As far as compression gear goes 2XU easily provides some of the best products currently on the market. 2XU compression tights form snuggly around the legs, providing a secure fit. The snug secure fit, provides the user increased muscular awareness, thereby enhancing efficiency and performance. In terms of compression the Hyoptik tights are exactly what you’d expect from 2XU.
However the appeal of the Hyoptik compression tights and the higher price tag, compared to regular 2XU compression tights is the reflective logo providing increased visibility in low light conditions. So that will be the main focus of this review.
On the 2XU website regular compression tights sell for $90 and the Hyoptik tights sell for $120 CDN. So with the compression provided between these two sets of tights being equal, is the extra $30 worth it for the increased visibility and safety provided by the Hyoptik tights?
In the below photos I compare the reflective capabilities of the 2XU Hyoptik tights to my MEC Mercury tights.
2XU Hyoptik Tights: Front view on the left, back view on the right. These pictures were taken standing ~40 m away from car headlights.
MEC Mercury Tights: Front view on the left, back view on the right. These pictures were taken standing ~40 m away from car headlights.
As you can see in the above the photos the 2XU Hyoptik Tights are quite visible in low light conditions. However when compared to the MEC Mercury Tights, the reflective material hardly stacks up. The 2XU Hyoptik tights although visible, reflect the light at a much lower intensity than the MEC tights.
When it comes to running in low light conditions remaining easily visible is an upmost priority. Although the 2XU Hyoptik tights are top of the line in terms of compression, they fall short in there reflective properties. Therefore if you do a lot of running in low light conditions I think your money would best be spent elsewhere. For example you can easily buy a pair of regular 2XU compression tights for $90 and a reflective running vest for $10-$30 leaving you far more visible than the Hyoptik tights, and with a few extra dollars in your pocket.
Adam Kuhn lives in Calgary Alberta, where he works as a Geologist in corporate Calgary. Playing high level hockey and football in high school Adam has always loved competitive sports. Upon entering University, sports and exercise fell to the wayside as a life of partying ensued. Spartan Racing has gotten Adam off the couch (and booze) and has revitalized his life. A relatively new face in the OCR scene Adam’s competitive nature is back as he pushes his body to its limits as he competes in the Elite Heats, testing himself against the best of the best. Follow him on Instagram @adamkuhn20 and checkout his personal blog readysweatrun.com for more on his adventures.
