The Best Compression Boots for Athletes 2024
Boost muscle recovery to your thighs, hamstrings, knees, calves, and feet.
There’s a good chance that when you saw compression boots for the first time you thought to yourself: What in the world are those?
But after gaining an understanding of how compression therapy works and noticing your favorite athletes using them, those thoughts might have turned to: Should I try these out for myself?
If you’re a committed athlete that doesn’t like to be bogged down with muscle pain, DOMS, and stiff joints the short answer is absolutely.
By using targeted air pressure to improve circulation, compression therapy boosts your body’s natural recovery process, removing metabolic waste and replenishing your muscles with nutrient-rich blood.
Athletes that incorporate compression therapy into their recovery routines feel fresher from one workout or competition to the next, while also noticing a bump in overall endurance and performance.
Here, we’ve put together a list of the best compression boots for athletes in 2024.
What Type of Athlete Should Use Compression Boots?
If you follow any of your favorite professional athletes on social media, there’s a good chance you’ve seen them with these inflatable devices around their legs or arms at some point.
But these pneumatic compression devices aren’t just for professional athletes.
Nowadays, athletes and active individuals of any stripe and sport can benefit from incorporating compression therapy into their muscle recovery routines.
Compression boots increase blood flow in your legs to accelerate the regenerative process of your muscles, which delivers oxygen and nutrients while removing metabolic waste.
In other words, compression boots give you fresher legs faster from one workout to the next.
It’s hard to think of an athlete that wouldn’t benefit from using compression boots, whether a soccer player logging miles all around the field or a basketball player hustling up and down the court.
Many athletes use compression boots to help them stay on track with personal fitness goals, whether this is training for a marathon, crushing leg day at the gym, or any other personal best you’re chasing.
Note: Featured products are independently selected and reviewed by Compression Athlete. If you purchase through our links, we may earn commission.
1. Hyperice Normatec 3 Legs
The Hyperice Normatec 3 Legs feature a dynamic and intuitive design with patented precision Pulse technology.
These compression boots provide 7 levels of compression and ZoneBoost technology to replicate your natural muscle pumps and one-way leg valves.
Hyperice Normatec 3 Legs Includes:
Normatec 3 control unit device
2 leg attachments
Power supply (connect and charge)
Hose (connect unit to attachments)
1-year warranty
Shop at Hyperice: Hyperice Normatec 3 Legs
Available on Amazon: Hyperice Normatec 3 Legs
Hyperice’s Normatec 3 Legs utilize premium materials, overlapping zones for gapless compression, and 3 hours of battery life.
These compression boots have an easy-to-use interface, Bluetooth connected Hyperice App, are TSA approved, and FSA/HAS eligible.
2. Therabody RecoveryAir PRO
The Therabody RecoveryAir PRO features a fully customizable system with freestyle PRO mode and FastFlush technology for more cycles per session.
These compression boots utilize TruGrade technology for a safe, precise, and effective application of pressure.
Therabody RecoveryAir PRO Includes:
RecoveryAir PRO pump
2 compression boots
Blocker plug (for single garment use)
DC power adapter
Pump pouch
Boots pouch
2-year limited warranty
Shop at Therabody: Therabody RecoveryAir PRO
Therabody’s RecoveryAir PRO provide 4 preset programs, 4 inflation cycles, and a Bluetooth connected Therabody App.
These compression boots have an easy-to-clean hygienic design, 4-hour battery life, 60-day at-home trial, and are available in 3 sizes.
3. Therabody RecoveryAir JetBoots
The Therabody RecoveryAir JetBoots offer a fully wireless design with integrated internal pumps and convenient one-touch control panel (no wires or tubes!).
These compression boots feature 4 time intervals, 4 pressure settings, and a Bluetooth connected Therabody App.
Therabody RecoveryAir JetBoots Include:
2 compression boots with integrated pumps
36W charger - jack port
Splitter charging cord
Boots pouch
1-year limited warranty
Shop at Therabody: Therabody RecoveryAir JetBoots
Available on Amazon: Therabody RecoveryAir JetBoots
Therabody’s RecoveryAir JetBoots utilize TruGrade technology for safe and precise pressure and FastFlush technology for more cycles per session.
These compression boots have an easy-to-clean hygienic design, 4-hour battery life, 60-day at-home trial, and are available in 3 sizes.
4. Rapid Reboot Regen Compression Recovery Boots
The Rapid Reboot Regen Compression Recovery Boots feature 4 dynamic massage modes and the first of its kind Rapid Deflate.
These compression boots have a compact 4 chamber design with integrated hoses, durable rip-stop fabric, and a 3-pocket foot construction.
Rapid Reboot Regen Compression Boots Include:
REGEN control unit
2 boot attachments
Travel case
Power adapter
2-year warranty
Shop at Rapid Reboot: Rapid Reboot Regen Compression Recovery Boots
Rapid Reboot’s Regen Compression Recovery Boots offer pressure control with 20 compression levels, chamber targeting, and custom session times.
These compression boots have a 3-hour battery life, a Rapid Reboot app, and are available in 5 sizes for the perfect fit.
5. Rapid Reboot Classic Compression Recovery Boots
The Rapid Reboot Classic Compression Recovery Boots feature 10 pressure levels, 3 time settings, and a durable rip-stop fabric.
These compression boots are available in 5 different sizes for a perfect fit.
Rapid Reboot Classic Compression Boots Include:
CLASSIC control unit
2 boot attachments
2-year warranty
Available on Amazon: Rapid Reboot Classic Compression Recovery Boots
Rapid Reboot’s Classic Compression Recovery Boots utilize a 4-chamber design with a 3-pocket foot construction.
These compression boots have integrated hoses, position isolation ability, and a convenient quiet session.
How Does Compression Therapy Work for Athletes?
After physical activity, whether training or competition, place the sleeve or attachment of your compression therapy device on its designated spot, typically the legs, hips, or arms.
Once secure and the device is turned on, you’ll begin to feel pressure in the applied area as the sleeve or attachment is inflated with air.
The dynamic air pressure will feel similar to having your blood pressure taken by an automatic machine. However, compression therapy devices also incorporate massaging qualities, as well, for muscle relaxation.
Most compression therapy devices feature customizable settings that adjust to your body and allow you to choose from various pressure levels, targets, and durations.
For example, you can increase or decrease the intensity of the treatment, as well as the hold time of the treatment (how long the sleeves or attachments stay inflated), and the release time of the treatment (how long between treatment cycles).
While the device is running, you’ll feel the air pressure compressing and decompressing in a cycle to push out waste and other fluid build-up from the compressed area and allow nutrient rich blood to flow in.
You may also notice a gradient in pressure levels throughout the sleeve, with a higher pressure at the point farthest away from your heart then decreasing in pressure as you work your way up the sleeve toward your heart.
This gradient design, high to low pressure, promotes circulation and pushes blood back to the heart.
Once finished, you should feel at least slightly refreshed in the applied area almost immediately. But the real benefits will be more noticeable in the days after because of what you don’t feel.
In other words, that dreaded muscle pain and stiffness that sets in a day or two after pushing your body won’t be as bad and won’t stick around for as long.
Not only does compression therapy help alleviate the muscle soreness from your workout but it better prepares you for your next one faster and will allow you to perform at a higher level.
What Are the Benefits of Compression Therapy for Athletes?
Simple to use and easy to customize, compression therapy is a great muscle recovery tool that any athlete can incorporate into their routine.
One aspect that’s so great about compression therapy is that users can begin to feel certain benefits almost immediately while enjoying longer-term benefits, as well.
The key benefit from which all other compression therapy benefits derive is the boost provided to circulation and blood flow.
This increase in circulation speeds up cellular repair by flushing out lactic acid and metabolic waste (responsible for making your muscles sore), through your body’s natural lymphatic system.
Meanwhile, more oxygen and nutrient-rich blood is ushered into your limbs to reduce muscle pain, soreness, swelling, and inflammation.
As a result of this boost, athletes enjoy faster muscle recovery times from one workout or competition to the next, allowing for greater consistency and development.
Additionally, with a reduction in muscle soreness and swelling, athletes will notice an improvement to their overall endurance and performance, as compression therapy will keep your muscles and limbs feeling fresh and flexible.
And, of course, limber muscles that offer you a full range of motion, are less likely to strain or experience injury.
So, while the benefits of compression therapy for athletes are very clear, remember that pneumatic compression isn’t strictly reserved for athletes.
Any individual can benefit from incorporating compression therapy into their daily routine.
Learn everything you need to know about compression therapy in our complete guide.
