Compression gear: Waste of money?

The SKINS Cheat Legal commercial from 2010. Courtesy: SKINS

To compress or not to compress? Even the Haws are divided. Source: News Limited

COMPRESSION gear has taken over the world of exercise so comprehensively that you can't toss a barbell at the gym without hitting someone in a pair of Skins.

Professional athletes led the skin-tight charge, and now everyone from pram-pushing parents to muscled-up bodybuilders has fallen into step.

The garments are big on two things: Promises and prices.

A set of 2XU compression shorts, for example, will set you back $85. Their long-legged counterpart is all yours for $140.

And for that hefty coin, you get "high performance bottoms ... engineered to enhance your performance like never before".

But do these pants really deliver what you pay for? The answer is simple: Yeah, kinda.

Not only for the pros anymore, compression gear is a part of many wardrobes. Source: News Limited

Our mates over at AskMen swear by them. As part of their AM Fitness Lab series, today they've anointed compression gear as a crucial component of getting fit.

But the nation's consumer watchdog, Choice , has found that you can't really trust the science that's printed on the box.

Choice says that Skins and co. could increase your blood flow, reduce muscle vibration, increase proprioception (this is your awareness of your joints in space), and make you more aerodynamic. They could also prevent or reduce injury and accelerate recovery.

All of these things, in theory, might improve your performance.

In practice, however, Choice says most studies have found that the theories behind compression garments don't necessarily translate to better performance.

Does this mean you should go back to bare legs? Not necessarily. Read on. Source: News Limited

"The rationale for wearing compression garments is solid, but the evidence is weak," Choice says.

"For the average fun-runner and keen amateur sportsperson, there are probably more effective ways of improving performance, preventing injury and enhancing recovery than wearing compression garments."

But that doesn't mean they're a waste of money. Choice concludes that if they feel great, you should keep wearing them. It might be all in your head, but that's not such a bad thing.

"Anecdotally, many people who try them find they provide a performance boost and that they feel better afterwards. So if you think it works, it does work.

"Given that there's no evidence of any negative effects, if they feel good and put you in a sporting frame of mind, go for it!"

What's your experience with compression garments? Comment below or continue the conversation on Twitter @danielstrudwick | @newscomauHQ