Trifuel takes a look at a couple new products on the market. The Skins RY400 Recovery Suit and Element Endurance Bars.

Skins RY400 Recovery Men's Long Tights

http://www.skinsusa.com/
Suggested Retail: $140 Long Tights, $120 Long Sleeve Top

The RY400 takes compression garments to another level. This is basically a full body suit. Sold separately but intended to use together, the tights and long sleeve top have been developed to apply pressure at key points across the body creating additional blood flow which in turn helps remove lactate from your system.

“SKINS engineered gradient compression applies a balanced and accurate surface pressure over specific body parts triggering an acceleration of blood flow. This increases oxygen delivery to muscles to enhance recovery. The circulation improvements also help the body to remove blood lactate and other metabolic wastes which promotes a quicker recovery.”

What makes the RY400 product different is the fit. Skins conducted specific research to create a sizing system that allows for a better fit and better results.

The “400” name derives from a scientific research project in which SKINS studied a targeted population of athletic bodies. The results of this study identified 400 different points of measurement to develop a sizing system based on Body Mass Function (BMF) that provides a more accurate fit for men and women by taking into account the body shape or ‘morphology’ of the target end user.

Here are a couple studies that cited compression garments aid in recovery if worn following periods of exercise:
The effects of compression garments on recovery of muscle performance following high-intensity sprint and plyometric exercise
http://www.jsams.org/article/S1440-2440(08)00202-8/abstract

Comparison of three types of full-body compression garments on throwing and repeat-sprint performance in cricket players
http://bjsm.bmj.com/content/41/7/409.full

I have used the tights and did feel my recovery time and soreness after a workout and race has been reduced. My girlfriend can’t believe I walk around in them, but I think she secretly likes they way they look. She basically gets to hang out with Batman for the evening.

Element Endurance Bars

http://www.elementbars.com/elementEndurance.asp

Element Bars are a cool concept in the very crowded nutritional/supplement bars market. Basically you create your own endurance bar by using their build a bar tool on the website. You can build bars to your specific dietary needs and intended use (pre-race, performance, or recovery). You start by selecting the core of your bar (crispy, chewy, oaty, etc), then you select the fruits, nuts, sweets, and boosts you want to add. Available boosts are proteins, vitamins, Omega-3, and Glucosamine/Chondroitin. As you build your bar, an interactive Nutrition Facts label updates on the page showing you all the details of the bar you are creating; calorie count, carbs/protein/fat percentages, ingredients, sodium, and more.

If you’re not into creating your own bar, they have several bars already developed for specific uses. I have tried them all and was pleasantly surprised by the taste. Some bars on the market are too thick or chewy, and quite honestly, hard to swallow. These bars taste good and are easy to eat. I wouldn’t tire of eating them regularly as a supplement to my nutrition.

Bars start at $1.99 each.