As many of you know by now I'm both a runner and a hiker - the running coming later than the hiking! Since I've gotten more and more into running I've definitely started looking for products that can not only make the miles feel easier, but also can help me recover faster from my hiking. With my job as a guide and training to run my very first ultra in Decemeber, my legs need all the help they can get. This is where Legend Compression comes in. Through my partnership with BibRave as a BibRave Pro, I was given the opportunity to test out some compression gear on a few recent hikes and runs. Here's my honest review:
I recently learned Legend Compression had socks for both running and hiking and was super excited to be given the chance to test them both out. The first thing I noticed when I received both pairs of socks is the fact that even though they're both compression, they aren't nearly as "stiff" or tight as a few other brands of compression socks I own. The performance socks actually felt SOFT, which I have noticed is lacking in a few other brands. From reading the letter they sent me, I could see there was a reason for this - these socks have much less compression than traditional socks, only 15-20 mmHg as compared to 20-30 mmHg for other brands. This graduated compression is believed to be more therapeutic during performance. I quickly decided to try these guys on.
My new Legend Compression performance socks!
Putting them on wasn't difficult at all, which is something I have definitely noticed with other brands! These socks were soft and slid on easily. I also noticed I had room for my toes to spread out inside of them as well. It turns out that this is by design. By giving you room to move your toes you're not only less prone to blister, you've also still got your same gait, which is important for running and hiking. That's why I'm such a huge fan of wearing shoes that give my toes room to spread out! I also noticed that the arch of the foot felt nice and snug. I really like this feature in a compression sock.
The first time I tried out these socks was during a 12-mile hike with my buddy, Morgan. We had to hike 6 miles up a mountain to bring some tents to a group of our co-workers. Due to heavy fall leaf peeper traffic in the park and a long drive, we didn't get on trail until after 2 p.m. We hiked our six miles in approximately 2 hours and got to camp to start setting up tents. Less than 20 minutes later, we were on our way back down the 6 miles and made it out in a total of 4 hours and 20 minutes. I noticed that despite climbing the huge hill my calf muscles still felt alright, which is definitely not always the case! The real test, for me, is getting compression socks OFF after a long workout. It's safe to say with a tough hike like this we definitely worked up a sweat and if you've ever taken off a pair of sweaty compression socks you know it can be an Olympic sport! These socks came off just as easily as they went on! Another win for me.
Team Mo'Sprinkles stopping at an overlook to take in the view (and a few selfies!) on our way back down trail.
As an athlete who does a lot of mountain hiking and running I consider myself someone who tries out a lot of gear and I'm super impressed with Legend Compression. For those of you who aren't into the longer socks, they also make a hiking specific sock called Tuff made of Merino wool, which I can recommend just as highly.
If you want to try Legend Compression I've got a 15% off code to share with all of you! You can use the code "bibsave15" at http://legendcompressionwear.com!
Disclaimer: I received Legend Compression socks to review as part of being a BibRave Pro. Learn more about becoming a BibRave Pro (ambassador), and check out BibRave.com to review find and write race reviews!