CEP’s Recovery Pro tights offer some serious compression benefits, with a precision fit to maximize your post-workout recovery. Here’s Kieran Alger’s full review.
CEP’s Recovery Pro tights offer serious medical-grade, precision-fitted compression designed to support faster recovery after you’ve put a shift in during workouts. If you’re serious about bouncing back faster, these are the tights to wrestle onto your tired limbs. They’re ideal for wearing underneath shorts or even the best sweatpants on colder days.
Men’s Fitness verdict
Not the most comfortable, but makes up for it with tailored compression targeting.- Medical-grade compression
- Precision fit
- Pricey
- Not the most comfortable
How we tested these compression tights
Kieran Alger is one of our top fitness product reviewers where running is concerned, so he was the obvious choice to put these compression tights through their paces. When conducting these reviews, Kieran paid attention to factors like fit, comfort, level of compression, and any other extra features that might be present.
Main features of the CEP Pro Recovery compression tights
There are some significant differences here to some of the other best compression tights on the market. For a start, CEP asks for precise calf, mid-thigh and ankle circumference measurements when you’re sizing up. That fine-tuned fit is critical for optimising the compression effects. It makes buying them a bit of a faff but you get better results than with off-the-shelf leggings.
There’s even a guide detailing how you should put the tight on and CEP has included some key design features to ensure you wear them correctly.
Design, fit & comfort
Once you’ve squeezed into them (and it is something of a squeeze), knitted knee zones with visible seams help you get the tights perfectly positioned on your legs. The tights also extend under the bottom of your heel, halfway down your foot, to ensure they’re held in place, and the graduated compression starts from the bottom of your leg.
It’s a more constrictive sensation than with most compression tights. There’s a different feel to the fabric too. It’s not just noticeably tighter, it’s also a little rougher than some of the shinier baselayers. The CEP just doesn’t have that immediate comfort against the skin of some other compression tights.
There’s a wide waistband that stays put and doesn’t roll or cut. Flattened seams in the gusset prevent chafing, though as these are meant to be worn post-workout that’s less of an issue anyway.
The thick fabric adds a nice layer of warmth, so these are an ideal addition to your kit bag for use after races, and you can easily wear them under your regular clothes too.
| Materials | 81% polyamide, 19% elastane |
| Features | Fine-tuned tailored fit, heel extensions |
| Sizes | “II-V” |
| Colors | Black |
