Renee: My favorite compression socks are a CEP Run Compression Tall Sock from 2016/2017. I still have them, and despite a small hole near the ankle, they held up well. I have bought newer versions of those socks and haven’t found them as “compressing” as my old pair. Same as other brands. For trail running, the full length sock isn’t my favorite. Should I need to switch socks, taking a few minutes to remove a full-length compression sock is not what I want to do.
Enter the usefulness of calf sleeves! I find these pricey, so I suggest waiting for a discount. The 4.0 sleeve is similar to previous versions. I have the 2.0 and what I think is an “ultra-light” version of the 3.0 or 4.0 from 2023.
[far left: 2.0, center: early 3.0/4.0, far right: current 4.0]
With each of the sleeves I have, the seam near the ankle has loosened. The socks need to be hand washed and air dried and I’m not always great about doing that. With care, they will hold up better (no issues with my current pair). If you like compression but want to wear another sock (Darn Tough for me on trails, most often), then the sleeves are a good option.
At $45, I would like a stronger compression as these don’t offer as much compression as the full length socks. At a discount, they are a good buy and can double for warmth on cold days or leg protection when running through brush on ungroomed trails.
Renee: I find CEP’s compression socks useful, and as a mediocre runner who has struggled with back-to-back runs, I was curious if the Compression Run Shorts would help.
The shorts feature anti-bacterial materials, and the compression is placed around the quad and hamstrings.
For sizing, I’m between the small and medium and wore a size small, which is my typical short/bottoms size. CEP recommends wearing your typical size if between sizes. If between sizes, consider how tight you need the compression. If you have a little extra around your waist, as I do at the moment, the size bigger might work better.
The material is tight around my lower thigh and waist and I wonder if the shorts are actually compressing or if they are simply just tight.
The fit is high waisted, which is not flattering as someone with short legs and thicker hips. I do like the overall length. If you need compression at the glutes, you won’t get it here.
The back zipped pocket can fit my iPhone 15 Pro Max, at an angle but it fits. Otherwise the pocket is meant for fuel. Plenty of space for enough gels for a marathon or road 50k.
The newest version of the shorts is supposed to be light and breathable. I’ve been wearing them during warm winter days, although I do think they will run warm in summer.
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Tester Profile
Renee is a former U.S. Marine journalist, which is when her enjoyment of running and writing started. She isn’t that awesome of a runner, but she tries really hard. Most of her weekly 50-60 miles take place on rural country roads in Nebraska, meaning mud, gravel, dirt, hills, and the occasional field. She has PR’s of 1:30:59 for the half marathon and 3:26:45 for the marathon.
Samples were provided at no charge for review purposes. RoadTrail Run has affiliate partnerships and may earn commission on products purchased via shopping links in this article. These partnerships do not influence our editorial content. The opinions herein are entirely the authors'.
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2 comments:
Calf sleeves are indispensable in road trail run. Very helpful. Sure.
Indispensable? Can you elaborate?
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