Compress the muscles you love!
So the great people at Zensah sent me some killer compression tights to test out and review. Problem was, I hadn't done anything worthy of testing recovery tights recently. Can you "recover" from toddler wrangling, doing dishes, and folding laundry? In my book, that kind of recovery usually calls for a nice glass of wine after everyone is in bed, no tights necessary.
So finally, after Sunday's tri, as I started to feel that familiar exhaustion creep into my legs, I thought "compression tights, get the compression tights!" As I've mentioned time and time again with different product reviews, I am a HUGE fan of compression. I'd be a bigger fan of post race/training run hour and a half massages, but since I'm not rolling in the dinero, compression is next best thing.
If you haven't heard of nor tried out compression products before, the idea is this: the compression helps to gently squeeze your muscles, promoting blood flow. Therefore, you receive oxygenated blood faster to the muscles that need it (oxygen helps speed up recovery, and during exercise, helps rid of that pesky lactic acid) and helps to speed up the return of deoxygenated blood to your heart (where it gets sent to the lungs and gets, you guessed it, more oxygen!) Plus, I don't know about you, but the compression just plain feels good.
There were many differences in the Zensah compression tights versus other brands I've tried. First, was the fabric. It wasn't the sleek, spandex/lycra blend that we are all used to. Instead it was a softer feeling fabric. Otherwise known as "Zensah proprietary fabric" (85% Polyamide, 15% Elastin). I have no idea what that means , other than they were really soft, and I like them. Think: compression meets your comfy weekend sweatpants. I could absolutely see myself rocking these post out of town marathon on a long plane or car trip home.
Second, and what I believe is the greatest compression tight invention ever: zippers on the ankles. If you've ever worn compression tights before, you know how they can be a bit of a struggle to get on, similar to that of a wetsuit. Zippers on the legs give you that little advantage in easing the tights on.
Third: no significant waistband and no seams. Compression tights are meant to be TIGHT (have I said that enough yet?) and some of us, gifted with the "mom hips" (muffin top, whatever) prefer not to have circulation cut off by a waistband, or lines dug into your calves by seams.
I wore the tights for the entire day and woke up with my legs feeling completely rested, not sore at all. So for recovery purposes, I give the Zensah compression tights an A+. Obviously, in the 110 degree South Carolina summer, I've yet to have a chance to actually train in the tights. That will have to wait until November I'm sure. That said, the tights feel very comfortable and not restricting in anyway, and I would not hesitate to run in them. Further, while I was never "hot" wearing them, they do feel like they will be warmer than traditional lycra compression tights. Bonus again for the winter!
TIART-oh my! Track Flash Backs.
Beyond DOMS: How to Know When Your Body Needs a Break.
Those are the total bomb!
They sounds great! I'm a big fan of all things compression so I'll have to keep those in mind for the fall/winter.
I have never worn compression tights before but after reading your post I will be trying them out!! I too have to wait until it's not 110 degrees!!
I may have to try those when it gets cooler. I've never worn compression tights.
Those look awesome! I will have to check those out once the weather gets cooler…not a good idea now!
I often wish I had compression tights. I just have socks and I love them, but sometimes I need the compression a little higher up! Thanks for the review, they sound great!