Saturday, September 8, 2012

Zensah Compression Socks Review

Recovery.  That's what this week was all about.  I already told you about  my ice bath and then Epson salt bath.  I foam rolled and used the stick to massage my sore muscles in the car on the way home.  And I made sure to eat a mix of protein and carbs to hep my body recover well.  

So it seemed like the perfect time to talk about one of my favorite ways to recover.  It's not new.  And most of you might already own a pair of these.  If not, they are worth the investment.  Compression socks.  I own 3 different brands of compression socks.  So when Zensah asked me to do a review of some of theirs, I was happy to oblige.  I already own a pair of their shorts and calf sleeves and LOVE them.  So I wondered if these would really be very different than the calf sleeves.  I wore them last year during the Utah Valley Marathon last year and loved them.


First, I have to say that putting compression gear on is an art.  And I feel bad for the men out there, because us ladies have an edge in this department if they've ever put on pantyhose.  It takes real skill.  In fact, there are You Tube videos on how to put these socks on your legs.  And if you try to do it like normal socks... let's just say that I want to be there watching you do it for a little chuckle.

I also have to say that wearing compression gear for an extended period of time is not always comfortable.  But I never feel that way about my Zensah products.  They are soft and while they are tight, they are not too tight.  I wore these all night long and then my calf sleeves the next day under my dress at church.  

Another thing I really liked about the socks was all the room in the toes.  I originally bought the calf sleeves because I don't like my feet to feel compressed.  Barefoot and minimalist running has only enhanced that feeling and has set my toes free.  So I didn't know if I could stand to wear socks again.  But I was pleasantly surprised to find that the toes are very roomy and are not tight like they are around my calves and upper feet.  Their website explains it better than I do,
"Zensah compression socks are made up of graduated compression. The greatest amount of compression is at the bottom of the compression socks and as one moves upward, the level of compression decreases. The innovative Zensah compression socks prevent blood from pooling in your feet and help to enhance circulation."

I'm glad to see that besides all the colors of the rainbow, they now have argyle patterns as well.  Now they just need to make stripes and polka dots.  

While I did a lot of walking this week and even a little running later in the week, I fee like these socks helped me recover faster than I would have.  And it's not the first time I've used them either.

What tricks do you have to come back faster from hard work outs or races?


6 comments:

Tasha Malcolm said...

Out of all the compression sleeves and socks that I own Zensah are by far my favorite. The fabric is so much softer on my legs making them more comfortable to me.

Jeff Gallup said...

Those look great! And yes, putting on compression socks can be a challenge! The only ones I've tried so far are the Injinji's, so you add the additional factor of getting each of your toes in their own little sleeves :-)

Doran & Jody said...

Do you think if I get a pair of these they will help my attitude also?

Unknown said...

love compression socks too. Wear that after every long run/race.Triathlon

Anonymous said...

Love the compression socks - thanks for the review.

Dan Hopkins said...

That's a very informative review, thanks for sharing. If you're ever interested in doing reviews for other suppliers of compression equipment, I recommend choosing these knee compression sleeves. They are a gem!