All Out Cricket’s resident runner Sam Stow takes a long (and long-distance look) at Compressport’s innovative thigh supports.
We’re forever being told that modern sports equipment is more advanced, more technologically refined, and more ‘scientific’ than ever before, but there is no doubt the Compressport’s range of compression garments is something a bit special.
In recent months and particularly in the lead up to a rather silly adventure in Nepal over New Year, I’ve been testing several products from the Swiss-based manufacturer, and wore a pair of the company’s trail socks to help me navigate 50km of the rather tricky Annapurna circuit.
I was also assisted by a pair of ForQuad Compression thigh supports, which – despite looking fairly basic at first glance – are immensely effective at assisting performance and recovery during strenuous exercise.
‘Strenuous exercise’? Not wholly relevant to cricket you might think, but Compressports products have already received positive reviews from both Dale Benkenstein and Marcus Trescothick, who – having used the thigh guards on a long-distance charity bike ride last year – was keen to trial the product for cricket-specific training.
So what makes this product – two tubes of material that can’t weigh more than a few ounces between them – so special? Well, first up, the Compressport ForQuad thigh guard is the only compression product sized to your upper leg muscles, not your waist. You’d think that size was everything within the compression market, but it can be hard to find a garment – whether it is for your upper or lower body – that fits perfectly. Fortunately, with Compressport’s comprehensive sizing system this isn’t an issue.
Because of this, Compressport’s products are incredibly snug. To be honest, at first they can almost feel too tight – but this is the whole point. By offering high levels of compression, the ForQuad thigh guards are able to provide optimal support for your quadriceps and hamstrings, while also supporting the ITB. After a while, the initial tightness feels both comfortable and normal, and – having previously picked up a minor niggle in my right thigh – I felt more secure knowing everything was packed in tight, as it were.
As mentioned before, the material used in these products is ultra light, but more importantly it has been specifically engineered to promote effective venous return from the feet to the heart, which – amongst other things – considerably reduces the build of toxins in the muscles. They can also be a godsend to anyone who is susceptible to cramping up, and because they help to reduce fatigue, they also assist in the prevention of more serious injuries.
Personally speaking, the user-friendliness of this product is a particularly strong point. They’re easy to pull on an off, and unlike conventional compression shorts, ForQuad don’t cover the groin, so they don’t need to be machine washed after each use – just hand wash them in the shower then put them back on straight away for recovery. Anyone who seems to spend half their time washing dirty sports kit will particularly appreciate this feature.
As would expect of a technical sports garment, Compressport products cost a little bit more than your standard ‘under armour’, but the point is that they’re not really comparable. The sheer quantity of technology, multiple functionality and athletic benefits make this range truly exceptional, and having helped me around one of the toughest ultra marathons in the world, I can assure you that they can be the difference between a torn hamstring and a (relatively!) painless experience.
For more information on Compressport products, check out compresssport.uk.com
