I had the awesome opportunity to review compression socks by Tiux. In the name of transparency, I received a pair of the socks from the company for review. I made sure to thoroughly test out the socks in different kinds of uses, distances, weather, and to wash them, before writing this review. Read on for my full review of the product! So first off, if you follow my running, you know that I fell in love with compression socks after the 2014 Cleveland Half marathon where I first ran into an issue with calf cramping. On the suggestion of a few other runners, I bought my first pair of compression socks and tried them out. They worked like a charm and I haven't done a long run or race without them since. Until Tiux offered to let me try their product, I had only used one other brand, and was pretty happy with them, so I was interested to see how these compared. Size - Tiux offers an indepth sizing guide which really helps out with purchasing the socks for the first time and making sure you get the sizing right. I worked out to be a small, even though I came in on the upper range on one of the measurements and I have to say that they fit perfectly, even though I was worried that my sizing for the calf circumference could have technically put me into medium as well. Product Packaging and Appearance From the moment the socks arrived in the mail, I have to admit that I was impression. The other kind I've ordered come in a packing envelop with a label around them. The Tiux socks came in a sleek looking black box, which slides open and then the socks are in a bag inside. I found that to be a nice, professional touch which ensures your socks aren't damaged in transit. Additionally, before I tried them out, I kinda inspected them to see what was different from other pairs I've tried. I noticed that the middle colored band provides a little extra compression and support (which is good because it hits at a critical area where cramping is common). Additionally, there was increased support in the arch of the foot and on the achilles tendon. I have seen the arch done before, but never the achilles and I really liked knowing there would be extra support and compression there. Looking at the foot of the sock, I was wow-ed at how reinforced the sock was there. In my former pairs, I actually ripped through the toe during my last marathon. That does not look like something that is possible based on my glance at these. Even my running partner was impressed when I showed him the extra support there. Finally, though it's maybe not as important, because it isn't a functional aspect, I love the bright colors and on the inside of the top of the calf sleeve it says "Run, jump, go", which I thought was cute. Ease of Putting Them On Seems silly right? But with compression socks, half the battle is just getting them on. While this can have to do with improper sizing, some kinds are just a pain to try to get on. Even worse, is the fact that I usually have KT Tape on some form on my foot or ankle or shin, and trying to get the socks to not pull that up when you put them over top can be a struggle. However, I immediately noticed a difference with Tiux socks. They have a little more flexibility to them, so I was able to stretch them over the tape much easier and then they snapped back into place and compressed. Huge benefit. I definitely give them a 10/10 on ease when it comes to putting them on! Running Test Okay so they look great and have great packaging, but what do we really care about? DO THEY WORK! The short answer is yes, they rocked on the runs I used to test them out. My first run with them was a 15 mile long run. My calves usually will go at about 8 or 9 without the socks, so going 15 was definitely a good opportunity to see if the socks were up to the challenge. After a few miles I could tell that they felt really good and my calves felt fresh. When I would run up hills, I could feel the compression and it was just the right amount. By the end of the run, I was really happy with the socks, I was sore, but not in my calves, and that's how I know if a pair works. Round two was a test during a 5k. The 5k was actually the day after the 15 miler, so if the socks were gonna work, this would be a good time. I noticed when I woke up that my calves weren't sore from the day before, meaning the socks worked on that run. During the race, they felt just as great as they did in the slow long run. I was running pretty fast, and I could feel the compression, but it felt good and it was massaging out any tightness that attempted to work into a cramp. Recovery Use and Washing First off, briefly let me talk about washing them. So with a couple other pairs I've had, they shrink slightly after the first wash. Not exactly what you want with socks that are tight to begin with. And I don't dry running clothes or wash them in hot water, so there's really no reason for that. But when I washed these, they came out looking like they did before the wash. They were the same size, held their shape, and the colors had not faded. Okay, second, I used the socks for recovery because this is a way I've always used compression socks in addition to running in them. They still work even if you just relax in them. So I pulled them on for a couple hours and I definitely found that they helped in aiding in that recovery as well. So what's the verdict? I would definitely recommend these socks and I'm definitely gonna need to get myself another pair...or two! I was glad for the opportunity to expand my horizons and try a new brand and I was surprised by how awesome they were! So if you are looking for a pair of compression socks, definitely check out Tiux!
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