Do the Compressport R2 3.0 sleeves make a difference in A/B testing?
Alex : Just a few hours before writing this review, Tim reminded me that I wore calf compression sleeves for a marathon we ran together in Düsseldorf in 2019. And interestingly I stopped wearing them after that. The reason for that was mostly because my legs were too hot with them and I don’t really like that sensation of not having any airflow right on my skin. Interestingly enough though, I did not stop wearing recovery compression socks because I truly believe that they have benefits (and it’s been actually proven). So when Compressport reached out about the R2 3.0 calf compression sleeves, I got intrigued and wondered how much better my experience would be this time around.
The first important step when picking your sleeves is measuring properly your calf circumference. That will indicate which of the four sizes if the most appropriate for you. The discrepancy between my two calves was significant and I should have gone with two different sizes for each. I went with the smaller size 2 which works very well for both calves. I am not sure that this is what Compressport would recommend but based on this, if you’re between two sizes go with the smaller one.
Putting the sleeves on is very easy as long as you follow the instructions that are pictured inside the box. Just make sure you pay close attention to the right/left indications. Because in my mind the sleeves need to be against the skin to produce all their benefits, I put them on first and then I put some Compressport socks on top. I am pretty sure that both methods are valid and aesthetically putting the sleeves on top of your calves (so not my way) is probably prettier.
What about the benefits? The first time I used the new R2 3.0 calf compression sleeves, it was for a 53km trail event that I ran mostly to have fun. The sleeves felt good and kept my legs warmer at the top of the main climb where temperatures were almost freezing. The main benefit I noticed was the increased feeling of stability around my ankle. I don’t necessarily have weak ankles but in trail running, which they’re not used to, that an area of attention for me. Other than the stability, I didn’t experience any calf cramping or pain during the run. And my legs felt surprisingly fresh the day after. Only my glutes were sore, but my calves felt really good.
I then went on to use the sleeves in a specific « testing » way for a track session. This testing protocol was suggested to us by Compressport. You only put one sleeve on and leave the other calf « sleeveless ». I must admit that it felt more awkward than anything else and I couldn’t notice much of a difference in muscle fatigue the day after.
One area of claimed benefits that is really interesting for many runners (I believe), is the link between calf compression and gut function. What Compressport (and a study) claims is that thanks to the improved micro-circulation in your lower legs, the blood flow is improved towards your stomach and gut which supposedly reduces the risk of unpleasant issues (which are due to the lack of blood flow to that area in the first place).
So you may ask whether I’m convinced by the R2 3.0 sleeves or not? Let me put things that way: I didn’t experience a ton of benefits. But I also didn’t test them extensively enough. I am however convinced that the product is really high end and that for the €40 price tag, you get a good product for your money. I also discovered how serious Compressport is about testing their products and backing their claims with actual science. And if there’s one thing that can convince me, it’s precisely that. So if science says it’s good, you’ll likely see me wear them. Probably not for each and every run because I’m still not a fan of feeling too much « heat » on my legs. But I’ll probably take them out for those tougher sessions and especially if I need to log more miles that day or the days after.