SKINS Compression Clothing

911sc

I was looking at these on Saturday in Runways..
Has anybody tried these out for long runs? pro and cons anybody?

hunnymonster

I've been dithering on these for a while too. Although I can cool myself through sweat quite effectively, as soon as I put a layer over my skin I overheat quickly which is what has been putting me off so far. Would like to hear people's experiences though.

tunney

I started using skins about 3 years ago.
I started off with a pair of the standard tights. i found myself recovering from long sessions more quickly when I wore them post session.
I bought a pair of the recovery tights (tighter basically) and started wearing these post session instead, even beater recovery wise.
Then I started going my long runs in the skins tights and wearing the recovery tights after. Wouldn't even feel a two hour run the next day.

Also got shorts and a top. Both of which are sh!te.

Stupid_Private

tunney wrote: »

Also got shorts and a top. Both of which are sh!te.

Glad to hear this about the top. I was toying with the idea of getting one to see what it was like but decided against it as I'm quite happy with the Under Armour ones I use now - which have the added bonus of being cheaper!

911sc

tunney wrote: »

Also got shorts and a top. Both of which are sh!te.

What did you not like about the shorts/tops?

tunney

Top:
While there is ample research backing the using of compression tights there is none to back the use of compression clothing on the upper body. I thought I'd try the top anyways but it doesn't aid recovery I find.

Shorts:
I didn't find that they cut the recovery cost of a run or aided recovery.

hunnymonster

Does anyone know the cheapest place to buy compression kit from? Is there something special about skins/ 2XU or are the cheaper brands ok. (sorry for looking for a shortcut to doing my own research)

messed_up

I've tried both the Skins and 2XU tights. I prefer the 2XUs, though haven't used them whilst running yet. The skins have a good compression feel but dont have a waist-cord so sometimes it feels like they are beginning to ride a little low (I wear shorts over them so they just feel a little niggly sometimes rather than compromise my modesty!). Post work-out they are fine but if I was to recommend a pair it'd be the 2XUs. Think they are pretty similar price wise too.

hunnymonster

thanks, I don't think I'll be up to wearing them while exercising, I overheat easily and I know they claim to wick sweat away and regulate temperature, I'm not convinced. I was planning on using them for recovery. I was quite ill for most of this year so I've ramped training up quite quickly to get ready for my 1st November race so I'm trying to be as cautious as I can.

tunney

2xu stuff is pants. The quality is terrible. Falls apart.

hunnymonster

tunney, you forgot the
in my opinion
it has been my experience that
it is often suggested....
you're going to get us sued!

ZiggyStardust

Hi guys,
I'd be like hunnymonster as I wouldn't wear them during training. With regards to the recovery tights, are these to be worn post workout for a period of time? How long. I presume you would still stretch, or ice if you have been doing?
Cheers.

hunnymonster

My plan (based on nothing more scientific than what seems practical) is to get home, hot shower, ice bath, put tights on and get something to eat. Will keep them on for a couple of hours or overnight for a late session. I'm sure himself is going to love me coming to bed in black leggings! I promised him a life of romance and instead he gets pee'd on bike smell throughout the house, water bottles on every free surface and a girlfriend to goes to bed fully dressed!

ZiggyStardust

hunnymonster wrote: »

My plan (based on nothing more scientific than what seems practical) is to get home, hot shower, ice bath, put tights on and get something to eat. Will keep them on for a couple of hours or overnight for a late session. I'm sure himself is going to love me coming to bed in black leggings! I promised him a life of romance and instead he gets pee'd on bike smell throughout the house, water bottles on every free surface and a girlfriend to goes to bed fully dressed!

Sounds like a good plan post run. I do pretty much the same except for the tights. Sale in Elverys this weekend, so might get a pair .

Cheers HM.

TheRoadRunner

I bought myself a pair of the recovery tights yesterday online from Rugby Scene. They ended up costing me 85 euro including postage and packaging. I think this was a good price and would be interested to hear what others paid and where !

I'm hoping they will help my recovery time. I've bumped up my training by an average of 10-20 % on previous marathon training plans, and so far so good. I'm hoping to push it on a little more and hopefully these will help.

hunnymonster

€90-92 is what I hear mostly so 85 is pretty good. My lifeforce are only 52 though and I think they're great.

TheRoadRunner

thanks. got a rush of blood to the head last night and bought them. Afterward I was thinking I should have done a bit more research !

jollybean

I use Thousand Miler compression socks for calf problems and found them amazing. E16 in Runways. Find it hard to get the same compression from tights.

hunnymonster

but socks don't cover your quads, glutes and hamstrings! As with everything in life, it's all about compromise :-)

Mr HM has also found the 1000 mile compression socks great. he wears them at work under his uniform. They were a bit cheaper than 16 from wiggle though, but either price is whole pile cheaper than the skins calf ones.


A question for the girls, If I don't want to wear trousers, is there anything I can wear over the compression tights that won't make me look like a complete plonker. I'm a bit old for the whole, courier, crusty look that a pair of baggy shorts gives :-)

TheRoadRunner

Hi

OK so my recovery tights arrived the other day. I wore them to bed last night. My wife thinks I have lost the plot completely and on reflection she may have a point. Anyway so far so good, legs feel great today.

One major draw back is the fact my pelvic region resembles Kens (of Barbie and Ken fame !) when I have the tights on. I don't think they are going to do anything for my love life. Another draw back is the heat they generate around the aforementioned pelvic region. I woke in the middle of the night with hot nuts !!!!!!

hunnymonster

sexy they ain't alright.

I remember being given a book years ago on how to be a good housewife circa 1950. it was full of bizarre advice like having your husbands slippers warm when he comes home. Included in the advice was to make sure that there are a couple of nights a week that you don't wear rollers to bed so that your husband would feel attracted to you etc. Maybe skins are the new rollers?

TheRoadRunner

HaHa

I have seen that book myself. Published in the 1950s but probably updated from its first edition that was written in the dark ages.

Yeah the skins are definitely not sexy. Although I think they are even less attractive on men than women ! I feel like a pervert in them for some reason !

Stupid_Private

Can't say I've worn them to bed yet. I usually just stick them on after a long run for the rest of the day. Oh and on planes too - they really do help the whole jet lag thing.

Blue and Gold

Does anyone know where i can buy skins gear in dundalk? It would save me going to Newry

tughfc

anyone know where i could buy these in town(Dublin)?

http://www.trisports.com/sktrandreti.html

airscotty

hunnymonster wrote: »

get home, hot shower, ice bath, put tights on and get something to eat.

You should have a quick read of this http://runningtimes.com/Article.aspx?ArticleID=21202&PageNum=1

It might change your order of events after a session! Basically its suggesting that an ice bath directly after a session stops the bodys natural healing process....and that you should wait untill the following day! :eek:

ThisRegard

I posted this in the other smaller Skins thread last week.

In the Sunday Times sports supplement section that they had an article entitled "Myth or Miracle ? The sporting fads that are either suspect of have been discredited."

They had sections on Nasal Strips, excessive amounts of vitamins, protein and creatine, hologram bracelets, ice baths, cryotherapy chambers and compression garments.

A man called Jonathon Leeder, a physiologist at the EIS (English Institute of Sports), who specialises in recovery techniques after training and competition, says about compression garments that "They snowballed in popularity. They may reduce soreness but there's no evidence of their value for elite competitors.

But the generally opinion of the EIS is that if you feel something works for you, even if there's no evidence it does, keep at it as it would be psychologically comforting to the athlete.

Ice baths were also discredited, don't have the article any more to get the details of why, probably the same as mentioned above.

M three

Hi all,

What do people think of these?

http://cgi.ebay.ie/MEN-sport-baselayer-under-T-neck-shirts-skin-gear-S-XL-/130436501054?pt=Men_s_Clothes&var=&hash=item641e7ba8bb

Am just looking for something to keep me drier and warmer while gaa training in winter

Appreciate any advice

tunney

ThisRegard wrote: »

I posted this in the other smaller Skins thread last week.

In the Sunday Times sports supplement section that they had an article entitled "Myth or Miracle ? The sporting fads that are either suspect of have been discredited."

They had sections on Nasal Strips, excessive amounts of vitamins, protein and creatine, hologram bracelets, ice baths, cryotherapy chambers and compression garments.

A man called Jonathon Leeder, a physiologist at the EIS (English Institute of Sports), who specialises in recovery techniques after training and competition, says about compression garments that "They snowballed in popularity. They may reduce soreness but there's no evidence of their value for elite competitors.

But the generally opinion of the EIS is that if you feel something works for you, even if there's no evidence it does, keep at it as it would be psychologically comforting to the athlete.

Ice baths were also discredited, don't have the article any more to get the details of why, probably the same as mentioned above.

"They may reduce soreness" - isn't that why everyone wears them? Is that not a value for ANY competitor?

Icebaths don't actually do anything for recovery, based on a falsehood.

TheRoadRunner

tunney wrote: »

Icebaths don't actually do anything for recovery, based on a falsehood.

Is this true, I thought they helped increase blood flow and in turn anti inflamatories circulated around the body quicker hitting inflamed regions. Have taken a few ice baths in the past and have found them helpful but would be willing to skip them in the future if they are pants.

monthehoops

The last few years I went back football training under two different coaches. One used ice baths and the other didn't.

I was fitter last year than the year before which will account for why I wasn't as crippled after training as the previous year but I can say hand on heart that ice baths definitely helped ease following day aches, especially when it was 30 seconds ice bath followed by 30 seconds of a hot shower and repeated.

Another reason I'd trust them is there is no commercial gain to be had from promoting the ice bath theory. Some of the methods above all involve some kind of placebo where you can't really tell a huge difference in using or not using them.

If I'd my choice it'd definitely be ice-baths and hot showers after training.