I have used a number of different brands over the years…my thoughts below:
Compex
Kinda meh, IMO. Not as much pressure and the independent pumps on both legs leads to the legs being out of synch with each other. While ti doesn’t really impact recovery, it is kind of annoying having one leg 10-15 seconds ahead of the other. OTOH, the fact that you can bend your legs with their design means you can use them while sitting up at a desk, which is nice when I am at work.
Speedhound
Speedhound uses the same supplier out of Xiamen, China as many of the other brands (such as Podium Legs), so this covers all of them really. The leg cuffs tend to be the same across them all. These were my original boots and while the pressure and programming overall was good, a significant shortcoming for me was the boot design around the foot. Because there was no “flat section” at the bottom, it tended to compress my foot and “roll” my toes together laterally. Think of the top of your foot getting rolled into an arch. Over time, it created an issue for me, almost like a Morton’s Neuroma. I eventually cut out the bottom of an old pair of cycling shoes and would slip those into the boots to prevent my foot from “rolling” together. That solved the issue, but seemed unnecessary.
Normatec
Far and away the best on the market…whether it is worth the extra $$ is a personal choice. For me, there were several key differentiators; boot length (came all the way up to your crotch area), foot bed design (none of the “rolling” noted above and programming options. I can program up to 120 min (I think that is the max) with my Normatecs (but usually only do 90). For my original boots similar to the Speedhound, I think it was a 15 min max, so you kept having to reset it. (was also analog, not digital controls, but that has since been updated). Normatec also has a patented compression sequence, which may not be any “better”, but I prefer vs. other units. The pump unit is also smaller, lighter and rechargeable.
Do compression boots actually assist in recovery? Hell, I don’t know…but I do find them incredibly relaxing and soothing and rare is the time that I use them that I also don’t end up snoozing. I definitely dig them.
Let me know if there are any questions I can answer.
I have Normatech boots. I like them. No way to say if they aid recovery, but they feel good. As @Power13 mentioned , they lock your legs out so you need to be prepared to stay in one place with your legs straight out for however long you use them. The only down sides I can think of are that they leave marks all over your legs from the compression, so if you wear shorts after, you get looked at funny, and they are very bulky and take up a lot of space. Attached example from Google search (so don’t be hopping into my DM’s ).
Has anyone used the Therabody RecoveryAir Prime vs. the Normatec 3? I can get the Therabody for $200 cheaper, and both are supposed to be premium brands.
Get the Jetboots, not being entangled in a mess of hoses and wires was the reason I did, but was also nice to be able to use them on the porch on nicer days.
Costco had them on a 3-day sale last year for $699, I haven’t seen anything this year but it was almost exactly 365 days ago.
Just don’t use these boots regularly. As all other methods applied to blunt acute post exercise inflammation (Ice, massage, VitC etctec), they will also blunt adaption.
Using them when not adaption, but e.g., sustaining the following day of an important event, is the main goal, they might help (and yeah, they feel good)
Most studies I have read only apply to short term benefits. Usually 24 hour re-testing.
For me my soreness the next morning is a sign my torn fibers are trying to protect themselves from further damage while they heal. Adaptations. Further damage is not needed or desired at this point. Compression sleeves help me ride hard the next day but don’t allow for a lot of recovery. Good for stage races or back to back racing days only. This is just an old guys opinion and observation relating to my body.
).
