Created out of the study of human movement and the application of high tech fabrics, CW-X Conditioning Wear is an innovative high performance line of sports garments. The CW-X line has been available in Japan for about 15 years and in North America for about 4 years. Currently, the CW-X product line includes bras, tops, shorts, and tights. This CW-X Pro Tights are the subject of this review.
Product Overview
“The ultimate anatomically engineered tights feature the patented Conditioning Web™, specifically tuned to provide total support to the key muscle groups and joint of the lower limbs.”
Fabric technology and garment design are incorporated into the CW-X Pro to provide support and performance. By utilizing a combination of synthetic fibres like polyester, nylon, and Lycra, the fabrics used in CW-X Pro Tights have distinct but complimentary qualities.
Tuned Conditioning Web™
The true benefits of the CW-X Pro Tights lie in the Tuned Conditioning Web™ (TCW). This is the infrastructure of the CW-X Pro. The fabric used in the TCW is a combination of 80% nylon and 20% Lycra.
If you’ve ever had the experience (hopefully not unexpectedly) of examining an automotive airbag, you’d probably note how strong the material is. This makes complete sense given that airbags are generally deployed at an explosive speed of over 290 km/h. Airbags are typically made of nylon which is an exceptionally strong and resilient material.
Although, often the mention of Lycra conjures up images of body suits from the early days of aerobics; this is not the case today. Lycra is used extensively in a wide variety of fabrics adding shape retention and crease recovery to almost any type of clothing. Lycra is a synthetic “premium stretch fibre” that has the amazing ability to stretch up to 600% and recover back to its original length.
The strength and resilience of nylon and the elasticity of Lycra give rise to the unique fabric which makes up the Tuned Conditioning Web™ in the CW-X Pro. This is crucial to the matrix of specific and targeted support which improves muscle performance and movement.
As the TCW crosses over the knees, hips and pelvis, excessive movement is minimized. The TCW intersects just below the knee and reduces shock, thereby stabilizing the knee. The pelvis and hips are also stabilized which in turn provides support to the lower back.
The Tuned Conditioning Web™ also forms a suspension system around key the major muscle groups. This is important for minimizing the shock, vibration and fatigue the muscles are subjected to during activity. If we want to generate the most efficient muscle contraction, it is essential to reduce any forces that detract from the primary movement. For example, the force of impact during running sends shock waves of vibration through the entire body, essentially shaking the muscles in all directions while they are contacting. The TCW reduces the vibrations on the key muscle groups of the legs that can interfere with contraction and effectively improves muscle efficiency and staving off muscle fatigue.
The Body
The body of the CW-X Pro tights is made of 80% Coolmax polyester and 20% Lycra. “Did he just say polyester and Lycra?!?”
No longer the bane of 70’s Disco jokes, today’s polyester is cool! With the use of uniquely engineered fibres, Coolmax fabrics deliver performance by effectively moving moisture away from the body while allowing the fabric to breathe. This results in a comfortable and dry garment. The combination of these two fibres makes for a form fitting, comfortable, and dry fabric; perfect features for a high performance tight.
Sizing
Proper fit is essential to benefit from the technology of the CW-X Pro Tights. There is a sizing chart that cross references height and weight to give suggested size for best fit. There are “grey areas” in the chart where sizing falls in between. In this case, size should be determined in order to maintain a tight yet comfortable fit for best performance.
As compared to other CW-X models, the Pro Tights offer the most comprehensive and extensive support of the entire legs. This includes the muscles, joints, and connective structures from essentially the waist to the ankle.
Personal Impression
When determining what size was best for me, I first consulted with the sizing chart on the package. Although using “tight yet comfortable” in the same sentence seems a little confusing, I took this to mean snug and supportive without my feet turning cold and blue. I normally fit into a medium size for tights but with my height and weight combination, I fell into the grey area on the sizing chart. I decided upon the small for the CW-X Pro Tights.
Donning the CW-X Pro is a bit like changing into a superhero outfit (like I would know). It is important to read the instructions in order to wear the CW-X Pro properly. The first step is to bring the leggings up to your knees and position the “X” of the Tuned Conditioning Web™ just under your knee cap. You can then pull the rest of the tights onto your upper legs and hips/buttocks.
Remember when I mentioned “form fitting” as one of the qualities of the Coolmax/Lycra body fabric? Well that might be a bit of an understatement. The CW-X Pro will accentuate every line and angle of your legs. This was actually a bit intimidating when I wore the CW-X Pro, but remedied easily enough by wearing them under a light shell type pant. I’ll have to build my confidence to wear them on their own during the warmer months.
The testing grounds for the CW-X Pro were two separate off road runs. The first was approximately 10 km on the trails of Hilton Falls Conservation Area; conditions were crisp with a temperature of -1C. The second run was a 7 km technical trail run through Cold Creek Conservation Area with soggy conditions and a temperature of +4C.
The feeling was almost immediate as the CW-X Pro provided specific support to various muscles. I could definitely feel the Pro Tights hugging my quads and hamstrings which seemed to create a more focused push off and leg turnover.
One thing that I became acutely aware of was my leg alignment. The CW-X Pro seemed to “remind” me to maintain proper alignment while I was running. I call this “proprioceptive alignment” or “assisted body awareness” which I can best explain as ‘something’ telling the muscles to keep the movement patterns efficient.
I have observed a good example of this concept in runners who have specific posture issues. As fatigue sets during a long run, some people tend to roll their shoulders in and hunch over. This can negatively affect running form, impairing breathing efficiency, changing the center of gravity and gait, and putting extra stress on the prime movers (main running muscles). One remedy is to have the runner hold good posture while an athletic trainer or sports therapist applies some tape between the shoulders. As the runner begins to fatigue and their shoulder start to roll forward, the sensation of the tape tightening across their shoulder blades reminds them to straighten up and hold good form. (Note, the design of the CW-X tops appear to achieve the same effects.)
In the case of the CW-X Pro Tights, the Tuned Conditioning Web™ seemed to be reminding me to keep good leg and body alignment during my stride. This may have just been my perception; however, having a heightened sense of body position is important for efficiency of movement. I have some pelvis issues (sacral-iliac alignment problems), so good posture and running efficiency are key the ease of my runs.
After both trail sessions wearing the CW-X Pro Tights, I felt strong and comfortable without the pelvic achiness I sometimes feel after running. The cooler weather necessitated wearing a pair of mid layer shorts overtop of the CW-X Pro Tights for warmth. Overall, I was impressed with the performance and comfort of the CW-X Pro.
The applications for CW-X Pro Tights become endless once you realize the benefits of their design and performance. The combination of increased power, reduced muscle fatigue, and improved efficiency make the CW-X Pro tights ideal for anyone using their legs! According to the CW-X website, some of the activities that can benefit from using CW-X include running, hiking, climbing, cycling, XC and downhill skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, luge, and dance. For the most part, I’ll keep to running, biking, and snowboarding. I haven’t got the courage to try luge or dance … even with the help of the CW-X Pro Tights!
John Klich
Running Free Sponsored Athlete
CanFitPro Personal Trainer Specialist
NSCA Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist
Twist Conditioning, Sport Movement Specialist Level 1
