| I enjoy both running and indoor cycling, but too much of either can make my legs feel like lead the next day. After a hard bike session, even a small incline can feel like a mountain, which is of no use, especially when I'm supposed to be leading the race. So I was curious about a new pair of inflatable boots that promise to "make leaning on your legs more comfortable than ever." Could you guys really help me get a few more sprints on the bike without falling behind the next day?
Therabody specializes in massage guns; in fact, the company was originally called Theragun and quickly became synonymous with portable percussion massagers. However, his latest creation, the RecoveryAir JetBoots, is something very different. They look a bit like ski pants and use air pressure to compress your legs and deliver a massage that Therabody says stimulates circulation and lymphatic drainage, relieves muscle fatigue, and alleviates the dreaded DOMS (Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness). ) that affects runners. like cyclists.
They cost $899/£799 (around AU$1,250) direct from Therabody, which is undoubtedly expensive, and about the same as the higher-end Garmin Fenix 7 Sapphire Solar. However, if you're a dedicated athlete, it's potentially great if they can take out DOMS and help you get back in the game sooner.
dress and footwear
To put the JetBoots to the test, I hit the gym for an on-demand cycling class that never fails to make my legs feel like lead the next day: Les Mills The Trip 15. Unlike most cycling classes indoors, with one or more instructors in front of you, The Trip takes you through a virtual landscape that looks like something out of Tron. You still have an instructor advising you when to increase resistance, when to stand, and when to run, but you can focus on the CG route.
Ride 15 starts out easy enough, but about two-thirds of the way through it's presented with a series of 23 jumps, with instructor Khiran encouraging you to build up a little resistance with each one. The video ends with a pretty sneaky standing sprint that will have your quads begging for mercy. I learned the hard way that picking the day before a club race is not ideal.
After a good walk, a half hour walk home, a shower and clean clothes, it was time for the boots. At first, I was worried about the relatively short power cord, but I needn't have worried; Although you can use them plugged in, the boots have a rechargeable lithium-ion battery in the sole of each foot, so you can use them without cables.
They come in three sizes, and tall people needn't worry; I'm 5'10" and the boots were long enough to cover me from foot to hip. A chunky zipper down the front of each makes them easy to get on and off, and their medical-grade fabric is wipeable. if you sweat on a hot day.
Sitting on the couch, I used the control panel on each thigh to start the massage. Feeling the pressure start at the toe box as the overlapping air pockets inside each boot began to bulge, I couldn't help but be reminded of the Flowtron boots I had to wear once after a while, which worked on the same principle.
However, the JetBoots are much more attractive; not only do they look better, but they are also much quieter. The model I tested is completely self-contained, with the pumps mounted to the bottom of each foot, although there is also a more affordable model that retails for $699 / £599 / AU$799 and has an external pump. The JetBoots are also smart, automatically adjusting inflation based on your leg size so everyone feels the same massage intensity.
Dr. Jason Wersland, founder of Therabody, recommends taking the time to do a few mindfulness sessions, and the swollen pockets buzz gets pretty hypnotic after a while. In fact, it can be useful if they have a timer to turn them off after a certain period in case you fall asleep.
That, plus some meditation tools, could be a feature coming with the next Therabody app, which is expected to launch in the next few months.
The verdict
The feel of the massage itself was very pleasant, and I found the mid-level pressure settings to be particularly soothing. The real test, however, was how my legs felt the next day.
Unfortunately, the feeling was much the same as usual. They were definitely heavy, as expected from past experience, and I couldn't feel a noticeable difference from previous times where I just stretched and then went about my normal day. However, it would not be fair to draw a conclusion from a single experiment.
The following week was particularly difficult with many running clocks to test, and I had some nice time after each session relaxing in the Jetboots. The experience was certainly reassuring and something to look forward to, but it's hard to say if it had much of an impact on DOMS throughout the week. The difference was certainly not obvious.
Maybe if I were training for a marathon or some athletic activity I could get more benefit from the JetBoots, but personally I would have a hard time justifying the cost when a good massage gun, stretches and gentle post-workout mobility exercises are effective on their own.