I am thinking about getting the Skins compression tights for running b/c I am having some nagging soreness. I was looking at the site and reading about the tops being used by some runners.
Anyone run with a compression top? If so, why? Curious as to whether it would help with fatigue to shoulders and back.
Thanks!
My Skins Long sleeve white top just arrived this evening. Going to start using it tomorrow in the Ft. Lauderdale heat to test for use at IMAZ. It’s claimed to be equal to SPF 50, and since I refuse to use sun block in races (clogs my pores, impossible to apply evenly, and never stays on for the duration) I thought it would be a great alternative. The white should reflect heat as well- and comes with special vent cloth panels in the arm pit area. I’ll post again once I’ve used it for a few days.
Also picked up the powersox (only available in black) to go with my Desoto 400 mile (compression) bike shorts-- which I have used in several races last year (to bike AND run in). If they do for my calves what the bike shorts do for my thighs, they will be well worth it.
Cool. Please give me your impressions after use. I am really curious as to whether you overheat in the long sleeve top. Also interested in hearing about the powersox. I just ordered the 2XU compression calf guards. Evidently, they are on back order, so, it will be about a week or 10 days before I get them. Interested in hearing your reviews on the Skins stuff.
Thanks!
i have worn my SKINS compression long sleeve top a few times, all when my run has followed a pretty long, hard swim. it felt great to have my tired upper body muscles supported while bouncing along on my run.
That’s what I was curious about. Does it breathe well? Any concern about overheating?
If it’s warm enough I’ve been running in my skin top for close to 30 years. Unfortunately, it’s a lot less compressed than it used to be 
I haven’t read too much into it, but that white compression top sounds familiar to what Torbjorn Sindballe wore for Kona last year. Not sure where he got his, but sure looked like it helped.
Peter
I’m fairly certain that was a Craft top. Do not think it was compression either, just long sleeve.
OK, first off, I found little use for the powewrsox. Never have used any other compression socks before, so don’t have muuch to base that on, other than they seemed to do nothing for me- either during a run or for recovery. Just ordered online a pair of CEP socks to try for comparison- they seem highly praised and should give me a basis to compare the two.
Now, as far as the long sleeve white top is concerned- that was awesome! The weather was not quite as hot as I would have liked it to be to them out (will post again after the first really hot run- the last two days have been high 70’s to low, mid 80’s). My chest size is 40, which was on the border of the sizing chart- falling just into the large. They suggest to go with the smaller of the two sizes if in that situation, and so I did.
Basically it is a surfers rash guard- made with high tech cloth (75% Nylon Microfibre and 24% spandex). The cloth panels are cut in the same pattern of some surf rashguards I have seen and are stitched in the same (or similar) manner. The Skins also have a few ventilation panels (arm pits and lower back) as well. (I would even describe the cloth as similar to rash guard material, but a bit more spongy and water retaining.
As for using it on the run, it was great. There was no overheating at all, and the garment was great in keeping the body temperature down- considerably. In fact, being that it wasn’t that hot a day- and that I am used to running in these temps (and usually hotter) all year, I found myself getting the chills during my runs.
The garment basically soaks up your sweat and distributed it evenly thoughout your upper body and arms, allowing the wind to very effectively evaporate and cool you. This happens in a much more efficient manner than when running without a shirt- or with any other clothing top I have ever used. It does it so well, in fact, that I believe that you actually sweat less than you would if you were running shirtless. You don’t lose sweat as you would from your body otherwise (the skins trap it), and since your body is more effectively cooled by the trapped sweat, your body needs to generate less sweat to cool you.
So the result is twofold- you sweat less- which is great for winning the battle against dehydration- and the body is more effectively cooled all the while.
One note regarding the concern of overheating- As I said before, I have yet to try if on a really hot day- although I am pretty sure the results will be favorable then as well. The ONLY time it did NOT cool me incredibly well during my test runs was when I had a slight tail wind which resulted in feeling as though there was no breeze on me. The garment NEEDS to have wind against it to cool (so using it on the bike would never be a problem), and when you are in a situation when there is no wind blowing on you at all- you do not get any cooling effect.
Cool. Please give me your impressions after use. I am really curious as to whether you overheat in the long sleeve top. Also interested in hearing about the powersox. I just ordered the 2XU compression calf guards. Evidently, they are on back order, so, it will be about a week or 10 days before I get them. Interested in hearing your reviews on the Skins stuff.
Thanks!