6 Best Men’s Compression Pants

Compression 101

Some people have the impression that compression clothes are simply “tighter than normal.” While that may be partly true, there’s a whole lot of technical stuff going on in the realm of compression gear.

Typical workout tights offer flexibility, comfort, and support. And while they may feel skin-tight, that doesn’t automatically mean that they offer *actual* compression benefits.

True compression clothes are more technically advanced than typical workout wear. A legit compression garment will have a graduated level of compression to improve blood circulation and reduce vibrations.

Graduated compression means that the garment will offer more compression further from the heart. In the case of compression pants, maximum compression is offered near the extremities. The level of compression then tapers down as you move towards the torso.

The Benefits of Compression Gear

You might be thinking, are compression pants actually worth the investment? We’ve listed the benefits of wearing compression gear below to help you decide.

First, remember that compression pants improve blood circulation and support muscle movement. As a result, the following effects take place:

1. Reduced risk of deep vein thrombosis (DVT)

This benefit is not entirely exercise-related, but it’s definitely still worth knowing. By improving blood circulation, compression gear prevents or reduces swelling in the ankles and feet, which then helps reduce the risk of blood clot formation or DVT.

This effect can be useful if you’re prone to DVT, or if you frequently find yourself in situations that put you at a higher risk of it, such as long-distance flights or road trips.

2. Reduced muscle fatigue during workouts

When you do your workouts (or when you do anything, really), gravity inevitably influences your circulation and encourages blood to pool at your lower extremities. Compression pants and socks help combat this by promoting blood flow back towards the heart.

As a result, oxygen circulation improves. Having an adequate ready supply of oxygenated blood is important in muscle function. When blood oxygenation is compromised, lactic acid begins to build up within your muscles. Lactic acid is responsible for the feeling of muscle fatigue, so controlling its buildup can positively impact your workouts.

3. Lower injury risk

Wearing compression pants can improve the quality of your warm-ups by promoting faster increases in skin and body temperature. With this, the temperature of your muscles also increases, giving them more elasticity and ease of movement.

We all know that with better warm-ups comes a lower risk of injury. Warm, elastic muscles are less likely to tear or become overly-strained.

4. Improved recovery and reduced post-workout muscle soreness

Muscle vibrations during workouts impact the severity of post-exercise fatigue. That said, compression pants help minimize muscle vibration by providing extra support. This reduces fatigue after exercise, as well as lessen delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS).

Wearing compression gear after your workout can help your muscles recover faster, as well. By improving blood circulation to the muscles during the recovery period, compression pants can boost the supply of oxygen that’s available to these muscles, thereby accelerating the rebuilding and recovery process.

5. Improved stability and movement during exercise

Compression clothing will give you a better sense of movement. This leads to improved stability and execution, as well as a reduction in bad posture or form. What’s more, compression gear may also help exercise performance because fatigue reduction leads to better endurance.

6. They help keep you warm.

This benefit may be less science-y than the aforementioned points, but it’s a great bonus, nonetheless. Compression pants will help keep your body warm even when you’re working out in a cold environment. Win!

How should the right compression pants fit?

When shopping for compression tights, know that they’re not supposed to feel like typical workout pants. Compression pants should feel tighter than plain leggings, especially near the calves and ankles where compression pressure is the greatest.

You should expect to encounter a bit of a challenge when putting compression pants on for the first time. A good quality pair will remain tight even after many washes, but you should be able to put it on a bit more easily with time.

That said if you feel the urge to size up when trying on compression pants for the first time, think twice. It’s highly possible that you’re simply not used to the super snug fit of compression tights and are looking for a more “familiar” feeling. Know that getting a pair that isn’t tight enough can undermine the benefits of compression.

For what activities should compression tights be used?

You’ll get the most benefit from donning compression gear if you engage in running, biking, and other high-intensity activities. The more high-impact your workout is, the more you need compression.

These days, however, more and more people are using compression pants and shirts even for low-impact activities. Some athletes even wear compression clothing during rest days to help speed up muscle recovery.

If you can afford to buy multiple pieces of compression gear for both your high-impact and low/mid-impact workouts, that’s great! But if you’re on a budget, it’s best to reserve what you have for running, plyometrics, spinning, and other workouts that are associated with muscle fatigue and vibration.

Factors to consider when choosing the best compression pants

Sizing

In one of the sections above, we’ve already discussed how compression pants should fit, i.e., they should be tight enough to actually offer compression, as compression pants are supposed to be appreciably tighter than normal workout pants. However, you also want to make sure that whatever pair you pick will not be restricting your blood flow.

When picking out a size, it’s important to consult the specific size chart of the brand you’re shopping from. Different brands of compression gear may use different measurements, and we know that picking the right size can be tricky.

Although some brands would suggest that you pick based on your height and weight, other brands will ask you to choose based on an entirely different set of criteria. But no matter what, the bottom line is to do your due diligence when shopping. There’s a fat chance that blindly picking out your usual size would lead to failed results.

Material and Make

Typically, compression pants are made of polyester and elastane (also known as Lycra or Spandex) in different proportions. We usually encounter blends that are 75-90% polyester and 10-25% elastane.

As a rule of thumb, the higher the proportion of elastane in the fabric, the stretchier it is.

When shopping for compression pants, you might also want to consider the thickness of the material being used. Some pants feature light fabrics that obviously prioritize ventilation. Others, meanwhile, could be more focused on retaining warmth through thicker material.

Lastly, always make sure to check the quality of the pair you’re eyeing. Don’t forget to check if the seams are stitched well. Reading user reviews will help a lot in this aspect.

Length

Compression pants come in different lengths. The two most common, however, are full-length and ¾-length styles.

Full-length pants:

As the name suggests, full-length compression pants come down all the way to your ankles. They’re a great pick if you want something that will keep you nice and warm all throughout your legs.

¾ pants:

Compression pants of this length come down to the shins or calves. They’re suitable if you don’t really care about having added warmth at the ankles. Plus, these are less likely to bunch up at the shoes. Shorter people also go for ¾ pants if full-length pairs are too long for them.

SPF Protection

Compression pants with added sun protection aren’t as common, but it might interest you to know that they do, in fact, exist.

If you frequently exercise under the sun, an SPF-fitted pair of compression tights could be useful. These pants are engineered to prevent the sun’s harmful rays from penetrating your skin.

Visibility

If you’re planning to use compression tights for running in high-traffic places, you might want to consider getting a pair with enhanced visibility.

Whether they feature reflective prints or bright fabrics, high-visibility compression pants will ensure that you’re easily seen by motorists. This will help mitigate the risks that come with running along busy roads and poorly-lit paths.

Your sport or activity

Not all compression pants are the same. The continually growing demand for compression pants has pushed athletic wear companies to further pursue R&D, leading to the development of special compression garments that are made for specific sports.

Some compression pants are created specifically with running in mind, while some are designed for other disciplines like cycling and weight training. Compression pants that are designed to be worn during recovery periods exist, too.

Of course, versatile pants that may be used for all sorts of activities are also available if you’re the type who likes to mix up your workouts.

How often should compression pants be replaced?

A top-quality pair of compression pants will last you years of regular use provided that you take good care of them. At the end of this buying guide, you’ll see a section containing care and maintenance tips if you’re interested.

As a rule of thumb, it’s time to replace your compression pants when they’re visibly worn down (think runs, holes, and seams that are threatening to burst). Another indicator is fit and feel. If your compression tights have lost their compression level and tightness, it may be time to move on to a new pair.

How to care for compression garments

• Stick to mild detergent. Compression garments typically use fabrics that have fine fibers. Using a strong detergent may compromise the quality of these fibers and should, therefore, be avoided.
• Use a mesh laundry bag. If you’re planning to throw your compression clothing in the washer, make sure to put them inside mesh bags for protection. Of course, handwashing your compression gear is fine, too.
• Use cold water. Using cold water to wash compression pants is one of the best ways to preserve the integrity of the fabric and extend their lifespan.
• Don’t wring. Do not stretch or wring your compression garments after washing. It’s better to use gentle pressing motions to remove excess water. You may also opt to do this by rolling your clothes with a dry towel.
• Air dry. Avoid throwing any of your compression gear in the dryer to fend off heat damage. When air drying them, make sure to lay the garments on a drying rack instead of hanging them like normal clothes. This helps preserve their fit and shape.
• Look out for harsh materials. Lastly, before throwing your compression pants in the washer, make sure that they won’t rub against harsh materials like zippers and bra hooks.