10 Best Men’s Compression Shirts

Compression shirts are primarily designed as a training aid. They are purposefully very tight on the skin. It is achieved with the use of spandex fibers. It makes it very uncomfortable for your muscles when you are working out. The idea is that the tightness will result in a higher rate of blood circulation, which will fast track oxygen and nutrients to the muscles. The tightness is also meant to keep the muscle tight and engaged while you are exercising.

A compression shirt for men provides a level of therapeutic compression that gives you compression without restricting your range of motion. Compression shirts are about 15 percent smaller than a plain t-shirt or tank top. They are believed to make your exercise performance more efficient by limiting any extraneous movement. As an example, when you are doing the bench press, the compression shirt keeps your key training muscles - the pectorals, triceps and front deltoids - tight and engaged, leading to better performance. Many powerlifters wear men's compression shirts to get their bench totals as high as possible.

There have been many claims made regarding the benefits of compression shirts, the majority of them coming from the people who make the compression clothing. The main benefits that are promoted are as follows: improved blood circulation, decreased post-workout soreness, increased endurance, injury prevention. Many people like to wear compression shirts because they like the Superhero look that it produces in terms of its tightness. Guys who have some muscle to show off may enjoy that bulging muscle look. Because compression shirts are in fashion right now, they may also enjoy the style aspect of the garment. Then, of course, there is a positive placebo effect of wearing compression clothing.

Many people believe that compression shirts only work on the top 3 inches of the human body - the brain. Having spent a sizable amount of money on a garment designed to improve performance and feeling comfortable - if slightly tight - while wearing the clothing, many people will perform better because they are convinced that they should do so.

While it is true that there is a positive placebo effect when it comes to compression shirts, that is not to say that there no real benefits to be derived from wearing them. However, the reality is that the substantial scientific evidence behind the use of compression shirts as a training aid is limited. Much of that evidence is specific to compression clothing for other areas of the body (most notably the legs), but we can extrapolate the findings to cover compression shirts.

In 2016, a study was conducted that involved long-distance runners and the ability of compression shorts to improve post-run recovery. It was seen that the wearing of compression shorts markedly improved recovery time and post-run muscle soreness. It was suggested that this was primarily due to the increased flow of oxygen and nutrients to the target muscles that resulted from the increased compression. The speeding up of the blood circulation process will also enhance the removal of lactic acid from the working muscle, which is another factor that leads to improved recovery and reduced post-exercise muscle soreness.

As already mentioned, wearing compression clothing may also help to keep your muscles on point while you are working out. There will be a marked decrease in muscle vibration as a result of the tightness of the garment. This especially comes into play when you are performing more complex exercises, such as the bench press, squat or deadlift. While there is, no doubt, a placebo effect where - you feel more in control because you are wearing the compression shirt - the tightness on the muscle will also reduce extraneous movement, making you a more efficient athlete.

Compression shirts may feel quite uncomfortable as a result of their tightness. The tightness can also produce sweat more readily. Fortunately, many compression shirts include advanced moisture-wicking properties that will help to remove sweat from your skin quickly. It will also keep you comfortable during and after your workout. It will both allow you to exercise more efficiently and to recover faster.

On the other hand, some compression shirt manufacturers include thermal technology to help to keep you want during the workout. It helps to maintain consistent body temperature during warm-ups, training, and cool down. Many compression shirts also include a level of UV protection to keep you safe when you are training out under the sunlight.

There have been many claims that compression shirts, along with other compression garments, are effective weight loss aids. So, do these claims stack up? The genesis of the compression to lose weight belief goes back to those neoprene bands that people have been wearing around their waists for decades. It was claimed that the bands would melt away the fat that lies beneath them as a result of the increased core body temperature and leads to increased sweating. It was also believed that a vibrating movement of the band would also lead to fat loss because it breaks up the cellulite sufficiently to make the skin smoother.

It is true that compression clothing, including compression shirts, will make you sweat more (which is why you should buy a shirt with built-in moisture-wicking properties), and you will lose water weight as a result. But there is a big difference between water weight and fat loss. Drink a liter of water, and you will have put that weight straight back on!

Some types of compression garments will make you look slimmer. That is because their tightness acts much like a girdle to keep the fatty areas tightly compressed. Also, medical-grade compression garments are often used following weight loss surgery. But this is not to enhance the weight loss process but, instead, to reduce post-surgery pain and speed up the healing process.

The answer, then, is that compressions garments will not help you to lose weight. Using compression clothing for that purpose can be dangerous. Excess tightness around the core can cause the muscle in that area to relax, leading to loss of muscle tone. They can also lead to overheating, which may result in dizziness. The excess loss of water through increased sweating may also lead to dehydration.

There is a range of materials that compression shirts may be made for. The construction material will have a lot to do with the durability, breathability, and fit. Here are the main ones and what to consider with each.

Polyester is the most common choice for men's compression shirts. While not the most durable of materials, polyester is the right choice if you are going to be training outdoors. It is water-resistant, and it is more resistant to UV radiation than any other material that is used for compression shirt construction. With this material, you do not have to worry about the material fading in the sun or the fibers breaking down.

Nylon can also be seen as a material of choice. Nylon is quite a common material in compression shirt construction. It usually has a blend ratio of 2 to 1 with lycra, with which it is usually paired. After neoprene, nylon is the most durable fiber used in compression short construction. It is also the most water-resistant natural fiber that you will come across. And, because it is a smooth fiber, nylon will not irritate those who have a skin condition.

Lycra is also known as spandex. You will find it, to a lesser or greater degree, in virtually every men's compression shirt on the market. The higher the lycra content, the better. Its great benefit is that it provides a great deal of flexibility while still retaining its shape. It is, therefore, the spandex that allows for the form-hugging fit of compression shorts. It will enable them to perform without any restriction of movement.

Of all of the materials in this list, neoprene is the least breathable. Neoprene is resistant to water and sunlight so it will nor deteriorate from extended outdoor use. It is also thermal and heat resistant. While being thick, it is also lightweight, which makes it a popular choice for protective sports gear. Neoprene is technically a rubber and is far more durable than most other compression shirt construction materials. It is not as breathable as other materials, however.

You should also consider the way your shirt fits you and how comfortable it is. If you never tried a compression shirt on, the chances are that you will think that the shirt is small, or too tight. But this is the sole purpose of the shirt - it has to be slightly closer than what you are comfy with to work. And when you are used to the tightness, you will start craving it, thanks to the benefits they provide us with.

But you must make sure that the shirt you bought is not too small. If it digs into your skin too much, or if it restricts your movement, you need a bigger size. If it’s too loose and feels like a regular shirt does, then you need to go down a size. Compression shirts for men are supposed to be 15% smaller than regular shirts are! Also, make sure that no parts are rubbing and pinching your skin to enjoy the fit of your shirts. Curved seams and even prickly patterns can be a problem and a distraction from the task at hand.

Your shirt should do much more than compress you and make you look good. And speaking of compression, you must first recognize the Level of Compression your shirt has. Look for the compression level of the shirt. Graduated compression means that the level changes in different parts of the garment, which is believed to increase the effectiveness of the compression. Compression levels of between 20-30 mmHg are the best. Many compression shirts have panels embedded in them which have been placed in specific areas, such as over the abs or pectoral muscles.

You should look for compression shirts that have inbuilt moisture wicking and sweat removal properties. Now, how does this correctly work? First, let’s think about how much an average Joe sweats. The maximum amount a person can produce over an hour is one full gallon. Now imagine that gallon soaked up in your shirt. Not a comforting thought, right? Your shirt has a magical blend of materials that keep you safe from all of this sweat and moisture. Cotton does not do this well and keeps the sweat stuck to your body.
On the other hand, polyester, nylon, and lycra blends pull away from the moisture from your body through something known as capillary action. Small conduits that look similar to the ones found in our own body pull sweat away from your body and onto the surface of the shirt, allowing the moisture to evaporate on the surface of the shirt, instead of on your skin. It also makes it less possible for odors to develop, so invest in a good moisture-wicking compression shirt.

Your compression shirt needs to allow your skin to breathe properly and cool down. You might think that this is impossible for a shirt that will sit so tight against your skin, which is true if the shirt does not have the right blend of materials to help your body breathe. A pure polyester shirt, without any panels that help air circulate, will feel suffocating and uncomfortable.

On the other hand, the shirts we have mentioned here do allow your skin to function normally while wicking sweat and moisture away from you to keep you both cool and dry. It’s vital that you stay somewhat cool while you exercise since a particularly strenuous session can raise your body temp significantly, which can be dangerous if you have no way to cool yourself down. By inserting mesh panels, ventilation areas, and moisture-wicking fabrics, shirt manufacturers make sure that you remain cool and dry and allow fresh, cool air to go underneath your shirt and refresh your skin.