2XU 24/7 Recovery Sock Review

2XU was founded in 2005 out of Melbourne, Australia.  2XU stands for “Two Times You” which symbolizes the multiplication of human performance.  They offer an extensive line of sports clothing for people out on the road, in the water, on the snow, or in the gym.  They offer compression gear, socks, hats, wetsuits, and much more.  2XU’s gear has been worn by some of the best athletes in the world. 

I have tested the 2XU GHST tech tee and it is my favorite shirt.  You can see my review by clicking here.  After a long run or a hard workout, it is important to recovery quickly so you can get back out there for your next workout.  That is where I really enjoyed the 2XU 24/7 recovery sock.  The 24/7 sock is made with graduated compression and a mixture of cotton and Coolmax yarns for all day comfort.  The Coolmax yarns help wick away moisture.  One of the reasons why the 24/7 sock is so comfortable is that you get extra padding under the ball of your foot and heel.  That way, if you have to stand all day or walk a lot after a hard workout, your feet are protected more than many of the recovery socks out there that are too thin, in my opinion.

The true benefit of wearing compression socks is that it improves circulation that can cause swelling and fatigue.  Not only are these good for recovering after a run, but they are ideal for times when you have to sit or stand for extended amounts of time.  These are typically times when you have a decrease in circulation. 

Pros:

All day comfort

Extra cushion under ball of foot and heel

Graduated Compression

Cons:

A tad bit pricey at $44.95 (but the benefits are priceless)

 

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I have been told by several long time runners that it is way more important to recover smart than train harder.  If you train really hard and don’t allow adequate time to recovery, many of your gains will be wasted.  The 2XU 24/7 sock is a great product that can aid in your recovery.  By having a solid recovery plan that includes stretching, foam rolling, and wearing compression gear, you will be breaking PR’s before you know it.  You can purchase your 24/7 recovery socks at the 2XU website, Amazon, or at your local retailer (click here forlocations).

Note:  I received this product in exchange for a review.  The review is my personal opinion of the product and I was not required to give a particular opinion of it.  I am not a doctor, so please use all of the products that I review at your own risk.

Sport Suds Review

If you are a new runner or have been around the block a few times, you probably know that running brings out some smells that you never thought would come out of your body.  I have been cycling and working out at the gym for over a decade and my clothes have never smelled like they do after a run.  My wife and I call it the homeless smell.  

The smell doesn’t actually come from the sweat itself but from the bacterium that breaks down the sweat (a process called bromhidrosis).  Performance or technical running gear is made to wick moisture and dry quickly, but those same properties trap the oils and bacteria that smell so bad.  Cotton tends to not trap those oils as easily, but is terrible at moisture wicking and breathability. 

I used to just wash my running gear with my normal laundry.  The problem is that most detergents don’t remove the oils and bacteria that care causing the smells.  These oils reduce the effectiveness of your expensive running clothes. 

Sport Suds is a high-performance cleaning product that is made to bring your running gear back from the dead, or keep them looking and smelling new.  All Sport Suds products are sustainably sourced from natural reoccurring sources.  Not only that, but they are also readily biodegradable, non-toxic, and are septic and grew water safe.  Most laundry detergents cannot make that claim.  Because of the care put into their products, Sport Suds is hypo-allergenic, fragrance free, and is never tested on animals.

Sport Suds is based in the town of Milton in Ontario, Canada.  Their sport detergent is manufactured in both the US and Canada.  Sport Suds stocks their detergent in warehouses in both the US and Canada so you can get your products quickly.

So, SportSuds sounds good on paper, but how does it hold up to my real world testing?  With my marathon training in full effect, my clothes have been downright unbearable.  I couldn’t stand to smell my clothes, which meant that Sport Suds was going to be put to the ultimate test.  I used Sport Suds Washing Machine Cleaner first to make sure my machine was clean (more on that in a second).  Then I ran my first load of clothes using Sport Suds.  My clothes came out with no odor and they looked cleaner than they have in months.  I was thoroughly impressed.  These results were replicated load after load. 

You will want to follow the instructions in the Sport Suds website before washing your clothes in Sport Suds.  If you have been using regular detergents, they can leave behind a residue, which Sport Suds will remove from your washing machine drum.  You don’t want that residue to end up on your cloths though.  Click here for instructions on how to use Sport Suds for the first time.  You can either run a few cycles with your Sport Suds detergent and old towels or use Sport Suds Washing Machine Cleaner.

 

Pros:

Environmentally friendly

Inexpensive (starting around $20)

Cleans difficult stains and removes odors with ease

Septic and grey water safe

Fast shipping

Cons:

You can’t throw your old clothes away from being too smelly so you can get a new ones

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I wash all of my clothes with Sport Suds now and can’t believe that I can get a 140 load tub for $59.95.  That will last me over 2.5 years if I only used it for my running clothes or over a year if I wash all of my family’s laundry with it.  You can’t beat that deal.  There are several sizes to choose from and there are packages that comes with detergent (40 loads) and washing machine cleaner (5 pack) for $31.90 on the Sport Suds website.   Sport Suds is the best sport detergent that I have tested.  You can get yours at the Sport Suds Website or at Amazon. I felt like it left my clothes cleaner, smelling fresher, and you get a great value.  I wasn’t disappointed and you won’t be either.

Note:  I received this product in exchange for a review.  The review is my personal opinion of the product and I was not required to give a particular opinion of it.  I am not a doctor, so please use all of the products that I review at your own risk.

Swiftwick Pursuit and Vibe Socks Review

I have been running in Swiftwick socks since April of this year.  Swiftwick claims, “We make the best socks you will ever wear…GUARANTEED!”  I thought to myself, that is a very bold statement.  After testing out the Aspire socks, I was a believer in what Swiftwick was claiming. (Click here for my past review of the Aspire)

I received a pair of the Pursuit One and Pursuit Five.  The number references the height of the sock.  I also received a pair of the Vibe One.  The sizes range from a Zero, which is below the ankle to a Twelve, which is over the calf. 

The Pursuit is made out of Merino wool.  I don’t know what I like the most about Merino wool, but I can’t get enough of products made with that magical material.  It wicks really well, doesn’t trap in odors, and is extremely comfortable. 

The Vibe is a great sock.  It has a thicker foot bed than the Aspire and is really comfortable.  It feels great and has wonderful moisture wicking.

Pros:

Very comfortable

Hot spot and blister free

Extremely durable

Made in the USA

Best guarantee in the business

Cons:

A tad pricey starting at $12.99 for the Vibe and $15.99 for the Pursuit

I am a believer in Swiftwick socks, without a doubt.  While they might be a little pricey, they are extremely durable and will last for quite a while (longer than cheaper socks).  They are made in the USA and use the best materials and technologies available to create a superior product.  It is worth spending a few extra dollars to get such a great product. 

Give them a try and let me know what you think.  What do you have to lose?  If you don’t like them, Swiftwick will buy you a pair of your favorite socks as a replacement.  You can buy them starting at $12.99 for the Vibe and $15.99 for the Pursuit.  They also have various other sizes and several colors to choose from.  Go to Swiftwick or Amazon to get yours today.

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Note:  I received this product in exchange for a review.  The review is my personal opinion of the product and I was not required to give a particular opinion of it.  I am not a doctor, so please use all of the products that I review at your own risk.