Every once in a while, someone comes up with an idea that makes you go
Duh! Why didn’t I think of this? How has this not been invented before?
These guys made me say “Duh” big time.
That happened to me last December when I was in Austin for “The Running Event.” For those of you who don’t know, the event is basically an annual expo/showroom for all the new running products that will be coming out over the next year. It’s a great place to discover new innovations, and each year has it’s product trends. This year was flush with compression sock companies, all fighting for market share. As I walked past booth after booth of compression stuff, I couldn’t help but think that in two years time, most of these brands would be goners, especially since they were all doing pretty much the same thing: compressing.
Paula Radcliffe always rocks the squeezers, shown here in white person skin tone.
Despite the fact that one of my idols in the sport popularized them, and every single triathlete I’ve ever met can’t seem to take them off, I never really took to compression personally, other than for long flights, or after the occasional leg-abusing long run or track workout. I’ve read the science, and yeah, it gets you thinking, but there is always a lot of science in sport that I don’t bother listening to. Science recommends so many freaking things, and changes it’s mind so frequently, that I tend to buffer what science says with some good old fashioned “what works for me” and “what’s worth incorporating into my already full life.” Something has to provide a lot of value for me to add it into my program.
I digress…So during my company-spying in Austin, I walked past the 110% Play Harder booth and saw something unexpectedly different. There were compression socks hanging everywhere, as usual, but there were also these funny little calf sleeves connected to them, and what looked like ice cube trays made out of fabric and plastic, and capri tights full of kangeroo pouches, and silver insulator bags that looked like they could keep your sub sandwiches cold for days. What in the hell was going on here?
I had to ask, of course.
Rachel was a sprinter in college, before she took up a new sport: destroying pregnant pro athlete’s confidence.
Rachel, (pictured kicking my slightly-more-luscious-than-usual-butt last week on a run in San Francisco,) kindly walked me through the product line and explained what the deal was: compression + ice, or heat. No more wrapping a ziplock baggie of ice to my injury with a kitchen towel or never-tight-enough saran wrap. The booth was full of products that make self-maintence easy. Gone is the excuse that you don’t have time to heat or ice something…you can do it anywhere, anytime, while doing anything else. And that was my “Aha” moment. All I could think was, Why hasn’t anyone invented this before? I really could have used these for the past 15 years. And then of course my next thought was, I wonder if she’ll hook me up with some free stuff?
She did…under the condition that I let her win all our runs together. And for three months I’ve tested the products, both as a runner and as a pregnant person, and confirmed that they rock on both accounts. Lucky for me, 110% thinks I’d be a great addition to their athlete roster of “Playmakers” so I have the opportunity to bring them on as an official sponsor. Check them out online and you’ll see that they have been featured in like a zillion publications recently and won some cool innovation awards. I’m very grateful to have their support this year.
I assume by now the suspense is killing you and despite the fact that your coffee is getting cold while you read this, you simply HAVE to know how these products caught my eye, and how I plan to use them. Well, wait no more. In six photos, you will see what the fuss is about, and will probably also smack your forehead saying, Why didn’t I think of that?
1. The Socks
Here is one compression sock shown alone, and one with the Overdrive sleeve over the top.
2. The Inserts
Inserts that you can cut to size, and either freeze or microwave.
3. The Unexpected
Slide that little bugger onto a trouble area with heat before exercise to warm it up, or ice afterwards. This piece is perfect size for plantar fasciitis, or inserted upward through the heal slot instead for achilles problems. The Overdrive sleeve holds it on tight, while the bottom compression sock protects your skin and keeps the blood circulating.
4. The Obvious
Sore calves? Boom. Or if you’re me, you put 4 x this amount of ice in when your ankles get swollen and fat from carrying around an unborn child.
5. The Flexibility
Ideally, you kick back and relax when stuffing your capris with ice or heat, but in case you just can’t stop…In seriousness, these “juggler knickers” are what I was most impressed by because they have pockets to treat any other area a runner could possibly hurt that the socks don’t cover. Specifically for me, I can ice my knee and heat my achy low back at the same time. Plus there’s pockets for my tots. (Picky Bars and cleavage not included).
6. Portability
And finally, they come in a thermal zip pouch that keeps your ice cold for like six hours, or something crazy like that. You can basically pack your recovery with you on your way to your race, or Sunday long run, and then get your recovery on while you eat brunch with your friends. WHAT?! Yeah, I know.
And The Best Part:
110% is bringing me out to Boston Marathon to hang out at the EXPO and see the race, so for all my readers who are going to be there, COME SAY HI! I’ll fill you in one more details later, including where I’ll be and when, and info about a special discount for my “Homeboys” (that’s you), and other fun stuff on the horizon.
I’m 90% of the way through another blog with a more thorough update about life due out Friday, but since a press release was going out today about 110%, I wanted to make sure you knew what the deal was from my fingertips. Feel free to comment and let me know what you think about compression. I’m particularly interested in how other athletes incorporate compression successfully into their routine, and where you draw the line for use, i.e. it’s ok to wear compression gear at a restaurant, but not ok to elevate your legs on the table…
Ah so wish I could come to Boston to watch Steph, etc, but there’s that med school thing…
Speaking of med school, I actually use compression socks more for that than for running. If I knew I was going to have a long day on my feet and could swing it under scrubs (ie wore/wear them most on OR days), I’d wear them. Don’t want any varicose veins…
I’ve worn compression socks a handful of times while running and put them on after long runs or a really hard workout.
As a frequent multi-tasker, the knickers would help me kill two birds with one stone with icing my back and hip and everything, but think its a little out of my price range at the moment when the alternative costs basically nothing. I’d consider it though, just because I like doing two things at once as much as I can
I like wearing my compression socks after a long run or to work the day after. I don’t think they make a difference when worn on the run, so I usually skip that since I’m definitely more comfortable without them here in TX! Haven’t tried any other compression gear…
I love compression socks! I just like the way they feel on my legs, they are so comfortable!
Also, damn, you are so cool, I love your sense of humor
Brilliant, and seriously, why hasn’t anyone thought of this before?!?
I have had the calf sleeves since January, and I LOVE them. Perfect for my recurring, annoying shin splints. I love that you are now part of this great company!! I thought the same thing: I wish I had thought of it. It makes total sense, and yes, I also had the ziploc bag of ice tied to my leg with a dish towel before.
hmm…so when I want to ice after a lunchtime run I can have the compressors on under the suit pants at my desk and no one would be wiser…vs having to explain why my bare foot is in my recycling can full of ice. Works here.
These sound interesting and oh so functional! I am not a devoted user of compression gear, although this sounds intriguing. This will be my first Boston Marathon, so I am very excited, nervous and have been working my butt off training for this race… the icing on the cake (or the Picky Bar Peanut Butter mini pie?) would be to meet you! Hopefully, you won’t have too big of an entourage around you!
I love 110% tights! They are so much more convenient than the alternatives which included me wrapping on ice with a scarf, packing a cooler of ice in the van or using the front seat butt-warmer in the car to get my glutes ready to go! And they are amazing for travel, especially the tights because they go way up your stomach and give good lower back support. They are also much thicker than most other brands, so they last longer. I will warn you though, if you go through airport security like I did while wearing them, you just might get some strange reactions if you get a pat-down. The TSA lady kept telling me, “Ma’am you have very firm legs” and I was like, “Um, thanks?” Even though it was the tights haha.
Seriously?! I am currently sitting on a heat pad while I read this, the other night I ace bandaged one to my butt for a heat/compression night of sleep (pelvis keeps popping out, loads of fun…) Totally saving up my pennies for some knickers. Thanks Lauren!!
PS Welcome to Bend, come visit us sometime.
This is awesome! Very tempting…I might just buy a pair! Thanks for the great review Lauren!
I was looking into some compression products like this, the 110% brand seems awesome! I was thinking of getting the calf sleeves because I get bad shin splints and tight calf muscles. However, how does the sizing work? I’m sure it’s one size fits all, but I’m tiny-will the one size fits all likely be ok?
As a pregnant runner with a genetic hypercoagulation disorder, even though the term 110% intensely bothers me, I think this is a fantastic idea. My doctor will be interested to hear about this company. She treats a lot of people like me (and she’s a runner and triathlete herself).
Also, much more eco-friendly than a plastic bag of ice held to your hip with a yard of saran wrap!
I’ve been a compression convert for a few years now. I will wear recovery calf sleeves just about ANYWHERE and with ANYTHING, including with shorts and skirts. I wouldn’t put my legs ON the table at dinner, but if I could finagle an extra chair and prop them up on that, I would. In fact, I do.
As someone currently battling a bit of plantar fasciitis, these look like an awesome idea – and somewhat cleaner/easier than rolling a water bottle covered with condensation all over the floor under my foot. [Then making sure no one actually grabs said water bottle out of the freezer as a drink bottle.]
Also, as someone currently living in the tropics, I think I’d like a full body suit of these, to ice myself down after a run.
I’ve never tried compression socks, but have been considering them for months now. I will definitely check out 110%! thanks for the post!
I wear compression socks for warmth on chilly days. I feel more comfortable running and racing in shorts because my body heats up anyway, but it can be tough to get over the mental hurdle of being cold when I walk out the front door–knee socks totally help!
Yes, yes, a thousand times yes – I’m a tropical runner, I happily wear my compression calf sleeves to work under my trousers (runner cred?) and I would like a full body suit DURING a run…
On ice at restaurant: I was at a pizza joint once and I needed to ice my knee, figured I’d ask if they had some ice to spare. They brought a trash bag about half full of ice to the table…huge. After the initial shock, and thanking them genuinely but awkwardly. I realized I could ice both knees at the same time, and that was a time saver!
On compression: I usually wear them to bed, on airplanes, and am working them into workouts because I think the sleeves look hot with really short shorts. But seriously. They make me run faster without noticing the effort. I am a 1500m-800m runner (giving the Steeple the stink eye right now), so fast is fun for me, my first love even.
I tried to wear them camping once, squeeze in some extra recovery I thought. 24/7. Not a good idea. There are these bugs called “chiggers” and I had about 60+ bites on each leg (I live in Oregon). Not super fun. Super itchy.
The 110% crops look pretty great, but are they REALLY cold? I find that often the barrier, any barrier that is not a plastic bag, can result in ice that is just not cold enough. Do you feel like the system provides a cold penetrating enough to be effective? For you, not in product research.
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