Compression Clothing

Hi,
Has anyone tried skiing with compression tights, eg skins>>snow tights. Do these products actually help with eliminating muscle burn, reducing muscle fatigue and minimise muscle injury, or is it all just hype. If they do work is there other brands on the market that do the same job, or are we stuck with the expensives skins? :mrgreen:

Willow,

So many good questions,, so little time.

Let us take each question you posed.

I have skied with a "new" compression tights for the past two years. First impression. Strange feeling! I love to feel free, loose,,,these made me feel as if I was back windsurfing with my wet suit.

No they will not eliminate muscle burn. That is the result of build up of lactic acid in muscle fiber. All that will reduce this is conditioning! Sorry no shortcuts or freebies!

They will not also reduce muscle injury. All marketing dreams. Yes it is hype.

This said I must confess that after the initial, "too tight feeling" I did get an impression that the pants helped me. Let me explain. I wear an orthodic ski racing brace. I always have problems with "rubbing" on thight. With these pants no problem.
I discovered another plus.In Spring skiing when it is gloriously hot and you want to strip to minimum, these a great. Typically if you are young, inexperienced and have great body, you want to shed the camouflage and get shorts and T-shirt on. Very soon you learn that snow is like 80 grit sndpaper. You will remember your first fall all your life.
These pants are the solution. My had a weave which did not look like underwear, so I wore them on a very hot Spring day. Freedom at last.No snow burn!

One major problem! Well it all depends on your attitude about your body and where you ski! While I was "testing" these pants, I was in a "conservative,,family oriented ski resort" Women skier tended to stare! (and they say THEY do not want to be seen as "sex" objects). This comment from a women who was riding up with me says it all. She said, with a little tone of reproach to me, "you must be a homosexual or a great skier to where THOSE pants" I replied, " or perhaps both"! My wife, who was beside my on the lift, started to gag!
Let us just say,,,I would not wear these in the ski bar at the chalet.
Solution! I have a great pair of hawaine shorts that I put over the pants. They still peek!!!!!

Pav,

I would have paid good money to see a video of that moment on the chair - Sounds priceless! and such a quick retort too!

Jan

I use underarmour, keeps you toasty warm. Not interested in anyt of the other benefits.