There has been a lot of hype about compression gear over the last few years and it really seems to have taken off in both the running and the triathlon communities. As far as I can remember, CWX was the pioneer with this technology with companies like Zoot, Skins and 2XU following suit. I was all over the CWX tights when they first came out. They are great and remain one of my favourite pieces of clothing for cooler weather. Since I was training for a fall marathon I knew I’d be running through the summer and I wanted a go-to pair of shorts for my long runs. I looked at the shorts CWX offered and they were either REALLY long (like knee length) or really short (like boy shorts, a no-go for someone with thighs like me!). I wanted something that came to mid-thigh or a bit lower. I know the longer shorts offer more 
compression benefits but I couldn’t imagine wearing them in the stinking hot humidity we’ve had this summer. I was looking at the Skins shorts but couldn’t justify the price so I opted to try the Sugoi R&R shorts. While I was at it, I bought the oh so attractive knee high R&R socks as well. I have to say I was not disappointed in either piece of clothing. My first run in those shorts was 26km and my legs felt good, not achey like they normally do once I start to get into the higher mileage runs. One thing I noticed and really appreciate about these shorts is the lightweight construction. They are a very thin material which has been great considering the heat we’ve had this summer. I hardly feel like I’m wearing anything, which is really nice on a super hot day. The key “ingredient” in these shorts is the SUGOI PISTON fabric technology. They are made with “polyamide based materials that boast the lowest weight per square inch that is available for compression. Combined with SUGOI’s proprietary PowerKnit² process, 3D ergo fit panel ZoneConstruction™, and attention to detail, the result is high quality compression gear which supports you through a vast range of activities” (as per the Sugoi website).
When I got home from that 26km run, I promptly put on the socks. There was only one word to describe that feeling: ahhhhhh. My calves felt a little tingly and I felt like someone had magically taken away all the soreness & aches in my lower legs. They became my go to piece of clothing after my long runs. I found that when I wore them after a hard effort run or a long run, my legs felt fresher the next time I went out, much less fatigued. I finally decided to take them for a spin on a 20km recovery run. My calves felt great until about 19km then I started to feel some fatigue–not much but some. I also did that run in “regular shorts” instead of my compression shorts and boy did I ever notice a difference in how my legs felt, especially my quads (more fatigue than usual). So I’m not surprised I felt some fatigue in my calves at that point. I decided to test both the socks and the shorts again in a race situation. I used them for a 3okm race and they were fantastic until about 21km or so. I was working hard though so I’m not surprised that I started to feel fatigu
ed. I have to wonder if a firmer compression sock would have made a difference in warding off fatigue for a bit longer or if I’m just going to fatigue at 21km+ regardless. The Sugoi socks & shorts are on the lighter end of the compression scale with Skins and CEP being on the firmer end of the scale. All that being said, I liked the shorts so much I actually purchased the tights as well. I haven’t done a run in the tights yet but I have used them for recovery. Much like the shorts, they are very lightweight and incredibly comfortable. I’ve actually SLEPT in them a few times after a couple of my longer tempo runs and for someone who turns into a furnace at night, I was pleasantly surprised to find that 
I did not overheat. I actually felt quite comfortable and awoke to find the soreness in my legs had almost completely gone. I’m curious to see what they perform like on a longer run but I’ll have to wait until the temperature drops to find out. For now, I’m happy to use them as part of my recovery regimen.
All in all I highly recommend this line of clothing. In terms of performance in a race, I think it will be more effective for me for shorter distance racing (up to a half marathon). As a recovery aid, it is amazing. If I could wear it every day, I probably would!
