Compression Tights... CW-X vs Opedix vs Skins

Compression Tights... CW-X vs Opedix vs Skins

Hi everyone,

I have seen various threads on EpicSki covering ski-specific compression tights. Through my research, three different products come up:

1) CW-X Insulator Stabilyx and CW-X Insulator Pro (seems like the Pro version is more suited to skiing?)

http://cw-x.com/ss/products/mens/m_insulated

2) Opedix S1 - seems to be more targeted at knee stabilization

http://www.opedix.com/s1_ski_tights.aspx

3) Snow Skins - from Australia

http://www.skins.net/us/en/Products/...echnology/snow

I'm having a hard time deciding which one of these to get. I am young (32) and my knees are in good shape. My main desire is a tight that will support my leg muscles to keep them going longer before tiring and reduce the soreness after skiing.

Has anyone tried more than one of these? Any notes for comparison?

Thanks!

i have a pair of cw-x and under armor cold gears and can hardly tell the difference. they are both compression but cw-x has all the snazzy thing about stability..


IMO.. it's a marketing scheme and over rated. i'd just get what ever that is cheaper of the ones you've suggested.

in addition, i'd love to get some that cut off right above the knee instead of the ankle. i find the ankles ones tended to leave a mark on my legg when booted in

As someone who suffers badly from muscle soreness from doing ANYTHING new (even a few hours gardening!), Skins are essential for me. They get you through those first few days of the season with just mild muscle stiffness, rather than the agony that is standard after the first day.

Before Skins, my first day would have me with increasing stiffness and soreness the day after, and even worse the day after that. They even hurt to the touch. I love what they do.

Check out how much they'll cost you now, the Aussie dollar has fallen due to the financial crisis, making our stuff even cheaper than usual.

I've been using the CW-X Insulator Stabilix this year and they've been great. They're very warm and the super tight compression and "wrap" does give you a feeling of strength, power and stability -- sort of like being taped up for sports. I have no idea whether the claims re endurance and soreness reduction are legit, but I like that they hold everything in place and make muscles feel "ready to fire." Some people complained that they rode too low, but not on me. The waist is right where I want it and they don't slip down much at all. I'm sure that's just a matter of different people's different body shapes.

Would love to hear from some people who have compared/contrasted CW-X with Opedix and/or Skins.

As I mentioned in another thread: I wear regular tights. Over the tights I wear cheap Mueller knee stabilizers with lateral metal springs and for thigh compression I use two large size ace elastic bands originally made for knees (just slide em up higher). I Have found this setup to work very well and the total cost was about $25. Muscle fatigue and knee strain is greatly reduced.

I don't know about compression tights but I know compression socks ABSOLUTELY work. I've been running marathons for years and at my age, despite all the training and mileage I do in preparing for a November Marathon, I still always suffer toward the end of the marathon with aching calves and quads. The days after the marathons are even worse as my calves are almost always swollen.

This last November, I tried something new and wore the Zoot compression socks. Zoot offers compression tights too and competes against CW-X, 2XU and all these other brands. I debated wearing tights or just socks but I didn't want to try something I was not familiar with on race day. The Zoot socks went all the way up my lower leg and stopped short of my knees. During the race I looked a bit dorky with the white long socks but since the weather was really cold, I didn't feel so bad. More importantly, however, my calves had no pain during the entire marathon and I barely felt any effort. The next day, although my quads were dead tired and aching, my quads were ABSOLUTELY fine. Felt like I had just walked a block on them. No pain, ache, NOTHING.

So this year I will try using the full compression tights (any brand would be good) and see if my quads will benefit from them as well.

I have both the opedix and the CW-x. I think they work. In terms of muscle stability and keeping legs fresher. Opedix are much more rigerous and structured. I recommend them...if you want to spend teh money. Are they necessary...of course not. By teh way..Opedix are very tight---its a feeling yo uhave tio get used to..but I think it gives me some security,,good luck

Blitz

Blitz,

So, if you think the Opedix keep the legs fresher, are the CX-X tights better in any other aspect? From the respective web sites, it seems like the Opedix concentrate on knee support, while the CW-X concentrates on muscle support. But, your evaluation is that the Opedix provides better muscle support... that to me seems like Opedix would be better in all aspects!

Thanks for the opinions, keep them coming please!

I love my CW-X stabilix tights, and everyone I speak to who has them loves theirs. they make me feel like my legs are spring-loaded. they are great. I dont have the insulators though, I regret not getting those.

but I run too, and they are great for running too....

Hi:

Yes you are exactly right...Opedix twice as expensive and very different overall--much more strucutred support overall; both knee and muscle. Cw-X feels like a reinforced tight. Opedix feels much more bracing and tighter, even in the right size. ..One other cosnideration...Cw-x does not make a calf length tight...so if your are medium height like me--you have to tuck the CW-x into the boot....Opedix makes a calf lenght,,,with my tight boots---I dont need an extra layer in there.

CW-X does make 3/4 length tights, just not in the "insulator" versions.

http://www2.trainingbible.com/joesbl...ou-faster.html

and, btw:

http://www.cep-sports.com/index.php?id=8631

I have insulated 3/4 length CW-X tights. Use them every day, and love them.

CW-X tights don't work for me because they don't fit. I have long femurs and my knees just don't match up with where the tights expect them to be. As for making ankle length tights calf length, just chop off the bottoms and have them hemmed by your favorite tailor for a few bucks.

Any thoughts on which CW-X model is better... Pro vs Stabilyx?

I picked up some Opedix S1's and I really enjoy them. I don't have horrible knees, but I appreciate the stability it gives me while I am skiing.

-chris

What she said...

...I have the top of the line, support you all over CW-X Insulators, and they are great. Can't speak to the other brands. I used to use just plain tights, like Asics, tights I use for biking, etc., and the CW-Xs are far superior...

Haven't compared to the other brands, but I have been enjoying using my CW-X shirt and tights for both skiing and cold-weather cycling. I have the opposite problem Voltron had, though, where my femurs are apparently freakishly short and my calves freakishly long; the knee would always drop down too low and the hem is a little high on my ankle. I solve it by rolling the waist hem over once and wearing socks that cover the exposed area, but I'd like to experiment with getting a different size or with different brands. Even with the occasional knee slippage, though, I felt great after biking and skiing with them. The micro fleece on the Insulators works extremely well, and wicked everything away quickly and comfortably.

You may be right, I should have said that they don't offer the Stabilyx Insulator in 3/4. I checked the CW-X site again and they do not show any Insulator being offered in 3/4. They may have discontinued those items or they are too new to make the site.

Q - How do the CW-X and Opedix compare in length/fit? Any shorter guys wearing these? Fit issues? I am 5'6" and my waist puts me in a small CW-X and a medium Opedix.

Fit is an issue for me, too.

I have two pairs of CW-X tights, one pair of non insulated Pro tights, and one pair of insulated Expert. A note on sizing for anyone who's planning on ordering and hasn't tried them on, the pro pair without the insulation is significantly larger than the insulated expert pair. I think the difference is in the insulation, not the taping.

The pair without the insulation runs big and long on me, enough that I wondered if they accidentally send me the men's version when I ordered the women's. If I were to try these again, I'd go down a size. The taping at the knee doesn't stay lined up during activity. The fact that they're big on me negates the compression and makes the taping not feel effective anyway, so I just wear these like a normal pair of tights at the gym, etc.

The insulated pair fits properly and gives good compression. Still, the knee taping doesn't line up properly, and I think that's at least in part due to my thighs being significantly larger than my calves, so my body is not in the proportion the tights were designed for. I have to pull and readjust a ton to get the knees in place, and if they're out of place I feel the taping holds me the wrong way, and it's actually negative for me to wear them during activity. When I tried to, I ended up aching wonkily in the knee afterwards. Now I just wear them as a warm layer under my pants when I'm just walking/day to day.

I'd love to try Skins, as lining up taping isn't an issue with them. I'm also interested in Opedix, if they fit well, as I had an acl reconstruction and could use the extra knee stabilization.

Can't comment on the others, but have been using Skins for 4 years.  To work properly in reducing lactic acid build up they must be graduated compression tights and not just tights, which is why the real thing is more expensive.  Skins and pretty thin with flat taped seams and I've never had a problem with them inside my boots (socks over the top).

I did have problems with my Skins bunching up and aggravating my shins ups against my boot tongue...or it was the seams digging in.  Either way they allowed me to exchange them for the 3/4 length version and I haven't looked back since.  Highly recommended!