Opedix S1 Tights

Skiing and snowboarding and running are good for our mind, body and soul, yet we all acknowledge the toll it takes on our knees. Each time our feet absorb impact, the impact travels from the feet to the knees, pushing our knee joints to the outside. This creates wear points on the inside of the joint where most of the "load" is born. Oddly enough, this seems to increase as we age.

The Opedix S1 Knee Support System tights, developed in conjunction with the Steadman Hawkins Sports Medicine Foundation, acts to counter these forces by keeping the knee positioned correctly to improve stability and function, and reduce the stresses on the knee joint that can cause pain and do long term damage.

If you have knee problems, you will appreciate the Knee Support System tights because not only are they designed to lessen impact on knee, they are designed to prevent knee injuries in the first place using compression to stabilize, reduce fatigue and keep muscles fresher longer. The tights come in two styles: capri-length or full-length.

When I tested the capri-length style on a ski trip to Lake Louise (Banff, Alberta), I noticed three things immediately. The first was that I felt more stability in my knees. I’m a two-time ACL reconstruction alumni and ski in fear of a third, and, the runs of Lake Louise have a lot of vertical. This was a good thing. Second, I could run longer on the treadmill before my left knee and hip started to complain. The third was that I felt more coordinated and less fatigued when running and skiing because I had a support system around my knees that kept them aligned. This is big, too, because you’re most susceptible to injury when you’re fatigued.

They'll feel restrictive the first time you put them on, especially when skiing, but you’ll get used to it.

The one downside to the tights is that they are TIGHT. You will feel pressure in the back of your legs above the knees from the banding. This is how they are supposed to fit so don't be alarmed if you have to yank and tug and fight to get them to sit in the right position.

They are also more comfortable as running tights then under ski pants, though. This is most likely due to the fact that I tested a midweight pair. If you plan to use them for skiing, I recommend going with the lightweight fabric. This is not to say that they restricted my movement, they didn't, but the tights combined with the insulated ski pants made for a warm day on slopes. Fortunately, they are breathable (to a degree), moisture wicking and anti-microbial.

Another great product made in the U.S.A. They also make the tights in men's versions.