2XU Compression Tights

Compression wear is all the rage these days. 2XU’s compression tights are a well made and reasonably priced way to jump on the compression bandwagon, offering faster recovery, improved circulation and a reduction in muscle fatigue.

It’s easy to be put off by these tights straight out of the box. I imagined that compression wear would be, well compressive and thus tight. It still came as a shock when I held them up and looked in the mirror like a girl with her favorite pair of "skinny" jeans which she hasn’t actually fitted into in years. Thankfully the 50 denier lycra was suitably stretchy.

The quality of the material and the flat lock seams are excellent. According to 2XU the tights have a circular knit which helps achieve a 360° graduated compression. At the ankle the garment has a neat and clean hem. This is both comfortable and does not leave any marks on the skin when taken off. The waist has a narrow elasticated band with drawstring. This is my only gripe with the comfort as it tends to dig in a little, a thicker band would be better. Having said this they are pleasant to wear giving some warmth too. I personally find the graphics a little overkill but they may be to some peoples taste if not mine. Durability wise the compression has not deteriorated, however if you do like the graphics you may be disappointed to hear they haven’t lasted as well. By 2XU’s own admission logos “may crack and discolour”.

2XU put forward plenty of advantages for using the tights, some more applicable to cycling than others. For example I do not feel I have “heightened agility” whilst using the tights nor have they saved me from deep vein thrombosis. I can say however that they do give a noticeable improvement to the speed of recovery. Given the technical application of the garment I was expecting to have some kind of instructions explaining how to get the best results, the 2XU website has no advice on the matter either. With or without instructions I have noticed improved recovery between sessions, albeit unquantifiable.

Verdict

Completely unnecessary for the casual cyclist but if you're training seriously and want to get an edge on your rivals then the 2XU compression tights are well worth considering.