VERTICS. Sleeves and SUP – a statement

by: Björn Twittmann

Why are there no clear and unambiguous studies on the subject of compression garments???

In the following, I’ll try to explain this briefly – so here is my (completely subjective) test report on the VERTICS. Sleeves and VERTICS. Calfs:

Since I have already participated in various studies on the topic of “compression clothing” during my time as a student of sports science and also afterwards, the theoretical background of the topic is completely clear to me – I also know all the discussions about the topic. Often the results go something like: “The test subjects feel better with it, but the measured differences are not scientifically significant.” Ätsch, that’s it – if the result is not significant, it may just be a coincidence – that’s more or less the interpretation of science.

However, I would never want to do without my compression socks when skiing or ski touring – no or less cold feet, no burning and the most important thing: I FEEL better – but I doubt very much whether I ski measurably better or differently as a result. This is definitely not objectively measurable.

But now to the VERTICS products:

In the meantime, I have worn the sleeves and the calfs in three SUP races over about 12 kilometers each, load time about 80 minutes each.

With VERTICS I became NRW champion, two more races, a weekend later I also won. I was also able to win the Weekend Challenge on the long distance at the 11-Citys in Friesland.

Would I have won the races without compression clothing? Probably – I don’t have any comparative values.

So why do I wear the VERTICS? Sleeves and calfs?

Because it gives me a super good feeling on my arms and legs – in the race I have less stress in my forearm and after the race my legs feel much fitter. For these reasons, I’m really excited about the sleeves.

However, in order for the effect of compression garments to be scientifically proven, science naturally needs clear facts and figures. For example, a test with VERRTICS, a test without VERTICS. The other test conditions must remain identical in any case.

And that’s where we have the problem: If I assume that the VERTICS will have a positive effect on my performance, I will definitely be worse without the VERTICS. Here the influencing factor “my psyche” will be greater than the factor VERTICS.

So let’s look for another test design:

Real VERTICS and “placebo” VERTICS (i.e. VERTICS without function). Ideally, the test leaders also have no plan when I wear the real and when I wear the fake VERTICS (double-blind study) – this is only clarified afterwards. The problem here is that if I feel more compression on one product and less on another, then the test is no longer objective – of course, my performance and statements about the products are distorted – again, I can’t be more objective.

Unfortunately, that’s not all. There are so many other problems that arise in studies with repetitive tests of endurance capacity: If I have to paddle the same distance or the same time several times (in relation to paddling), my motivation to perform may change during the late tests. At some point, I may simply not feel like doing this study anymore and become slow. But maybe I can now deal better with the required distance / time because something like a training effect sets in or I can manage the distance / time better – then I get faster. But maybe I ate something else before the last test / slept better or worse / had more or less stress at work / or something completely different happened that affects my performance and already I have a massive deviation from the test I will take next…

Alternatively, I could of course paddle the competition distances again and measure the time to have a comparison with and without VERTICS – that’s not possible???

Of course not: Without competition breathing down my neck, I’m of course slower in any case. There is so much going on in the head that it often cannot be compensated for with the material (or clothing).

If I give a paddler a new paddle for a competition and tell him that this (with the same design) is a few grams lighter than his old paddle, the paddler will certainly be more motivated in the race and thus perhaps a little faster.

Another example: If I give a triathlete a new aero helmet for the next competition, he will also be more motivated by the better helmet – and probably faster!

So let’s keep in mind: Finding a suitable study design, not to mention suitable test subjects, is not so easy.

My conclusion about VERTICS. Sleeves and VERTICS. Calfs:

I feel really good with the VERTICS compression cuffs for forearms and calves and from my point of view, that’s a completely sufficient reason to wear them in the future! It doesn’t hurt me or anyone else – that’s for sure.

Another factor that should not be neglected is the cooling effect with wet VERTICS. If it gets (too) why, I can splash a little water on my legs while paddling or hold my arms firmly in the water, the VERTICS are wet and I have a pleasant, relatively long-lasting cooling effect.

Author: Björn Twittmann
A post on Facebook by Björn:

Learn more about VERTICS. Sleeves studies can be found here: