Compression gear has been one of latest crazes in gear for endurance athletes (triathletes in particular). I have to admit that I get excited about this stuff. There is a lot of hype behind compression, but not a lot of research to back up the plentiful claims of improved oxygen supply, muscle stabilization, and minimized muscle vibrations as well as decreased lactic acid accumulation and improved performance.

The compression technology has been adapted from medical technology that has been used to treat people with conditions such as varicose veins and lymphedema. CEP is actually owned by a medical compression company called Medi. They have been pioneers in the field of compression making medical compression gear for the past 85 years. CEP is the athletic adaptation of the technology.

CEP's sleeve provides graduated compression from the ankle towards the knee. This compression sleeve fits very close to the ankle, this is said to incorporate the more vasculature (and apparently more than other compression brands). The compression around the calf is uniform throughout.

My purpose for wearing the sleeves has been solely for recovery. I do notice a difference the instant I put them on, and the sleeve is very comfortable. I will wear them after a run or bike training session or whenever I feel some tightness in the calf. I have been impressed by how my calves feel when I am wearing them and when I take them off to train. Technically you can wear them training as they are supposed to boost performance by reducing muscle vibration, and bringing more oxygen to the muscles. I think that may be a bit gimmicky, but there is an article in the Journal of Strength and Conditioning that does support the notion that CEP's compression technology does improve running performance. This is very preliminary, and quite possibly a placebo effect. For my purposes, I don't want to become psychologically dependent on wearing compression to train or race.

It's personal but I prefer a sleeve over a sock. I can easily wear a sleeve to bed and not be bothered about my feet getting too hot and I also prefer to walk around without socks in the house so for me it is just a more comfortable lifestyle fit. If you are wearing sleeves for a triathlon you can also get away with wearing them in the water under a wetsuit and then transitioning into a sock or go barefoot without a second thought.
If you train intensely and you notice that you get tightness in your calves, it's a no brainer, go and get these sleeves. CEP is definitely a bit more expensive than other brands, but they have been around the block.

Till next time. Keep training right!

Steve.