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Hyperice Utility vs Strong sleeve

Posted by Pascal Landshoeft

Jul 19, 2020 9:00:00 AM

Hyperice Utility vs Strong sleeve

This is a comparison between the Hyperice Utility sleeve and the Strong sleeve including pros, cons and alternatives. Follow the links for more details.

 
Strong X Sleeve

Overview and review of the Strong Knee sleeves 

 
The Strong knee sleeves come in at $80 and are the first attempt at seamless knee sleeves from Mark Bell. They are stiffer than regular sleeves but not as stiff as the Xtreme X Sleeve.
 
 

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Overview of the Strong knee sleeves

 
The strong sleeves are the entry-level knee sleeves from Mark Bell designed for comfort and stability. With 7MM in thickness and level 3 neoprene, they are comparable to the sturdy upper range knee sleeves of other vendors like Rehband. This is based on Mark Bell's target group of powerlifters who usually need everything one step stiffer and thicker than other athletes as they give up mobility in a trade-off for strength. The main specification of the Strong Sleeve are:
 
  • 7mm Thick
  • Level 3 Neoprene
  • Sold in pairs
  • Seamless design
 
This is a solid option for a beginning powerlifter who feels like Rehbandis not stiff enough for them. Especially when you weigh more than 200 pounds and want to powerlift you might want to consider entering the market with Mark Bell rather than with Rehband
 

Sizing for the Strong knee sleeves

 
The Strong knee sleeve comes in different sizes. These are measured from the circumference of your knee when standing. The options are:
 
  • XS - 11" - 12"
  • S - 12" - 13"
  • M - 13" - 14"
  • L - 14" - 15"
  • XL - 15" - 16"
  • 2XL - 16" - 17"
  • 3XL - 17" - 18"
  • 4XL - 18" - 19"
These are the numbers for the comfort fit. Add 1" if you use the competition fit. 
 

Pros of the Strong sleeves

 
The pros of the strong sleeves are:
 
  • 7mm Thickness
  • Level 3 Neoprene
  • Seamless design
 
The main idea with the Strong sleeves was to take the design of other 7mm knee sleeves in the market from SBD and Rehbandand improve it. The main difference is that the Strong sleeves have fewer seams and are therefore less error-prone. The design is still pretty heavy-handed and aimed at powerlifters. Maybe not the best solution for smaller individuals who want to move around as fast as possible while wearing sleeves. Here you may look for 3mm or 5mm options depending on whether you want to be active or you want to use the knee sleeve for rehabilitation after surgery/injury. 
 

Cons of the Strong sleeves

 
The cons of the strong sleeves are
 
  • Price
  • Stiffness
  • Thickness
 
As Mark Bell aims at a smaller target group and the production of a seamless sleeve compared to one with seams as a bit more complex, the price is higher. If you want to pay the extra dollars for a 7mm knee sleeve aimed at powerlifters that is great. Otherwise, you might opt for Rehband
 
The stiffness and thickness might work against the strong sleeves based on your use case. If you want to wear sleeves and still run and jump or just support your knee after injury 7mm thickness plus an emphasis on a tight git might be overkill. You do not want to get your knee out of place again after surgery, because the sleeve you bought to support it was too hard to get into. That is the very definition of overshooting the target. 
 
For a 7mm sleeve, you will usually pay less with Rehband. Their designs have more seams and are inspired across disciplines rather than specifically for powerlifting.
 

Alternatives to the Strong sleeve

 
Alternatives to the Strong sleeve are
 
 
The Xtreme sleeve would be the option if you want to take it to the maximum for your one-repetition maximum attempts on the squat. This is the stiffest and thickest IPF approved knee sleeve currently on the market. If you are big, heavy, strong and do not care that much about mobility, the X is for you.
 
If you want to buy a 7mm knee sleeve but save a little money you can also go for the Rehbandoptions. One is in direct cooperation with Rich Froning in case you want to support him directly as an athlete or feel inspired by his logo on your sleeves. 
 
Smaller and lighter athletes might find that a 7mm knee sleeve is an overkill for them.
 

Summary for the Strong sleeves

 
The strong sleeves from Mark bell are a good entry choice for anyone focused on powerlifting. Other athletes might want to go for 5mm versions from Rehband, depending on how much mobility they want.
 


Hyperice utility

Overview and review of the Hyperice utility 

 
The hyperice utility comes in at $75 and can be used on your legs and arms to cool them. The main advantage is that you get an ice bag which holds itself in place.
 

Overview of the Hyperice Utility

 
The Hyperice Utility sleeve is designed to go anywhere except your back, shoulder, and knees for cooling. Hyperice has specialized products for this areas of your body. The hyperice Utility sleeve is designed to go anywhere on your limbs to ice the area. This is achieved by a bag which can be filled with ice cubes or crushed ice from your fridge. Hyperice is a good tool to blitz ice swellings at the side of a pitch without having to hold the ice bag in place. If you like cooling with ice bags and have problems with your elbows and ankles, the hyperice Utility is the right choice. The specifications are:
 
  • 3MM Premium grade compression neoprene with plush finish
  • A separate bag which can be filled with ice
  • Machine Washable
The hyperice line is designed for rehabilitation not support during exercise. Keep that in mind when you are shopping. If you want to wrap your knees like into the product line of Mark Bell and Rehband
 

Pros of the Hyperice utility

 
The pros of the hyperice utility are:
 
  • Ice bag
  • Compression
  • Big area covered
The hyperice utility will enable you to ice a big area fast without having to hold on to the ice bag. This is practical when you have to recover at the side of the pitch or want to rehab and still be able to move around the house. If you are prone to elbow and ankle swellings and big you will like the hyperice utility. 
 

Cons of the Hyperice utility

 
The cons of the hyperice utility are:
 
  • Ice bag
  • Setup
The ice bag itself is great. but of it rips or breaks in any other way you can not sue the hyperice anymore. As the bag is removable and needs to be filled with ice it is likely that you will damage the nozzle or the bag itself at some stage. This is the trade-off for being able to adjust how much ice you use and how you compress it. 
 
Compared to other sleeves for the arms and legs, the hyperice utility might be a lot more hassle depending on your setup. If you play in the NFL or NBA there is usually some ice cubes around which you can quickly put into the hyperice. For people who use it at home, the setup can be messy and leave the kitchen dirty after filling the bag with ice cubes. 
 

Alternatives to the hyperice Utility

 
The alternatives to the Hyperice utility are:
 
 
The freeze sleeve is a neoprene sleeve with an in-build cooling gel. This makes it a very convenient solution unless you object to the chemicals used to make the cooling gel. Compared to the hyperice knee sleeve it is the better solution in my opinion for recovery at home for average-sized athletes. There is no extra set up required and you can use it on elbows and knees. For away games, it might not be better as it is easier to ask a stranger for some ice than putting your gross sleeve in their fridge. 
 
If I was to spend money on hyperice I would spend it on the back solution. I have regular back pains from squatting and deadlifting. The usual icing solutions like a bag of peas or ice or hard to keep in place in the lower back. The hyperice back is ideal for that. 
 
The hyperice shoulder would the equivalent of the back version for the shoulder. I personally have no problems with my rotator cuff, but if you do this can be a good solution. 

Summary for the hyperice Utility

 
The hyperice utility is a nice piece of equipment if you want to ice a big area fast on your legs or arms. Especially when the swelling is fast and you can not go to a doctor directly. Generally, I think that the freeze sleeve is the more convenient option to apply to arms and legs. If I was to buy hyperice I would go for the back option as I struggle with lower back pain from deadlifts and it is awkward to hold a pea bag in place. 
 

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