compression wear info needed????? please

[fitness4natic]

Hi everyone, I saw a compression wear post under 'running gear' but wanted to just make another one:-)



I want to buy '2XU' compression wear full length legs.



Can anyone tell me if you get the same training benefits after training if your equipped with these???

Says faster recovery and enhanced blood flow to the heart from areas where blood usually pools.



Finally if I were to train with these for a few months, and decided to suddenly train without them! would my muscles be in equal shape' too if I never trained with compression tights?? would I be prone to injury more' running at the same pace I did when wearing the tights.



Hope thats understandable!? thanks everyone

[Em]

I don't wear compression tights to train, only for recovery after long runs or hard sessions.



I find them too hot and restrictive to run in and am much happier in shorts.

[sassycil]

I have a pair of compression tights. I have worn them once, they rubbed at the back of my knees.

I have heard it said that they lose their compression after a few weeks.

To avoid injury, you are better off listening to your body (a very girly thing to say, but it is true) and having active rest to recover. They will probably do nothing to your muscles. If you ache, stop and take some panadol.

I would save the money for a good pair of shoes.

Sassycil

[shells]

my only experience of compression tights are the Under Armour ColdGear full length tights. They were $120 at Rebel Sport and are quite a bit thicker than Skins.



The main reason I bought them was to keep out the cold (they're recommended for use in 13 degree and lower temperatures). They wick the moisture away well, keep you toasty warm and are super comfortable. *They are too hot for summer use. They have a HeatGear range for higher temps - more to the thickness of Skins.



As for the benefits of compression - i've found the full length tights help with the shin splints i was getting due to the cold air hitting my bare shins (wearing shorts in winter - couldn't bring myself to wear tracksuit pants) and my shin muscles would contract and tighten up (!) so the tights helped there. Also I feel slightly less sore in the quads after a long run.



I've trained in them and without with no major noticeable difference, so yes your muscles will be in equal shape whether you train with them or not.



Compression tights support your muscles and improve circulation to aid recovery - so you might feel less sore after a long run.



I don't believe wearing compression tights makes you less prone to injury, just as wearing shorts doesn't make you more prone to injury.



That said, i'm very happy with my coldgear tights which allowed me to train throughout winter and not even think about the cold once.



Now it's warmer I just wear regular tights - 3/4 or full length or shorts. I won't bother getting warm weather compression tights as the difference is not that noticeable for me.

[Stu Mac]

The 2XU tights appear to be very popular and are probably the second most popular pair of tights behind Skins, but are they any better, well who really knows!





But Shell

As for the benefits of compression - i've found the full length tights help with the shin splints i was getting due to the cold air hitting my bare shins (wearing shorts in winter - couldn't bring myself to wear tracksuit pants) and my shin muscles would contract and tighten up (!) so the tights helped there....

I'm not sure if I can agree with your comment, shins splints are as a result of over use or too much to soon etc, but wearing tights will not stop shin splints, no matter how cold. To the best of my knowledge there are no muscles in the shin, it is a sheath that attaches to the calf muscle groups.

[shells]

ha stu mac, the details! well, not 'shin muscles' per say, more so referring to the anterior tibialis and the tissue that connects the muscles to the lining of the tibia. (how wanky does that sound? sorry i didn't mean it to come out that way!) this bit really tightens up for me and was exacerbated by the cold.



however, i will admit that i can't tell whether the benefit of wearing the compression tights was all in my head - ie. psychosomatic. but when wearing the tights, i didn't get the tightness?!?

[fitness4natic]

Thanks everyone!! damn, I was hoping to hear heaps of positive talk about them.... I brought them and it cost me $180 for full length legs.

Hmmm I put them on this moring and put my dress pants on top, so been on all day. I guess I feel a little more agility due to the tightness of them and blood flow i feel is increased because my right calf feels like it was about to turn into a injury and when I woke up I couldnt walk at all but walking up steps feels easier and no calf pain or less now wearing them, even after sitting down for 1 hour

[fitness4natic]

I'll just keep wearing them for a while I guess, but I feel like heat build up is a little bit increased, don't want my hamstrings to cramp thats all.



They motivate me more I guess, people stare! don't know if there thinking gosh he's wearing tights haha, or he must be sponsored, gosh he's running fast:-p



thanks everyone

[Rowey]

Hi



I like Puma tights, which are a lot cheaper now since the compression wear came along. Keep my legs nice and warm on the coldest of days.

Bare legs, with side cut shorts to stride free, are still the nicest feel !





cheers



rowey

[fitness4natic]

The elite compression wear tights I brought from 2XU, have definetly proven themselves to me with giving muscle support.

I did a 18km run on sunday, then a 5km monday, 8km tuesday, just about to leave for a 8km soon and my muscles feel like 4 times better than they would by now if I was not wearing them.





The only part I am not happy about is that the decorations on the tights have started to crack all over and making them seem quite old to another eye:-(

[dante]

I wear Skins 'cause they make me feel sexy!

[fitness4natic]

this is mainly for sassysil, my 2XU running tights have lost their compression abit and they do rub against the back of my knees untill their more wet from sweating, then they grip some more.

But 2XU claim their tights last like 40% longer than all other brands soo Hmmm..



But I still wear them and sometimes I do grocery shopping after a run and keep them on and get some real funny looks from people but I guess that just makes me feel more like a runner and I'm different from ordinary people.

[tenzil]

I bought a compression long-sleeve top and full-length tights today because (all of you in Melbourne will probably think this is wimpy - probably even people in Brisbane think it is wimpy!) now that the early morning temperatures are below 18 degrees, I'm cold when I start my run. I'm thinking that I will need the Under Armour coldgear for the actual winter mornings (4 degrees).



Thanks for the info, it was helpful.

[Marg L]

This made me laugh, I see a lot of local footballers wearing them when they run, hasn't improved their sex appeal though. I also noticed that they look hotter than their "unskinned" counterparts, perhaps it is totally unrelated?



noticed that they

I wear Skins 'cause they make me feel sexy!

[ads]

But I still wear them and sometimes I do grocery shopping after a run and keep them on and get some real funny looks from people but I guess that just makes me feel more like a runner and I'm different from ordinary people.

Todd



As one who is all for being different, I offer this advice...



Dude, put some tracksuit pants on post-run - even if you leave the compression tights on, cover the things up. You may feel like a runner but the other 2 or 3 runners who are in the Supermarket at the same time are shaking their heads thinking "mate, put some f%^kin' dacks on, you look like a git", so it's not just Joe & Betty Mainstream looking at you funny.



From one different being to another, I request that you think about this.

[tiger boy]

But I still wear them and sometimes I do grocery shopping after a run and keep them on and get some real funny looks from people but I guess that just makes me feel more like a runner and I'm different from ordinary people.

Todd



As one who is all for being different, I offer this advice...



Dude, put some tracksuit pants on post-run - even if you leave the compression tights on, cover the things up.

Great advice ads - I always put trackies on to cover the skins. I look silly enough as it is, I don't need anything to help point it out.

[M12]

I have a pair of 2xu ones but rarely wear them...... they were a good idea at the time but they are too hot when I wear them while running. So after that one time I've only occasionally worn them in recovery. I prefer to wear as less as (legally) possible while running.



I don't really think they do much. Same with gels.

[AJ]

Food for thought I guess. I wore mine after today's long run and legs are still feeling fresh. Neglected to wear them a couple of weeks ago and I tell you a walking frame did look tempting. One piece of advice, don't do what I did this arvo and wear them to lunch (yes as an undergarment... I don't think the world needs to see my pudding legs). After a big meal, that tight waistband not so fun!

[runmickrun]

I have skins and rate them highly.



Tights are great to beat the cold, but I find they can lose their elasticity and if you have compression tights, you may as well wear those anyway.



They are fantastic for recovery, although the wife isn't a fan of me wearing them to bed.



And yeah ... I always wear shorts over them when running. I have good legs and all but there is a line ...

[jojogoslow]

When I first started running, I found I was able to run much further and control my stride better in compression tights, and I still love them. They take away the 'jigglybutt' feeling and make me feel sleek and fast. I do put trackies on top if anyone's going to see me though
As a side note, while I have never had a pair of 2XU or Skins to compare them with.....I think my tights are great(I have a full length and half length pair) and they're Slazenger brand courtesy of Big W. The two pairs came in at under $70. Pow.

[runjanerun]

When I first started running, I found I was able to run much further and control my stride better in compression tights, and I still love them. They take away the 'jigglybutt' feeling and make me feel sleek and fast. I do put trackies on top if anyone's going to see me though
As a side note, while I have never had a pair of 2XU or Skins to compare them with.....I think my tights are great(I have a full length and half length pair) and they're Slazenger brand courtesy of Big W. The two pairs came in at under $70. Pow.

I have 2 pairs of skins tights and some slazenger tights.
The slazenger compression tights are definitely not as good compression wise as a correctly fitted pair of skins(my first pair of skins i bought mens and ummm thats the problem0

i basically wear the tights during a run if it is cool, but after a long run, compression tights are ALWAYS good, or if you have a slight niggle,
anyway....
but if you want REALLY good recovery .... an ICE bath is the ultimate recovery..horrific, but AMAZING

[ajh]

I agree with Jo, the Skins are definitely much better than the Slazenger. I have two pairs of long Skins, and a pair of long Slazengers. I mainly wear the Slazengers on the bike to keep warm, but from a muscle support/recovery point of view it definitely is a matter of you get what you pay for.