CW-X's High-Tech Tights

There are some lofty ideas and a high price behind what amounts to underwear—but hey, it may mean a better workout

by Matt Vella

Editor's Rating:

The Good: Tights that keep you cool and dry, providing strong muscle support

The Bad: Pricey undies; heavier than less sophisticated pairs

The Bottom Line: You don't have to buy into all the theory to love these high-performance tights

Reader Reviews

As a general rule, I'm wary of sports gear that's got a lot of theory behind it. Big ideas usually carry a big price tag and don't always deliver. CW-X's Conditioning Wear Pro tights are long on ideas and high on price, especially for an undergarment, but they also go a long way toward delivering when it comes to performance. In the interest of helping you stick to New Year's fitness resolutions, I'm reviewing high-tech sports gear and these tights are next on the list (see BusinessWeek.com, 1/19/07, "Suunto's Sexy Sports Watch").

CW-X's tights are part of a new class of sports equipment known as conditioning wear, intended to enhance athletic performance. The $95 garment acts as an exoskeleton, supporting and aligning muscles, improving movement efficiency, and reducing shock—all in the name of helping shave precious time off a run. To do that, the makers sew a webbing of nylon into the tights to provide targeted support to glutes, hamstrings, calves, and quads.

The tights are mostly made of 20% Lycra and 80% Coolmax, a fabric designed to keep you cool by moving moisture from skin to the outer surface of the fabric where it can evaporate quickly. The webbing, meantime, is made of a sturdier, heavier 80/20 blend of nylon and Lycra that ensures a snug fit that won't stretch out over time. I've been trying out the tights over the past few months, culminating with a test run at the New York Road Runners' season-opening half-marathon, held in Central Park on Jan. 21.

Running Hot

I found that the tights definitely work, mostly as advertised. The first few times I ran in them, I was uncharacteristically sore in my thighs and lower legs, a sign that my muscles were moving differently than when unsupported. But I also felt less tightness in my lower back, where a band of material keeps your waist firmly supported.

I also opted not to use the tights on every run, however. Their heft can be a drag when you want a light-feeling fast run or when you're working on speed. I also found that I run a bit hot in them. For me, the tights are a no-go when the ambient temperature is above 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Of course, personal routines and preferences vary.

Which is why I solicited opinions from a few other wearers at the half-marathon. Comments ranged from an equivocal shrug—perhaps unsurprising at 8 a.m. with the temperature at 8 degrees—to several enthusiastic endorsements, including "I wouldn't leave the house without them." One guy told me he had bought three pairs, one for each of his runs during the week.

Thumbs-Up

Many runners admitted they weren't sure about the science. But of the 15 or so participants I asked, all said the tights were more than worth the money. "It's probably more mental than anything," one woman told me, summarizing my opinion. "But then again, running is mostly mental, too."

Additionally, I couldn't help but notice more runners wearing CW-X gear standing around the six-minute and seven-minute mile pace flags before the race than in the slower waiting pens. Which came first—the tights or the times—is open to debate, but it's an interesting correlation nonetheless.

CW-X also makes a lot of other products for different sports, including cycling and skiing, with similar ideas behind them. Given my experience with the running gear, I would be tempted to try these out as well. However, I more casually tested the company's matching Pro top but didn't find that piece of equipment, with its simpler system of webbing, as compelling as the tights.

A few finishers in CW-X tights I caught up with at the finish line pointed to their legs and gave a big grin and thumbs-up. As for me, test tights and all, that day I earned a personal best. How much the Conditioning Wear Pro tights had to do with it, I can't say exactly. But will I be wearing them for my next race? No doubt.

Matt Vella is a reporter for BusinessWeek.com in New York.