£35.99
https://getabearhug.com
Runners can be a hard crowd to win over. Give them a carbon plated shoe and tell them it will shave seconds off their 10K personal best and they’ll bite your hand off; tell them that passive stretching after work outs will improve recovery and the response will be a trifle more sceptical.
Enter compression wear. While the science behind compressive garments is well documented, getting the average runner to trade his Tracksters for full-length compression leggings has proved challenging. Fortunately, the compression sleeves market has fared much better with many retailers doing a brisk trade in calf and quad sleeves.
But, like buying a decent pair of running shoes, getting the right calf sleeve that actually does the job can be quite a challenge. Thankfully, the Bearhug Calf Sleeves take a lot of the guesswork out of the equation. Bearhug joint supports and muscle sleeves are made using bamboo charcoal that is scientifically proven to increase blood flow by 40% – which, according to Bearhug, means you can train harder, recover faster and perform better.
Bearhug’s bamboo charcoal supports are designed to ‘hug’ your aching joints and worn-out muscles. The unique composition utilising bamboo charcoal provides excellent heat retention and breathability properties.
When should you wear calf sleeves? Of course, it’s entirely up to you and your needs. Some runners wear them while they train to improve performance, minimise the risk of injury, or support their muscles and joints, particularly if they have niggles. Some prefer to pop them on after training to help weary muscles recover quicker.
Wearing compression garments increases blood flow and oxygen uptake in working muscles, helping reduce lactic acid build-up and muscle swelling. And wearing supports after training allows your muscles to retain heat and the increased blood flow reduces swelling, flushes out lactic acid allows you to recover quicker to train more frequently than before.