13 Best Recovery Tights Reviewed and Tested

Do you know the feeling when you have a lot of pain in your muscles? You have a soreness and you don’t have more power to do the workout? Running can be very demanding for our muscles, tendons, and many other parts of our body. We need to be aware however that we can help our body a little.

Imagine that you could buy something that will boost your blood circulation, minimize the fatigue of the muscles, and will help you to recover faster. These are called recovery tights. They have been expanding on the market over the past 4 or 5 years, and became a must-have in a runner’s wardrobe. We guess that you’ve tried them before but, if you’re going to buy them for the first time, you will definitely see the difference between loose and tight ones. Let’s make our recovery faster-here we go with our best of the best. Let us show you why they’re so exceptional.

Last Updated: July 28, 2018

By Kelly Lowis:

With this update to the introduction, as well as adding two new compression tights to the list, you are sure to find the best tights for you. Introducing CompressionZ Women's High-Waisted Leggings in the number one spot. These leggins are comfortable and you can take them anywhere. They're stylish, and wicks away sweat. We also added men's 2XU Men's Core Compression Tights at number 3. These compression tights promise to help you perform better, and recover quicker. Look over the list and find the perfect pair for you.

Expand Most Recent Updates

• 

  November 30, 2017
  

  By Brian Price :

  Taking a look at this buying guide, we decided there could be a few more products added, which aresuitable for the category. We went back to the research and found some more ideal recovery tights to build our list up to a good top ten. While searching for ne products to share, we of course stumbled on more helpful information, which we also added below to help you in your search.

• Women's CompressionZ
• 5 out of 5
  Our rating
• Wicks away sweat quickly
• Price: See Here

• Arc’teryx Stride
• 5 out of 5
  Our rating
• Zippered cuffs
• Price: See Here

• 2XU Men's Core Compression
• 5 out of 5
  Our rating
• Power-Weight-Flex signature fabric
• Price: See Here

13 Best Recovery Tights

Women's CompressionZ

These CompressionZ leggings for women are super comfortable with a 4-way stretchable fabric. They wick away sweat, and dry quickly. They keep your skin dry to ensure there is no itching, irritation, or chafing. It even has anti-odor technology in them to prevent odor causing bacteria. These leggings also come in 13 different colors, and styles to choose from for those who want to add some style to their run. You can wear these anywhere on a run, doing yoga, at the gym, or anywhere you please.

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Specs:

Best for: Running/yoga/fitness

Material: These leggings are made out of 73% Polyester and 27% Spandex

Sun protection: No

Reflectivity: No, but it does come in a variety of bright colors to choose from.

Pros

Wicks sweat away and dries quickly

Comfortable, and 4-way stretch material

Decently priced

Could wear anywhere

Money back guarantee

Cons

Some consumers said they run small

No reflective markings

Arc’teryx Stride

Arc’teryx men’s Stride tights offer a premium grade feel, fit and performance. With moisture-wicking fabric these tights needn’t be relegated to for recovery time on the couch. They can be used for this and cold weather training as needed. With a zippered security pocket, two stash pockets and flatlock seams these tights are primed for running (and to help you recover from said running).

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Specs:

Best for: Running

Material: 90% Polyester and 10% Spandex

Sun protection: Yes

Reflectivity: Yes, strips around the calf

Pros

• Fabric is very soft and flexible adding a touch of warmth or exerted muscles
• Zippered heel allows for you to cinch things down or open it up and let the air flow
• Runner specific pockets for small items such as gels or car keys
• A wide elasticized waist with drawcord gives a personalized fit, and flatlock seams insure against chafing
• Gusseted cuffs zip open to ease dressing with your shoes on; zippers designed to prevent bouncing while you move
• Reflective enhanced logo makes sure you’re seen in dim lighting

Cons

• They are a bit long for some

2XU Core Compression

2XU Core compression have graduated compression technology proven to improve your performance, and help you recover faster. They are made with their signature PWX fabric which stands for Power Weight Flex, which gives these compression pants a more powerful compression, while remaining lightweight. It also gives it extreme flexibility for better mobility while running, and exercising. There is nothing boring about these compression pants coming in different styles with just enough design to them. Moisture wicking technology keeps you dry, and flatlock seams prevents chafing and irritation. It has an elastic waistband with a drawstring to help keep them fitting just right.

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Specs:

Best for: Running/fitness and recovery

Material: These lightweight tights are made up of 72% Nylon and 28% Elastane

Sun protection: Yes, and they are antibacterial as well.

Reflectivity: On most of the options there is reflective markings. There is one pair where it still has a little reflective markings, but it is a little darker than the rest.

Pros

Compression technology proven to improve performance, and helps you recover faster

PWX signature fabric gives extra compression, and max flexibility

Lightweight

Elastic waistband with drawstring

UPF 50% sun protection

Wicks sweat dries quickly

Cons

A little more expensive than some of the other tights

Might have too much compression for some

Sub Sports DUAL Compression

Ever wanted to look like a luger? Well here’s your chance! Jokes aside, the Sub Dual Compression leggings are a great way to aid your recovery without blowing your budget. With a relatively low cost these tights offer a great price-to-value ratio. They have moisture wicking properties built in so you can easily train in them, or keep them in your bag and throw them on after a race. There are plenty of color choices for anyone worried about aesthetics.

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Specs:

Best for: Base layer/recovery

Material: Made from 82% Nylon and 18% Elastine

Sun protection: None

Reflectivity: Yes, decals around waistband and right leg

Pros

• High-wicking fabric ensures your skin stays as dry as possible
• Targeted compression makes sure all of the major muscle groups are getting some love
• Snug compression fit improves blood flow and makes sure plenty of oxygen is circulating
• Designed to reduce recovery time and support sore/fatigued muscles

Cons

• Some didn't like the the waistband

2XU Hyoptik

If you like to run your legs into the ground the Men’s Hyoptik Compression Tights are a great way to build them back up afterwards. Sturdy compression wraps and protects key leg muscles to dissipate and prevent the resulting fatigue/soreness. These tights will keep you warm, are great to train in, and can help reduce the amount of time you are laid out post workout. With high grade materials and a flashy design it’s hard to go wrong with the Hyoptik tights.

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Specs:

Best for: General fitness/recovery

Material: Nylon/Lycra spandex blend

Sun protection: UPF 50

Reflectivity: Yes, both legs

Pros

• Designed for greater blood flow and aim to assist with warmup and recovery performance.
• Reflective logos scattered throughout — be seen at night
• Flatlock seams reduce chafing
• High-filament yarns deal with moisture and dry quickly
• UPF 50+ sun protection plus Antibacterial treated material
• Graduated compression specifically supports the hip flexors, quads, hamstrings calves, and gluteus muscles.

Cons

• Sizing runs a bit small

Skins A200

Want to push yourself longer, harder and further? Do so with a bit of added confidence knowing you have the A200 Compression tights in your pocket. These are great for training, and have shown to reduce muscle vibration significantly over the course of a run — heading off a whole slew of problems further downstream. But they also excel in the post-run environment. Throw them on after you shower and spend the rest of the day lounging. Your muscles should be getting additional support, blood flow, and an ally in the fight against lactic acid. Give them a try today and see the difference.

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Specs:

Best for: Running/recovery

Material: Nylon/Spandex

Sun protection: Company is based in Australia, so yes the sun is considered. UPF 50+

Reflectivity: Yes

Pros

• Engineered gradient compression contours these tights to your leg muscles
• Sizing system is based on a unique Body Mass Index (BMI)/anthropometrical algorithm, due to this enjoy the full benefit of gradient compression
• SKINS are meant to reduce muscle vibration, minimizing strain muscles are subject to during activity.
• Improved circulation increases oxygen delivery to the muscles
• Athletic cut waistband with firm elastic grip
• Reflectivity built into the design of the tights,

Cons

• Don't stay in place while running, for some body types

Under Armour ColdGear Compression

There are many different running tights but not every are appropriate for colder seasons. Recovery tights for colder days need to be retain the heat and that’s what Under Armour tights do. However, it doesn’t mean that they’re very thick. Actually they were described as second skin, they’re rather lightweight and very soft. To boost your performance and don’t restrict your movements, Under Armour applied 4 way stretch design. The fabric is dual layer to provide more heat to your body. However, you won’t feel also too hot thanks to the inseam panels. The choice of colors is really nice, users in general didn’t have problems with sizing.

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Specs

Best for: running and other sport activities

Material: Polyester and elastane

Sun protection: No

Reflectivity: No

Pros

 Anti odor technology prevents the growth of bacteria

The material dries very quickly

Big choice of colors

Great for colder seasons

Cons

Some users expected better durability

Zensah Recovery Compression Tights.

This recovery Tights include an abnormal state of pressure to augment course. Regardless of whether you run a long marathon race, cycle for another individual best, or simply have a hard exercise in the rec center, they are a requirement that an athlete should have. The pressure tights help to decrease damage through expanding oxygen and blood stream in the abdomen section. Ones legs will remain warm while wearing them. These tights are made of Zensah restrictive texture, which makes them breathable and very light. Any pair of pressure tights tap out dampness, which means no sweat on your body. Pressure tights help to balance out leg muscles to counteract damage and enhance healing.

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Specs:
Best for: Running/recovery

Material: Fabric breakdown is 85% Polyamide / 15% Elastane.

Sun protection: No

Reflectivity: No

Pros

Keeps legs warm as it ensures there is flow of oxygen throughout the lower body part.

The tights are made of a texture that wicks out moisture while making you comfortable even when sweating.

The tights helps to decrease the abdomen area from being damaged since it circulates oxygen and blood.

Helps to balance out leg muscles to prevent more damage on the area that needs recovery.

Cons

Lacks the reflective ability which posses as a challenge during night runs or walks.

SKINS Men's DNAmic Compression Long Tights

If you want to run or do sport activities which are more demanding for your body, you should definitely invest in good recovery tights.
These skin tights will help to recover from mild swelling and soreness. The compression is snug but there’s no restriction of movement. You can really feel the boost of the blood circulation and many users noticed the faster recovery of muscles even after first usage. These tights were great when it comes to regulating the moisture. There’s also a big support for key muscles group.

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Specs

Best for: running, lifting

Material: nylon and elastane fiber

Sun protection: 50+ UV protection

Reflectivity: no

Pros

They provide very firm compression and boost the endurance performance

Users can choose from the wide range of colors

They retain their original shape

Cons

Some users had problem with finding the best size

Zensah XT Compression Tights

These Tights offer compressions on the ankle straight to the hip, while a 4-way stretch fabric ensures full mobility. Use them while running, working out, or for muscle recovery.These Compression Tights are made of a Breathable and light weight texture. The tights include pressure from hip to lower leg to encourage and enhance flow of blood and to keep legs warm and free. The pressure tights use fast dry innovation to wick dampness far from the skin through the tights. This keeps away sweat hence one remains dry, while keeping the tights light. Utilize the pressure tights when running or as b-ball pressure tights, for muscle recuperation after a substantial exercise, or amid any athletic action. Four-way extend texture takes into account full portability while putting on the tights and enables the pressure tights to maintain their support and shape

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Specs:
Best for: Running/recovery of muscles.

Material: Fabric breakdown is 65% Nylon / 35% Elastane

Sun protection: No

Reflectivity: Yes

Pros

• The draw string that helps in adjusting the general fit and also with the reflective ability to help keep safe during low light areas or at night.
• The fabric used in this tights help tap out moisture to promote and ever dry environment that keeps you feeling comfortable all through the workout process.
• The tights are light weight and have the ability to be odorless as it also stretches enough to keep you comfortable.

Cons

This tights might be short for tall people make sure you get the right feet.

CEP

CEP is the brand that offers different kinds of staff for athletes. We also found out that they have great quality recovery tights. These help to increase the blood flow so your body can recover much faster. The blood that needs oxygen and that’s why you need the compression so much- this compression helps blood to reach the heart and there are all important nutrients so it’s like a little boost for your blood. It also moves lymph fluids so the inflammation is much smaller and there’s also a lower risk of deep vein thrombosis. This products also helps you to fight with the unpleasant odor when you exercise. It’s made only from high quality materials that help to evaporate sweat and moisture. This makes these tight really cool and you can wear it all day long. They’re high quality product and the producer says that they will last for over 150 wears and washes.

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Specs:

Best for: Running/recovery

Material: Fabric breakdown is 75% Polyamid, 25% Elastan

Sun protection: No

Reflectivity: No

Pros

Very durable

Help to recover your muscles fast even after demanding running session

Cons

They’re a little bit pricey

Nike Zonal Strength

Looking for something tight, or maybe hypertight. As the title implies, they provide a lot of strength to your legs and put the pressure where it’s really needed. Nike Zonal Strength is a hit when it comes to boosting the recovery. The tights help to minimize the swelling and boost the recovery of even most fatigued muscles. There’s big pressure on particular zones to recover faster. The main aim of these is to reduce muscles vibrations.If you’re a fun of Nike, their Dri-FIT fabric isn’t a unknown word for you. This fabric is used also here so you can enjoy dry comfortable run without any excessive sweating. There’s also mesh fabric gusset liner for improving the breathability.

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Specs
Best for: running
Material: Polyster
Sun protection: no
Reflectivity: yes

Pros

Thanks to Nike’s fabric, you stay cool during workout

Users claim that they don’t expect any soreness after workout with these tights

Cons

The price is relatively high

Compression Z

This brand as also the name implies, is known from making very firm, high quality, compressive tights. We really like the fact that they will do their job both in hot or cold seasons. These provide very tights compression. You can literally feel the boost and faster muscles recovery. They improve blood circulation and help to prevent or minimize injuries.. Thanks to flat flock seams stitching, you don’t need to worry about skin irritation. The material is moisture wicking so these tights keep you dry. Users praised the durability of the tights, even after many washes, they retain the original shape. The price of these is also attractive. There’s only one color.

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Specs

Best for: Running

Material: Nylon

Sun protection: no

Reflectivity: no

Pros

They provide tight fit without restrictions

Odor resistant material

Cons

Some had problems with choosing the right size

The criteria used in selecting best recovery tights.

Let’s bring your attention to some of the factors we used to pick our best tights. As always we want to make sure we show you the best of the best. So, we went through some evaluation process, like the comfort of the pants, what it is made out of, and how breathable they are. We also took into consideration the price and quality of the recovery tights to make sure you are getting the most out of your money. In this case let’s say you are a runner in the process of recovering, we want you to feel like you did the right thing picking the tights that are right for you. So the next time you go shopping for  recovery tights, you will know what to look for.

Below is some of the metrics we used in finding the best recovery tights.

Comfort

It would be crazy not to have this one on our list. With recovery in mind the most important thing to focus on would be comfort, you do not want to feel pain or worsen your condition at any expense. Worry not, that is why we are here to makes sure we come to your aid to assist you in making the quickest come back in history, well at least we would like that. The body and muscles should feel at home with nothing to bother them but making improvements. Comfort comes in as the major concern, without this we can assure you that any tights you buy will be of no good.

Performance and recovery ability.

Well this is what we all need to think when picking recovery tights, will they perform like we want? Will it be helpful for my post-run recovery? The answer we all want to put there is yes. So how about when shopping you put this in perspective. Make sure you look for good compression tights that help speed your recovery process. Your recovery should be your number one priority at this juncture. Normally we give you a list of the 10 best tights to pick from, but we also advise you to read a lot of reviews, and do research of what your condition requires and get the best. We want you to be on your feet as fast as you can, and to go about your daily and normal running routine in no time. Look for the best of the best out there. This generally covers a broader perspective as it revolves around the features of the tight that will make your recovery noticeable within a small period of time. Never go for tights because of their color or because they are trendy you can consider them but only after making sure the selected tights can help in your recovery process. At Runner Click we always got our runners covered and you are no exception.

Size/Fit.

When it comes to size this is up for no debate as getting the wrong size can hinder you from achieving your best results in  recovering. When buying clothes of any kind how it fits you will always be a number one priority, which comes to no surprise since no one can buy something that doesn’t fit. Coming up with the best fitting recovery tights is a step closer to your recovery, if it’s too tight it is subjective to wear and tear which also means less flexibility and we cannot afford that can we? Make sure the tights shouldn’t be too tight on your ankle, if so consider the size wrong. Most tights have size charts at the back of their packages to help you know which size is likely to fit you best.

Durability/quality

Quality comes as a no-brainer, we all want something that can stand the test of time.  Going shopping at a store can sometimes be a bit of a hassle. Going in the fitting rooms and trying on five pairs of pants can get frustrating. The first time you go to the store to get tights, why don’t you make sure you get the best quality that can withstand the test of time. In most cases we prefer getting more than one pair of  tights because using the same pair every day however good the quality is, can result to wear and tear. Make sure you do not fall a prey of trends and style, sometimes it is more than just the appearance. Sometimes to get a quality product you are going to have to spend more money than you would like, but know that is not always the case. Sometimes you can find a perfect pair at a great price.

Breathability.

This comes to light because we want you to be comfortable and have no irritation with your tights on. It is one step closer to recovery as well. When looking for something breathable it’s important to look at the material it is made out of.  In most cases avoid picking cotton which poses as a threat to breathability. Any material that wicks out excess moisture to keep you dry during your workouts is the best. Try to pick one that has this quality as it leads to you concentrating more on getting healed rather than being comfortable as that one will be taken care of with the tights.

Reflectivity.

This one is also a crucial factor to put in mind when looking for recovery tights as they assist in areas of low light. When you run in places where there is traffic or places where there is less to no lights, the best thing to do would be to put on reflective tights, so you are able to be spotted by people, especially drivers. Getting tights that have reflective material in them helps people spot you faster to help keep you safe.  We want you to be free to run wherever, and whenever you please so we decided to take this into consideration as well.

Other important factors to consider when choosing the best recovery tights.

Sometimes we focus on the major factors and forget that there are some minor factors to consider. Which can also be as equally important as the rest when making a purchase. Getting the right tights can pause as a headache in some of us, we cannot blame you, we also have it rough when picking out which is which, and ask ourselves why this and not that? Well the answer is always one with us we give our best to our clients and we, make sure to give them all the guidelines they require to ensure they pick the best. Not only that, we also come with the best 10 in our list that we consider effective having done enough research and tests to ensure it comes as no surprise to us. All we mean is we have you at heart when coming up with this metrics. We have listed a few below for you to check out and consider when making a purchase.

Fabric

Most often this is ignored, or simply not considered as an important factor, even though it makes a huge difference. The material in question should be one that snugs to the body, you need a light material that will still tap out moisture from your body to keep you comfortable and not irritated during your workouts. Most of the time we prefer blended materials like spandex, nylon, and polyester which most tights are made of. To allow them to stretch just enough to keep you as comfortable as possible.

Weather

If you are an all season runner you should know that there are differences in tights depending on the season, sometimes you can use the same in all types of weather. But, at times the one you have for summer is so light that cannot withstand the winter season, in this case, you have to look for ones that are warm, comfortable and durable. If you still want to look perfect even in extreme climates, get yourself a pair of warm tights that can serve you when your body needs heat. We would go with cotton in this case, as it is known to give warmth.

Waistband

These come in the feature of a tight, we all need something that can hug our  waist at any time without us having to stop and pulling them up. No one wants to stop in the middle of a run to pull our tights up because they are falling down. We would advise you to get elastic waistbands that has a tie which can be adjusted to a comfortable fit. Some fabrics cannot stay in line without a great waistband so this is important to check. We all know sometimes we gain or lose weight, so having this tie can help us adjust to the best fit.

Price

Let’s all face it, sometimes we fall victims of buying stuff because of price. I personally am a victim of that every time, from electronics to clothing’s to almost everything. We all have the notion that expensive is quality let me remove your head from that. We can have an expensive music system that is of low quality. The big brands sometimes mislead us all, have no worry , we would like to shed some light on this. When making a purchase it is great to consider the price but do not trust it with all your money, well that statement might seem funny but, it has a sense in it. Look for more outstanding features before closing the deal with the price. Sometimes tights can be fairly priced but the features are more outstanding than the one that has a huge price tag to it.

Style

If you are a runner you will know that your tights should have a snug fit and never should it have a restrictive one. To support your muscles and help prevent constricting of your muscles at any point of your body. But you should never pick out running tights by looks alone. You could find out later that you cannot even run in them at all because they were made for a fashion statement, not for athletes. Finding a pair of tights that look good, and fulfill their purpose won’t be hard once you have looked over our list of the best recovery tights.

FAQ

Q: Will these tights really help?

We addressed this question somewhat above, but the short answer is maybe. They do seem to help in some cases but in others show little effect. Manufactures such as CEP, Skins, and 2XU all have scientific support cited on their websites. Take a look by clicking on the name of the brand. Conversely, compression tights are not without criticism. Our common sense tells us that while these tights are not a magic cure for anything, they do offer a bit of an edge, and trying never hurt anyone.

Q: Are compression tights just for professional athletes?

Absolutely not. Amateur athletes who want to take care of their bodies should pursue every means of this possible. There is no should when it comes to wearing recovery tights.

Q: How long do compression tights last until they need to be replaced?

This, of course, is product and usage dependent. But generally speaking most are guaranteed for a year, and with moderate use should be expected to last far beyond that. Sweat and dirt can affect their longevity negatively so be sure to wash them after every use.

Q: Can the compression damage my body?

If sized properly, it is almost impossible for compression alone to cause damage to a healthy body. If however, you feel that your tights are causing some type of issue discuss it with a healthcare professional.

Q: How do I wash my compression tights?

Check the tags first often there are instructions there. If not a good rule of thumb is to machine wash cold or warm, tumble dry low heat or let air dry. If you’re paranoid avoid the dryer altogether.

Here are some of the sources we used when doing our research

We never leave stones unturned when making findings about any product we display as best. When doing our research we go out there get reviews, have some tested just to have the first hand information so that when we make a list, we have a feel and touch of what is required by our esteemed clients. We do research from various sites that include: informational content, medical, fitness and health and also runners content to come up with what we know will benefit you to the maximum. Listed below are some of the content we used when coming up with our best recovery tights.