Product Review - 110% Play Harder Compression

Late this past season, in the peak of my training for an Ironman, I struggled with some long lasting fatigue (quads/glutes) and I wasn't recovering well for some of my key sessions. Also during one of my long runs, I injured (overuse) my left knee. 

Traditional means to heal an injury include R.I.C.E. Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation. After a weeks worth of resting the quads and knees from biking and running, the pain was still lingering. I called up my local PT and got right in for an evaluation. The diagnosis, mild tendonitis of the upper knee/lower quad. He performed a little ART, which hurt like crazy and a little Shockwave Therapy. He prescribed a little more rest, ice and compression. On my way out a flyer caught my eye for a company I hadn't hear about before. 110% Play Harder. It advertised active gear for recovery and injury maintenance. It seemed like a perfect fit. 

Once I got home I quickly checked out their website and was immediately surprised with what I found...a product that combined two of the critical forms for recovery and to expedite healing; Compression + Ice. After walking around, dinking with gel ice packs and Ace-bandages for weeks, someone finally combined the two for a unique and very functional product geared toward the endurance athlete! Brilliant!! Keying in on my specific needs, extremely fatigued quad and a bum knee, I quickly down selected on their product list and ordered a set of the Quad Sleeves and Juggler Tights.


Here's what was included in my shipment.

1 Set of Quad Sleeves (including 4 ice sheets and medium sized thermal bag)
1 Pair of Juggler Tights (including 8 ice sheets and large sized thermal bag)

My initial thoughts of these products were as follows:
-wow, this material looks/feels really high quality
-each item was super durable due to the two layers of material to create the Ice Pockets
-it seemed like the thickness/material combo could retain a lot of water and be soaked when the "ice sheets" finally melted
-the "ice sheets" weren't of a gel substance like a traditional ice pack, rather these cool, segmented plastic sheets with some weird, gauze like backing panels.


I thought it was cool that the "Ice Sheets" could easily be cut down to size for a custom fit. I ended up cutting down a few of these sheets for my hamstrings and as a result ended up with another set of smaller sheet that fit nicely in to the knee / calf pockets. The ice sheets shipped dry and after a quick soak in water and then a bout in the freezer, there were ready to go. Each product also came with an appropriately sized, high quality, thermal bag that would allow you to travel to a race/workout and have them on-call immediately following the event. I didn't get a chance to try this travel feature, but the design seems sound and I'd expect it would work as advertised.
  
I followed the size chart on-line and was happy that I ordered the Mediums. Everything felt true to size and fit properly tight like they should.

One of the things I loved about these products was that they were very functional for the active family man (3 kids under 6). After a workout I could quickly clean up, throw on the Quad Sleeves or Juggler Tights under a pair of short and be on with my day (usually off to my son's soccer practice or out running around with the kids). Sure these $1700 Recovery Pump Boots you see out there are a great idea but besides the cost, do you really think that after a 4 hr bike ride, my wife would be cool with me sitting on my ass for another 1/2 hr while I recovered from a workout? Riiiight....!!

Anyway, both of these products are awesome! I used them religiously after every workout and every night for 3 weeks leading up to the race to help boost recovery and heal all of the micro injuries I'd accumulated over the season. Building on my initial thoughts/concerns I was pleasantly surprised that over the course of 1/5-2hrs that the "ice sheets" thawed in the quad sleeve, there was no dripping or wet material as they thawed. I attribute it mostly to magic (and rapid evaporation due to premium, synthetic materials). Really, an incredible product!

So in conclusion, I rested up for my race while actively healing and continuing to maintain fitness. I made it to the starting line of the Ironman World Championship, had an incredible day and shaved almost an hour off of my own course record!

If you think compression feels good after a hard workout on a hot day, you've got to try compression + ice. It's the most incredible refreshing feeling as you squeeze the pain and freeze the ache away! 

Thanks for reading
Train Hard, Rest Hard