by FitEgg Tri Gear Review on 30 July 2010
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We’re believers in compression. The science supports the claims of most compression gear. Basically, compression does two things for a triathlete: First, good compression gear will help your performance by increasing muscle stability; and Second, increase circulation and decrease recovery time.
Today, we’re going to take a look at the SUGOi Race and Recovery (R+R) Knee High Compression Socks. The R+R Socks retail for $40 and are available
About the SUGOi Race and Recovery Knee High Compression Socks:
When you pick up a pair of the Race and Recovery Compression Socks, you’ll notice a few things right away. We first noticed the extra padding in the footbed and specifically under the heel and toe, where most heel striking runners put the most pressure. The SUGOi socks are constructed with mesh ventilation systems to help with heat transfer and thermoregulation.
The SUGOi R+R Compression Socks feature progressive compression, starting with the arch band and moving up in compression to the top of the socks.
Testing the SUGOi Race and Recovery Knee High Compression Socks:
We have used these socks during a five mile run and for recovery after two 13 mile training runs. These socks are good for compression, however, we feel that there are better compression socks out there. For instance, we tested the SLS3 Compression Sox. The SUGOi socks didn’t deliver the same level of compression that we experienced with the SLS3 socks. The SLS3 socks provided better thermoregulation than the SUGOI socks, that is, the SUGOI socks didn’t transfer heat away from our legs during our runs.
Even though these socks didn’t transfer heat as well as we have experienced with other socks, they did an excellent job of wicking sweat and moisture while we tested them. They also fit well enough to prevent any chafing and blistering.
We ordered the first pair of SUGOI R+R Compression Socks based on the online measurement guide and ordered a medium based on our shoe size. The SUGOI R+R socks in medium were quite large and couldn’t have provided any compression. We were very pleased with SUGOI’s customer service; they quickly and without question replaced the medium socks with a better fitting pair of small socks.
Initial Thoughts on the SUGOi R+R Knee High Compression Socks:
As we mentioned above, we were very impressed with the sweat wicking features of these socks. We were also more than pleased with our customer service experience. We were hoping for more intense and powerful compression from these socks. We have experienced the benefits of compression, both during training and in recovery and were looking forward to a strong compression sock from SUGOi.
We have spoken to triathletes and runners who don’t use compression because they find the pressure too much to deal with. If you’re one of these people, you might find the weaker compression of these socks to be right up your alley.
As is our policy, we’re not going to recommend or discourage these socks at this time. We will continue to test these socks during our training and during recovery. As we’ve recommended before, your best bet for satisfaction with clothing is to use these reviews as a first filter and then heading down to your local triathlon or sports store and try on a few different versions and manufacturers.
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- SLS3 Compression Sox–Final Review
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by FitEgg Tri Gear Review on 28 July 2010
Today, we’re going to take a look at the HydroSprint Lumbar Pack from GoLite that retails for $40 directly from GoLite.. We’ve been working on a few reviews on GoLite products recently, so if you’re interested in cool, lightweight gear, take a look at our review of the GoLite Manitou Women’s Top, the review of the Tilly Jane Skirt, and our review of the Wildwood Short Sleeve Shirt. Thanks again to the folks at GoLite for the test samples.
About GoLite:
According to their website, GoLite was founded with the “simple idea…That experiencing nature would be better with less. Less weight, less fuss, less waste…more fun”. GoLite strives to not only provide products that are not just light in weight, but also light in their impact on the environment. GoLite uses the GoLite Index to determine the impact of each product and calculates this index using three main measures: Environmentally Preferred Materials, Responsible Production, and Education+End-of-Life Programs. GoLite has also adopted a Fair Labor audit process and follows The Timberland Company’s Code of Conduct.
About the GoLite HydroSprint Lumbar Pack:
The HydroSprint is designed for speed and weight savings. It weighs a mere 283 grams, or about 10oz. With room for only one water bottle and a small gel flask, this is the smallest lumbar pack that GoLite sells. The HydroSprint includes a 21oz BPA-free bottle and a 5oz gel flask. In addition to the water and gel flask, the HydroSprint features a small zippered pocket to hold your keys, additional gel, camera, etc. The HydroSprint pack is designed with a mesh hipbelt that encourages quick drying. You’ll also notice a great deal of reflective material on the pack to increase your visibility.
One interesting feature is that the HydroSprint comes in two versions; one for men and one for women. GoLite designed these belts to provide the best fit for customers. Nice touch for a product that normally comes in a one-size fits all design. You’ll notice that the bottle holder is also insulated, helpful on those long hot summer runs.
The HydroSprint is made from recycled 210 Denier Nylon and features a No-Bounce system to help balance the load and is easier to adjust while running. There’s also a bungee system that can be used to secure a windbreaker or hat.
Testing the GoLite HydroSprint Lumbar Pack:
We loved the weight of this pack. We put quite a few miles on this pack and had absolutely no qualms about it’s performance. We found the adjustable bungee very useful in preventing bouncing while running. The zippered pockets on either size are the perfect size to accomodate your house keys or a small wallet. The additional squeeze bottle is designed for gels, but we chose to use it for additional water and higher concentrate performance drinks. The smaller bottle could also be modified with a spray top so you could use it to cool yourself on a longer run.
While running, the pack stays in place well. We experienced a bit of clockwise shifting, but not more than an inch or ro. We found the pack most comfortable when adjusted so it sits just above the hips, versus resting directly on your hips. Accessing the bottles while running is fairly easy since the water bottle holder is quite stiff and maintains it’s shape.
Initial Impressions of the GoLite HydroSprint Pack:
We’re pleased with the performance of the HydroSprint Pack. As mentioned above, the pack is great for shorter runs and is very light. The gel flask is a nice touch, something you don’t always expect to see on the smallest or lightest packs. Though we haven’t used the bungee system to carry any additional gear, we did find it useful for preventing bouncing during our test runs. The gender specific waist belt is very comfortable and fits well, especially when we started wearing it just above the hips.
We’re excited to continue testing this pack and can’t wait to put some longer distance runs on the HydroSprint Pack.
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We’re believers in compression. The science supports the claims of most compression gear. Basically, compression does two things for a triathlete: First, good compression gear will help your performance by increasing muscle stability; and Second, increase circulation and decrease recovery time.
