Customer Reviews

CW-X Men's Insulator Stabilyx Running Tights

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I bought a pair of Insulator Stabilyx running pants for my training during the winter. Up here in Ontario, temperatures easily go down to -5 Celsius in October/November. So far, the Insulator windshield that is woven into the upper part of the running pants has proven to be a godsend for running in these temperatures. However, I feel that they might not be sufficient to keep your legs warm when temperatures drop even further in January/February.

The CW-X Stabilyx pants are very comfortable, even though the fit could be a bit better. As a 82kg, 186cm male I fall into a "grey zone" between the M and L sizes. I went with an "L", but they are just a little bit too long for my legs (I have shorter legs but a longer upper body) so I have to readjust frequently on long runs - especially in the knee region. Out of curiosity, I tried a pair in size M in a local store and they were way too small. This is rather unfortunate, as the pants are designed to sit tightly in space, such that your knee cap is in the middle of the diamond shaped crossing of exo-skeleton bands woven into the fabric. When they are a bit off, pressure is applied to ligaments and muscles they are not supposed to and you will feel this after a couple of kilometers.

The main reasons I went with the CW-X brand were a) compression technology and b) stabilizing exoskeleton to help with my knee problems. Compression works very well and as advertised, in comparison to regular running pants my leg feel a lot "fresher" after longer runs and the soreness I would experience a day after has gone away. Unfortunately, I found the exo-skeleton support, especially support for the iliotibial band and calfs less effective than with the (less expensive) Performx model of the same brand.

Overall though great running pants and well worth the money. They are my third popular running tights in my closet, after the CW-X Insulator Performx (first place) and Sugoi Piston 200 (second place).

I bought one pair of these and I plan on buying at least one more for the winter months. These keep the wind out and are surprisingly warm. I love the fast feel they give me when I go out for a run. The support around the knees are great. I don't have any special problems around my knees right now, but I appreciate how they feel around the back of my knee when I run. I plan to get a similar pair for my wife for snowshoeing to keep her warm. Just great!

I have used the same pair of tights for over 2 yrs now and they are still going strong. I ran with them as low as -7 in Alaska and continue running with them in NC until it gets over 55 after that I find they are a little to warm for me. They work great in supporting your calfs and knees. I run almost every other day and I am miserable with out these. I have messed up and put them in the dryer a few times and they came out fine so don't worry about that but, I do air dry them. I don't have a problem with them falling down while I run, although I have some buddies with bellies that complain about them falling down so be aware if your still packing the cushion you might not like these. Other than that great they last a long time and have a great range to run in. I wish I could afford more!

There are very few products that perform as advertised and I'm happy to say these do. I was amazed how much effort my legs need to exert. I've run in 25 degree weather and been comfortable (as long as you don' stand around in windy areas afterward)

I purchased these for my husband for our anniversary. I knew nothing about the product and researched it on various web sites. He was very pleased with them, in fact had been looking at them in Runner's World. He is about 5'4" tall. 130 lbs. Short legs long torso. The XSm is good - but just barely. He wore them to run in on Sunday. It was 40ish outside. He was glad he layered them, as the pants aren't as comfortable in cold weather as advertised. He did find they helped with his hip issues. Good stability.

The only detriment is that they run a little long. I'm 5'11 and they fit me perfectly, but if you're any shorter you'll have trouble getting them to line up with your knees. You can probably make it work if you pull them up a little higher, but if you're like 5'4 I can pretty much guarantee that these will not line up for you at all.

Other than that, these tights are great. I actually wear them when I'm out running while delivering papers (may as well get payed for exercising!) and they're fantastic for cold winter mornings. They give great support and amazing flexibility. I've had them for about six weeks, wearing them every day for 3+ hours and they show no signs of wear thus far.

The tights fit perfectly. Great for cold runs but can be too warm if over 50 degrees. The stability control in the knees is a nice added feature and appears to provide just enough support while allow good freedom of movement.

Stats-- 5'7" - 5'8", 30-inch waist, 30-inch inseam, 166 pounds. I fell in the "Gray" area on the fitting chart between small and medium. I got the Medium size and they fit great. They stay put while running and feel "springy". I had been running in Saucony tights rated to 35-40, but temps kept getting lower and I needed something a little warmer. I especially like the no zipper at the ankle feature unlike a lot of running tights. Could've been mental, but I banged out a 10 mile test run in them and bested my 10 mile time by 2 minutes on a route with killer hills. I definitely found my winter running tights in these and now I'm looking at other CW-X products to try out for all seasons.

I love these running tights. They have excellent quality and I don't feel like they are going to rip when i'm wearing them. I've taken a few cold runs with them now and they have always kept me warm from 30 minutes to 2 hours so far. I am 6'6" 240 lb and even though there is no size guide for someone that big I decided to get the XL version and boy did it pay off. They are tight, they don't slip just how you want compression tights to be. The stabilyx knee support is also a plus. They fit me well at 6'6" any taller and they might be too short. Don't shy away if you are a few pounds over the "recommended" these fit perfectly and for the price cut on XL they felt like a steal.

Update: Ran in 14 degrees and snowing over this past weekend. I was never cold and completely comfortable. With my under armour mock on I actually started to get sweaty.

I bought the insulated pair so that when it is colder, I'd be a little warmer. They are definitely warm enough that I can't wear them inside for long. I also have a pair of the 3/4 length non-insulator version that works well, but legs can get a little cold when it's at freezing or below out. In addition, I have a pair of the Pro. The Pro I tend to have to wear a pair of tights underneath for a little extra warmth, or wear another layer on the outside when it gets down to the 20s. I don't know how these would do in low teens or single digits yet, but I have to assume better than the non-insulated Pro that I have.

I love CW-X branded gear as it works well and holds up well (have had the Pro pair for almost 3 years now and still like new).