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Review: 2XU HYOPTIK Thermal Compression Tights

Posted on January 23, 2016 | 5 comments

Disclaimer: I received a pair of 2XU HYOPTIK Mid-Rise Thermal Compression Tights to review as part of being a BibRave Pro. Learn more about becoming a BibRave Pro (ambassador), and check out BibRave.com to review find and write race reviews!

I recently posted about winter running, and how important it is for me to stay warm (I’m a big sissy). It’s usually pretty easy to layer up and keep my core and upper body warm, but I find it really tough to keep my legs warm, so I’m always on the look out for tights or pants that will keep me toasty. I was super excited for the chance to try out these 2XU tights, and I was not disappointed!

What I received to review

1 pair of Women’s HYOPTIK Mid-Rise Thermal Compression Tights

From the website

Stand out, get noticed, and stay warm. HYOPTIK reflective logos help you stay visible when training in low light conditions. A soft brushed thermal inner layer helps retain warmth in cold climates. With coverage over the knee, powerful compression support and protect upper leg muscles to help prevent soreness and fatigue and long term overuse injuries. HYPOTIK THERMAL Compression helps you battle the cold and dark for outdoor training in winter.

The Good

I didn’t run a ton of miles in the tights, but I did run in the cold, and the thermal layer on the inside was warm and soft. While these tights didn’t keep me super warm right off the bat (they are thin tights after all), the thermal inner layer definitely helped.

They is definitely compression in these tights. They felt a bit tighter than my other running tights, but I’ve been dealing with a minor muscle strain, so the compression really helped my glutes to feel protected. The compression also helped with my day-to-day recovery. I wore the tights for at least 30 minutes after each run, and my legs felt great the next day.

The overall fit was great – I appreciated the mid-rise, and it was high enough to reduce the “muffin top” effect. There is also a little pocket inside the waistband. There was no chafing, no seams, and I didn’t feel very sweaty after running in them.

The box also says that the tights are antibacterial and have UPF50+ sun protection. The HYOPTIK logos are also reflective for high visibility at night.

The Not-So-Good

These babies are expensive (but look for a discount code at the bottom of this post!). The 3/4 length is $99.99 and the full length is $139.99. If these end up lasting for several seasons (which I think they will), then it would be worth the investment for all of the “running tech specs” involved in the tights, but having only had them for a short time, I can’t speak to the longevity of the product.

The Bottom Line

I plan to wear these to run throughout the entire winter. I love that they support my muscles and help me recover more quickly.

If you want a little more support for your legs when you run, you should definitely get yourself a pair.

Get a 20% discount!!! Enter “RUN20” at check out. Good until 2/29.

5 Comments

Posted in Reviews

Tagged 2xu, compression tights, hyoptik, running tights, winter running

A Cold Girl(or Guy)’s Guide to Winter Running

Posted on January 16, 2016 | 4 comments

I should start off by saying I grew up on the cold, snowy east coast. I never really liked the cold, but I could deal with it. Then I moved to Southern California and it ruined me. Now that I’m in Colorado, I spend most of my time during the winter trying to stay warm. So when I need to get in a run outside, it can be tough to figure out what to wear to stay warm (but not too warm once I get going).

I think I’ve got a pretty good system, so here are my best tips for when the weather is around 30 degrees. And obviously, try out different things to see what works best for you.

1. Check the weather.

Surprisingly, it’s not as simple as just looking at the temperature. Cloudy is going to be colder than sunny. Windy is going to be colder than calm. Humidity or impending snow can also affect how cold it is, so instead of looking at the main temperature, you want to look at the “feels” like temperature.

2. Wear two non-cotton layers.

Don’t wear cotton. When it gets wet, it stays wet, and you get cold. I like to wear a long-sleeved technical shirt and a light jacket (though sometimes I’ll wear a wind-resistant fleece). You will be cold when you start, but for me, two shirt layers feels just right once I get warmed up.

3. Wear full-length tights with a liner.

Tights with a warm liner are going to keep you warmer than other pants that might have more air circulation. I’ve been wearing the Hyoptik tights by 2xu, which not only are full-length with a liner, but have compression as well. The compression feature is supposed to promote blood flow and help your muscles warm up faster, too. Make sure you wear a pair of socks that comes up at least a little higher than the tights or you will have some cold ankles!

4. A note about socks.

Again, you may want to stay away from cotton so they don’t get wet and cold. I like running in wool socks (such as Smartwool) in the winter because they give me a little bit of extra warmth, but technical socks like Feetures are also nice.

5. Don’t forget a hat and gloves.

Whether you go for an ear warmer headband or all-out with a Buff Hoodie, a warm head = a happy runner. Sometimes I pull my jacket hoodie on overtop, just to seal in the warmth. I really like my newest gloves because I can still use the touchscreen on my phone with them, a feature to consider whether you want or not.

6. Packs.

I use a Spibelt to hold my phone when I run because I don’t like holding it in my hand. When you hold your phone in your hand, you also can’t do tip #7! Same thing with having to hold a water bottle, except holding water could also make your hands cold. I know several other BibRave Pros highly recommend Orange Mud hydration packs, and I am a fan of Camelbak packs.

7. Pump your fists.

Even with gloves, your hands might get cold, especially if you hold them lower when you run. By pumping/squeezing your fists occasionally, you get the blood flowing and can warm them up.

8. Spikes (if there is snow/ice).

After a particularly precarious run last year, I don’t plan to run on snow/ice without some sort of spike in my shoe. I haven’t needed any yet, but Kahtoola is a highly recommended brand. I’ve tried YakTrax, and they are a built bulky and interfere with my natural gait, so they didn’t work for me. Maybe they would be better in a bit deeper snow instead of just a thin layer on the sidewalk.

9. Keep your running buddy warm, too!