Buyer’s Guide: Best Compression Boots
Compression boots have the unique ability to accelerate workout recovery by improving circulation and relieving muscle tension.
But with premium pneumatic compression products entering the market every year, making a decision on which compression boots will make it into your gym bag has become much more challenging.
This article covers a brief overview of what Intermittent Pneumatic Compression found in compression boots is, what the benefits are, and then highlights the top compression technology products currently on the market.
What Is Intermittent Pneumatic Compression
Compression boots and leg sleeves used for workout recovery fall under the broader category of devices called Intermittent Pneumatic Compression Devices, or IPC.
IPC is a therapeutic technique that places inflatable sleeves or boots over your limbs or parts of your body, and then adds compression through intermittent pulses of air to improve circulation and lymph flow.
Originally IPC was a therapeutic intervention to improve circulation and aid recovery for patients who would have been otherwise immobilized for an extended period after a medical procedure. It was also employed to treat medical conditions such as lymphedema to reduce swelling.
Since its core function is to improve circulation, reduce swelling, and aid recovery, this technology didn’t take long to gradually make its way into the world of sport and athletics.
Thanks to a few key manufacturers, there are FDA-cleared devices available for use as a recovery and relaxation method for athletes of all disciplines.
Benefits of Compression Boots For Athletes
- Accelerates post-workout recovery
- Improves circulation of blood and lymph
- Improves oxygen and nutrient delivery to depleted muscles
- Reduces inflammation and swelling
- Improves range of motion
- Helps remove metabolic waste post-exercise
- Reduces muscle soreness
Best Compression Boots and Devices in 2022
NormaTec Pulse 2.0 Leg Recovery
Normatec has been a pioneer in bringing intermittent pneumatic compression technology to the world of athletics.
The Normatec Pulse 2.0 Leg Recovery System is a familiar brand seen on the sidelines of professional sports or at the finish lines of the most extreme races and triathlons.
What sets Normatec apart is its patented Pulse massage technology, which uses biomimicry to provide a compression experience that closely matches the patterns of how your body provides circulation naturally.
The Normatec Pulse 2.0 comes with their patented compression sequence, seven levels of intensity, precise digital controls allowing you to boost specific zones for targeted attention, and an internal battery for cordless control of your compression experience.
The Normatec Pulse 2.0 recovery solution also allows room to expand how you use it. Normatec also has upper body and hip solutions available for purchase to extend the benefits of pneumatic compression even further to match your sport and recovery needs.
Therabody RecoveryAir PRO
The makers of the iconic Theragun took their attention to detail and their focus on superior user experience to create the RecoveryAir PRO.
We’ll start with the design of the compression boots themselves. One of the biggest challenges of compression sleeves is the buildup of moisture and unwanted bacteria. The Therabody RecoveryAir PRO uses hidden overlapping chambers to minimize moisture and bacterial buildup and allow for easy cleaning.
But the design of the overlapping chambers goes much further than keeping a clean surface. The unique design provides a true negative gradient of pressure, the spiraling overlap safely maximizing circulation over other designs that could interrupt airflow or create harmful fluctuations in pressure.
Therabody took the same concept of a personalized app-driven user experience familiar to Theragun users to create complete wireless control, guided treatment programs, and custom-tailored treatment modes for their RecoveryAir PRO system.
From exercise warm-up, to isolation modes, to post-workout recovery, Therabody’s RecoveryAir PRO compression system has everything you need to boost performance and accelerate recovery.
Rapid Reboot Compression Recovery System
Rapid Reboot’s compression recovery system gives you the variety you want for the recovery requirements you need.
Spanning from the Classic Single Pack giving you traditional compression boots for your feet, calves, knees, thighs, and hamstrings – to their Classic Complete Pack including addition compression for your hip flexors, glutes, lower back, delts, traps, chest, biceps, triceps, forearms, and hands.
Whether you only need compression for your legs or compression for your whole body, all Rapid Reboot systems come with ten pressure levels, three time settings, position isolation and indicators, A&B modes, and a quiet session so you can relax with less noise.
Rapid Reboot also has an excellent track record for support. Let’s face it; pneumatic compression gear is an investment in your body, and when you’re making an investment like this you want to be sure you have a strong team of support behind your product in case you ever run into issues or need repairs down the road.
Air Relax Sequential Compression Boots
If you’re looking for a set of compression boots that gets the job done but are looking for a cost option well below the other three options on this list- the Air Relax Classic Leg Recovery System is just what you’ve been looking for.
The Air Relax Recovery System comes with everything you need to benefit from pneumatic compression. An FDA cleared medical-grade device, four advanced operating modes (peristaltic, sequential, massage, automatic peristaltic + sequential,) and a light-weight low maintenance device ready to boost your recovery without breaking the bank.
