Before we take a deeper look into the Opedix S1 tights I’d like to say few words about the company who sent me this product. Opedix Labs is a company that designs and manufactures performance-based ski and running tights. The S1 tights are designed to minimize load on an athlete knee, aligning the joint better and helping it work more efficiently, essentially reducing wear and tear and the accompanying side effects that come with it. Their running tights, posture shirts and ski/snowboard tights are proven, through scientific studies, to improve joint alignment in the knees and shoulders.

Opedix tights retail for 190 dollars and their compression should reduce muscle fatigue to allow for longer ski days..

Opedix S1 ski & board tights in review

It took me a while before I got a change to review Opedix S1 ski & board tights because I got an infection in my ankle while training for upcoming half-marathon. After resting two weeks my ankle felt better and I was ready to rock. So, few days ago I went skiing and running with Opedix tights. Although Opedix S1 ski & board tights are not optimized for running I also wanted to check how it’d feel with these tights.

I opened the “bazooka” package that my son so loved and found a smaller “cartridge” from inside. Again inside this cartridge I found the Opedix S1 tights. I carefully took them out of the cartridge but I managed to rip them a bit by accidentally pulling them against the sharp edge of the silver colored cartridge. Hopefully the damage is not that big, most probably it won’t matter at all.

After unboxing the Opedix S1 ski & board tights I checked all the papers that came with the product. I found details of the product, instructions and some marketing material. It makes sense to read those few lines manufacturer has written because there are always things you might not know about the product. For example I didn’t know that the easiest way to put on the tights is when sitting. They are so tight that putting them on like jeans won’t happen easily.

Before wearing my Opedix S1 ski & board tights I wanted to “inspect” them a little bit. I found out that the sewing is done well. There are no sewing mistakes, no holes or anything that would indicate low quality. I was pretty happy with what I saw, except of one issue. I put my hand inside one leg of the tights, and realized that the sewing ripped off a little bit. The damage is minor but it might expand one day, but this can be only be seen after a longer test.

It was late night when I unboxed the Opedix tight package so I did my test in the next morning. I woke up early, enjoyed a quick breakfast and hit the road. I drove to my local hill in order to test my Opedix S1 ski & board tights on slopes. It was a warm morning (only -3 centigrade), so I wore the tights as the only layer under my ski pants.

I sat down and took some time to figure out how to put on the Opedix tights. As the name says, they are a bit tight, so that’s not a super quick process. Although I am used to putting on tights for  running I wanted to wear Opedix tights right because the knee support system must be located in the right place – around persons knee. After a minute I had them on and they felt good.

Opedix S1 ski & board tights feel really good when skiing

Wearing Opedix S1 ski & board tights my first thought was “man, these tights feel very good!” Yep, they’re tight, but alsoflexible. The knee support system is exactly around my knee, and I can easily go up and down without feeling pressure.

Opedix S1 tights felt also good on slopes. I went skiing couple of hours, and during that time I had no problems with the tights. They felt really good under my ski pants. It never felt like my tights would “drop down”. They kept their position all the time, even though I went from backcountry skiing to cliff dropping and jumps, as well as fast giant slalom type skiing on slopes.

After couple of hours of skiing I had a little coffee break. While drinking my coffee I realized that I didn’t even remember I was wearing the tights. Opedix tights are tight around knees because of the knee support system, but that tightness is not disturbing at all.

As an experienced skier I can say I am very satisfied with my Opedix S1 ski & board tights. They are great for skiing.

Also running with Opedix S1 tights feels good

I am currently training for upcoming half-marathon races here in Finland. I usually run one long and 2-3 short runs in a week and on that day I was about to run my long run. Even though Opedix S1 ski & board tights are not optimized for running, I wanted to find out how it feels running with these tights. So, in the end of the day I went running in the nearby forest wearing my Opedix tights.

Just like when skiing, you don’t really notice that you’re wearing Opedix tights. They feel very good and natural, even though I was a bit cold since in the end of the day the temperature went down to -12 centigrade. In summertime this problem naturally won’t exist.

Opedix S1 ski & board tights minimize load on an athlete knee, aligning the joint better and helping it work more efficiently, essentially reducing wear and tear and the accompanying side effects that come with it. It is difficult to notice this feature in one day, so I guess I will see the effect of Opedix S1 tights during the next few months. Anyhow, I am really satisfied with my Opedix tights and I believe that the knee support system will bring benefits in the long run.

The Opedix webpage has more information & pricing of these tights.

Tall T’s

So-called Tall T’s are all the rage in the new school scene at the moment. I guess someone is always taking things a bit too far…

Tight pants and skiing?

On the contrary, snowboarders and now some skiers too are starting to wear the tight rocker pants on the slopes. Functional? Anyway, to me those look quite a lot the same as the popular stretch(!) pants in the late 70′s and early 80′s…not that there is nothing wrong with that, in the end? Check out the clip anyway, the skiing is pretty damn good/personal no matter if you like the clothing style or not!

Neon, wild prints and one pieces

On the more mainstream side of things, neon and wild prints have been making a comeback for a few years. Anyone remember the eighties?

Source: shop.surftheearthsnowboards.com

Talking about the eighties and neon…did I mention the one-pieces already? Oakley has several such outfits; here is an example:

Source: snowhugger.net

Techical gear getting a bit too technical perhaps?

All kind of gadgets sewed into the clothes seem to be another rage for the ski clothing industry – there’s heaters, i-pod pockets, headphones, reccos etc. Here is a couple of pretty interesting concepts.

1. W-X Insulator Stabilyx tights—high-tech long johns with elasticized straps to support muscles. Well, those seems like a normal technical-material long johns to me. I just wonder that if you need special underwear to support muscles, maybe it is a time to hit a gym instead?

Source: thegearjunkie.com

2. Scullcandy Scullcrasher beanie, featuring e.g.

•    Skullcandy SkullCrushers Amplified Dual Speaker Bass System Adjustable on Cord
•    Compatible with any iPod®, MD, CD or Tape Player
•    Flexible Padding
•    Soft Fleece-Lined Headband / Ear Pad
•    Mesh Top Keeps You Warm and Dry

Well, that is a pretty cool product actually. I am just one of those old school guys that like to hear the sound of snow, edges, other skiers etc. around and don’t like to mess my skiing/riding with any music whatsover.

Source: snowboards-for-sale.com

That said, I still think the following helmet from Giro is even cooler and offers more functionality (and protection too, of course). What I wonder here is that does anyone produce blue-tooth equipped walkie-talkies? I mean walkie-talkies are much more in use in the backcountry than cell phones: you can communicate with your ski peers, give guidance on lines, and if you are filming/shooting they are pretty much essential. Currently every manufacturer seem to think of the masses with their gadget-minded ski gear/wear but it seems to me that few have actually listened what the skiers/riders actually do on the mountain? In my opinion integrated/blue-tooth based walkie-talkie solutions on ski gear and clothes would be quite functional for your average off-piste/backcountry skier.

Source: buckmans.com

Someone always has to be the weirdest guy/girl!

At last, this is a few years old. But I still wonder what the hell the designer had in mind?

Source: besportier.com

It is important to wear good clothes when you go skiing. Good clothing helps you to stay warm and dry, and gives you space to move your hands and legs. Today there are very many different brands and choices for skiing wear, and naturally there are many levels of prices as well. Before selecting the brand, such as North Face, Marmott, Mammut (in the picture above), Spyder and such, consider the following few advices.

Important Elements of Good Skiing Clothes

Please, notice that this article is about grown-up ski wears and does not provide information on children ski wearing.

Now, question is “overall or pants and a jacket? Although some people are still into overalls, I strongly recommend purchasing pants and a jacket. Overalls are difficult to use, but naturally they protect your back from snow. If you go monoskiing, the trend might be more to overalls.

When you go shopping your skiing clothes, keep those things above in your mind. Ask store staff to help you and ask as many questions as you feel like. Skiing clothes are usually worth of 300-600 euros in Europe, so you might want to be sure what you are going to purchase. Spend time in order to find the right clothes for you. You can estimate that you will use those clothes during the next 3-5 years.