Collection: Arm & Calf Sleeves(19)
Compression sleeves are perfect for providing you support during training or for your muscle recovery process so you can get back to your next workout. Our selection includes options for different compression levels, weather, and additional benefits so you can choose the arm sleeves and leg sleeves that are best for you.
1. What are the Benefits of Compression Arm Sleeves and Leg Sleeves?
Wearing compression sleeves during your workout will help support performance and aid in your recovery process. Adding compression garments, and specifically sleeves, to your training regimen is a great way to get ahead of the game and get the most out of your workout.
A few key benefits are listed below:
Supports Blood Flow
All compression garments work to support healthy blood flow and circulation in the area of the body they cover and back to the heart. This helps ensure enough oxygen gets back to the working muscles so they can continue to perform at their peak.
Most of our leg sleeves are compression calf sleeves, so blood flow is supported throughout the lower legs. The Recovery Flex Legs Sleeves will support blood flow throughout the entire lower body if you prefer a more intense feel. All of our arm sleeves will help maintain healthy blood circulation throughout the lower to upper arms.
Soothes Soreness
Closely linked to how compression sleeves support blood flow, they also aid in the recovery process by soothing muscle discomfort and extreme soreness.
Soreness can occur when fluid builds up in the arms or legs after your workout, but compression technology works to ensure that all fluids keep circulating within the body. Healthy blood flow also helps help manage lactic acid buildup in the muscles post-workout, which is a main contributor to feelings of soreness. This way, you can recover with as little discomfort as possible.
Wearing compression arm sleeves can be very helpful when dealing with swelling. This occurs when the fluid lymph builds up in a specific region and causes swelling. As compression technology supports the flow of fluids throughout the body, your symptoms and pain can be soothed so you can get back to normal life. However, it is important to note that compression garments are not a cure, merely a way to provide relief.
Skin Protection
Compression sleeves are made with thick material and can help keep you protected from unexpected objects in the gym or stray branches on the trail. They can also help provide more coverage against the sun, reducing your exposure to UV rays and helping protect you against sunburn.
2. What Do the Different Levels of Compression Mean?
Our compression calf, leg, and arm sleeves come in three different levels of compression: Mild, Moderate, and Firm. These levels refer to how much pressure is applied within the sleeve, with Mild being the least intense and Firm being the most.
All levels are broken down into specific amounts of mmhg, which stands for millimeters of mercury and is a standard unit of pressure. You can select the arm or leg sleeve you believe is best for your workout based on how much pressure you would like to experience during your workout or recovery period.
All sleeves will provide compression benefits, but those with more mmhg will be best for higher-intensity workouts. A quick guide is listed below so you can see which sleeves fall under which levels of intensity:
**Mild - 8-15 mmhg **
- Compression Arm Guards
Moderate - 15-20 mmhg
- Flex Compression Arm Sleeves
- Compression Calf Guards (specifically 17-20 mmhg)
Firm - 20-25 mmhg
- X Compression Calf Sleeves
- Light Speed Compression Calf Guards
- Force Compression Arm Guard (specifically 23-25 mmhg)
3. What Is Muscle Containment Stamping Technology and How Does it Work?
Unique to 2XU, Muscle Containment Stamping (MCS) technology is found in some of our best compression garments and is designed to provide additional targeted support to specific muscles within the area covered by the garment. In the case of our compression leg and arm sleeves, this would be within the legs and arms.
Light Speed Compression Calf Guards
The MCS in these calf sleeves targets key muscle groups, tendons, and fascia to provide cohesive support to your lower legs. The technology specifically supports the calf muscles by reducing excess muscle movement.
Force Compression Arm Guards
The MCS in these arm sleeves provides support to key muscle groups, tendons, and fascia to support performance and recovery. The technology specifically targets the forearms, reducing excess muscle movement.
4. Which Sleeves Work Best for Hot Weather?
Running or working out in hot weather comes with its own challenges. You must consider heat safety when training outdoors, and part of that is selecting garments that keep you as cool and dry as possible. These compression arm and leg sleeves are perfect for warm weather and help you train comfortably.
For leg sleeves, we recommend the Compression Calf Guards and the Light Speed Compression Calf Guards. They come with quick-drying PWX fabric to help you stay cool, and the Light Speed sleeves also have reflective highlights for low-light running visibility if you run early or later at night to beat the heat.
For arm sleeves, we recommend Compression Arm Guards and Force Compression Arm Guards. They are made with lightweight, flexible, and quick-drying material to help you move in maximum comfort.
5. Which Sleeves Work Best for Cold Weather?
Wearing high-quality compression sleeves during outdoor winter workouts is a great option for the benefits of compression and the additional warmth these sleeves provide. They are easily layered under other garments and can help keep you warm while boosting performance and recovery.
For leg sleeves, we recommend the X Compression Calf Sleeves and the Recovery Flex Leg Sleeves. The X Sleeves come with ventilation zones for increased breathability, which can be especially helpful when layering, and the full-length fit of the Recovery Sleeves provides extra warmth and protection against the elements.
For arm sleeves, we recommend the Flex Compression Arm Sleeves and the Recovery Flex Arm Sleeves. Both will help you stay warm while still allowing you to reach your full range of motion.
Sources:
Do Arm Sleeves Help Your Arms During Workout — Explained | House of Coco
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