Gear Review: Opedix S1 Tights (2011)

Opedix S1 Ski and Board Support Tights

Opedix's intriguing S1 tights are the brainchild of the Steadman Hawkins Sports Medicine Foundation in Vail, Colorado, and Southern California's Kerlan Jobe Orthopedic Clinic.

The goal of the S1 is to reduce unwanted lateral movement at the knee joint, thus reducing harmful stress. Bulky knee braces, of course, already perform this function—but can a sleek performance tight provide a similar or at least significant degree of support? Based on my experience with the S1, my considered response to that question is a carefully measured "maybe."

The S1 employs a patent-pending "anchor and sling" design engineered to support the knee. There are no rigid braces, struts, or hinges. The S1 achieves its support objectives entirely via strategically sewn fabric panels. In practice this makes the S1 no more intrusive than an ordinary pair of long underwear—though they are a bit more difficult to put on.

If you have trouble bending over or putting on your own socks, you may find getting them on to be an unexpectedly challenging task. Fit emerges as a key issue with the S1. Too large, and they will not deliver as much support; too small, and they will uncomfortably constrict your quad and hamstring muscles. If you fall between sizes, you would seem to be out of luck.

Once I did squeeze into my new S1 tights, I have to say the first thought that crossed my mind was, I'm young again! I spent a few silly moments bounding around the inside of my home, jumping over random pieces of furniture (much to my two-year-old's delight), feeling suddenly, wonderfully light and springy. Opedix does not publish any objective measurements as to exactly how much the tights reduce knee loading, and my own experience is of course subjective, but the tights do seem to provide some degree of knee support.

"Do I need these?" you may be asking yourself. Opedix's S1 performance tights are unquestionably an expensive investment. While I'm open to the argument that the S1 will let ordinary skiers ski longer and harder with less soreness, I personally didn't find them indispensable. Absent more compelling research data, I'm inclined to take a wait and see approach. On the other hand, if you would clearly benefit from additional knee support when skiing, your verdict might be quite different—for you, the Opedix S1 or S1 Pro might well prove invaluable.

→ more Pant Reviews