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Men's Beforce Compression Leggings (Capital Sports)
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I love these leggings! Seriously effective but so comfortable you forget you've got them on. I was interested to see how they would compare with my other leggings. I think they are great. First of all, I will talk about the size. I found a size chart on HiFi-Tower's site and followed the directions with regard to height and weight. My leg muscles are long and not very bulky, so I went with a Medium. Perfect fit! The chart works!
These leggings are underwear, you wear your normal gym sweats on top, or I've seen guys wear shorts, whatever makes you comfortable. I wear sweatpants and a compression T-shirt. I use them for all gym work on the machines, and with free weights. I feel that they keep my muscles warm but never sweaty and I don't get cramps when I wear them (the main reason I started wearing compression leggings in the first place). The comfort factor is superb. Waistband, knee insert, the ankle part, they all fit comfortably. It's compression without the discomfort. Easy to wash, and they dry fast. They are made of 20% spandex, 80% nylon and feature Dehydr8 technology. There is also some mesh in strategic places to help dissipate heat. I never work out without them, it makes that much difference.
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Women's Beforce Compression Leggings (Capital Sports)
I'm seriously impressed with these leggings. I have used other types of compression garments, but this is the first time I have tried compression leggings. They were sent to me to allow me to test and evaluate them and, when I got them out of their package, they looked so short that I went back to check on the measurement chart. It's on HiFi-Tower's site, so it wasn't immediately available to me, but I have reproduced it here if you are interested.
To assist in your size choice, I am 5'8”, 138 lbs, I normally wear a UK size 10 and I got these leggings in a size Medium. After trying them on, I understood that the vertical stretch is part of the compression. They cover my legs from ankle to maybe an inch below my waist and, yes, they could be a shade longer, but there is no doubt that they work! I noticed on my very first workout that I didn't get tired at the usual point when I normally do, in fact, I went further than usual and added 10 minutes to my session because I was feeling so great. Next day, the same thing. After four days, I did my usual elliptical crosstraining session without the leggings and it didn't go so well. That's enough proof for me that these leggings assist my muscles during my workout and now I make sure to use them every time. The fabric is a blend of 80% nylon and 20% spandex. It is comfortable and sweat-resistant in warm conditions, such as a recent sunny day with a high of 26 degrees C. With a cool wash and line drying, they are ready to go in record time. I really like the wide waist band, elastic but kind to the skin. I also love the reinforced knee section. The manufacture is first class, with flat seams that do not chafe and neat finishes. Can be used as they are, or under other workout gear. |
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Size Chart
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Padded Workout Sports Bra (PLEMO) The most comfortable sports bra I've ever worn. This is really more of a top than underwear and could easily be worn by itself without any loss of modesty. Like other PLEMO products, it comes packaged in a semi-transparent plastic bag with a zipper closure, which is ideal for long-term storage.
The bra is beautifully cut and finished with a wide, ribbed elastic band holding it firmly but very comfortably in place under the chest. The front straps are wide and the crossed, cut-out shape at the back allows total freedom of movement for arms and shoulders. The nylon and Spandex fabric stretches in all directions and deals brilliantly with sweating and temperature changes. In order to properly test this garment, I have worn it all day long, before, during and after exercising and truly forgot I had it on. Normally I have very low tolerance for restrictive garments but found this bra really comfortable. The padding is quite thick and its purpose is clearly protective but, unlike my other sports bras, this one does not squash and flatten your breasts. In fact, it gives them a naturally-supported and pretty shape which looks good under T-shirts and fitted tops. |
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I felt very safe using weights and moving around exercise machines, where it is easy to bump into things. This bra would also be perfect for sports involving contact, or for tennis, horse riding, jogging and other activities where one would want to minimize bounce.
I was sent a sample without any pressure to write a review, however, I am delighted to have found nothing negative to say. With minimal care (hand-washing and drip-drying), the top seems to stay in good condition and has a quality feel about it. At this price level, it represents great value and actually looks better in person than in the pictures.
I was sent a sample without any pressure to write a review, however, I am delighted to have found nothing negative to say. With minimal care (hand-washing and drip-drying), the top seems to stay in good condition and has a quality feel about it. At this price level, it represents great value and actually looks better in person than in the pictures.
Sport Compression Socks (Zestful)
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Since breaking my leg two years ago, I have been wearing compression socks for at least some hours each day. The bone healed but my already imperfect circulation was compromised and, of course, age has made things worse. Anyway, due to that I have now tried several brands and styles of compression socks, both the “dressy” almost transparent kind, and the thicker, sporty sorts.
These socks definitely fall in the sporty category and I was happy for the chance to test them because they are the kind I use for working out, thicker and more suited to athletic shoes. I found a size chart and, based on the circumference of my calf muscle and shoe size, I asked for a Medium in Black.
The socks are snazzy, smart and meticulously structured. The heel and toe are strong and do not squeeze the foot. Different weave patterns over various parts of the leg and ankle give varying degrees of compression which is great, however, at first I found the fabric a bit too stiff. The socks were very difficult to put on and, once in place, they certainly felt more restrictive than my other ones. After a few days of wearing them for my elliptical crosstrainer sessions, I got used to the stronger pressure but I still find the compression a bit unforgiving. Taking them off is also challenging, especially slipping them over the heel since I have high arches and the sock is at maximum stretch at that widest point and there is nowhere left to go. For older people with joint problems and weaker fingers, it might be tough to put these socks on.
Perhaps a size bigger would be more comfortable for me (although the foot part might be too big then), but I feel that using a more elastic mix might be something to consider, at least for an alternative model of socks. Another minor negative is that there is a thick seam positioned underneath the arc of the toes. I believe that a new line is being developed with the seam positioned on the upper side, and so this may already be a moot point, but it is an issue with the pair I received. While running or jogging, the seam can be felt and is distracting.
Considering that a great deal of thought and engineering has obviously gone into the conception of these socks (they are marked Right and Left, to specifically adapt to the shape of calf muscles), I would advise the maker to consider using a more elastic blend to widen the socks' appeal. “Snug fit” and “firm compression” did not sufficiently prepare me for the extent of the experience. Other than that, they are easy to wash (cool water, delicate cycle) and dry quickly on the line. They don't lose any shape or elasticity with washing and the colour is stable, too.
So, as long as one is prepared for substantial compression, the socks are very good and keep any potential swelling down both for extended sitting periods (long flights or sedentary occupations) and for demanding physical effort (running etc.). The price is very reasonable (much less than what I pay in the pharmacy) and the range of colours (white, blue and black) offers a few options.
These socks definitely fall in the sporty category and I was happy for the chance to test them because they are the kind I use for working out, thicker and more suited to athletic shoes. I found a size chart and, based on the circumference of my calf muscle and shoe size, I asked for a Medium in Black.
The socks are snazzy, smart and meticulously structured. The heel and toe are strong and do not squeeze the foot. Different weave patterns over various parts of the leg and ankle give varying degrees of compression which is great, however, at first I found the fabric a bit too stiff. The socks were very difficult to put on and, once in place, they certainly felt more restrictive than my other ones. After a few days of wearing them for my elliptical crosstrainer sessions, I got used to the stronger pressure but I still find the compression a bit unforgiving. Taking them off is also challenging, especially slipping them over the heel since I have high arches and the sock is at maximum stretch at that widest point and there is nowhere left to go. For older people with joint problems and weaker fingers, it might be tough to put these socks on.
Perhaps a size bigger would be more comfortable for me (although the foot part might be too big then), but I feel that using a more elastic mix might be something to consider, at least for an alternative model of socks. Another minor negative is that there is a thick seam positioned underneath the arc of the toes. I believe that a new line is being developed with the seam positioned on the upper side, and so this may already be a moot point, but it is an issue with the pair I received. While running or jogging, the seam can be felt and is distracting.
Considering that a great deal of thought and engineering has obviously gone into the conception of these socks (they are marked Right and Left, to specifically adapt to the shape of calf muscles), I would advise the maker to consider using a more elastic blend to widen the socks' appeal. “Snug fit” and “firm compression” did not sufficiently prepare me for the extent of the experience. Other than that, they are easy to wash (cool water, delicate cycle) and dry quickly on the line. They don't lose any shape or elasticity with washing and the colour is stable, too.
So, as long as one is prepared for substantial compression, the socks are very good and keep any potential swelling down both for extended sitting periods (long flights or sedentary occupations) and for demanding physical effort (running etc.). The price is very reasonable (much less than what I pay in the pharmacy) and the range of colours (white, blue and black) offers a few options.
