1. Compression shorts come in a couple different varieties, both of which serve an important purpose and merit a place in the wardrobe of any athlete, or weekend athlete.
2. While most compression shorts have several things in common – a tight fit, sturdy construction, and good gripping around the edges, the two different types of compression shorts are very different when it comes to looks and pricing. Read reviews on the top brands here.
3. Understanding the distinction can help you determine the best for your specific needs.
4. The high-end compression shorts on the market today are intended to be worn as a workout garment.
5. Examples and prices of such specifically-engineered shorts can be found here.
6. Much like their close relative, compression tights, compression shorts combine form and function in a way that can help you do a long run or any number of different types of exercise.
7. These form-fitting garments are made by the same manufacturers as some of the best compression tights or cycling shorts on the market, such as Pearl Izumi, 2XU, or CW-X.
8. Because of their high-end construction, they can often cost significantly more than a basic pair of shorts, often $80 or more.
9. Outrageous for a pair of shorts, you say? Before you jump to conclusions, let’s take a closer look at the materials and construction of a good pair of compression shorts.
10. A good pair of compression shorts will be made of high-grade fabric that provides the benefits of compression to the user – namely increased blood flow, better bone alignment, and support for key muscle areas such as the glutes, quads, and hamstrings.
11. This fabric is known to both improve performance during workouts, but, perhaps more importantly, improve recovery if worn after or between workouts.
Compression sportswear is usually worn by athletes. They may be shirts, shorts, tights or underwear. They are form-fitting garments often made from a spandex-type material.
The main benefits of compression sportswear is that it keeps the muscles warm to prevent muscle strain and fatigue, and wick sweat away from the body to prevent chafing and rashes. In addition, there is some evidence that compression shorts may enhance athletic performance.[4][unbalanced? – discuss] Compression sportswear also helps to keep undergarments in place, and for certain sports, like baseball and softball, come with padding at the hips to protect players from injuries due to sliding.
There are many types of compression garments that serve a similar function, such as compression T-shirts, socks, sleeves, and tights.
Shorts and tightsCompression shorts and tights are undergarments usually worn by athletes. They are form-fitting garments and when worn, cover the athlete's waist to mid or lower thigh, similar to cycling shorts.
More recently, jockstraps have declined in popularity with young male athletes, and garments such as compression shorts have seen an increase in popularity, arguably because of their comparable function and less embarrassing looks. Many are available with a "cup pocket", a sewn-in pocket that can hold a protective cup. It is arguable that compression shorts do not keep cups in the proper position, tight to the body and not moving, like a jockstrap can. Some players wear the compression shorts over the traditional jockstrap.[5]
Compression shorts are also popular among female athletes, especially among those who wear skirts or kilts during games. In those situations, athletes wear compression shorts under the skirt so if they fall over and their skirts ride up, their underwear will not be exposed. This is seen particularly in women's lacrosse and field hockey (both being no-contact sports in which players often wear skirts). In this situation, compression shorts are colloquially identified as spandex shorts. Women also wear compression shorts in tennis, where, most recently, compression shorts have been produced with ball pockets for convenience. There are also women's compression shorts for use before, during and after pregnancy. Pregnancy compression shorts supports upper and lower abdominal muscles, Caesarean wounds and perineal stitches.