Compression Socks

russG

Do you use compression socks?  During exercise, recovery, both?

What height (knee, thigh, hip)?   What level of compression?  I'm not used to thinking in mmHg where my legs are concerned...

Favorite brands?  Not sure where to start, but if you have something that works for you, I'm interested.

Thanks!

Joe Matchette

Yes.

Training: full compression socks for long runs greater than 1.5 hrs. Never on bike.
Racing: calf sleeves only.

I don't have a preference for socks, but I like and use CEP calf sleeves, but am not above buying another brand based pretty much solely on price. Can't tell you what the mmHg ratings are for those, though. Sorry.

Carl

I also do after intense workouts but not sure I can tell if they truly work or not.

Kkaufer

 I used to wear compression socks after BOOM workouts, but somehow they made me feel off b/c my calves would feel good, but the rest of my legs not - so I switched to compression tights.  I swear by them for recovery. Note, I won't wear them over night before an intense workout, b/c it does take my legs a while to get 'normal' again after I take them off.  I've never worn them during a workout/race.  I think I have 2xu, but that was probably because that's what was on sale at the time I bought them.  If I buy a new pair I'll probably try to do some more research into the science...

baprince

I wear them when I fly, and I often wear them during the day after hard morning workouts. Whether or not the science truly supports it, I think my legs feel fresh faster when I use them.

Kkaufer

 PS: What Brett said. I recently wore them for the first time on a flight.  It was a difference of NIGHT and DAY. I cannot believe how much more fresh I felt upon arrival.  I'm never flying without again!

ezellrh

x3 on flights. After most long runs. I swear by CEP socks. I have multiple pairs, one of which is over 3 years old and is still as strong as the newer ones. I used to train/race long in them (running only) but haven't lately. When I did, I 'thought' my legs felt better.

Scott Alexander

I wear CEP socks after every hard workout. Also on any flight over two hours.

I have a few pairs of Sugoi socks also, which aren't as restrictive (and I presume not as effective), but use those for most road trips and shorter workouts when I can.

When I do a multi-day camp, like my cycling trips to Majorca, I wear my Sugoi full length compression tights after an ice bath (or cold pool) and a hot shower. Wear them all night until my workout the following day in swear they help me recover (even if its a placebo).

So, for me, historically, they really help on recovery but not so much a performance boost during workouts.

John Withrow

I swear by them even though I can't prove if they do anything or not. I don't really care if it's real or placebo, they certainly work for me. I only use the calf sleeves because I like to wear injinji socks. I do all of my long and/or hard runs in mine. I have tried all flavors, but for me it's not even close, I think Zoot is far and away the best! I think the Zoot "Ultra" CompressRX Calf Sleeves (more expensive ones) are better than the "Perfoemance" CompressRX Calf Sleeves (less expensive ones) and certainly worth the few extra bucks. I also wear the Zoot Ultra CompressRX tights for some runs and love them, but they are $$$$$ and are delicate (they tend to "run" or "rip" if you pull them on slightly wrong). Additionally, I also put on the Ultra CompresRX Recovery Tights on after every race HIM or longer and whenever I fly. The other thing I often wear are compression Quad sleeves if I will be running a lot of big hills. The only ones I have found that are actually tight enough are the CompresSport ones. I like my compression stuff tight, tight, tight. I'm, 6'-1, 190lbs and I wear Size 2 in Zoot Calf Sleeves and 3 in their shorts and pants. Oh yeah, I also love their Compression shorts and Tri Shorts. I am not endorsed by Zoot in any way, just love their compression stuff. I bought some of it new on eBay and some of it with the a discount code. If you're super tiny or super big, theclymb.com has some of the zoot compression stuff for 50% off right now (ask me if you want a referral to sign up to access that website).

For races, I wear the calf sleeves under my wetsuit and then for the whole Ironman or HIM race. For IMNYC last yr I also put the Quad Sleeves on in T2 since the run was so brutally hilly. For the AmZof race last yr I wore the Zoot Compression tri shorts and calf sleeves for the entire race.

ccotstanza12

Glad to see I'm not the only who flies in compression stockings (I use the cheap drug store TED tights). I stand in the OR most days at work and I can tell when I forget my stockings at the end of the day, even more so if I've worked out that morning. I, personally (placebo or actual), feel like they allow me to hit a second workout after work.

Dino Sarti

I wore a pair of CEPs during a half marathon. There were the full calf length. I didn't really get it or see the benefit, so I have not worn them again. Just my simple n=1

Michael Byerts

I have both the training (CEP) and recovery (De Soto) socks. I only use them occasionally. Mostly, I wear them to prevent DOMS during/after very hard workouts and when I feel a twinge in my calf. When I feel a calf niggle coming on, I pretend that by holding the muscle in position, the socks prevent/minimize injury risk even though I have no proof that they actually do anything.

Woody Freese

Big fan of Skins products!! Calf sleeves on 1.5 hour runs and tights after heavy training days, as needed. Do they work? They feel good...

Mark Cardinale

 x2 on Zoot.  I have the ultra version of both the calf sleeves and the tights.  Yes, they are on the pricey side, but they are super tight and hold their "compression" really well vs. other brands i have tried that seem to stretch over time.  Although, getting the tights on can be like getting into your wetsuit.  I normally wear mine after hard workouts or races.  I haven't tried wearing them during a workout.  Not sure if there is an measureable benefit, but they make my sore legs feel better and that's good enough for me.

moetai@gmail.com

I am a flight attendant, never fly without them (and trust me when i say they work when you fly), have some 2XU recovery socks, also wear a pair of ZOOT calf compression sleeves under them for the very long flights. Trained and race with them (calf+socks), really think they work. Wear them overnight for recovery after a hard workout and u have that strange feeling the next day that your legs didn't have the same workout (calfs are fine, thighs are killing you .

Paul Hough

I use them only on flights over 3 hours, and maybe the 2 days after an IM. Other than recovery, any purported benefits are pure marketing fantasy. I highly encourage everyone to go to fiftyonespeedshop.com and read the blog on compression socks under the News tab. There is a reason why this young man has acquired an A list clientele almost overnight. Don't be fooled by the pros...they only wear that crap because they are paid for it.

tgarson

I recently became aware of this published study which concluded that there was not a measurable effect from the use of compression garments among a sample of triathletes competing at the half-Iron distance:

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/m/pubmed/24337671/

I'm sure conflicting earlier studies can be found, but this is one of the most recent on the topic and one of the few that I am aware of that is targeted specifically at the effects of compression garments specifically in triathlon.

Personally, I'm an occasional user of compression but never felt that they have produced quantifiable results for me. I'll still use them for certain scenarios like traveling after a hard race but I remain generally unconvinced of their effectiveness.

Al Truscott

FWIW, I have only found value ( meaning, my legs feel better during and after) in compression calf sleeves for runs > 1.75 hours - longer than the HIM studied here. I have no illusions that I am faster or recover more quickly, just that my calves feel better. But only for really long runs. I also wear them on flights, especially home after a race, to prevent clots.

I also found this sentence in the Methods amusing:

"Participants competed in a half-ironman triathlon celebrated at 29 ± 3 °C and 73 ± 8 % of relative humidity."

Paul Hough

Interesting and current thread on Slowtwitch that excessive use of compression for recovery hinders your natural recovery and performance in the long run.

See http://tinyurl.com/l8evadj

That thread led to another thread titled "So now that compression and NSAIDS are bunk what about massage, foam rolling and ice?"

See http://preview.tinyurl.com/m3elcqz

Dave Tallo

I'm still baffled by the first thread being started by a guy leading a "100 runs over 100 days" campaign.

Paul Hough

At Dave, by contrast, what better person to do so?!

Dave Tallo

Someone who lets recovery happen, of course!

Paul Hough

Recovery does not necessarily equal not training. I went many years running about 13 times a week (twice a day Mon to Sat and long on Sun). A recovery day was NOT a day off, but rather a day of lower volume and intensity (e.g., 4 miles easy AM and 4 miles easy PM + 10x100 fresh). It was extremely effective and compression socks did not exist. My 5K and 10K PRs were 14:50 and 30:11.

Dave Tallo

Agreed, but my point is the dude is, on one hand, setting out to do something that is by design / necessarily freaky and pushing the boundaries on excess. This excess is kinda setting aside recovery to accomplish day-after-day work - that's what is making it a challenge, instead of just regular training. To then take a pious view of wanting to max recovery by eliminating something that degrade it is kinda puzzling.

Paul Hough

Dave - I agree it is excess at Dev's age. I certainly can't come close to what I used to do in my 20's, although I don't know if Dev follows his own challenge or just puts it out there for others.

Schmitty75

After long workouts, I use a pair of $12 black medical compression socks for recovery. I think they help. Bought 'em at Walgreens. I just use standard socks when training and racing.

thaimai

I originally bought a pair of CEP compression sox but didn't like the feel of the sox 'part' so bought the CEP calf sleeves and used my own favorite sox during runs.

For me, I feel they help during the run by minimizing too much calf movement. Not sure how much they help after the run but I wear them for a day afterwards.

I was recently introduced to CompresSport and bought their calf sleeves:

https://www.compressportusa.com/category/calf sleeves/calf-us

I didn't compare the # of compression value between CEP and CompresSport sleeves but the CompresSport ones feel a little tighter than the CEP ones.

I've been wearing them alot lately because I'm coming back from a long time calf strain and have been running only EP runs with them to build endurance back in the calves.