It’s tricky picking custom activewear — not only do you have to think about the look, fit, and cost of your garment, you’ve also got to think about the quality, durability, performance features, name recognition… the list goes on.
If this journey has taken you to the Under Armour vs. OGIO crossroads, I’ll spoil the ending for you: Under Armour and OGIO both offer high-quality branded apparel, but cater to different needs.
Whether you're outfitting a corporate team with custom bags, ordering performance gear for school athletics, or selecting branded accessories for a golf tournament, each brand offers unique advantages in performance, aesthetics, and customization potential.
Brand Overview: Under Armour vs. OGIO
Both Under Armour and OGIO have reputations for high-quality athletic products, but they’ve made those reputations in different ways. Under Armour has built its legacy on professional-grade, performance-driven athletic wear, while OGIO has carved out a niche with sleek travel gear and accessories that blend functionality with modern style.
The decision between Under Armour vs. OGIO ultimately comes down to matching the right brand to your specific needs and audience. Here’s how they compare.
- Athletic-focused brand known for performance wear
- Made its name with moisture-wicking, stretchable fabrics ideal for training and movement
- Popular with teams, fitness-oriented staff, and casual corporate environments
- Independent, public company that drives its own product lines
- Sleek, modern brand focused on tech-ready gear and elevated corporate apparel
- Known for backpacks, polos, travel gear, and outerwear with thoughtful design
- Great for sales teams, events, or on-the-go professionals
- Owned by Callaway Golf Company, which aligns its activewear more narrowly with the golfing market
Style and Aesthetic
While both brands lean toward functional, athletic appearances, their products are informed by slightly different aesthetics. This reflects on the sports they’re known for — here’s how each stacks up.
Under Armour
- Sporty, fitted, with performance-driven design cues
- Subtle, innovative performance features like moisture resistance and heat regulation
- Best known for team sports like football, basketball, and golf
Suitable for: Fitness brands, trade show booth staff, company events, branded partnerships
OGIO
- Minimalist, sleek, tech-inspired business apparel ideal for professionals who spend their weekends on the golf course
- Products feature technical fabrics, modular compartments, and often adventurous, outdoor-inspired designs
- Aside from golf, leans more toward general gym and fitness uses and styles
Suitable for: Corporate retreats, employee uniforms, company events, team giveaways, fitness-oriented staff gifts
Product Performance and Functionality
Now that you know how the two brands compare at a high level, you still might be wondering what those differences mean for the actual products themselves. Here’s a one-on-one breakdown of some of the most popular products from each brand by apparel type.
Short Sleeve Tees
Under Armour Team Tech T-Shirt vs. OGIO Endurance Pulse Crew
Best for: Gym, outdoor company events, branded giveaways
The Team Tech is one of Under Armour’s top custom shirts. Its 100% recycled polyester construction helps it wick moisture in impressive time, with added odor-fighting technology that makes it a perfect gym companion. It’s got a surprisingly natural, soft feel for a performance shirt, helping it live up to its premium price tag.
This OGIO t-shirt comes in at value pricing compared to its competitor, but it’s still a solid value. The set-in sleeves and visible front seam give it a more classic athletic appearance, and like Under Armour, it’s also got moisture-wicking properties to keep you dry while you exercise.
Both offer front and back printing, while Under Armour does force your chest design to compete with its own logo below the collar.
Our verdict: Under Armour comes in on top here with the more premium product with more features.
Polos
Under Armour Tech™ Polo vs. OGIO Caliber2.0 Polo
Best for: Giveaways for golfers, outdoor company events, trade shows, uniforms
As you’d expect from an Under Armour polo, the Tech™ Polo is a pitch-perfect custom performance polo for anyone in need of branded performance apparel. Featuring customary moisture-wicking polyester, odor-fighting properties, and a lightweight build, it’s tailor-made for long afternoons on your favorite course. It’s also got a more tapered, modern silhouette that makes it a smart choice for business casual wear.
For those looking for a more relaxed fit, the Caliber2.0 OGIO polo has a slightly roomier drape that gives it a slightly more casual look. With bartacked placket and triple-needle shoulders and hem, it’s also supremely durable, and its rib knit cuffs give it a distinctive finish. The side vents are a nice perk as well, giving more breathability wearers will appreciate on extra-hot days.
Both golf polos are 100% polyester for enhanced comfort and dryness, and offer both back and breast design areas.
Our verdict: OGIO wins here for its upgraded cooling properties and dynamic design.
Quarter Zips
Under Armour Team Tech Quarter-Zip vs. OGIO Limit Quarter-Zip
Best for: Team apparel, trade shows, team uniforms, corporate giveaways
As usual, this Under Armour custom sustainable product uses recycled polyester to keep fabric out of the landfill and sweat off your body. It’s a pretty no-frills custom pullover, with a relaxed silhouette and odor-fighting properties to boot, but it’s comfortable, lightweight, and functional.
If you’re in the market for a more versatile custom sweatshirt, an OGIO quarter-zip like this may be the better choice. The fit is slightly more tapered, and features a somewhat deeper zipper for more ventilation. Notably, it’s not 100% polyester like Under Armour’s option — it’s a 58/42 cotton/poly blend, lending it added softness at some expense of athletic performance, though the side vents help make up for some heat retention.
Both products are similarly customizable with left-breast and back logo placement options, though you might prefer how Under Armour’s quarter-zips like the Team Tech feature its recognizable logo on the right breast.
Our verdict: OGIO represents a more versatile, attractive choice.
Backpacks
Under Armour Hustle Backpack 6.0 vs. OGIO Logan Backpack
Best for: New hire kits, trade shows, team morale gifts
When you’re headed to class, work, a presentation, or anywhere you might carry a bag-load of stuff, there’s nothing worse than a wet backpack. Thankfully, Under Armour’s UA Storm Technology gives exceptional water-resistance to help keep your papers, laptop, or change of clothes dry. Meanwhile its molle webbing, expandable main compartment, and secure zip front all give it surprising storage capacity, and its EVELED strap system makes it comfortable for the long haul.
While Under Armour offers a 7% nylon build for added flexibility, OGIO’s offering is a bit more rugged with 100% polyester construction and 840D poly dobby with PU backing. The front organization panel is also a nice touch for students, and the air-wicking mesh makes it super breathable for those who want to test it on long hikes.
Both are solid, durable, lightweight options with front panel customization.
Our verdict: While OGIO is known for its custom bags, Under Armour takes the cake with a more versatile, weather-resistant custom backpack (https://www.rushordertees.com/bags/backpacks/).
Sweatpants
Under Armour Rival Fleece Sweatpants vs. OGIO Connection Joggers
Best for: Corporate gifting, team uniforms, promotional attire
With a super-warm brushed interior, spacious-yet-trim silhouette, and 80/20 cotton/poly fleece construction, Under Armour’s Rival Fleece Sweatpants offer an ultra-comfortable, casual choice for those in need of custom joggers. They also come in three colors, making them ideal for those looking for a versatile, casual giveaway or promotional option.
OGIO’s Connection Joggers are a little more fitted, are made with a 92/8 poly/spandex blend, and feature a durable water-repellent (DWR) finish — all of which amounts to a more performance-oriented sweatpants. They’re only available in one color, but similar to Under Armour, they feature a generous front-thigh customization space.
Our verdict: OGIO’s joggers are a better performance option.
Price & Value
While both Under Armour and OGIO represent premium custom activewear offerings, they represent substantially different values.
- Per-unit pricing: Product-for-product, Under Armour is more expensive than OGIO, plain and simple. Keep in mind that the premium price affords you greater brand recognition and access to its famous moisture- and odor-fighting tech, but if value is the name of your game, OGIO is virtually always more cost-effective on a per-unit basis.
- Bulk pricing: Both brands come with noticeable bulk pricing discounts. Since Under Armour is generally more expensive than OGIO, you can expect steeper discounts when you order en masse. However, costs for products from both brands drop on a per-unit basis, so you can expect value to go up the more units you order.
- Durability and perceived quality: There’s no doubt that Under Armour has greater brand recognition, and thus, greater perceived quality. Under Armour may have a better reputation for longevity, but you can expect OGIO to stand up to the elements and withstand the test of time as well.
It’s easy to get caught up in the brand recognition game. OGIO isn’t a household name on the level that Under Armour is yet, but it’s a quality brand offering premium custom products. In many cases, OGIO offers more features and is quickly growing a reputation for producing highly functional products. You’ll just have to decide for yourself whether the costs and features are worth the savings over Under Armour’s history of reliability and well-established reputation.
Brand Recognition & Perceived Value
It’s come up a couple times, but it’s worth spending a little more time on — while these are both known brands, there’s no doubt that one of them carries more weight than the other, which can reflect on your brand associations. Here are some things to consider:
- Under Armour: A kinetic, globally recognized brand that’s associated with athletics foremost, Under Armour can lend your custom clothing a lot of built-in desirability for the right market. Sports fans will recognize the logo from popular professional teams and individual athletes (especially golfers), while gym-goers and outdoor enthusiasts know it as a brand that produces reliable workout and exercise gear.
- OGIO: Respected in its own right in the corporate gifting and promotional gear world, OGIO is known for premium construction and sleek aesthetics. The brand’s reputation stems from its quality, innovative bags and travel gear, but it also makes high-caliber custom golf apparel and activewear. Still, it doesn’t carry the name (or logo) recognition Under Armour boasts, which doesn’t necessarily mean its products aren’t up to a similar level of reliability.
When to Choose Under Armour vs. OGIO
By now we’ve gone pretty deep into breaking down Under Armour and OGIO, but I’ll make things easy by summing everything up into a few basic points to really help hammer home the right choice.
- Choose Under Armour If...
- You need performance gear for training, athletics, or active teams
- Your audience values comfort, stretch, and sporty branding
- You’re outfitting schools, sports clubs, or fitness events
- You value name recognition
- You want pure performance gear with industry-best moisture and odor control
- Choose OGIO If...
- You’re targeting professionals, sales teams, or tech-savvy staff
- You want refined, durable pieces that travel well and look premium
- Your brand leans more lifestyle, urban, or corporate than athletic or sporty
- You’re outfitting a golf event or want a premium gift item for players or sponsors
- You want to balance athletic performance with ergonomic features
Conclusion: Under Armour vs. OGIO: Which One’s Right for You?
Both Under Armour and OGIO bring their own strengths to the table, and the right choice really depends on your goals, audience, and the impression you want your custom apparel to make.
Under Armour shines with performance-focused, moisture-wicking fabrics, modern athletic fits, and brand recognition, making it a go-to for sports teams, fitness enthusiasts, and companies wanting to project an energetic, high-performance vibe.
Meanwhile, OGIO delivers sleek, tech-inspired designs with professional appeal, smart construction, and often a lower price point. It’s ideal for teams who travel (or even just commute) often, polished corporate wear, and high-end client or event giveaways.
No matter which you choose, both brands can be fully customized and ordered directly through RushOrderTees, with options for embroidery, screen printing, and more. Still not sure which brand fits your team best? Reach out to our team — we’re happy to help you compare options and place your order.