Three weeks ago I spent about $50 on a pair of compression socks from Zensah. $50!! I know that’s crazy for a pair of socks but I’ve read a ton of info suggesting that compression socks help in muscle recovery after strenuous workouts and I need to do everything I can to keep my legs in good shape in order to survive training for the Ironman. So I read reviews on a ton of different brands, and decided on Zensah since there was more feedback on them than anyone else.

The day I received them I put them on and was immediately skeptical. I have had no experience with compression socks or other compression gear in the past so I didn’t have anything to base expectations on, but for some reason I thought they would be much tighter than they are. -Don’t get me wrong, they are tight socks and not real easy to get on – but I had imagined something a little different.

The next day I threw them in the washing machine and went out for a long run. After the run (and after a shower), I pulled the socks out of the dryer and put them on. The washing machine and dryer had tightened them up considerably. I could feel my legs were tired after the run so I kept the socks on and after a few hours my legs were as good as new. That tired leg feeling normally would last the better portion of a day. I was very pleasantly surprised.

I’ve used the socks after almost every hard workout since, even had them on when I was flying out of town on a trip (supposedly the higher elevation of a fight makes your legs swell) and I’ve been happy with the results every time.

CEP makes a compression sock that is supposed to be more targeted with tighter areas around the calf and mid-foot and I think I’ll try them out. But as for Zensah, I definitely recommend them.