here for top-notch performance features.
Adidas Performance Polo
- +6 colors
Made from 100% recycled polyester with a ribbed knit collar and three-button placket. Print with no minimum, or embroider starting at six pieces.
11 reviews
Best for: Giveaways for golfers, outdoor company events, trade shows, uniforms
Quarter-Zips
Under Armour Team Tech Quarter-Zip vs. Adidas Recycled Quarter-Zip Pullover
The Under Armour Team Tech Quarter-Zip is made from recycled polyester, helping keep you dry and our landfills less full. Meanwhile, its laid-back silhouette, lightweight build, and odor-fighting features ensure a comfortable experience with this highly functional garment.
The Adidas Recycled Quarter-Zip Pullover features 100% recycled polyester construction, with added hydrophilic finish to keep moisture off your body. It’s also got UPF 50+ protection to go along with a sleeve logo (as opposed to chest) and a ton of color options, making it somewhat more versatile than its competitor.
Our verdict: Adidas gets a slight edge for having more customization options.
Adidas Recycled Quarter-Zip Pullover
- +4 colors
A 6.1 oz. build with a self-mock collar and finished cuffs gives it a clean look for client meetings and cool-weather events. Print with no minimum, or embroider starting at six pieces.
1 review
Best for: Team apparel, trade shows, team uniforms, corporate giveaways, business apparel
Hats
Under Armour Unisex Team Blitzing Cap vs. Adidas Fundamental Alliance Cap
The Under Armour Blitzing Cap features a low-profile, structured front with a pre-curved visor, making it a great choice for outdoor sports and active environments. It’s made from breathable, textured 100% polyester with moisture-wicking performance and a built-in stretchy sweatband, and it supports both embroidery and printing.
The Adidas Fundamental Alliance Cap also uses 100% polyester, with CLIMACOOL technology for heat and moisture management, but comes with a medium-structured, mid-profile build and an adjustable strapback closure that brings more versatility in fit for both casual and athletic use.
Our verdict: Adidas is slightly more versatile with an adjustable strapback closure.
Adidas Fundamental Alliance Cap
The 3-Bar logo sits on the back, leaving the front open for yours. Embroider starting at six pieces, or print with no minimum.
Best for: Branded giveaways, trade shows, custom golf attire, conferences, uniforms, employee gifts
Sweatpants
Under Armour Icon Fleece Joggers vs. Adidas Fleece Sweatpants
The Under Armour Icon Fleece Joggers offer a warm brushed interior with a relaxed, loose fit. Compared to their Adidas counterpart, they include a pinch more cotton with an 80/20 cotton/poly fleece blend, along with an encased elastic waistband, an external drawcord, and a secure snap-back pocket for valuables.
Adidas Fleece Sweatpants are more straightforward, with a bit more polyester (70/30 cotton/recycled polyester) and an embroidered Adidas logo on the right leg. These are pretty standard fare for those who take their athleisure wear to the gym or the couch, with a moderately more modern, tapered fit than Under Armour’s version.
Our verdict: Both options are pretty straightforward fleece sweatpants, but we’ll give Under Armour the win for its softer blend and secure snap-back pocket.
Under Armour Icon Fleece Joggers
A 31" inseam and open hand pockets round out a classic full-length jogger. Print with no minimum, or embroider starting at six pieces.
Best for: Work-from-home packages, client gifting, employee apparel, company swag
Price and Value
Both Under Armour and Adidas offer high-quality custom apparel. However, their pricing, value, and product strengths can differ depending on your goals, budget, and quantity needed. Here’s what both brands offer:
- Premium custom products for athletic, outdoor, and casual use
- Bulk pricing discounts for large orders
- Notable brand recognition and positive association
- Versatile styles for corporate, athletic, or promotional use
But does one offer a distinctly better value than the other? Keep in mind that costs can vary by printing options, individual product, quantity, and even color in some cases. The averages below are based on per-unit costs across multiple products, so real prices can vary.
For maximum ROI on a tight budget: Adidas products tend to have a slightly lower price point, and can have similar features and quality. However, Under Armour products can be worth their marginally higher average prices depending on the use case.
It’s also worth noting that higher quantities will reduce per-unit costs for both brands, and there may be lower- or higher-cost alternative products you can choose from.
Brand Recognition and Perceived Value
When it comes to instant brand recognition, Adidas has an edge that spans generations and continents. The iconic three stripes show up everywhere from high school track teams to fashion runways to city streets to sold-out arenas. Adidas's brand power encompasses athletics, style, and lifestyle.
For organizations choosing branded gear, this widespread appeal means your team or event gains instant credibility and perceived quality. The three-stripe logo carries weight across diverse demographics, making it particularly valuable for corporate partnerships, community events, or any situation where you want your branded apparel to resonate with the widest possible audience.
No slouch in its own right, Under Armour operates in a different sphere of brand recognition, one that's built more on pure performance than popularity. Within athletic and fitness communities, the UA logo gets respect as a mark of performance-focused gear that promises exclusivity and authenticity.
For teams, training facilities, or corporate wellness programs targeting fitness-minded audiences, Under Armour's reputation can enhance perceived value by signaling that the organization is similarly serious about quality. While it may not carry the same universal recognition as Adidas, Under Armour's brand equity still runs deep among athletes and fitness enthusiasts.
When to Choose Under Armour vs. Adidas
If you’re still weighing Adidas vs. Under Armour performance wear at this point, I’ll summarize all the above into a few simple differences:
Choose Under Armour If...
- You prioritize technical performance and athlete-tested functionality
- You’re outfitting sports teams, fitness pros, or high-performance environments
- You want moisture-wicking, quick-dry gear that holds up under pressure
- You’ve got the budget for premium performance gear
Choose Adidas If...
- You want a balance of style and sport with strong cultural relevance
- Your audience values on-trend looks with athletic credibility
- You’re targeting brand-conscious groups who appreciate high-visibility names
- You need refined pieces for casual wear, retail, or brand-forward campaigns
Final Thoughts on Under Armour and Adidas
In summary, these are two quality athletic brands with huge name recognition, so either makes a great choice.
- Adidas gets wins for broad brand recognition and wide desirability. It’s also got more lifestyle appeal with more versatile styling.
- Under Armour takes the cake for signaling supremely serious fitness and athletic commitment and innovative features.
The one you pick should come down to your audience and their expectations, the use cases you have in mind for your products, and how well each brand’s aesthetic aligns with your own.
Whenever you’re ready, RushOrderTees offers a wide range of products from both brands, giving you the flexibility to see your custom design in real time, along with bulk pricing discounts and delivery timeliness that fit your needs.
Check out the full custom apparel catalog, or contact us today for help getting started.
About the Author
Based in New Mexico, Bryce Emley is a seasoned content writer and expert in the realms of custom apparel and eCommerce. Holding an MFA in Creative Writing, he seamlessly blends his passions, specializing in insightful content that bridges the gap between innovative apparel solutions and digital commerce trends. Beyond his professional pursuits, Bryce is an avid creator, channeling his creativity into poetry, screenplays, and creative nonfiction. In his leisure time, he has a penchant for collecting unique, vintage anime t-shirts, showcasing his love for both rare finds and the artistry of apparel design.