A brief comparison of Five Ultimate Hydro Shorts versus Patagonia Field Shorts, both articles of clothing made for ultimate frisbee:
Five Ultimate Patagonia
Cost $20.00 $25.00
Material 88% polyester, 12% elastane 100% recycled polyester
Colors 22 choices including plaid 3 choices - black, white, gray
Comfort Extremely soft; lightweight Breathable; extremely lightweight
Pockets One, MP3 None
Durability Not very Durable; comes with guarantee
Weather Gets very heavy in rain Completely waterproof
www.fiveultimate.com http://www.patagonia.com/
Many would argue that ultimate frisbee is not a real sport. Many do not even know the extent to which the ultimate frisbee society has developed, both inNorth America and around the world. Though on occasion it is a little embarrassing for me to admit being a part of this enormous, somewhat underground, often misunderstood, and increasingly popular culture, I cannot deny the growth of the ultimate frisbee world nor how much I enjoy playing. One of the clear manifestations of this sport’s expansion is the emergence of clothing lines established in the past several years designed specifically for ultimate players. There are now several companies that exclusively sell ultimate apparel such as Five Ultimate, VC Ultimate, and Gaia. Competing with these companies are outdoor and sports stores who have developed a line of sportswear specifically for ultimate frisbee, including Patagonia and Underarmour. Being a part of this cultural, social, and athletic network necessarily causes me to consider such decisions like what types of uniforms to buy. One of the key decisions includes shorts, which are vital to one’s performance.
Many would argue that ultimate frisbee is not a real sport. Many do not even know the extent to which the ultimate frisbee society has developed, both in
I will be comparing shorts made by Five Ultimate and Patagonia , two of the powerhouses in sponsoring and clothing hundreds of teams across the nation. Five Ultimate prides itself on being the merchandiser of the Worlds competition along with other huge tournaments such as Nationals for the college and club divisions. Patagonia, on the other hand, sponsors many elite teams in North America , particularly within the college and club divisions. Both of these companies are known for producing high quality shorts. In reviewing both of these products as a prospective consumer, I am judging the quality of each product based on their functionality and accessibility, including the cost, material, color choices, comfort, and functionality.
The material of the shorts from Five Ultimate and Patagonia differ greatly. The Hydro Shorts made by Five Ultimate are 88% polyester and 12% elastane, giving them a lightweight, extremely stretchy, and comfortable feel. Five Ultimate offers 22 colors and patterns, including wacky ones like plaid. They have the most give I have ever seen in a pair of athletic shorts, and by the feel of them, I am confident that they give completely unhindered mobility. Patagonia ’s Field Shorts are made from 100% recycled polyester, giving them a breathable and extremely lightweight feel. They are much lighter than the shorts made by Five Ultimate, and the breathability of the material easily wicks sweat and keeps the range of mobility high, though not quite as high as that of the Five Ultimate shorts. Patagonia offers their shorts in white, black, and gray. Though the Patagonia shorts are much lighter than the Five Ultimate shorts, the Five ultimate shorts are much softer and more comfortable.
The Patagonia shorts do not have a pocket, and the Five Ultimate shorts have an inner MP3 pocket. The concept of having pockets in ultimate shorts is never debated; pockets are never included in frisbee shorts so as to eliminate the possibility of catching – and thus breaking – fingers while playing. Five Ultimate attempts to combat not having pockets with a wallet sized pocket that is concealed inside the waistline. However, the awkward side location of the pocket and the size does not make the pocket all that functional.
The one other aspect of frisbee shorts that is important to consider when comparing the products is durability and resilience in weather conditions. Considering the bipolar and often nasty weather that hits the Pacific Northwest during the fall and spring frisbee seasons, it is especially important for me to choose a product that will hold up in the rain. Five Ultimate shorts gets considerably heavy in the rain, while Patagonia shorts are completely waterproof. Not only is the water repellence advantageous for keeping the shorts from getting heavy and hindering speed, but gear that is waterproof keeps you dry and much warmer. Once Five Ultimate shorts get wet, they do not dry easily at all. Especially after four or five games in one day, once your shorts get wet, the shorts’ quality of water repellence will determine how cold you feel, how much weight you feel like you are carrying, and how much they get in the way, all elements that affect your performance.
The durability of the Five Ultimate shorts seems to be significantly less than the Patagonia shorts. It seems as though the stitches unravel easily, and several runs through the washer will eat them. The softness of the material does not seem to decline with time and wear, but the threads do seem to come undone easily. The shorts made by Patagonia , on the other hand, being made of 100% recycled polyester, appear much more durable as they are designed to resist abrasion. Having visited the washing machine several times, the quality of the Patagonia has not diminished in the least. All Patagonia gear also comes with an “Ironclad Guarantee” that guarantees satisfaction and performance. It seems like, in the long run, Patagonia shorts will easily trump the Five Ultimate shorts.
The price of athletic shorts usually range from $20 to $30, and that does not change for ultimate frisbee. Five Ultimate’s shorts are a base rate of $20 before screen printing, and Patagonia ’s shorts are normally $35, but I paid $25 through a team order. Considering the difference in price for me was only $5, I am considering the discrepancy less than significant. Even if the Patagonia shorts are $15 more than the Five Ultimate shorts, it seems like the weatherproof, durable, and lightweight Patagonia shorts are more worth it. For a rain-plagued location, I would recommend Patagonia ’s Field Shorts over Five Ultimate’s Hydro Shorts, but for an inexpensive, extremely comfortable pair of shorts in a dry location, Five Shorts would be the way to go.
Your article did a great job of offering a comparison that not only provided great information for how these shorts are applicable to the chosen sport but also in general the quality of the product. I am amazed at the level you were able to g into these products considering that they are just shorts. I really like the fact that you made a clear recommendation of a specific product for a reason rather than just saying both are good products.
ReplyDeleteI like your introduction into the article. We get a clear sense of the product's worth to you, and also learn something new (I had no idea that there were national teams and tournaments or that shorts were made specifically for this sport). I feel like that perhaps transitions could have been a little smoother. Also, you use "it seems like..." a lot throughout the article. Perhaps, you could cut back on those and just say "it is..." instead. Other than that, good job.
ReplyDelete