2XU High Performance Compression Tights
Posted Mar. 31, 2008
Cool and compressed after a run
Australian company 2XU uses a very comfortable material for its High Performance Compression Tights. The tights don’t chafe or itch in the slightest. They also don't insulate, which I consider a good thing. If they were as warm as typical running tights, they wouldn’t be suitable for use on temperate days. But I was equally comfortable running in them on a 60-degree day as I was on a 40-degree day. One word of advice, however: Remember to wear wind briefs on cold days. The only uncomfortable aspect of the tight is the seam running down the front of the knee, as it resists knee bend during running.
Aside from comfort, the sizing options for the tights are disappointing. The only fitting guideline provided by 2XU is based on waist size. Compression tights need to fit snuggly all the way down the leg, yet the company's sizing chart ignores body proportion. The High Performance Compression Tights are unisex, and since men and women generally have different lower-body dimensions, they won’t fit everyone ideally. Personally, I found the Medium to be baggy behind the knee yet too short from the waist to the ankle and very tight around the lower leg.
Despite the sizing shortcomings, I did feel a benefit from using the tights. I realize subjective claims like this have limited value, but I'm telling you, my legs felt better than I had expected them to after a long run.
While the 2XU High Performance Compression Tights are designed to be worn during activity, they are also a comfortable and effective recovery garment. The ability to use them for both training and recovery adds a lot of value to the tights and makes them worth considering. I was hoping for a little more from a $100 pair of tights, but they still served their primary function.
RATING (out of 10)
Effectiveness: 7- Sizing is an issue
Comfort: 7- Great material, but the front seam is annoying
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Aaron Hersh is the Technical Liaison at Colorado Multisport in Boulder, Colorado. He has been competing in endurance sports for the last seven years. Hersh has a B.A. in Integrative Physiology from the University of Colorado, focusing on biomechanics.
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