The Hyperboots, a collaboration between recovery technology specialist Hyperice and Nike, promise to help athletes improve warm-ups, enhance recovery and generally aid in training. The futuristic-looking compression boots were introduced at CES in January and have been endorsed by high-profile athletes such as Olympic sprinter Sha'Carri Richardson and Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels.
While I'm not a big-time athlete by any means -- I definitely peaked in high school -- I run frequently. I ran my first marathon last year and am currently training for my next one, running anywhere between 30 and 40 miles per week. I was really curious to see if these could benefit an amateur like me.
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Warming up with compression and heat
I'm not a fan of warming up, and I'm a bit of a slacker when it comes to getting my body ready to run. I usually just run the first three-quarters of a mile slower or occasionally perform dynamic stretching if I feel particularly sore.
But to warm up with the Hyperboots, you put them on, secure the Velcro straps, and turn them on. Because they're worn like regular shoes, they allow for movement. However, for testing, I just sat back and let them get to work.
The Hyperboots use a combination of heat and compression, controlled by buttons on the side of each boot, with three intensity levels. The Hyperice mobile app allows for more precise control over the settings and provides information on battery life and session times.
According to Hyperice, the heat and compression work together to increase blood flow, relax muscles and prime tendons for activity. The boots integrate heating elements and air bladders for compression into a surprisingly small package, unlike bulkier compression products like the Hyperice Normatec leg sleeves.
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The boots have a heat range of 111 to 125 degrees Fahrenheit and a compression range of 50 to 210 millimeters of mercury (mmHg). While 210 mmHg converts to 4 pounds per square inch, the mmHg measurement is standard for wearable compression devices.
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