Most long sleeve compression shirts are made of a nylon and elastane blend. Still, there are some brands that work better for the bulky bodybuilder, while others might be more tailored for the slender yoga enthusiast. Generally speaking, the more you spend on a compression shirt, the more the fit will be forgiving and adapt to many different body types. Equally, the second benefit of compression gear, a reduction in chafing, also requires a perfect fit. Gerardo Miranda-Comas (a sports medicine physician and assistant professor at the Icahn School of Medicine) notes that “Compression helps recruit muscle adequately and give you more synchronized movement.” Since this is achieved by applying the specific proportion of compression to different parts of the body, a perfect fit is crucial. As is noted in an article on, compression gear will need to fit your body perfectly in order for it to add any real benefit. When it comes to the fit, comfort isn’t the only consideration. It goes without saying, but any piece of workout clothing that doesn’t fit your body well is not going to feel good. What is the difference? We want you to be an informed consumer, so here are the main things to look for when you are comparing compression shirts. What To Look for in a Compression ShirtĬompression shirts come in all shapes and sizes, and you can spend as much as $80 or as little at $10 on one.

We will give you the low down on which shirts we think are the best, and give you the best value.

If you recover faster, you can workout more, and you will be better at whatever it is you are training for. They have become popular for good reason, not to mention the recovery benefits of compression gear have become more and more proven by recent studies. Most give you better consistency in your upper body temp, and the compression levels help with muscle alignment in the shoulders, back, and arms. We love how long sleeve compression shirts give you such a variety of functions – some keep you warm when you want to take your workout outside instead of run on a treadmill, while other shirts are actually designed keep you cool. We have become hooked ourselves, and as such have tried just about every shirt on the market. Compression shirts were the most logical upper body compression garment, with the long-sleeve compression shirts immediately becoming the most popular piece for the torso. The world of compression gear has been around for a while, but it was about five years ago that we really saw the upper body gear begin to take off. More and more, we see people wearing them for no reason at all – other than the fact that a good compression shirt can be very comfortable.

Crossfit and workout rats often use them during training because of their ability to equalize warmth and wick moisture. They serve as a base layer underneath a shell or jacket for many athletes who are doing colder-weather sports. Fitness enthusiasts use them to complete their workout outfit.

Long sleeve compression shirts are the most popular form of compression gear for the upper body, and popular with all kinds of athletes.