The ¾ CW-X Stabilyx Tights are my second pair of CW-X tights and after two CW-X tights the jury is still out in my opinion. Like many reviews on compression products in general there is no clear concensus on whether compression really works. CW-X claims that the Stabilyx; ‘support lower abdominals, hips and back to channel power through the core’. They go on to say that ‘compression facilitates circulation during and after activity, minimizing lactic acid build up’. Many other articles and studies conclude that compression has not proven to do what it claims.
I am willing to try. Any product that can potentially make my recovery faster, and the training I do less detrimental to my body has to be given a chance. Running, biking or swimming every day wears a person down and any advantage I can give my body through nutrition and gear is worth a shot. I only wish I could say that wearing these tights made me faster or less injury prone or even that I recovered more effectively. I simply don’t know in any concrete way.
I know they look very sleek and I feel like a real runner when I wear them. I know they are very tight, as compression should be, and hold my legs firmly. I have a ‘niggle’ in my hamstring and wearing the tights make me feel like the niggle will not develop into something more serious. I have also worn them after long runs to help with recovery of aforementioned ‘niggle’. Are they really helping? I hope so but I don’t know, not for sure.
My one complaint with CW-X tights and all compression shorts and tights in general is the muffin top they create. Compression needs to be tight – of course – but could the elastic in the waist not be a little more forgiving?
At the price tag of $100+ I do not want to just be wearing sleek tights, I want to be sure they are working like they say they are. But until concrete facts come out supporting the use of compression, I will just continue to hope.
