By Rebekah Barriclow
I have been wearing calf sleeves, mainly when I run, for 3 years. I would get horrible shin splints and discovered that if I wear calf sleeves and try to be cognizant of having balanced muscle strength in my legs, I can keep the shin splints at bay. I have tried a variety of brands over the last few years including Altra, 2XU, and CEP, and was eager to try a different brand. The OS1st® Brace Layer System™ promises a “medical grade orthopedic bracing support with the power of graduated compression,” so of course my interest was piqued.
The day I opened my package of OS1st CS6 Performance Calf Sleeves I was so excited by the flex of the fabric. Then I put them on. They are BY FAR the easiest sleeves to get over the foot that I have tried. While this is a phenomenal feature, it also made me extremely hesitant; this could mean the sleeves were too big and would not provide good support. I have small calves and range from an extra small to a small depending on brand. The sleeves that I tried out were size small. I almost did not continue with the trial because I feared my review would not be accurate due to improper sizing. After wearing them on a variety of runs I noticed that even though they seemed a little less constrictive than other brands, this did not mean they were not supportive.
The biggest test was trying them on an interval run that lasted almost 8 miles and typically destroys my legs. During the run I never had calf pain or cramping. Win! I wore the sleeves for an hour after the run and realized that my legs felt fairly fresh despite the beating they just received in the workout. A second win!
To do a full review I wanted to wear the sleeves for more than just running. For me, the three things that I do most with my legs are running, biking, and rowing. So I set out to get a full feel of the product. I have never worn calf sleeves when rowing, so I do not have anything to compare them to, however, it did seem that my calves had a quicker recovery time than workouts when I did not use sleeves. The sleeves moved very comfortably with constant flexing and bending of the legs while rowing. It’s not an exercise that seems to need this type of compression gear, but I was happy to have tried it while rowing.
I have worn sleeves on bike rides and in long triathlons so wearing them during biking felt normal and comfortable. I had an extra surprise on my ride. It was the morning after a heavy rain and there were some wet bridges along my route. At the end of the ride, my luck ran out and I took a nasty spill, bringing me down hard. I slid 20 yards across the bridge. Once I regained my footing and was able to assess the damage, I was so excited to see that not only had the sleeves literally saved my skin, but they were not the slightest bit damaged! This is a testament to the material and its durability! For this I am sold on the brand and eager to try some of their other products.
The material was a bit too hot for warm weather activities. I chose the white color in hopes that they would be cooler in the summer month, but even the early morning temperatures became too hot for the sleeves. I would be eager to use a thinner, cooler material that could provide outcome and support that the CS6 sleeves provided.
Overall I do recommend this product and this brand. I believe that the calf sleeves provided the compression and support promised and worked extremely well in muscle recovery.
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Rebekah is a 35-year-old stay-at-home mom and property manager. She is a runner, biker, triathlete, swimmer, gym rat, wife, mom, friend, boss, and more. Rebekah loves to train, compete and be outdoors. Life, love and adventure are what drive her forward.
