The new base range from 2XU intends to bring the brand’s compression wear to a wider range of athletes by making more affordable garments.
These base shorts aim to reduce muscle vibration during exercise and speed up recovery afterwards by offering graduated compression, so the effect is greater where it’s needed most.
They’re also antibacterial and feature UPF sun protection.
In terms of compression, they’re as effective as pricier garments; they don’t feel restrictive on the bike and we did notice recovery benefits after hard rides.
However, they could be improved: we found the waistband a bit too tight for the garment’s cut, and the centre seam can be irritating when you wear these under cycle shorts.
This article was originally published in Triathlon Plus magazine, available on Zinio.