The skinny on compression garments
I am considering running in compression shorts for IMWI. Questions, how different is the material from say a tri short? and can they be worn alone, say as a running short or bike short as opposed to wearing them under another garment. Curious about the efffectiveness for training, racing and recovery??? Best brands? Any thoughts.......
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I have worn them for 2 HIM this year and for up to almost 7 hours of riding and will be racing Kona in a pair. I definitely notice a difference in my recovery after long rides and therefore I wear them on most Sat and Sun rides. I am getting a second pair and will probably begin to do all of my cycling in them going forward.
To be honest I would have never paid full price to try these out, but now that I have them I think they are worth the full price.
I run in my Kmeleon compression shorts and love them. I feel that they help delay fatigue especially on long runs and I do seem to recover more quickly. They look just like bike or tri shorts so I don't wear anything over them.
I also love my full length Kmeleon tights for recovery. I often sleep in them and definitely feel a difference the next day.
Kathy - It's hard to figure out what changes make a difference in outcomes, but since I've been wearing DeSoto compression cycling and racing outfits, I certainly feel better, as well as race a bit faster.
De Soto has the Forza line, which includes tri shorts and suits. While the shorts are not on sale, last year's women's $160 tri suit was listed on sale as of July 22 for $96 - about the price of their 2010 tri shorts. I like the suit (I've used the men's version for years) for IMs because of the wide shoulders for sun protection, the long legs for comfort, the mutliple fabrics which compress the legs and waist and provide ventilation and cooling fabric up top, and multiple flush back and side pockets, for gels and pill boxes, etc.
Their customer service, should you have a problem (I did with a wetsuit after IM WI in 2005), is over the top just like RNP.
(I'm not on their payroll, just a satisfied customer.)
Kmeleon (aka EC3D) makes the majority of the Zoot compression line. They are not exactly the same as the Zoot products, but similiar at a lower cost point. Think SRAM wheels vs Zipp wheels as the EC3D is basically the first generation of the Zoot line and Zoot is about to realease their 4th generation product.
I race in the DeSoto Forza w/4 Pockets shorts and love them. They do offer decent compression but not as good as the Kmeleon. I want to try the Zoot's!
I've heard this from a few people and asked the guys at Zoot about it. They said the trick is to really get the shorts pulled up high, like when you are putting a wetsuit on. Basically put them on inside out and get the legs pulled up as high as you can before pulling them all the way up so that the pad is pulled up as tight against you as it can be. It's pretty much impossible just to pull them on like normal shorts.
For the first few rides I did in them I had to put a little body glide where the pad meet the shorts, but since then I have not had any issues.
The sizing is a bit difficult because as you said the it can be challenging for someone between sizes. They always recomend sizing down to keep the compression as if you size up, you may as well just go buy normal tri shorts.
I'm luckly as my legs fit there sizes perfect and I get compression on oy calf, thigh and the waist is not tight at all. Unfortunatly my upper body is a different story as my chest and shoulders are one size and my arms are another.
FWIW, some pro cyclist they work with cannot wear the tights and instead they wear shorts and socks in different sizes because they have monster quads compared to their calf and waist.
Yeah, that's it, that's my problem! :-) Thanks for the tip though, I'll try pulling them on inside-out like you said. I've recently ordered the recovery tights but if they don't fit I might use the shorts & calf guards together as an alternative. Great suggestion.
Great info everyone...thank you. The debate for me goes some thing like this--- bike shorts for IM ride...change into a compression running short for run. Or buy a compression tri short and leave that on for the entire race???? I like the idea of wearing a swimming suit under wet suit.....change in T1 into dry bike shorts or compression tri shorts....change again possibly in T2 if I end up wearing bike shorts. Mancona u said u like riding and running in your Zoot compression tri short....so in your opinion do u think wearing a compression tri short vs a bike short is sufficenct for 112 miles? How bout u Nemo...what do u do?
I wore the Zoot compression shorts for a very long 125 mile ride (3 loops of IMWI) 6:45 and 30 minute brick after with Jim H on the 2nd day of my BBW and had no issue at all, so yes for me it is more than sufficent for 112.
So, I may be the wrong for for advice as I would never consider chaning clothes during a race, but I have a different mindset and goals than most. Comfort is definitely my lowest priority, unless it impacts my highest priority. Also, I own exactly two pairs of bike shorts and don't ride in them as I have only rode in tri shorts for the last 4 years.
Plus, Properly fitting compression clothes are hard to get on dry at your house when you are relaxed. I couldn't image trying to put on compression shorts (or socks) in a transistion when I am sweating. It would probably take me as long as a 5k run and get my heart rate up just as high.
BTW, I love DeSoto products and prior to by Zoot deal, I always wore DeSoto shorts. Both make very very good products that you will be pleased with.
Whatever you decide, make sure you test it in a RR!
Ok then....your info has been very very helpful! Guess I better get down to business and figure this out.
Good to know and yes, I have been also thinking getting tight clothing on wet may not be a good idea. So, what I am hearing is have a clothing plan A for cold weather and plan B for hot weather. Because I agree the temperature does make a difference.
Ah yes, Jennifer this has run through my mind many times...really really would love to wear my one piece....but, really want to represent EN. I have thought of wearing singlet over my one piece....but, if it is hot that would not be comfortable. So, thinking out loud as I type this, go with plan A (cold weather)....wear swimsuit under wetsuit...stash towel in T1 bag...change all clothing if it takes me awhile that is ok because if it is cold and I am wet....I freeze peroid. Plan B (hot weather).....bra + tri shorts under wetsuit...T1 slip on singlet and go! Wear same clothing for run.
Sorry if I was blunt ... thats what happens when I try to respond quickly at work.
No worries Matt, I did not take it as being blunt at all. Your info was extremely helpful and want u to know I just ordered Zoot CompressRx Tri Short!! So, hopefully it will come before next Friday so I can wear the shorts on RR#2.
Matt- got my shorts today and oh my now I know what u r talking about! V ery difficult to get on, prolly took me 10 min. Though what u said about putting them on inside out, then pulling them up worked well. Thanks again for your help. Gonna try them this weekend for RR#2
Awesome, sounds like you got the right size! Use some body glide on the seems of the pad for the first workout or two as a few people have complained about that. I hope you like them as much as I do.
Try putting them on after mile 13, sweating, in someone's backyard in FL, behind someone's BBQ grill so you can try and hide your bare butt.
Seriously, I did that in '08. All the while praying like mad no one was home. 
Thanks for the reminder will do!
Are u serious?? How did u ever get them on? Crazy woman
If you are going to attempt to put compression socks on during a race (or any time really), make sure to try the inside out method I shared in another thread as it makes it soooo much easier. Basically reach inside the sock and grab by the heal then pull the entire calf and anlke part inside out. Now you can easily slide you foot in and get it in the ride place and begin to pull the rest of the sock up a few inches at a time.
You can also completely roll the top of the compression sock so that you simply unroll them to get them on. I found it very hard to get my foot in right this way though and perfer the method above.