Review: 110% Player Harder Transformer Shorts & Mercury Compression Sox

Popular among runners, cyclists and triathletes, 110% Play Harder makes some of the most innovative compression gear on the market.

Since this gear works so well for elite endurance athletes, we decided to give them a try with an eye on using them on the soccer field and for training. Here’s what our reviewer found.

110% Player Harder Transformer Shorts

I am not going to lie, when our editor handed me this assignment, I was seriously stoked! Seriously, no joke. Why? You see, I go all out, not only do I play soccer, but I bike, swim, run, kick box, you name it. What does that mean? My body is in a constant state of pain. I know many of you reading this can relate and are shaking your heads in agreement. I mean, even if all you do is kick a ball, we both know your legs, hamstrings and glutes take a beating. What are we always told to do? R.I.C.E. Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation, yeah yeah, we get it.

Well, WE get it and so does 110% Play Harder. For Real! They made triathlon shorts that have BUILT IN POCKETS FOR ICING. They feature strategically placed icing pockets that target the main muscles without compromising the fit (or the look — they blend right in – you totally can’t even seen them!). Yes, ice pockets and they come with ice packets that you can custom fit to insert in your shorts! WHAAAT? RIGHT? Simply amazing. These ice packs are reusable and not only can these things be used as ice packs, but you can pop them in your microwave and they become heat packs! No more taping bags of ice to your legs! Now you can simply insert your ice pack in your shorts, walk around in comfort. Oh and one more super cool thing, the bag that your shorts come in, yeah, don’t throw it away! Why? Because it doubles as a thermal bag that will keep your ice packs cold for up to 6 hours!

Those are just the few things that really POPPED out when I went to use them. I will discuss some specifics at the end of this review. I want to fast forward out of the product details and move on to my product test!

This morning I met my fellow biking enthusiasts for a morning ride. I showed up sporting my 110% Play Harder Transformer shorts. Needless to say, I had several of my buddies intrigued by my shorts! I was excited to use them! Mind you, I have tried numerous compression shorts in the past, but from the minute I put these on, I was in love.

The material is awesome! 110% Compression + Ice products are made from two layers of 360-degree 4 way stretch knit polypropylene . The performance fabric provides ultimate flexibility while keeping its strength and shape and is spun using moisture wicking antimicrobial Silver Tech fibers shown to destroy 99.99% of odor-causing bacteria. OK, specifics aside, let me just tell you, my shorts held 1.5 pounds of sweat at the end of my ride (yes, I weighed them). Talk about moisture wicking!

110% Compression + Ice Transformer shorts have zoned compression to stabilize the muscles and reduce vibration. I could totally feel the difference today in my ride and afterwards. This helped my recovery time and the general fatigue I usually feel after a long hard ride. They also feature gradient compression of 15 to mmhg to 24 mmhg forcing blood flow back to the heart for improved circulation. Once again, during the my ride, I felt like I could charge my hills and go harder than I had before! The padding on the shorts was just enough for my ride and not cumbersome like some other brands of shorts.

These are now going to be my go to shorts for all my rides, runs, and triathlons! This is a must have product for ANY athlete that trains hard!

110% Player Harder Mercury Compression Sox

Repeat after me, not all compression socks are made the same! Seriously, no different than your boots, running shoes, or shin guards, it is all about the materials, fabric, and fit! Those exact things are what makes the 110% Play Harder Mercury Compression Socks different from others on the market! These socks are all about improving your performance and recovery!

They enhance the circulation which helps protect your legs from the wear and tear of the tough workouts! I was impressed by the roomy toe, arch support and non-binding top band that make them super comfortable. For a girl, I have large calves (16.5 inches) and often when I buy compression socks, they are super binding at the top and always roll down (I know a few you readers have had to of experience that – talk about no fun!). Anyway, I was so super impressed with the fit and performance when I tested them out!

So here was my field test. I was super lucky to get to test the Mercury Compression Socks along with the 110% Compression + Ice Transformer Shorts. Talk about an amazing workout and recovery! I went out on a ride with some of my fellow triathletes and put them to the test. One hour of hill, speed drills, challenging wind sprints, cat & mouse, HIIT training, seated and standing climbs – talk about hard core training.

Needless to say, it was a WORKOUT! I was so impressed by the moisture wicking of the fabric in the socks! In addition the fit of the socks were perfect (just so you know, when ordering, the sock size is determined by your calf measurement, so they end up being a PERFECT fit)! I found my calves were not fatigued like they are when I where lower quality compression socks/sleeves. Oh and on a separate note, the night before I did some kickboxing and was having some Achilles pain, well, I wasn’t sure how my training would go today and I have to admit, my Achilles didn’t give me any problems during my workout or after! Talk about awesome!

I think the biggest problem anyone will have with these socks is that they are going to NOT want to workout without them! I know others in my crew were impressed as well as at the end of our workout my friends were asking me, “hey, what brand are those socks and pants you are wearing”. Oh yeah, be the envy of your friends, treat your body right, invest in some 110% gear!