2XU Racing Vectr Socks & Compression Sleeves

Posted on March 8, 2016 by fjnardo

Disclaimer: I received the 2XU Vectr socks and Compression Performance Run Sleeves 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!

I was fortunate enough to try out the Vectr racing socks and compression sleeves thanks to BibRave and 2XU. Being a big fan of most of 2XUs gear, I was excited to try them out. So, we’ll begin with the socks…

I kind of laughed when I first saw the L and the R on the socks but then truly appreciated the ergonomic feel to it. So what makes them special? Well, I like the low profile and stability of the sock. It actually stands up on its own due to quality design. As advertised, other features include X-Lock technology which keeps that sock in place as well as reducing the risk of blisters due to constant rub. They are extremely durable and I have tested them thoroughly while running inside/outside as well as trail runs in the snow and sleet. I do like how they feel in most conditions and appreciate the heel cup for cushion during my type of running. The design (though not crucial in my purchases) is pretty darn cool too. I do wish that there were more color choices to vary things up.

The Performance Run Calf Sleeves are a new thing for me over the last year and I can honestly say that I’ve become a fan of them. Compression sleeves have become a staple in most runner’s arsenal and for obvious reasons. With a long list of benefits such as greater oxygenation of blood for quick recovery, faster muscle warm up, reduced fatigue from less muscle motion, reduction in muscle soreness, and minimizing the long term overuse injuries. 2XU has excelled at the design of their sleeves. There is a great color selection and they are pretty darn durable after many uses. The UPF50+ sun protection is just a plus.

So how did they work together for me? When you combine an ergonomic properly fitted sock with the benefits of a compression sleeve, how can you go wrong. They seemed to work best for me after the first 2 miles of any run. Without them, I used to get some mild irritation in my Achilles tendon and needed to occasionally stop my runs and stretch them until the pains went away. Wearing the 2XU sleeves has virtually eliminated that need to stop and stretch. I like the way it fit me and compressed in the right areas. You need to have the properly fitted sleeve for the compression to actually work for you and the sizing chart is spot on. After my long runs, I wear the sleeves again and definitely appreciate the lack of muscle soreness I get. It keeps the swelling to a minimum and cuts my recovery time in half. All in all, I like the way they feel pre run, during the run, and especially post run. I probably put in close to 100 miles on my current pair in both running and OCR training and am impressed with the durability. You will get a quality product in 2XU.