How to Be an Under Armour Product Tester

Celia Shatzman and Ana Yglesias

March 14, 2024 at 3:10 AM·9 min read

On a morning run, have you ever noticed how your sneakers manage to grip the ground with every step? Or the way your leggings move with you? Maybe you’ve thought about how your long-sleeved shirt keeps you warm during winter workouts without overheating you. Of course, the best fitness apparel brands have the top technology at their fingertips, but much more than that goes into perfecting new products. The human touch is crucial and you can thank product testers for giving priceless feedback that helps shape whatever you’re wearing.

Plenty of brands rely on product testers to maximize their offerings, including Under Armour. “It is a valuable tool for Under Armour to test and learn with direct consumer feedback so that we can continue to build the most innovative products for the Focused Performer, and as such, there are processes in place to maintain the integrity of the program and its goals,” says an Under Armour representative.

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To ensure 100% satisfaction on all of their offerings, Under Armour has a guarantee on all of their gear, called the Universal Guarantee of Performance (UGOP) stamp. Their product testing program helps ensure that every single item they offer lives up to the UGOP stamp.

So, exactly what does it take to become a product tester for Under Armour? The best part is that you can sign up here. “There is a vetting process to ensure the testers that are chosen match our product testing needs,” an Under Armour representative says. “It also involves using the product and providing timely and detailed product feedback. In some cases, the product needs to be returned at the end of the test, so the testers don’t always get to keep the product.”

Under Armour’s product testing program is called the “Field Testing Program.” The rigorous process uses real athletes at a range of different levels to put their products to the test, including apparel, footwear, and accessories. Testers share their feedback about its performance with Under Armour’s design and product teams so that they can consider their experiences and use them to improve the products, ensuring they reach the highest standard.

Read on to learn about the how to become an Under Armour product tester and the experience.

How do I apply to be an Under Armour product tester?

Aspiring testers apply on the Under Armour website here. It only takes a few minutes to sign up for the program. Potential testers are asked to fill out basic information, including your size, the sports you play, the level of sports activity, and workout conditions.

To increase your chances of being selected for product testing, be sure to complete the profile and be honest. If Under Armour offers any additional questionnaires, fill those out promptly to show that you’re serious and excited about potentially participating. In the application, sell yourself on why you’re a great person to test their product, piquing their attention and giving them a reason to pick you.

Once the application is complete, if Under Armour wants to move forward, they will contact you and let you know if you’ve been approved to participate in a test for the Field Testing Program. Sometimes it takes a while to be chosen to participate, so make sure that your profile is completed and up to date.

Keep in mind that not everyone who applies is accepted, but since the application process is easy, it’s worth a shot.

Under Armour UA SlipSpeed.Courtesy of Under Armour

What info is required for the Under Armour Product Tester application?

To sign up to be considered for Under Armour’s Field Testing Program, you must submit your email and choose a password to create your profile. In order to have a better chance at being selected, you must thoroughly fill out ever section: contact information, clothing and shoe sizes, and sports activity.

Under Armour asks for clothing and shoe sizes and has an official measurement guide to ensure you pick the right size for you. The sports activity section is perhaps the most important, as the brand wants its new and in-development products to be tested, as the name suggests, out in the field in real-life conditions of athletes and sports enthusiasts. Here, you can select the activities you participate in regularly and how often. Under Armour products are often designed for specific sports, like running or basketball, so it’s imperative that the products are tested on the court, track, etcetera.

Once you’ve submitted your profile, it will be live in the Under Armour database and be reviewed when the company is looking for testers for a specific product. For example, if they have new running shoes to put to the test, they’ll look at all the applications that include running in the sports activity section of their profile.

Additionally, there is a “Connected Fitness” portion of the profile, where you can sync and log your daily fitness activity, offering the brand an accurate, up-to-date look at how you move. If you are pretty active, this could possibly help you stand out from applicants who do not regularly log their fitness activity. If you are selected to test a product, you may be asked to keep a daily log of everything you do while wearing it.

If any of your information changes, such as you move, change sizes or take on a new sport, you can log in to your profile at any time to update it. Make sure that the email you sign up with is one you check, so that you will see any notifications about product testing. If you need to update your email, you can contact support to do so.

How are Under Armour product testers selected?

Each product requires a different test and testers are chosen based on the needs of that criteria and the specific demographic they are looking for. This can include your sports activity and level of experience, how often you play, your size, and your geographical location. Athletes are selected based on whether they match the test product requirements.

An Under Armour Field Test Analyst screens a database of potential testers to source the best match for each product. If you are selected to test a product, Under Armour will reach out and ask for your participation. You must opt-in to join the specific test. After the potential testers have confirmed their interest in participating, the Field Test Analyst narrows it down and chooses the final roster of participants, who will receive the product in the mail. The brand may also select “extra testers” in addition to their product testers to offer additional feedback and analysis on the gear.

Under Armour testers can live anywhere in the world. Parents with athletic kids can also sign their children up for the program. To do so, the parent or guardian must create their own profile and then add a youth account to their profile by clicking on “Youth Accounts” when logged in. NCAA athletes and employees of sports goods companies are not allowed to participate in the program. If you no longer want to be considered for participation in the program, you can delete your profile.

How does product testing work?

If your application for Under Armour’s Field Testing Program is approved, they will send you the product that is under review. This can be anything from a pair of sneakers to a hoodie, T-shirt—you name it. Then you’ll use the product like you would any other pair of sneakers, or whatever the item is. The testing time range varies, but it’s typically for a few weeks to a couple of months, depending on the project. You will receive all of the details before you start.

Typically, you’ll have one to two months with a product to test it out extensively. You’ll share your experiences with the product, typically on the fit, comfort, durability and performance. You may be asked to keep a daily journal online to record your thoughts on the product, including where you wore the item, for how long, and what you did in it. Feedback can be collected in a range of ways, including online surveys, sharing photos, or via email, phone or video conversations.

To increase your chances of being chosen for another project, it’s best to give as much detailed feedback as possible with your reviews. At the end of the trial, you’ll usually need to return the sample so that the company can test it for wear and tear and evaluate how it has held up over the testing process. Although, you may sometimes be allowed to keep the product.

Runners in the Under Armour UA Flow Velociti Wind 2.Courtesy of Under Armour

What are the benefits of participating in Under Armour’s Field Testing Program?

Product tester are volunteers and will not be paid for their time. And while keeping the iten(s) you test is a possibility, it is not a guarantee. But if you’re an active person and already love searching for the most comfortable and efficient pair of running shoes or are constantly on the hunt for the most-breathable workout shirt, this could be a great program for you.

It’s pretty cool to know that your input is helping to create the final product. And getting to test it out before it hits the market is a fun perk. Knowing that your experience helped to shape the final look and performance of the item and that it will eventually be used around the world is exciting. Helping to set the standards of Under Amour is a bonus in itself.

How to get free Under Armour gear

While it is not a guarantee, there is a possibility of receiving free Under Armour products as a Field Tester. The company may want to inspect the wear-and-tear on the items after the testing process. Yet if they don’t need to, it’s yours to keep.

If you are a professional athlete or influencer, the brand may want to partner with you to promote their gear and send you free items. For everyone else out there, you can sign up for Under Armour’s email newsletter and join the its loyalty program to be notified about sales, new releases and receive discounts.