When experience mixes with passion and then a good dose of entrepreneurship comes into play, only good things can come out of it. In our test today, we took a closer look at a set from the still young American brand Viktøs, consisting of Compression Shorts and the Performance Shirt. You can find Viktøs in Germany at S4 Supplies.

Viktøs was founded in 2017 in Wisconsin and is, as mentioned at the beginning, a rather interesting combination of U.S. military veterans and business individuals who specialize in making clothing for lifestyle, combat, training, and more. If anyone thinks that the name Viktøs sounds a bit Nordic, they would be correct. The brand name is derived from the Latin word "Invictus" (meaning Unconquered) and was complemented by a stylized shield with a crossed sword... the Ø.

The first impression and the fit

The shorts and shirt come in a very practical color combination of anthracite with camo elements. All seams in both the shirt and the shorts are executed as flat seams and double-stitched (inside and outside). The material thickness in the shirt is a bit thicker and gives a very high-quality impression. Logos and lettering are done as flex prints. All in all, it looks good and feels good.

The tested shirt in size L, however, is sized very much in American standards. What this means is: for the measurements of the tester (190 cm tall, 92 kg weight, and 107 cm chest circumference), the shirt fits quite loosely. A quick look at the size chart of Viktøs revealed that he would fit into the L size category based on his measurements, but the cut allows for quite a bit of room around the hips and upper arms. If you prefer a tighter fit: go one size down.

The shorts are executed a good hand's width longer than similar functional pants, hitting the mark perfectly for us. The slightly longer cut keeps the shorts in place significantly better during movement. This way, the groin area remains free from annoying fabric bunching up, which can sometimes cause discomfort. Especially when combined with robust hiking or tactical pants (think RipStop), having a bit more fabric serves as excellent chafing prevention.

In practice?

To actually assess the promised freedom of movement and functionality by Viktøs, the set was tested in 3 training sessions (15 km terrain run, workout at the gym, and technical training on an obstacle course).

Conclusion Viktøs PTXF Performance Shirt: The shirt falls into the category of very sturdy with its cut and should be bought one size smaller for an athletic figure. Since the shirts are currently only available from size M upwards, it might be difficult for those interested who normally wear M to find a well-fitting one. On the other hand, the cut offers plenty of room for very muscular/sturdy body shapes.

The seams and material live up to their promise, providing both freedom of movement and functionality. The odor development is pleasantly moderate during sweaty activities and the shirt dries up quickly as expected. In summary, a high-quality shirt with a cool look, but more tailored towards muscular body shapes.

Conclusion Viktøs PTXF Compression Shorts: The compression shorts mold very comfortably to an average to above-average trained thigh. The longer leg cut makes the shorts to fit perfectly on the leg without being bothersome during movement. The wider waistband (when pulled up a bit higher) also offers good chafing protection against belts or stiff waistbands of pants in the abdominal area.

Just as with the shirt, there is nothing to complain about regarding functionality with the compression shorts. They absorb sweat well, dry quickly, and have only a moderate odor. Combined with the better fit cut, these are shorts that also fit well for less muscular figures.

The Viktøs PTXF Performance Shirt and the Viktøs PTXF Compression Shorts are available at S4 Supplies.

Viktøs on the Internet: www.viktos.com