For years, athletes have carried the same burden – and we are not talking about expectations or pressure. We are talking about their bags. Backpacks have been quietly doing damage for decades—the weight, the strain, the pull on your shoulders after a long day of carrying gear, laptops, and textbooks. That familiar ache? It’s not just soreness—it’s a design flaw and Under Armour decided it was time to fix what others had ignored. The result is the No Weigh Backpack: a three-year mission to transform one of the most damaging everyday essentials into one of the most advanced products we’ve ever created.
“The athlete backpack is used more than almost anything else, but no one’s truly rethought it until now. We treated it like a performance product, because that’s what it really is,” said Kyle Blakely, SVP of Innovation, Development & Testing.
Fuelling that transformation is UA Suspension™ straps—a patent-pending innovation that redefines how a backpack moves with the body. These multi-directional straps stretch and contract in real time, adapting to your stride and shifting loads to create a more natural carry. In testing by a third-party ergonomics laboratory, the system readjusted the load, reducing strain and minimizing fatigue—proving that when your gear works with your body, everything moves better.
“It doesn’t just feel lighter—it moves with you. You’re not fighting the bag anymore,” said Tobiah Taylor, Director of Accessories.
This dynamic suspension system redistributes weight the way the body is built to carry it—across the shoulders and upper back—delivering a more balanced, almost weightless feel in motion. But while the UA Suspension straps are the breakthrough, the entire No Weigh Backpack was built with purpose.
Shaped by three years of athlete input, testing, and refinement, every detail was engineered to meet the demands of real-life performance:
- Breathable, moisture-wicking back panels to keep sweat under control
- Expandable 28–35L capacity, perfect for cleats, books, and recovery tools
- Quick-access zippered pockets, designed for athletes on the go
- Ventilated compartments to separate sweaty gear from everyday essentials
- “Level” strap adjusters and a floating sternum strap for a custom fit across body types
The athlete insight was never more impactful than with Project Rampart, Under Armour’s partnership with Baltimore City Schools that empowers young athletes through sport and education. These student-athletes weren’t just testers—they were collaborators. When handed early prototypes, they instinctively moved. Ran. Jumped. Dropped into push-ups. The bag felt so light, they forgot it was on.
In one unscripted moment, a student laughed and said: “Noooo way.” That moment became more than feedback—it became the name. Their reactions didn’t just shape the product—they inspired the story. Several of these students will be featured in the launch campaign, bringing real energy and authenticity to the work and ensuring the next generation has a voice in how this product shows up in the world.”
