Monday, January 30, 2012

RecoFIT Compressor Leg Sleeves Review

It occurred to me sometime last spring, during my heavy training phase, that most long runs are followed by a decently long car ride. This may not be true for everyone, but in the winter, I frequently drive an hour or more to run dirt trails for my weekend long run. Even in summer, I might drive up to 90 minutes to hit the amazing Sierra trails south of Lake Tahoe. You may have noticed, as I have, that sitting for an hour following five to ten hours of running isn’t ideal for recovery purposes.

Coincidentally, last spring is also when I fell in love with my Compressor Leg Sleeves by RecoFIT. (Okay, maybe not such a coincidence.) 





If you haven’t read my review of the RecoFIT CompressionCalf Sleeves, you might want to skim through that one first, especially if you're new to compression components. It is  one of my most popular all-time posts here at Daily Adventures. In that review, I outline how compression technology works and the benefits to athletes. The short version is that compression helps recovery by aiding in circulation. I actually find both the calf sleeves and the Compressors to be important tools for my training and racing.

The Compressors are a full leg sleeve that fit from the ankle to the top of the thigh. Yes, they’re thigh-highs, not tights. And with that in mind, I do not suggest, upon receiving your Compressors in the mail, that you immediately strip down in your living room and try them on with your panties. Unless you’ve lately not been receiving appropriate attention from your husband, in which case I highly recommend it. Ahem.

The advantages of individual leg sleeves, as opposed to a pair of tights, may not be obvious at first. I like them because you can just throw them on with your shorts right after a run or race. They also fit more comfortably under other pants with no bulk around the waist or hips. I wore them under my jeans for days after pacing at Hardrock.

The carbon-based Resistex fabric breathes wonderfully and disperses heat and moisture. The sleeves have graduated compression to help prevent fluids pooling in the lower legs. They also have zone-specific compression and are left and right specific. In other words, you have good compression across the muscles where you need it, but a lot of flexibility around the knees.

Another thing I really appreciate about these sleeves is the specific sizing. Ladies may find the size chart familiar from the packaging on a pair of nylons. Your size is dialed in by both your height and weight, which helps ensure a very accurate fit. Mine are a small-long and fit great, but there are ten different sizes available! Very cool for those of us with finicky fit issues.

Size Chart


Currently, they retail for $75 from Wilderness Running. Not even a steep price tag for what you're getting in recovery benefits.
It should be clear by now that, as with RecoFIT’s calf sleeves, I became a big fan of the Compressors very quickly. I wore them after every Sunday run in the canyons last year, on the drives home from Miwok and AR50, and all around Silverton in July.

The un-sciencey part of compression-wear is that it just feels good. It’s soothing, and it definitely takes the edge off a pair of aching legs. Whenever one sleeve gets lost in the laundry, I get all panicky. I don’t want to go into my heavy training phase without them!


Have you tried the Compressors, or other compression-wear? I’d love to hear your thoughts!


 Product generously provided for review by RecoFIT Sports.

14 comments:

  1. Hi, Gretchen!
    I love compression sleeves and hate long (>1 hour) car drives.
    :-)
    Helen

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    1. Helen, I actually find that I usually don't hate the drives unless there's traffic. It's somehow meditative for me. Although I hate the guilt over polluting the planet with nasty fuel emissions.

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  2. Gretchen, as with most things in life, I'm right smack on the line between two sizes (5'8", 135 lbs). Do you recommend going up or down? I totally took your advice last year and bought the Recofit calf sleeves and love them. Might be time to up the ante (so to speak).

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    1. Pam - I would say go with the smaller size. I actually fall fairly close to that three-way corner between small-long, medium, and medium-long, and I ended up with the small-longs. They may take a bit more effort to put on because they're tighter (make sure you pull them high enough up to the tipy-top of your thighs or they'll slip) but you'll get better compression benefits and I think they'll be less likely to slip down.

      Yay! Let me know if you like them.

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  3. I wear anti-embolism stockings such as this: http://www.elitemedical.com/anstocthigle.html I'll often wear them at night after a big race or run. And they are light enough to wear under pants.

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    1. I like the "light" aspect. I sometimes sleep in my calf sleeves. So comfy!

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  4. I love any form of compression during or post, I like the idea of these as you can wear them with shorts and don't have to get all naked and the like to put them on/take them off!

    Nice review!

    Love the blog overhaul...very slick!

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    1. Thanks, Stuart! Yes, I like the easy-on aspect too. :)

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  5. I haven't "run long" for some time, but I love the idea of compression thigh highs to help with recovery when I do. Thanks for introducing them to us.

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    1. I think they're also great after speedwork. They help prevent (or at least ease) the knots!

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  6. Gretchen, compression leg sleeves arrived 10 mins ago, coincidentally as I was finishing up a 90 minute pool run/trail run dualathalon. I am compressed. Can I just say that I am COMPRESSED! I love them. I'm never taking them off.....

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    1. Awesome, Pam! I'm so stoked you got some and like them already!

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  7. Yes, Running Warehouse had them on sale; free 2-day shipping.

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  8. Have you tried any other compression brands?

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