By “active” I mean the compression socks intended to be worn during the race, recovery after.
Apart from some run-specific features of “active” socks around the foot, is there any other difference between the two types? eg. different materials, different pressure on the calf etc?
X-socks doesn’t have recovery-specific compression socks but do have air travel socks that look similar. Are they any good for triathlon recovery? (I like X-socks, and the air travel socks are relatively cheap.)
theres no clear evidence that either of them are good for anything at all
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marketing
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Can you wear them on your arms :o)
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Compression is the means to recovery. In a sense, they are talking about the same thing.
Not all compression is alike. Different companies use different psi for their compression apparel.
Other than that variable (psi), there is the question of wicking. Most sports compression apparel will have wicking properties, but it is on you to educate yourself about the product. IOW, don’t assume. Do your research.
Socks for activity are typically 8-15mmHg compression. Recovery socks are typically more compressive (25-30mmHg).
Try AmesWalker.com. Cheap medical-grade stuff (I get their Coolmax recovery socks…$15 and you can usually find free shipping). Personally, I’d avoid compression socks that don’t bother to list a compression rating.
You can’t tell people that! Not without hearing the ‘conspiracy theorist’ retort.
“Active” is a marketing scheme.
“Recovery” is the purpose of them and works.
In other words, wear them after a race or hard workout. Unless a sports med doc tells you that you need to wear something for injury support, there is no reason to wear compression clothing during a race/training.
except anecdotal n=1 evidence…
Went for a long run in the cold (about 35 F at the start) on Friday so I threw on the calf sleeves as I could slip them off easy as it warmed. Ended up leaving them on the whole run. I have always, always had very sore painful calves after long runs.
I felt freaking awesome after. Now, some of it is definitely improved fitness, and I’m going to go ahead and attribute most to that. But could, perhaps, some of it been the help given by the sleeves?
Now, I just wish I didn’t look like the idiot tri guy wearing them, or I’d do it again 
I’ll take sore calves over being forced to make fun of myself for being that guy.
I cannot tell the difference but I like the feeling ‘after’ the race.
Driving back from Florida to Canada, I enjoyed wearing my ‘recovery’ calf compressors with deep freeze on my legs.
I guess the ‘recovery’ ones work like those socks to avoid thrombosis.
There is a lot of cute marketing in there as well.
Educate yourself and spend your money wisely or you may fall for a lot of pseudo-science boloni that gravitates around the triathlon world.
Definitely research psi numbers then compare them to medical grade numbers online. Healthcare providers or anyone else on their feet for long durations wear them to increase the blood flow return to the heart/upper body and to decrease the likelihood of varicose veins. I’m not sure of the research on this reasoning. But having worn them for 12 and 16 hour shifts, I personally noticed a difference in my legs, less tired, less achy, with them than without. For athletic use, I think the benefit of compression is mostly psychological despite research supporting use during recovery. How they make you feel is something to be considered, but likely not worth 60$ a pair, maybe a qualitative study is in order.
Read this for some insight:
http://www.scienceofrunning.com/2010/07/compression-socks.html
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