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Before life got in the way, I used to run over 20 miles a week, every week, for fun. Before I bought compression gear and became more strict with stretching, I had already had three minor injuries in five months.
Recently, 2XU sent me a pair of compression tights specifically designed for running, and I can honestly say I really wish I'd had them all those months ago.
Most of us readily accept that compression gear truly makes a difference in our workouts, but few likely understand exactly how it's supposed to help.
The idea is that compression garments improve physical performance and recovery by:
- Increasing blood circulation for better oxygen delivery to working muscles
- Keeping your muscles warm to prevent strain and injury
- Stabilizing muscles and reducing muscle vibrations to decrease the risk of tissue damage. While the body has a natural way of doing this, called "damping," it requires the body's energy, and compression gear does not.
- Squeezing out waste byproducts like lymph fluid and de-oxygenated blood from muscles back to the heart quickly. With an optimal amount of consistent compression, artery walls dilate and blood flow increases through them. When done correctly, compression can increase blood flow through your arteries by up to 40% during activity and 30% during recovery — improving endurance, performance, and recovery time.
There's a reason people use compression post-surgery to keep their circulation moving, delivering oxygen-rich blood to their muscles quickly and preventing blood clots. By helping your body do what it wants to do faster and better than it can on its own — without losing energy — is a good deal for anyone, but especially for those seeking improved physical activity.
So we know compression gear works, at least when done correctly. But does 2XU's compression gear?
The short answer is yes, I did notice and appreciate the benefits of using 2XU MCS leggings, and I will probably buy 2XU gear in the future because of my experience. Having said that, it certainly won't be the x-factor that lets someone who has never run more than the mile in school wake up tomorrow and finish a marathon with ease.
Given the effectiveness of compression science if done correctly compared to the negligible benefits if done incorrectly, it just makes sense to spend more on a product made by a reputable company that has both the time and resources to properly design what you need.
If you're going to use compression gear and want to see the value per dollar, prepare to spend more and opt to buy fewer.
2XU is a good demonstration of this principle. I've worn middle-priced compression gear before that didn't inspire much faith; the leggings were compressing my leg muscles, sure, but they were tight all over — those benefits weren't targeting any muscle group discriminately and the gear could feel repressive. Some compression tights also feature a thoughtless approach to other areas of the body, like equally tight waistbands that dig into the skin, making them uncomfortable to wear and an unflattering silhouette — making you much more likely to leave them in the closet and never see a return on your investment.
However, though only a bit more expensive than that mid-range of compression gear ($120 for the MCS Running Tights I tried), 2XU has a thoughtful, optimized approach to compression.
Their designs are categorized by what type of physical performance buyers should use them for, and many include MCS, or Muscle Containment Stamping, to properly target blood flow to the important muscle groups for that activity. For the MCS Running Tights, that means targeting where my muscles need the most protection, and therefore the most compression, while I run.
For the price, 2XU delivers by an intelligent use of compression science that's personalized to the exact activity you wish to use them for.
Compression gear in sports can help you perform better for longer and keep you from injuring yourself or feeling as sore afterward. If done correctly, it can markedly improve your body's own processes without taking any energy from you in order to do so. For their innovative and attentive designs, my experience of 2XU makes me believe it is worth the mid-high price.
You can shop 2XU compression gear at both Amazon and Zappos.
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Mara Leighton, commerce reporter: MCS Run Compression Tight
Because of 2XU's utilization of MCS, the tights managed to do what compression is supposed to do, just better. Since compression in general is about getting a slight edge over what is natural, the slight improvements made to compression likewise make the same small, but important advantages.
Best for me, the MCS Compression Tights weren't as restrictive as other tights I've tried. I seek out seamless workout gear because running is a monotonous sport and I prefer to get out of my head while I do it—chafing straps and too-tight clothes bring me back down to earth in a bad way. Instead of fitting equally tight all over, the most compressed sections were in my calves and thighs. Instead of digging into me, the waistband lay comfortably flat. I was impressed.
The biggest takeaway for me was that I did notice a bit more comfortability while I ran and therefore an increased endurance. I wore them after a month-long absence from running, and my recoveries were definitely not as bad as they should have been.
Get the MCS Run Compression Tight on Amazon or Zappos for $119.95
Spencer Lambert, commerce intern:
I used the 2XU Compression Tights for recovery after swim practices and lifts as well as to keep loose before races for two years in college. For me, in the excited state before a race, the difference between having worn my compression beforehand or not became very noticeable. I loved the leggings particularly; they were an easy addition to my outfit, fitting under my pants and keeping my legs loose and warm between workouts as I went through my day.
What sets 2XU apart, in my opinion, is the durability of the fabric. I would continually be stretching it out in workouts, but the fabric never thinned and became see-through as some compression gear will after repeated use. More importantly, it never lost its tightness after two years of wear — so I’d judge that the quality fit the price.
The 2XU Compression Tights are only available from third-party sellers on Amazon, but we've found a comparable pair.
The 2XU Men's Hyoptik available on both Amazon and Zappos for $99.95
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