Review: CW-X Stabilyx Tight

[KnottedYet]

It's a miracle!
http://www.teamestrogen.com/prodCW_125809.html

Where to begin?

Putting them on: these are compression tights, give yourself a good 3 minutes to put them on properly. Put socks on first. You don't want your toenails catching in the fabric as you slide your feet through. Use the pads of your fingers to work the tights into place, not your nails. Follow the instructions on the hang-tag about arranging the tights to the knees before pulling them up. (oh, and go commando. there is a floating gusset so you won't have seam irritation.)

Fit: I used the fit chart provided by CW-X. Right now I am 40 lbs heavier than I was 2 years ago, so I was a bit worried that the athletic fit might be a problem. No problem! And no sausage legs! The tights make even me look sleek and smooth. No camel-toe, there's some pretty cool engineering with the gray panel up the inner thigh to prevent that. The fit was beautiful.

Feel: When I put them on, I felt like this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JdGQ0xDHDnQ&feature=related Except, unlike Jeri Ryan's 20 minutes to get into her costume, it only took 3 minutes to put on the tights. Well, there *might* be a couple other differences between me and Jeri Ryan, but they are relatively minor... The Stabilyx tights are very comfortable once you get them adjusted correctly. They give firm support without any sense of constriction.

Kineseotape: I chose the Stabilyx because the pattern of support bands was the most similar to patterns of kineseotape I've used and liked. I could have used an additional band from medial knee to lateral hip to facilitate hip external rotation, but really that's a training issue I should be working on anyway. The CW-X Pro tight has the hip rotation band. Like good kineseotape, the bands facilitate the muscles underneath them. You correct yourself by turning on the muscles that are being lazy. Wearing kineseotape (and by analogy these tights) makes the muscles stronger because they are cued more.

Performance: Which helped more, the compression or the kineseotape effect? Heck if I know! What I do know is that I ran my regular route this morning. Same speed, same route. Normally near the end of my run I'm getting tired and sloppy and starting to hear the siren call of my waiting coffee pot. The tights really shone at the end of my run, because I was feeling perky and strong and warm and NOT tired. In fact, my legs felt so good that I extended my run until the dog was starting to get unhappy and the call of the coffee was strident.

Warmth: This was my first run in the Stabilyx tights. Normal chilly rainy weather for this time of year. My legs were surprisingly warm in just the tights. I had considered wearing my Hind running pants over them, but the tights looked so good I went without. Turns out they were perfect on their own. Not too hot, not sweaty and clammy, not chilly.

Look: I looked just like Seven of Nine. (see above) Really. <snort> Actually, I looked damm good. I've never gone for my run dressed only in tights. My old tights were for extra warmth, and I wore them UNDER my running pants. Nobody got to gaze at my blobbiness as I ran. BUT, the CW-X designers know their stuff. I ran in these tights alone, and I looked good! The compression panels smooth out the lumps and blobs and hold everything still. My fat didn't jiggle. The different colors of gray create a bit of camoflage or visual misdirection, which also helps.

Let me reiterate the most important quality of these tights: My Fat Didn't Jiggle.
(any of you who have been running while overweight know the pain of bouncing fatty whiplash. it honestly hurts. no pain with these tights!)

[Zen]

Let me reiterate the most important quality of these tights: My Fat Didn't Jiggle.


SOLD!

The kinesiotape effect is intriguing as well.
(when you said Jeri Ryan I thought Jeri Blank. That would be funny)

[divingbiker]

Perfect timing! Thanks for the review.

I've been trying to decide between the Stabilyx and the Performx tights. I don't really have any knee issues, but recently some IT band pain has been rearing its ugly head. Which do you recommend, Knot?

[Kathi]

I wear these as well, skiing, snowshoeing, hiking. Look at the CWX website, the tight selector page helps you chose the model for your particular need.

http://www.cw-x.com/ExploreProducts.aspx?gender=womens&product=tights&selector=true

[Zen]

What a fantastic site. I like the ability to maneuver the model.

[Trek420]

Because I'm short I asked for 3/4 length. Survey says: "Recommendation: 3/4 Pro tights Features: - Provide support to the hips and lower back for extra stability and core power - Improve circulation to keep legs fresher and cramp-free over time - Provide excellent support to the hip flexors, quads and hamstrings"

Hmmm, looks like for knee specific I have to go full length, or maybe this'll work:

http://www.teamestrogen.com/prodCW_125806.html

[OakLeaf]

FWIW, at 5'3" I don't have too much of a problem with extra fabric in the ankles - knee placement is more of an issue lengthwise, which capri length wouldn't help with that. Because of the snug fit, once I get the tights in the right place around my knees, they don't really move around.

[Jones]

Great review Knot. I love my cw-x Capri's and bought the tights when TE did 20% off but haven't had a chance to wear them yet. I do enjoy all your reviews.

[divingbiker]

Look at the CWX website, the tight selector page helps you chose the model for your particular need.

I did, and was still confused.

[KnottedYet]

Perfect timing! Thanks for the review.

I've been trying to decide between the Stabilyx and the Performx tights. I don't really have any knee issues, but recently some IT band pain has been rearing its ugly head. Which do you recommend, Knot?

I hate to add to the confusion, but, it really depends on WHY your IT band has been getting grumpy. (weak abs? lazy external rotators? pronated feet? underactivated glutes and hams?)

Next time your ITB is being naughty, take a moment and stand still. Try sqeezing your buns, then let them go and try holding your lower belly flat. Let the abs go, and continue with unlocking your knees, then trying to stand bow-legged, then pushing weight onto the pinky-toe side of your foot. If any one of those helps relieve some of your ITB sensation, that's probably the one that's being lazy. It's been slacking off and forcing your ITB to take up the strain. If more than one helps, add 'em all up and make them your new habit!

(and look at the CW-X descriptions for the tight that encourages the muscles you found need to work harder to relieve your symptoms)

I've got "all of the above" being lazy on my bod, particularly the abs and hip stabilizers. I quite liked the support and cuing from the ab panel and heavy outer hip reinforcement on the Stabilyx.

[colby]

Because I'm short I asked for 3/4 length. Survey says: "Recommendation: 3/4 Pro tights Features: - Provide support to the hips and lower back for extra stability and core power - Improve circulation to keep legs fresher and cramp-free over time - Provide excellent support to the hip flexors, quads and hamstrings"

Hmmm, looks like for knee specific I have to go full length, or maybe this'll work:

http://www.teamestrogen.com/prodCW_125806.html

I have to wear "petites" in everything and the 3/4 length tights hit about mid-calf for me. They cover enough of my knee and the surrounding area that my knee feels supported. My legs feel MORE supported in the full tights, which go to my ankles, but I prefer the 3/4 for warmer weather. The only other pair I have are the full insulator stabilyx tights. I like the insulator tights for winter running and wear them for snowboarding as well with a shell over them. I love you cw-x.

My only complaint about the pro 3/4 tights is that I have busted the seams in the thighs on TWO pairs now from regular wear. I do not have dainty thighs, they rub together. Eventually (6 months?) even if I wear a layer over the tights, I rub the seams off in the upper thigh (in a really painful location if you don't catch it in time and it proceeds to chafe). It's fixable, but frustrating. I refused to buy a third pair this year and ran the rest of the season in tri shorts with seams of steel. I handed the cw-x off to a friend to fix. :)

[divingbiker]

I hate to add to the confusion, but, it really depends on WHY your IT band has been getting grumpy. (weak abs? lazy external rotators? pronated feet? underactivated glutes and hams?)

Next time your ITB is being naughty, take a moment and stand still. Try sqeezing your buns, then let them go and try holding your lower belly flat. Let the abs go, and continue with unlocking your knees, then trying to stand bow-legged, then pushing weight onto the pinky-toe side of your foot. If any one of those helps relieve some of your ITB sensation, that's probably the one that's being lazy. It's been slacking off and forcing your ITB to take up the strain. If more than one helps, add 'em all up and make them your new habit!

(and look at the CW-X descriptions for the tight that encourages the muscles you found need to work harder to relieve your symptoms)

I've got "all of the above" being lazy on my bod, particularly the abs and hip stabilizers. I quite liked the support and cuing from the ab panel and heavy outer hip reinforcement on the Stabilyx.

I don't have the patience to analyze myself, so I just went ahead and ordered the Stabilyx. Had to get them from backcountry.com since TE only had the grey, and I wanted black so I wouldn't be conspicuous. Bad enough that I go in public in tights.:o Will post my thoughts when I get them. Thanks for the advice.

[Zen]

I think of these as Spanx I can wear to the gym :p

[KnottedYet]

I think of these as Spanx I can wear to the gym :p

EXACTLY!!!

They are a MIRACLE and I LOOOOOOOOVE them! :D

[Zen]

When I took those off I had the banding pattern imprinted on me.
That's some compression :eek:
they did look good, though

[KnottedYet]

they did look good, though

Don't they? Ooooh, good stuff!

[teigyr]

The inner thigh seams WILL wear out, mine took about a year. It's a common complaint I've heard about the tights. They are wonderful though.

For those Seattle folks (Knot), I know a seamstress who will fix them when it happens. It's better if you catch them before they start to fail and it isn't perfect. If it goes when you're out for a long run, OUCH.

FYI the weather tights (can't remember the name offhand) are really warm and they repel snow/rain wonderfully. It has to be 20ish before I'll wear them or else I'll get too hot.

[Trek420]

The inner thigh seams WILL wear out, mine took about a year. It's a common complaint I've heard about the tights. They are wonderful though.

Now I don't feel so bad. At my height the tape that would hold my knee ligaments together might hit at my calves :p ;) :rolleyes:

[OakLeaf]

The inner thigh seams WILL wear out, mine took about a year.

If you don't mind, can you approximate how many miles on the tights? That seems awfully quick unless you were wearing them for every run. :(

[colby]

If you don't mind, can you approximate how many miles on the tights? That seems awfully quick unless you were wearing them for every run. :(

I usually wear mine in the fall/winter (until it gets cold)/spring. The seams in my 3/4 length pro tights (not insulated) lasted 9 months at most (maybe as few as 6?). Last year I bought a pair before marathon training - August? - and wore them through that, in the marathon, and through the spring, I believe, while Ironman training. I would say average 30 miles a week through fall, more like 20 through spring. I wore them every run with a pair of REI compression shorts over the top which covered the part of seams in question just barely (they busted just where the shorts hit, around a 4-6" inseam). So... 600-900 miles?

My first pair lasted longer, but I didn't run as much, or as fast. Ironically I lost a lot of weight between the two pairs, too, so I really expected the second pair to last a lot longer.

[Zen]

you wore compression tights on top of compression tights?
Or do I need to re-read?

[colby]

you wore compression tights on top of compression tights?
Or do I need to re-read?

Sort of - I wore compression shorts (with a 4" inseam) on top of my 3/4-length compression tights to try to keep the seams from wearing as quickly - hoping that the extra fabric would protect me from the direct rubbing. :)

http://www.rei.com/product/778275

It's worth noting that REI's definition of "compression" is "a tight fitting thicker-than-lycra fabric" - not the same as what CW-X means ;)

[Veronica]

I am one of those people who fall in the gray area between sizes. I ordered up like the chart said, but the mediums are too big for me. I can't keep the knee section on my knee. At my height, a medium will fit someone who weighs 25 pounds more than I do. :rolleyes:

I'm worried a small will be too small. We'll see; they'll arrive on Wednesday.

Veronica

[Pedal Wench]

I just wore mine again on the flight home last night. We did a century, got back to the BF's, I showered and then sat around the airport and flew home. I expected to be really sore today, but just slightly tight.

[Trek420]

Finally, motivation to train! By the chart at my height I have to get down to about 135 lb/medium to have a chance at these hitting anywhere close to my knees. ;)

Of course by then I'll be light and fit enough that I won't need 'em ;)

[teigyr]

I'd say Colby is spot on with her estimated miles. I did wear them most runs but I had more than one pair so it's not like I wore the same pair every day. The tights are sturdy except for that one spot where your (or ok, my) thighs rub together.

So I'd say under 1,000 miles but over 500. They maybe could have made it over 1,000 miles. I track my shoes, just not my tights :o

[colby]

I am one of those people who fall in the gray area between sizes. I ordered up like the chart said, but the mediums are too big for me. I can't keep the knee section on my knee. At my height, a medium will fit someone who weighs 25 pounds more than I do. :rolleyes:

I'm worried a small will be too small. We'll see; they'll arrive on Wednesday.

Veronica

I'm curious how this turns out - the medium 3/4 length tights seem to be more forgiving (I weigh more than I should for my height and sized up), but now my full length tights are starting to move when I run. Downward. So I feel like my pants are falling off for basically 90% of the run. :p I'm also concerned the small will be too small. It's like they are a fine fit from my ankle to my knee, but from my thigh to my waist, they are too big. The string is no help.

[Veronica]

The smalls arrived today. And to set things straight - I've been trying out the Expert and the Ventilator versions as I only wanted knee stabilization.

The smalls are snug, but not uncomfortably tight. I am not quite 5'5", weigh 146, have a 28 inch waist, 38 inch hip. With the mediums, there was so much extra material between the waist and the knee. It was impossible to keep the knee section where it belonged once I started moving. I won't actually work out in these until tomorrow. But at least I could get them on. :D

Veronica

[itself]

Can anyone comment more on sizing, I am 5'5" and 135lb not sure if I would order the med or large.

Too bad they wear out so quickly...I have to say the quality of the 2XUs compression tights is excellent and I don't think I will have a seam problem.

Great feedback on this thread! And the comment on the IT bands issues is good, it is good to figure out the source of the problem. That's why I am headed to PT in a week so I can strengthen the weak area.

Anyone use the Stabilyx cycling shorts?

Lisa

[Veronica]

I'm, heavier than you and got the small because the mediums were too big.

Veronica

[OakLeaf]

Since you're already familiar with compression tights, you should have an idea of how they fit - very snug if they're going to serve their purpose. I'm shaped differently from you, but I find that CW-X tights run large - I'm a solid Medium in most running shorts/tights, but on the small end of Small in CW-X. I'm almost tempted to try on an XS next time I'm in a store, but I expect those will be too small for me.

[Eden]

aw crud..... I just ordered 2 pairs (not stablyx, but pro's and performx) to use as recovery tights, but if they run that big they probably won't do their job..... I wasn't off the bottom of the sizing chart (like I am for Skins...)
I'm 5 nuthin, 105 - anyone have the XS's - are they really big?

[SadieKate]

I think they run small!

[nscrbug]

I think they run small!

X2! I have a pair of medium Stabilyx Insulators tights. According to their sizing chart, I fall solidly into the size Medium range...but I seriously can barely get them on. I think I wore them 2 times...once for a 5k race, and once for a 4 mile training run. I literally feel like I cannot breathe wearing them...the waistband digs and binds so badly on me. The lower back, hip, and knee support is amazing...but they are just too uncomfortably tight to wear for any length of time.

If anyone is interested in a pair of like-new size Medium Stabilyx Insulator tights for a good price...PM me!

Linda

[SadieKate]

I'm in the first gray box to the left of the medium yellow boxes. I managed to get the mediums on my bod but movement was out of the question. I know the design isn't super comfy, but using the size chart puts me in a size that is completely nonfunctional.

http://www.teamestrogen.com/template-resources/images/products/CW_sizingchart.gif

[OakLeaf]

Hmmm. They're super comfy to me...

I can put on a pair of Medium and not have any excess fabric anywhere except they're a little long. But to get the benefit of the compression, I need to be in Small, and at 5'3", 122# I can totally feel why their size chart has me on the small end of the size.

[Veronica]

The smalls arrived today. And to set things straight - I've been trying out the Expert and the Ventilator versions as I only wanted knee stabilization.

The smalls are snug, but not uncomfortably tight. I am not quite 5'5", weigh 146, have a 28 inch waist, 38 inch hip.

Veronica

I think size charts should go by measurements rather than pounds. I have worn the smalls several times running now. Maybe this is a case of not all are constructed in exactly the same way.

Veronica

[OakLeaf]

I think size charts should go by measurements rather than pounds. I have worn the smalls several times running now. Maybe this is a case of not all are constructed in exactly the same way.

Veronica

True that. My hip and waist measurements are close enough to yours as nevermind. 5# per inch of height, plus I've seen those pictures of where that extra 10-15# of muscle lives on your upper body! :D

[Eden]

I think size charts should go by measurements rather than pounds. I have worn the smalls several times running now. Maybe this is a case of not all are constructed in exactly the same way.

Veronica

I wish..... though in this case the measurements should probably be thigh, calf and hips - don't really need the compression around my waist. Unless the XS's are considerably smaller, I get the feeling I may be selling these.... (my hips are 33")

[itself]

FYI...I emailed the company in regards to seam failures, here was the response...Sounds like a great company to deal with!!

Lisa


"Thank you so much for your inquiry and interest in CW-X. We certainly stand behind our performance apparel and craftsmanship. Our manufacturer's warranty covers manufacturing defects within year of purchasing the product. If you ever run into an issue you think is considered as such, you can e-mail our warranty department at warranty@cw-x.com.

This being said, only 0.06% of the apparel we sold in 2009 was returned to us as a "manufacturing defect" and replaced. Based on the number of units we sell each year, we receive a very, very low rate of warranty claims! I hope this helps answer your question and gives you greater confidence in choosing CW-X. "

Julia Blumenfeld
CW-X, Wacoal Sports Science Corporation
136 Madison Avenue, 9th Floor
New York, NY 10016
E-mail: info@cw-x.com
www.cw-x.com

[Eden]

I finally got my tights! I wore them for the first time last night after a long hill workout and I must say they worked great. No soreness then or this morning.

I ordered XS's and they feel tight enough. I definitely could not just slip them on - had to pull them up more like pantyhose.

[OakLeaf]

I wish it was cool enough to wear my Ventilators all year round! They were just barely on the edge of being too warm for the marathon last month, where it was a steady 54°F (and I wore a short-sleeved top).

I might go for a pair of the shorts, but I really like the support on my calves, plus I'm afraid they'd ride up. Anybody have the Ventilator shorts?

[nscrbug]

I wish it was cool enough to wear my Ventilators all year round! They were just barely on the edge of being too warm for the marathon last month, where it was a steady 54°F (and I wore a short-sleeved top).

I might go for a pair of the shorts, but I really like the support on my calves, plus I'm afraid they'd ride up. Anybody have the Ventilator shorts?

Not the Ventilator shorts, but I do have 2 pairs of the Pro shorts. I usually wear them on my "long" runs...which is probably not very long, by most runners standards. :p I didn't notice any riding up while wearing them. Then again, the Pro shorts sit just above the knee...so they are pretty long, in terms of length. But they do provide lots of support, especially in my lower back and hips, and core. However, they are a fairly thick material...so might be a tad bit warm on a super hot day.