A Review Of SKINS Compression DNAmic Thermal Wear
Compression wear has become a vital part of the wardrobe for many athletes and sports stars. These specially-designed products hold muscles in precisely the right place with increased blood flow. This helps with great medical and performance-based benefits. Users can decrease recovery times, heal tears and allow more oxygen to tired muscles during a training session. Many use these items as an aid for faster recovery times, while others run in them to push harder for longer. SKINS is a company at the cutting edge of compression wear technology. Their tights and tops are impressing athletes across the world, and with good reason.
Who is SKINS?
SKINS has been creating compression wear for athletes since 2010, although the ideas started much earlier in 1996 in Australia. A local skier had an idea about anatomy and performance that he was keen to follow. The result was a new take on compression wear that would develop into the SKINS brand. The thinking behind this was simple. Muscles need oxygen to stay healthy and to keep them working at the required rate. This is turn means a need for improved blood flow. Ergo, athletes that can increase their blood flow will perform better. It all sounds simple on paper, and it turned out to be straight-forward enough to create this new line of active wear. There are now professional athletes in many countries using SKINS products. There are over 160 products on the production line and they are sold in 31 countries.
The added ethos behind the company is the idea of athletes giving themselves a competitive edge in their discipline without having to rely on performance enhancing drugs or any other prohibited means. Why take drugs when you can simply wear better clothing? It began with the Skin tights and this simple idea has developed over years into a sophisticated approach.
What is the SKINS approach and why are these materials so beneficial?
Lets look at this theory of compression and performance enhancement a little closer. The products use a combination of dynamic gradient compression, engineered gradient compression and a warp knit to create what they see as the ultimate option for athletes. It is all about creating the right surface pressure, in a consistent regulated way. This specific form is created through a revolutionary 400 point fitting system. This fit and form focuses in on muscles to support them in just the right way. This in turn means enhanced circulation, the prevention of lactic acid build up, a decreased risk of tissue damage and decreased recovery times after the training session. The material also offers moisture control and thermal properties for greater comfort over the session. There are even products specifically designed for cyclists and triathletes.
What can athletes expect from the tights and upper garment?
Let’s take a closer look at the tights that made this brand such a well-known name across the world. Or, more specifically, the nee and improved version that is helping so many. The DNAmic Thermal Men’s Compression Long Tights make use of the great materials and weaves mentioned above to ensure that users are supported in the best way possible. The impressive thing with these tights is that they really do provide support everywhere. The company claims that they are “built for leg day all day”. This is seen in the muscle support across the lower half of the body, right down to the shaped crotch area.
The material also retains the heat and moisture control properties that SKINS boast about. They claim they can keep wearers warm in temperatures as low as -20 degrees Celsius. Users have supported this, saying it is perfect to run in, in harsh European winters. Other interesting features here include the reflective logos on the ankles, that help with low light visibility, and the stretch key loop on the waistband. Most happy buyers immediately talk about the fit, which highlights the adaptive, supportive nature of this fabric. There are also comments about the apparent durability, with some expecting to be able to go running in these for a long time to come.
The approach to the upper garment is much the same, with the same great materials and attitudes to the support system. One of the main principles behind the support system is that it stays in place with a carefully designed weave, maintaining support in all the right places. This could have been difficult with a top like the SKINS DNAmic Thermal Long Sleeve model, with all the different muscle groups and motions that come into play. However, there are some neat tricks to this product.
The compression elements maintain their high performance levels because of the mix of stretch portions and silicon grippers. The top allows the athlete to move freely, while stopping the material from moving out of position. This means that the material wont ride up around the abdomen and chest. This stretch fabric also adds to the climate control, with increased breathability in this thermal top. Like the tights, it too can withstand temperatures of -20 degrees Celsius. The mock neck is a nice added touch here, as is the use of the reflective elements on the wrists.
In short, there is no denying the SKINS really knows what it is doing when it comes to clever compression wear.
In the end, it is easy to see why so many people are drawn to this brand, and why SKINS is able to make such bold claims about their products’ capabilities. At its heart, the science behind the compression technology is simple. It is just providing a basic need of blood flow to help the wearer’s muscles. However, it is the level of detail in the materials developed and the range of features that make these SKINS products stand out from the crowd.
The original tights have developed into a sophisticated piece of kit that many athletes can appreciate. This is especially true when we consider the addition of the thermal elements and the convenient extras. The thermal long-sleeved top simply shows how adaptive and consistent this material is in providing these great benefits for athletes. The wealth of DNAmic Thermal products, and happy users – professional or otherwise – show that Skins really is at the top of the market. If you want compression wear with a great fit, high comfort level and reliable performance, this is the place to come.
When it’s really cold out I prefer to run on a treadmill. I know that’s terrible. Sometimes I will layer up and brave the cold but that is only once or twice a week at most during the winter.
I run all year round in Northern Ohio and do so while wearing layers, they’re the key! Although, my hands are always cold, doesn’t matter how much I wear. I’ve found that mittens do work the best.
I wear layers and add/take off as needed. Also adjust my schedule to run when it’s warmest. When all else fails, there’s always the dreaded treadmill.
Thermal gear and sometimes layers, depends on the the temperature outside. These look like a great base to have. Thanks for the giveaway, fingers crossed.
I stay warm with a compression layer and wool socks.
I love layers! This winter is the worst I’ve ever seen and I wouldn’t have survived it without massive layers and the treadmill. During the workdays I run on the treadmill and on days off when I can run when it’s still light out, I run with layers and yaktrax.
Layers and thermal wear