Hyperice is a US-based company that specializes in innovative products designed to alleviate tension, soothe sore muscles, and enhance recovery. The brand highlights its mission to optimize both body and mind, enabling individuals to fully embrace the joy of doing what they love.
Hyperice sponsors and collaborates with some of the most prominent athletes and teams. Since 2021, one of the leading professional cycling teams, Jumbo-Lease a Bike (previously Team Jumbo-Visma) has been utilising Hyperice’s products to support their rider’s recovery.
I have been testing Hyperice’s Normatec Lower Legs, which are leg compression wraps that go around your calves and are held in place using Velcro, to help aid recovery during a period of intense training.
About the Normatec Lower Legs
The Normatec Lower Legs delivers targeted massage to the calf muscles via dynamic air compression, which is designed to increase circulation and reduce pain and tension in the legs.
Hyperice notes that the “Targeted dynamic air compression massage on the calves is scientifically proven to significantly reduce inflammation and pain and increase circulation throughout your entire lower body.”
The technical specifications are as follows:
- Weight – 540 gr
- Battery life – Up to 3 hours
- Product dimensions – 63 x 30 x 2.5 cm
- Compression levels – 7 levels
- Connects via Bluetooth® to the Hyperice App
A key point to note is that you will notice by the dimension that they are relatively small in size and are portable, allowing you to easily travel with them to events, races or training camps.
Costs and what you get
Priced at £349.99, at first glance, it may seem a lot of money to invest in such a product. However, if you factor in the cost of a lower leg massage, it’s not long before you realise that if used after only 10 training sessions, you will have recouped on your investment.
What comes in the box are two lower-leg compression wraps, two USB-C charging wires, a dual-port wall charger with interchangeable heads, allowing the adapter to be used in Europe, the UK and North America. In addition, there is an instruction booklet. The Normatec Lower Leg compression comes ready to use.
How they work
Normatec’s compression therapy is designed to increase circulation and help you maintain your full range of motion.
They are very easy to use. Simply bind one of the compression wraps around your leg, held in place by Velcro. Be sure not to wrap it too tight, just secure it in place so it is a firm fit. Ensure that the air compressor is on the outside of the leg. The air compressor inflates and deflates the compression wrap.
There are four buttons to use. The first to press is the “On / Off” button, located on the side of the air compressor. Press this to turn it on, then there are two smaller buttons to press. One controls the “Level” and the other is the “Time.”
There are seven intensity levels, with seven delivering the most pressure. The appropriate level is selected by pressing it. Level seven is rather intense, whilst one and two are mild in comparison. I found level five optimal.
Once you have selected the intensity level that is most suitable, you will then need to select the duration. There are four options: 15, 30, 45 and 60 minutes respectively.
Then press the large “Start / Stop” button that will start the device inflating.
It’s that simple. The amount of charge remaining is denoted by five lights, which decrease as the power diminishes. A full charge will provide 3-hours of treatment.
Noise
The noise generated is minimal, 60 decibels (db), and is comparable to that of a fan. It’s aa humming sound that is not disturbing.
When do I use the Normatec Lower Legs
The optimal time to use the product is soon after intense training sessions, races or long rides. Due to the fact that the noise generated is very minimal, you can simply strap these to your lower legs and sit quietly, watching an episode of your favourite show. With the variable programmable sessions, you can perfectly time the duration to coincide with what you are watching.
As they are not bulky, heavy or required to be plugged in, you can move around with them and don’t need to be seated like Hyperice’s Normatec 3, which is designed for the full leg. , You can still use these whilst undertaking your daily activities. With ‘Working from Home’ becoming the norm, I have found myself sitting at my desk with these strapped to my lower legs, as I tackle my e-mails.
As noted, the Normatec Lower Legs are not large and can easily fit in your hand luggage when traveling, so if you go on cycling holidays, these are ideal to bring with you to help with recovery. In my experience, there is certainly nothing worse than waking up with stiff legs, knowing you have a long day in the saddle ahead of you. Using these will certainly reduce the stiffness.
What difference does it make?
There are two differences worth mentioning. The first is immediately after you have used them and the second is the following day.
Immediately after using them, your legs feel fresher, less fatigued, especially if you have completed an intense interval session. This is particularly useful if you train early in the morning. My experience after an intense morning training session is that by midday, I start to feel stiff and fatigued. I noticed using these certainly helped reduce those sensations. This is because they increase the temperature of the muscles, which promotes blood flow and consequently healing.
The big difference, I noticed, is the following day. My legs certainly felt far less tired and stiff than if I hadn’t used them, minimising delayed-onset muscle soreness (DOMS). The result was that I could maximise my next training session.
I noticed that with consistent use, my legs did start feeling noticeably less tired, and I was able to consistently train with more intensity.
Universal use
The Normatec Lower Legs has universal use and is not exclusive to cyclists and runners would also benefit from using it. Effectively, if you live an active lifestyle and find yourself “on your feet” for most of the day and end up coming home with tired legs, then this can certainly help relieve the fatigue.
Summing up
In conclusion, the Hyperice Normatec Lower Legs offer an effective solution for enhancing recovery and reducing muscle fatigue, making them a valuable investment for athletes and active individuals alike. With their targeted compression therapy, ease of use, and portability, these wraps not only alleviate discomfort but also promote better performance in subsequent training sessions.
