When it comes to doing some serious lifting, certain parts of your body can take a beating during the process. Experienced athletes have probably had plenty of calluses that they wear like badges of honor for each new plate they add to a lift. Another body part that plays victim to your lifting habits can be your shins.
Whether you are climbing a rope or flinging a bar upwards, your shins can take a beating. Luckily, shin skins are the best way to prevent this and keep your shins from racking up a ton of damage.
What Are Shin Skins?
The best way to imagine a shin skin is to think of a neoprene high sock or sleeve for your leg, that doesn’t actually connect below your heal. Instead, it slides onto your calf and keeps the lower part of your leg compressed. Not only does this help with compression, but it also avoids direct contact that your skin may have with ropes, bars, or other elements that you may experience during training.
Your shin skin should go from just above your ankle to a few inches below your kneecap. Anything larger is likely to be too large and not tight enough to be effective. However, anything smaller will probably constrict your abilities to move when you are in the gym.
When To Wear Shin Skins?
You may not have to wear shin skins every single day. If you are working upper body or doing less intense workouts, then shin skins may actually be quite irrelevant. However, if you are climbing a rope, or doing deadlifts, power cleans, snatches, or anything else where your shins may take a beating, it’s time to put your shin skins on.
Shin skins can also come in handy during CrossFit meets, or other lifting or obstacle course competitions. If you think that your shins may take a beating, then it’s best to cover them up.
Who Might Need Skins?
Men and women athletes both can wear shin skins. Although depending on the type of athlete you are will greatly determine whether or not you need them.
If you are a CrossFit athlete, powerlifter, or simply someone who does plenty of strength and explosion exercises, you can wear shin skins.
Women can attest that just because you’re a beast in the gym, doesn’t mean you don’t want to have nice looking legs when you dress up.
Men can wear shin skins simply because the marks and injuries that can occur when lifting can be an uncomfortable pain.
It doesn’t matter your gender. If you go hard in the gym, but want to keep your legs from getting beat up, skins are for you.
What Should You Look For In A Pair Skins?
When you are buying a pair of shin skins, it is important to consider a few factors. First of all, as mentioned above, they should be the right fit. There is usually two size options. One is for smaller athletes, and the other is for bigger legged athletes.
Again, be sure that it is comfortable but not constraining. Another factor to look into is the type of material that the shin skin is made of. Neoprene is the most obvious and commonly used material. This is typically good as it won’t chafe or rub your skin in the wrong way.
And lastly, make sure that your shin skins look good. As much as shin skins are an important way to keep your body safe, they are also a fashion statement. Find a pair of shin skins that match your shoes and workout clothes, for a complete and great looking outfit for when you are working out.
Skins are a great way to keep your shins from getting beat up. If you are tired of scrapped and cut up shins, consider adding a pair of shin skins to your training gear.
In our next post we break out our The Ultimate Guide to Building the Perfect Garage Gym. Thanks for visiting www.olympicweightsetreview.com, if you liked this article please use our social buttons to give us the thumbs up.
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