• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Breaking Muscle

Breaking Muscle

Breaking Muscle

  • Fitness
  • Workouts
    • Best Shoulder Workouts
    • Best Chest Workouts
    • Best Leg Workouts
    • Best Leg Exercises
    • Best Biceps Exercises
    • Best Kettlebell Exercises
    • Best Back Workouts
    • Best HIIT Workouts
    • Best Triceps Exercises
    • Best Arm Workouts
  • Reviews
    • Supplements
      • Best Pre-Workouts
      • Best Whey Protein
    • Equipment
      • Best Home Gym Machines
    • Certifications
      • ISSA Review
  • News
  • Exercise Guides
    • Legs
      • Back Squat
      • Bulgarian Split Squat
      • Goblet Squat
      • Zercher Squat
      • Standing Calf Raise
      • Hack Squat
    • Chest
      • Bench Press
      • Dumbbell Bench Press
      • Close-Grip Bench Press
      • Incline Bench Press
    • Shoulders
      • Overhead Dumbbell Press
      • Lateral Raise
    • Arms
      • Chin-Up
      • Weighted Pull-Up
      • Triceps Pushdown
    • Back
      • Deadlift
      • Trap Bar Deadlift
      • Lat Pulldown
      • Inverted Row
      • Bent-Over Barbell Row
      • Single-Arm Dumbbell Row
      • Pendlay Row
Reviews

Product Review: 2XU Compression Gear

The world of compression gear has become filled with numerous brands, but 2XU stands out as a quality brand that actually makes a difference in performance and recovery.

Logan Gelbrich

Written by Logan Gelbrich Last updated on March 31, 2012

We receive free products and receive commissions through our links. See disclosures page.

It’s often the signature tribal looking silver streaks emblazoned on the compression fabric of 2XU workout and compression clothing that makes it stand out from the numerous other manufactures of “black tights” out there. For the athlete wearing 2XU products, however, it’s the performance of the apparel that is the difference maker.

Triathletes, CrossFitters, runners, and cyclists around the world are feeling the stand-alone benefits of 2XU products. For me, the muddled world of compression gear has nearly made compression apparel a commodity. As a baseball player, I remember when Eric Karros was the first Los Angeles Dodger to embrace Under Armour, which provided a novel product at the time with compression sleeves. I also remember, soon thereafter, purchasing a pair for myself.

Since then Under Armour has become just one of the countless sports performance brands that sell compression tops, bottoms, sleeves, etc. With Nike, Adidas, Reebok, Under Armour, and the likes in the compression business, I’d like to argue that many consumers take compression gear for granted. In many ways, it’s a fashion statement that may also have some performance benefit with regards to maneuverability, lack of resistance, etc.

I tried 2XU for the first time and I reconsidered all of the above. For me, I saw a company that took an ubiquitous sports trend (in compression gear) and completely raised the bar. I wore the Men’s Elite Compression tights for a CrossFit Games Open workout and felt great. I slept in the Recovery Compression Tights the night after, and wore their Compression Recovery Socks the following day.

The compression gear fit better than any other brand I’ve tried. There is a bit of an intangible attention to detail about the work they have done with these products, as well. You “get it” when you put them on, especially in comparison to a similar pair from Nike or Under Armour. 2XU has the world of compression down pat.

This experience was the first time I’d felt there could be some benefits to compression tights like these. Other than the obvious added shin protection, warmth, and replacement of sliders to wear under workout shorts, compression tights often seem like a fashion statement. 2XU is a different story.

I can echo the same notion in the recovery tights as well. I think there is a fine line between tight fitting clothing and performance compression clothing. 2XU is the only brand that stands on the performance compression side of things. As I went to sleep in the recovery tights, I felt like the tights gripped my sore calves, quads, and glutes. I felt like there was something being done with regards to recovery. 2XU has earned the fact that a consumer may assume the world of their products.

2XU targets fitness enthusiasts in the world of endurance sports, CrossFit, and even golf. The benefits of quality compression gear are just limited to those that toe the line of competitive sport. There is plenty of literature to support the use of compression gear for improved circulation while traveling and even during pregnancy, especially on the lower legs.

The only way to poke a jab at 2XU is at the price tag. It’s expensive, but they’ve put their money where their mouth is. 2XU is simply the best I’ve seen.

2XU gear is available online through their website.

Logan Gelbrich

About Logan Gelbrich

As a catcher with the University of San Diego and the San Diego Padres, Logan saw training simply as support for his athletic endeavors. Now, however, he enjoys its more universal application in himself and others.

Logan is the founder of Functional Fitness on the Bluffs and Original Nutritionals, as well as an athlete and coach at CrossFit Los Angeles. With a background in professional baseball, Logan has committed his life after baseball to a more general application of performance. His passion for functionality and improvement, coupled with an evolutionary approach to nutrition, has become a career grounded in making people better.

View All Articles

Recommended Articles

two_feet_purple
Product Review: YogaToes
ISSA Personal Trainer Certification Review
ISSA Personal Trainer Certification Review
Best Whey Proteins for Packing on Muscle, Shredding Down, Meal Replacement, and More
Best Pre-Workouts for Building Muscle, Running, Taste, and More

Primary Sidebar

Latest Articles

2023 Britain’s Strongest Man Results — Adam Bishop Takes The Crown

Should You Train the Deadlift on Back Day or Leg Day? What to Know for Results and Recovery

Andrew Jacked Looks Shredded as He Seeks First Career Arnold Classic Title

Jay Cutler Pegs Nick Walker as His 2023 Arnold Classic Favorite

Latest Reviews

ISSA Personal Trainer Certification Review

ISSA Personal Trainer Certification Review

Best Whey Proteins for Packing on Muscle, Shredding Down, Meal Replacement, and More

Best Pre-Workouts for Building Muscle, Running, Taste, and More

Best Home Gym Machines

Best Home Gym Machines

woman lifting barbell

Be the smartest person in your gym

The Breaking Muscle newsletter is everything you need to know about strength in a 3 minute read.

I WANT IN!

Breaking Muscle is the fitness world’s preeminent destination for timely, high-quality information on exercise, fitness, health, and nutrition. Our audience encompasses the entire spectrum of the fitness community: consumers, aficionados, fitness professionals, and business owners. We seek to inform, educate and advocate for this community.

  • Reviews
  • Healthy Eating
  • Workouts
  • Fitness
  • News

Follow Us

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS Feed

© 2023 · Breaking Muscle · Terms of Use · Privacy Policy · Affiliate Disclaimer · Accessibility · About