The best elbow compression sleeve is that that fits properly and protects your elbows and arms while you lift – it keeps them compressed, warm, and may even add a few pounds to your lifts. Alternatively elbow sleeves are worn while not lifting to reduce recovery times, or speed up the recovery process from injury or surgery.
Before getting into how exactly to pick the best elbow compression sleeve I’m going to show you my picks for the products that really work. This isn’t a huge list of products just to refer you to them, this is my hand selected list of elbow sleeves that really work to keep you protected and strong while lifting, or help you recover faster.
Elbow Compression Sleeve Options
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Best Elbow Compression Sleeves
Rehband 7720 Elbow Sleeve Review
In a line: Overall best elbow compression sleeve
Surprise, surprise – if you’ve read my knee sleeve review article you would see how I support the Rehband brand compression wear and you’ll see it again here. Rehband products use their own blend of neoprene that hugs the elbow tightly and providing the warmth and compression you need. The design of the 7720 elbow sleeve is countoured really nicely to fit the elbow, and if you have the money for this sleeve I recommend it for everything from weightlifting, to crossfit, and some of the higher levels of powerlifting.
- Made from 5mm neoprene
- Built to compress your elbow and provide heat/protection
- Solid product I recommend for all lifters, or for someone looking for an elbow sleeve to wear to recover faster
This is my all around top pick when it comes to elbow sleeves. It’s pretty expensive compared to the other options and you only get one sleeve per package, but I think it’s worth it if you have the money.
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Nordic Lifting Elbow Compression Sleeves
In a line: Best budget elbow sleeve pick
Coming in with a solid pair of elbow sleeves is Nordic with their pack of two. These are decently constructed elbow sleeves that will work to protect your sleeves and provide a good amount of compression. Now, when you compare two sleeves like the Rehband and Nordic, you’re comparing the material quality (think compression), and the durability in how long the compression will last. Nordic sleeves will serve the purpose but not last quite as long as the Rehband’s. Buy these if you’re on a budget, or need a pretty reliable pair of sleeves.
- Well constructed neoprene elbow sleeves
- Provides decent protection and compression
- Great budget pick for elbow sleeves
These would be great for every form of lifting, and if you want to use them to recover from an injury or surgery they would work well for that. It’s hard to go wrong with a pair of these for your first set of sleeves just to try them out. They’re basically half of the price of the Rehband’s so keep that in mind!
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Slingshot Elbow Compression Cuff Review
In a line: Best compression in an elbow sleeve
I like the Slingshot elbow cuff because it provides the highest compression on this list, with their wider range of sizes available than most other sleeves you can always find one that fits, and always find one that fits tighter which is important to me when choosing the best elbow sleeve. It might not provide as much warmth, or extended support down the arm but I think the extra compression is important for powerlifting movements like the bench, and overhead press. This type of sleeve could also be useful for the athlete who has had an elbow injury and needs extra support, and comfort when battling through.
- Provides the best compression out of all of the elbow sleeves on this list
- Doesn’t provide as much warmth, but serves its own purpose
- Great for battling through an injury
- Ideal for those who want the biggest boost from using elbow sleeves on their list
Basically I would recommend these sleeves specifically in two cases – for the hardcore lifter wanting the highest level of compression, or for the lifter battling through an injury. You don’t get quite as much material and warmth but the compression is better.
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Zensah Compression Elbow Sleeve Review
In a line: Best compression elbow sleeve for therapy – treat injuries and recover faster
The Zensah sleeve is less for lifting, and more for recovery which is how it made its way into this list. This site is mainly about LIFTING but guess what, you can’t lift if you’re crippled. Wear a sleeve like the Zensah to provide compression to your muscles while you rest which can alleviate pain, swelling, and help you recover faster. Fight back against elbow and arm ailments like tennis elbow, tendinitis, and golfer’s elbow with this quality compression and warming technology offered by Zensah – they really do make some awesome products.
- 90% nylon, 10% spandex
- Injury prevention and recovery is accomplished by wearing this sleeve
- Comfortable material keeps the Zensah sleeve in place and doesn’t hinder movement
- Great for those wanting to recover faster from exercising, or injuries
This is the “therapy” sleeve on this list. While the compression is good it really won’t benefit you too much while lifting other than providing a bit of warmth and slightly compressing the smaller muscles. If you need something heavy duty go with the Rehband or Slingshot.
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McDavid Elastic Elbow Sleeve Review
In a line: Best budget therapy elbow sleeve
This is basically a budget option fo the Zensah when it comes to self-therapy for injuries, or improving recovery times. Like I mentioned above it won’t provide intense compression but the warmth and protection is enough for helping treat elbow issues and reducing exercise recovery time. It also comes in a package of one which is perfect for the single elbow injury.
- Elastic compression elbow sleeve
- Comfortable to wear, heats up while you wear it
- Great budget pick for using an elbow sleeve to recover from injuries
If you want a single elbow sleeve to recover from an injury, surgery, or disorder of the elbow and find the Zensah too pricey, this should serve your needs well.
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Kunto Elbow Compression Sleeve Review
In a line: Heavy duty construction elbow sleeve, super comfortable
I like this as an option for the crossfit or weightlifting athlete that wants a really sturdy, comfortable, and warm elbow sleeve. It has a more unique woven construction than the other sleeves which is why it made it onto this list. It provides a solid amount of compression that I think is suitable for fairly heavy lifting, and it has a great contoured design that I really enjoyed when doing complex movements like the snatch and clean.
- Solid woven construction makes it feel like an elbow brace
- Great multi-activity elbow sleeve – wear it for any sport, or just for recovery
- Great side-grade option in comparison to the Rehband (not quite as expensive)
- I like that it goes a bit higher up and down the arm to tie it all together
If you like the look of the Kunto and how supportive it is, give it a try. It has a really nice design that you have to try to appreciate and honestly it’s comparable to the Rehband 7720 so give it a chance.
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How to pick the best elbow compression sleeve
So now that I’ve gone through my top picks and broken them down into a few categories, how do you choose between them? I’m going to assume that if you’re reading this you either are a powerlifting, weightlifter, bodybuilder, crossfitter, athlete, or you have an injury you want to recover from. In any case, here’s a bit further breakdown for each of you.
- Powerlifters: Get the best compression sleeve on the list, the best one is the Slingshot, or the Rehband 7720. I’d personally go with the Slingshot
- For weightlifters/oylmpic lifters: Here my top pick is the Rehband 7720, or the Nordic sleeves if you’re on a budget
- Bodybuilders: For bodybuilding you just want a bit of extra compression, here I could see you going for the Slingshot for max compression, or the Rehband 7720’s for warmth and compression.
- Athletes: Here my pick is the Kunto elbow sleeve – it’s almost like an elbow brace and its construction could even provide a bit of protection for the elbow if you play contact sports so that’s a plus.
- Recovering: For anyone seeking an elbow sleeve for faster recovery, I would definitely go for the Zensah sleeve. If money is a concern go for the McDavid which is very similar but less expensive.
- Budget: If anyone’s on a budget, the Nordic elbow sleeves are great and you get two sleeves for the cheapest price on this list. While I’ve broken down the list for each type of user, you could really use the Nordic sleeves for any of these applications.
Elbow compression sleeve size
Now, if you want max compression for lifting, you’ll want to look at your size and pick a size down. This will make the sleeve tougher to get on but it’ll give you better compression, better support, and translate to more weight lifted and muscle gained.
If you want the sleeve for olympic lifting, crossfit, or general athletics then pick the sleeve that fits well but isn’t too tight or restricting.
If you have a more serious elbow injury to treat like tennis elbow, or tendinitis and you want a sleeve to wear for a short amount of time to provide compression and relief you also may consider a tighter sleeve and smaller size as well.
Other than that, read the manufacturers sizing and follow their instructions. Make sure to measure a few times to make sure you’re getting it right – most retailers have a good return policy anyways so you should be fine in any case.
Elbow compression sleeve material
Neoprene is generally the best, but if you have allergy problems or prefer another material that’s fine. As long as the manufacturer accounts so that the compression will not fade over time then the material should be fine. For lighter applications 3-5mm thick neoprene is good, and for heavier applications you’ll probably see 5-7mm or more. The thicker the material, the more heavy-duty the protection and compression.
How to use your elbow compression sleeves
When I use elbow sleeves I like to wear them for the whole session, because once they’re on I don’t want to be taking them on and off. I make sure that the sleeve is adjusted properly up and down the arm to provide the best support.
Like when talking about other lifting aids, and knee sleeves, I always recommend the same thing. Wear your elbow compression sleeves for big lifts and heavy sets, but also take a break from using them from time to time to allow your natural support system to play catch up. It wouldn’t be a big deal if you wore them all the time, but letting your natural muscular support adjust to the weight is a good idea. Generally once a month I’ll not wear any elbow sleeves or support and go from there. Or if you’re using sleeves to bench 225 for example, the next time try to bench 225 without the sleeves and cycle it like that.
Using elbow compression sleeves for therapy and recovery
There are documented studies that show using elbow compression and other compression gear on your body can reduce recovery times and help treat injuries. The compression can alleviate pain and reduce risk of further injury.
If your goal is to treat injuries with your elbow sleeves, I recommend wearing them daily whenever you can. Wear them for a few hours, and take a break for a few hours. I don’t recommend wearing them while you sleep as it could potentially cut off your circulation over long periods of time. Wear it when you can control the duration and reap the benefits.
Final Verdict: To Sleeve Or Not to Sleeve
Overall, elbow compression sleeves are a great tool to use while lifting, and to reduce your recovery time. Finding the best elbow compression sleeve is a matter of knowing what you need them for (powerlifting, weightlifting etc.) and sizing yourself properly. From there, use them regularly to support yourself and reduce risk of injury. Wear them in the down time to recover even faster and there you have it – another tool in your lifting kit to get those gains!
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