Good ? I du no! I do know that they sure aint cheap! Are the tights worth it?

I live in South Carolina and sometimes we will have seventy degree Christmas's. But then i do
run at 4am and it has been below twenty in Jan. I am looking in to the compression socks to
wear after long rides or long runs for recovery. Now that i am in my forty's injury after injury!
I think i will skip on the tights! Has anybody used the socks just for recovery?

Three questions related to compression wear:
"1. I see that 2xu has tops. Why would I need the top? What am I working so hard in my arms that requires a top-or am I missing the point?"

There are several different brands of compression wear (i.e. Skins), that also make tops, some long sleeved, some short, some sleeveless. The only ones worth purchasing use a gradient compression to maximize return blood flow from the extremities to the core. That said, even without sleeves I have found that it helps open up the chest and improve posture, lung capacity, and breathing. If worn after the swim, or during, the compression provides improved muscle support and the increase circulation helps flush toxins out. Also of note all of these fabrics are SPF 50 and are made with a technical, wicking fabric that regulates body temp. Lower body temperature equals less stress, less sweat and less fluid loss. I wear a long sleeved top with only a jersey down to about 40 degrees and all the way up to 100 plus, and I was very comfortable, cool at times with a breeze.

"2. When someone wears them in a triathlon race, are they swimming in them? (OK...that is truly a dumb question)"

Not a bad question, I know many people who have bought the tops as a upscale wetsuit chafe guard. Not my recommended use, but hey if it works, on a long swim you will feel less fatigued. Personally, I don't like adding anything during transition that I don't have to, I wear it under my wetsuit.

"3. I assume the tights are for cool weather running?
The tights are for all weather. There are usually different weights of fabric. For instance Skins has their regular Sport tights, and their double layer Snow tights for cooler weather. 2xU has their 50 denier and 70 denier fabrics. The 70 is a little heavier but with better compression as well. I find the Sport or 50 denier good down to 40 degrees, may be higher in really humid or windy areas, in which case I add some wind pants."

Don't forget that the tights are also excellent for traveling and recovery. I wear mine on plane flights or long car drives, helps keep the blood from pooling up (deep vein thrombosis can be fatal). When I sleep in mine the night before a race I wake up feeling like I had a massage. After a race it helps get ride of all the toxins and get water and nutrients back into the muscles quicker, you will recover quicker wearing them. One another note, they are good at helping you recover quicker from injuries as well. A friend of mine had ACL replacement surgery, they borrowed some from one knee to repair the other. She was dealing with a lot of pain, scar tissue, and a long rehab. She got some long tights, when she wore them she didn't have any pain, and it cut her rehab time by months the doc said.

Lala2021 - "Has anybody used the socks just for recovery?" I have a pair of CEP socks and 2xU socks I am trying out. I love them for running, and I use them for recovery when I don't feel like wearing the tights. They work.