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According to most fitness experts, workout recovery is just as important as the workout itself. Recently, athletes of all levels have started embracing a new recovery technology: compression boots. The bulky devices might look odd, but, the best compression boots might just be a secret weapon in fast, efficient post-workout recovery. Read on for a quick guide to how compression boots work, who should use them, and which brands to buy right now.
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In This Article:
The Best Compression Boots
What are Compression Boots
How We Chose the Best Compression Boots
What Are the Best Compression Boots?
Below are some of the best compression boots currently on the market. We chose these after testing and thoroughly researching devices from both big brands (namely, Therabody and Hyperice) and smaller, more affordable brands.
Editor’s Pick: Therabody RecoveryAir JetBoots
Also Great: Hyperice Normatec 3 Legs
Great Value: Air Relax Sequential Compression Device
Budget Pick: Aicutti Compression Boots
Targeted Calf Recovery: Hyperice Normatec Go Calf
Upper-Body Recovery: Therabody RecoveryPulse
1. Therabody RecoveryAir JetBoots
Therabody
New to compression boots? Pick up these RecoveryAir JetBoots from Therabody. They’re the first compression boots to use an integrated pump in the feet and a completely wireless design. This makes it easy to use the JetBoots everywhere (i.e. without an outlet), and you don’t need to lug around a bulky plug-in air pump or tubes like all other recovery boots.
After putting the boots on, use the small control panels on either boot to adjust massage time and pressure intensity. Despite their wireless design, the boots offer just as much squeeze as wired options. The JetBoots also use Therabody’s TruGrade Technology, which fills each of the four chambers sequentially. Most recovery boots fill each chamber on a timer, whereas the JetBoots monitor the progressive compression and know when the next chamber should be filled. Plus, TheraBody says the JetBoots inflate two to three times faster than boots from other companies, which theoretically yields faster recovery.
We spent a couple of weeks testing the JetBoots after workouts, before runs, and even on rest days, and they really worked. Besides feeling good during the massage, we noticed less soreness when we used the JetBoots after a workout and slightly better performance when we used them before exercising.
2. Hyperice Normatec 3 Legs
Hyperice
The Hyperice Nomatec 3s use a dynamic air compression system to help relieve pain. Some professional sports teams, such as the Baltimore Ravens, have even set up rooms for Normatec-enhanced recovery. And the system’s popularity is well-founded. It uses an effective, patented compression sequence, and it’s even been cleared by the FDA as a treatment for muscle pain, soreness, and improved blood circulation.
Using a very compact control panel, users can choose from seven levels of intensity, set the treatment time, and choose a specific chamber to “boost” for extra attention in a certain area. The boots also have three hours of battery life and are TSA-approved if you need to take them with you on your next trip.
3. Air Relax Sequential Compression Device
Courtesy Amazon
At $575 (as of this writing), these Air Relax boots are a great value pick if the above options are too pricey. Another big draw for us is the Air Relax’s control unit, which lets you choose four different modes (peristaltic, sequential, massage, and peristaltic + sequential) for a varied session depending on what you need. You can also activate or deactivate each of the four air chambers and change the pressure between four intensity settings. Air Relax’s boots themselves are durable and effective at keeping air contained, plus a one-year warranty provides some peace of mind in case of any problems.
4. Aicutti Compression Boots
Amazon
If you’re shopping on a very tight budget, consider these compression boots from Aicutti. They’re going for just $86, as of writing, making them a fraction of the price of any other boots on this list. Of course, some sacrifices are made for the lower price (they don’t go up your thighs, they’re not as powerful, and they might not last as long) but they’re still shockingly good for a sub-$100 pair of compression boots. They effectively improve circulation, and even have a heating function to further boost recovery. User reviews for the Aicutti boots are also excellent: They boast 4.4/5 stars on Amazon with more than 1,900 reviews.
5. Hyperice Normatec Go
Amazon
If you want a more portable leg recovery tool, check out these Normatec Go calf massagers. As the name suggests, they only massage the calves, but they’re also much cheaper and smaller than full-leg compression boots. They’re also easier to wear than full boots, as you can still bend your knees while using the Gos. Of course, as expected from Hyperice, you’re still getting a powerful compression system that can do away with soreness and pain — whether from workouts, walking, or long flights.
6. Therabody RecoveryPulse
Therabody
If you want targeted relief on your arms, check out these RecoveryPulse sleeves from Therabody. They’re not technically compression boots, but they’re a similar recovery tool we like having in our arsenal. Using both vibration and compression, the RecoveryPulse sleeves promise pain relief and better circulation for faster recovery or warming up. They’re also super sleek, making them a great choice for traveling, and more affordable than most high-end compression boots.
What Are Compression Boots?
Using air chambers, the boots pulse and use compression to essentially give your legs and feet a massage, encouraging blood flow and helping you recover after a strenuous workout. The goal is to recover faster, feel less sore, and help you perform better during your next workout.
In other words, compression boots provide active recovery (as you’d get with a sports massage or gentle yoga) without the need to actually be active. That means you can reap the benefits of active recovery while working at a desk, reading, watching TV, or just scrolling TikTok.
If you’re looking to train harder, compression boots are well worth trying. They’re especially good for runners and anyone playing ball sports (where legs get especially fatigued), although lifters and CrossFit enthusiasts can also benefit from the massaging devices.
How We Chose the Best Compression Boots
Because compression boots are a relatively new technology, there’s a large discrepancy between the good and the bad. Here are a few things we considered while testing compression boots and reading other user experiences.
Fit: Most brands offer compression boots in various sizes. Fit is very important, as too-large compression boots won’t massage deep enough, and boots that are too small will feel very uncomfortable. Be sure to refer to the brand’s compression chart, if available, and see which size to order. You’ll want to know your exact inseam length and total height to choose the proper size.
Adjustability: The best compression boots let you choose the pressure level of each pulse, while others even let you work on isolated zones within the leg. Look out for adjustability features such as these, as well as compression boots with intuitive, easy-to-use control panels.
Chambers: The more air chambers a pair of boots has, the better. Ideally, compression boots should have at least four separate air chambers for a comprehensive massage.
Noise: One of the major benefits of compression boots is that you can recover while doing other things like, say, watching TV or chatting with friends. However, doing those other activities can be hard if the compression boots’ air pump is too loud. For this reason, we tried to find boots with the quietest possible air units.
Cleaning: Because compression boots can get warm and are meant to be used after exercise, they’re bound to get sweaty. You’ll therefore want a pair that can be unfolded and easily cleaned between uses.
