AI Running Excellence: Achieve Race Preparation with RunBox [4858]

The first time I heard about Hanjiang was after the Chongqing Marathon. It was said that every participant's race pack included a pair of Hanjiang running socks, and they were knee-high. The event was very considerate, and Hanjiang gained some popularity. Later, I learned that Hanjiang is a domestic company specializing in sports socks, integrating production and R&D. Their products are detailed and cover activities like hiking, running, soccer, basketball, golf, mountaineering, and cycling. If you don't run or are new to running, you might not understand the importance of running socks. Are regular socks not suitable for running? As someone who has gone from a novice to knowing a thing or two, I can solemnly tell you that if you don't believe in specialized running socks, you'll have to endure the pain of blisters and even bleeding. Good running socks should have features like compression, durability, and quick-drying. Some have extra cushioning on the soles and even some shock absorption. Compression sleeves are also essential for long-distance running; besides looking cool, they reduce muscle vibration, prevent varicose veins, and prevent lactic acid buildup. Now, there's a product that combines the functions of running socks and compression sleeves. It is the protagonist of this review—the Hanjiang 3X Gradient Compression Socks.

Review Subject IntroductionMale, Codoon nickname: Not 5072, height 170cm, weight 66kg, calf circumference 40cm, monthly running distance 200km.

Review Object Color:Peacock Blue, Size L-T2

The packaging is simple, with a transparent plastic bag on the outside and the socks supported by a cardboard insert inside. The back of the insert is rich in information, with a brief introduction of the functions, a size chart (sizes are divided by shoe size and calf circumference, with a total of 6 sizes available, so most people can find a good fit), and the main components being nylon, Lycra spandex, polyester, and cotton. Notably, the Lycra fiber content is 23.9%, which ensures elastic compression performance. There are also labels for confidence in textile ecological certification, China Good Design, and the 13th Winter Games partner, indicating reliable quality.

I got the Peacock Blue, which is the official main color. It's quite bright and has a bit of a fluorescent effect.

The blue material on the legs and the top of the feet is Lycra elastic fiber, the black terry cloth on the soles is thickened, and the yellow rod-shaped weaving effectively dissipates heat and wicks moisture, increasing friction on the soles to prevent slipping and wasting energy, and eliminating blisters. The socks distinguish between left and right feet, with letter markings at the big toe position and size markings at the heel. Additionally, there is a Hanjiang flying dragon embroidered logo on the outside of the leg, which is quite delicate!

The official claim is that the Lycra elastic material can stretch to 4-7 times its original length. In actual measurement, the leg sleeve is about 35cm long and can be stretched to 70cm on the first pull. After wearing and washing a few times, it can stretch to 90cm. In principle, it can accommodate even very long calves. Of course, the most important factors are the horizontal stretch recovery rate and stretch strength, which are key indicators of compression level.

Since my calf circumference is quite large, I was a bit worried about whether the leg sleeve part would burst before wearing it because I had previously forced on a Codoon leg sleeve and it snapped, leaving me with some psychological trauma (laughs and cries). Fortunately, this time I carefully and painstakingly managed to put on the socks. The compression force is strong! However, objectively speaking, this type of 'knee-high socks' that combines socks and leg sleeves is indeed inconvenient to put on and take off.

The first test was a night run of a half marathon (21.10 km) and a 7 km bike ride. During the run, I didn't feel anything unusual. It might have been because the weather was quite hot and I had been running for several consecutive days without proper rest, so I felt a bit tired. What I could feel was that my calves were tightly compressed, with no shaking or wobbling. Since I was running at a slow pace, my calf muscles didn't feel much pressure, and naturally, there was no lactic acid buildup the next day. However, this peacock blue color did earn me quite a few glances and made me feel quite happy. Taking off the socks at home was still difficult. Despite the soles being much thicker than the running socks I usually wear, I didn't feel hot or experience any slipping during the run.

The second test was running uphill back in my hometown, 10 km in hot weather.

Under the scorching sun, the color of the leg sleeves became even more vibrant. My calf muscles weren't tight, but the fat was tightly compressed and couldn't move, so my legs didn't look thick in the photos, which was a pleasant surprise. You should know that my calf circumference is 40cm. Since I've been running consistently, my muscle recovery is relatively faster compared to those who don't exercise regularly. In the early stages of running, muscle tightness and lactic acid buildup from anaerobic exercise are now hard to come by, so its true effectiveness on me might be seen in my next full marathon or longer distance road or trail run!

After several tests of running and cycling with Hanjiang compression socks, I am quite convinced of the official claims about their sports protection functions. The compression recovery rate and durability after multiple wears still need further testing. Even after wearing them for exercise without much stretching, I didn't feel any discomfort the next day. Moreover, the socks didn't fade after washing, nor did they become loose or shrink. There was slight pilling on the soles, but my other socks have this too, so it shouldn't be a quality issue. Wearing an extra layer on the legs in summer does make heat dissipation and sweat-wicking less smooth, and putting them on and taking them off (compression) is not (very) convenient (strong). I recommend wearing them for long-distance runs or competitions, as they can help the body recover quickly during intense exercise, make the legs look slimmer and longer, and look cool. Hanjiang used to be an OEM for international brands, and now they produce and develop independently. The official price of 199 yuan is quite cost-effective, making it a must-have for home marathon runners!