Mighty Tights for Athletes

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Skins Chief Executive Jaimie Fuller swears this magical effect is due to what he calls "the 11 herbs and spices" the company uses to manufacture Skins. Its version of body-clinging activewear compresses muscles most at the calves since they are far from the heart and are where two-thirds of the body's blood flows. Skins cites several research studies from a collection of mostly Australian medical and exercise professionals to back up claims that the gear increases blood flow by more than 30%, thereby flushing toxins from muscle groups. "We're genuinely a scientific company, whereas the other guys are all about marketing the brand that's on their shirt," Fuller says in his Australian lilt.

A Smooth Flight

I'm not sure Skins is a scientific outfit, but somehow the product seems to work. Some of this might be because of the materials used, how they are woven together, chemically treated, and then closely matched with the athlete's size. No simple small, medium, large, and extra large sizing here. Consumers have to use a detailed chart to match their height and weight to settle on the right-size Skins.

I was so remarkably free of soreness that I chose to take the Skins brass's advice and wear the tights to sleep and then on the plane ride back to Chicago. (For this I put on the "sport" version, not the snow tights.) The improved circulation caused by the tights keeps pain-inducing toxins out of the muscles. It's not a new theory. For years, doctors have prescribed compression socks to people with a condition called deep vein thrombosis. The tight socks help push pooling blood through the veins back to the heart, and have been popular among airplane travelers whose stationary position could lead to such pooling.

My blood doesn't clot up on planes, so I can't attest to how well Skins prevent blood pooling. All I can say is that aside from the expected discomfort of wearing what amounts to panty hose for two days, I felt great.

The issue with Skins is that they are not cheap. They cost $105 for the top and another $105 for the bottom. By contrast, Under Armour gear costs $40 to $80 per piece. Why the difference? Skins officials say their garments are packed with more technology. But more to the point, they are targeting elite athletes—competitive marathon runners, Ironman triathletes, and hotshot skiers—not everyman types. Skins are available at the company's Web site, but you can't buy them at big-box sports retailers. Instead, they're stocked in specialty shops. And as one Boulder retailer told me, they're running out fast.