Review: Recovery made to fit with Endurance Recovery Boots

With the deluge of expensive overseas-based recovery boots on the market, it was great to be working with Endurance recovery boots who are a local Aussie born and bred organization focused on providing a high-quality local product.

Endurance Recoveryboots is endorsed by greats such Harry Summers (Australian Commonwealth games, Multiple City to Surf winner) Remy Siemsen (Sydney FC Striker and Australian U/20 team member) and Dean Cane (2020 Australian Cross Champion.) Now David Deakin, Age group hack, was attempting to join this high-quality stable of athletes to see if it had any benefits to those who win stuff by being slightly less rubbish than those around them.

I’ve been a big fan of recovery boots for years, getting me through multiple Ironman’s and running races and I’ve used several top-end brands and medical compression to stave off injury and aid recovery, so I can vouch for the science. So what makes these recovery boots different?

Price

Investment in recovery boots is no small task, commonly costing over $2500 it’s often only considered by ultra cashed-up triathletes. But retailing at $1900 delivered, recovery boots are at the bottom end of the price bracket. With Normatec boots retailing at $2,200 you are essentially getting similar capabilities for $300 cheaper and supporting local Australian businesses which is always a plus. The only downside I find is the lack of financing options available, making the procurement a bit of a sting and visible to the other half.

Travel factor

The first thing you will notice out of the box is the fact that the compression unit is stand-alone. Meaning, once charged the compression boots are 100% portable. This is a fantastic feature, as anyone who has used these devices before, you need to often get into strange places to recover, be it at a race, on the couch or even outside, so being not tethered to power is great.

The size is also a factor. I’ve often shied away from taking recovery boots on overseas or domestic races as they are often briefcase-size or very heavy. Weighing in at under a kilo and not much bigger than a laptop bag, this is no longer a problem.

Compression features

With 6 chambers across 4 programs, compression is intensive and can target specific areas. The Normatec pulse on the other hand has 5 chambers and 2 programmes focused on massage cycles and sequential pressure release. Now in practical terms, most athletes will simply put it on sequential patenting to help flush the legs, but having the extra chamber is nice and having the choice is fantastic.

The pressure is another stand out feature, at 240 mmHg (vs 110 mmHg) of the Normatec this thing can squeeze. I gave the maximum pressure a go and it’s intense and substantially increased blood flow. But it’s not something you would do every day for recovery.

The boots also have an exclude feature. You can target a specific chamber to not turn on. I have been nursing a calf injury for a few months, so having the ability to turn this off on a sensitive area is fantastic.

Expandability

The one thing Normatec has over these recovery boots, and most others in the market, is the sheer array of other compression capabilities they have, across arms, chest, hips etc. Endurance recovery boots are focused purely on leg compression, so if you feel that you need to give compression to any other part of the body, then look to Normatec.

Overall

Overall Endurance recovery boots are an outstanding investment if you take your recovery seriously. The portability of the unit is its stand out feature overcoming the lack of convenience that plagues these devices normally. High pressure and customisable settings should see them being able to facilitate most needs now and into the future. A quality Australian buy.