We tried out a pair of Odlo’s new compression tights - the Muscle Force Evolution Warm 3/4 Baselayer pants. They’re designed as a warm, recovery tight but we actually found them pretty good to run in too.
I’m never that keen on compression wear, partly because it’s usually so tight and difficult to put on. My fears seemed to be valid when I took these tights out of the box and it looked like they might fit a 5 year old. A skinny 5 year old. However, they’re made of an extremely stretchy fabric and engineered using a ‘3D rotary knitting technique’. As well as ensuring a seamless design, this technique also means that they’re super stretchy. They are unlike any other compression tights I’ve tried and they’re incredibly easy to get on and off. Phew.
However, they stretch right back once they’re on and give your quads and hamstrings a nice firm squeeze. I don’t particularly like running in compression tights as they feel a bit restrictive, but these tights don’t, so I thought I’d give them a go for running. They may not be designed as a running tight but hey, we’re a running website.
They are lovely to run in. You feel like your quads and hamstrings are getting a bit of support but they can still move freely. They’re also very breathable and contain silver ions to stop them getting too stinky. The only real downside to running in these tights is that there’s no pocket for a key, but this is a minor gripe.
All in all these are great tights for running or recovery. The fabric is really soft, they give a nice bit of compression without overdoing it and, if it’s important to you, they are pretty flattering too as they hold it all in. I’ve run in these quite a lot and I’d say they’re a good bet for longer races where your legs would like a little bit of support.
