Equmen

You may have heard of it being referred to as 'men's shapewear' but this burgeoning new category in men's apparel is so much more than mere body-shaping vanity underwear . Innovative, technologically advanced, high-compression undershirts and underwear for men are super garments that fit and feel like a second skin while firming, controlling and sculpting the body with the added health benefits of improving posture through core support and aiding in the reduction of nagging back, neck and shoulder pain. Now that's some feat of under garment engineering, right? Snug, easy to get on and off, they can be worn under any outerwear, mid-week through to the weekend, slimming away the extra inches you don't want and playing up your assets!

What is Compression Wear?

Compression wear has been recommended by medical professionals for years to support and strengthen body areas weakened through surgery, illness and injury and more recently has become closely associated with sporting activities and high performance and competition sport. Maintaining a strong torso and good posture is critical to preventing back injuries and reducing back aches which is why John F. Kennedy wore a rigid corset daily from his college years, why weightlifters wear a belt to compress the abdomen and reduce stress on the back and why American Gridiron football players 'armour-up' in compression short 'girdles'.

Essentially it offers compression to areas of the body that require support and today, is usually a combination of super-elastic fibres like nylon, spandex and lyrca that do the job of compressing without being uncomfortable.

Enter Equmen

Taking the focus on sports compression benefits one step further, Equmen consulted experts in the fields of ergonomics, physiotherapy and athletic garment engineering to create a range of compression wear that not only improved posture and stability but also slimmed the torso at the same time. Compounding the design requirements was the imperative that the garments should feel like a second skin, be easy to put on and take off, should breathe and repel moisture from the body and should look like an everyday singlet, tee, boxer short or brief. The bottom line, as Equmen's Michael Flint explains, was that the end product had to perform to the rigid design specifications and look and feel just right. "The challenge was to introduce something that wouldn't be intimidating or too much of a stretch for a guy to purchase." Launched in January 2009, the Equmen range of men's core precision undershirts and underwear is a one-year old hot-seller and, true to their mission, Equmen is "Proudly Supporting the Men of The World" in more ways than one! Columnists from GQ, Men's Health, Time and Business Week, to name just a few, have all taken the Equmen Test and declared themselves fans.

Equmen Helix-Mapping Technology - it's all about the Core

Proper core alignment facilitates oxygen flow for enhanced energy.When the skeleton is correctly aligned, the bones support the weight of the body with minimal stress. This ensures that muscles hold very little excessive tension and they can then efficiently initiate and sustain movement. Core stability allows you to maintain a solid foundation and transfers energy from the centre of the body out to the limbs. Ergonomic support in the trunk area is essential for the maintenance of upright posture, back pain minimisation and injury prevention. The Equmen-patented technology of Helix Mapping in Equmen's undershirts criss-crosses the upper and lower back so that the compression on the shirt gently pulls the shoulders back to support an upright posture. The trunks have built-in quadricep, gluteal fold and hamstring compression. So as well as looking after the core and your health, the Equmen shirt trims the stomach and smoothes love handles while the briefs and trunks give some lifting and firming to the butt! Body response fabric visibly sculpts to enhance muscle tone to make you not only look great but also feel more confident and allows maximum movement under any clothing from a Hugo Boss suit to your favourite jeans.

How does it feel to wear?

In order to do its job and get results, compression wear needs to be tighter fighting than your favourite shorts and tee. The upside is that compression wear will hug your body like a second skin and won't ride up, bunch up and come untucked under your clothes. Equmen undershirts and underwear self-adjusts as your body warms the garment and, although it will feel snug when you first put it on, it will feel like a very comfortable second-skin fit after just a few minutes.

The new breathable, targeted-ventilation and moisture-wicked fabrics mean you won't sweat or feel uncomfortable wearing them all day and will keep you cool without overheating. Equmen's temperature control technology (thermoregulation) is part of a homeostatic mechanism that keeps the body at optimum operating temperature which in humans is 36.8 degrees Celsius (98.2 degrees Fahrenheit). Seamless manufacturing technology allows for a more comfortable, better fitting garment that will adjust to your unique body shape without rubbing or chafing. And how does it look? Basically, Equmen compression wear will augment what should stand out and diminish what shouldn't!

Briefs, Trunks & Undershirts

Equemen compression wear is a fusion off fashion and function. Briefs are low rise style with precision-fit ventilated pouch in blue, black or white. The trunk comes in regular and long options and is a seamless body enhancing fit that supports the gluteal muscles as well as giving overall posture support.

The singlet structures and supports the core with a built-in physiotherapy taping technique that gently pulls the shoulders back and promotes optimal alignment. A great choice for exercise, ventilated side panels and moisture wicking allow the singlet to breathe. Focused core support visibly streamlines and slims and works to give definition and a trimmer silhouette under everything from casual wear to work wear and sportswear. Seamless stitching means the singlet sits like a second skin and rubbing and chafing are eliminated..

The short sleeve undershirt and long sleeve undershirt have the same in-built support and ventilation technologies as the singlet but also offer optimal alignment from the shoulders to the arms.

Vanity?

Not at all! Compression Wear has a definite health benefit for all men. If the plus is that it feels like a second skin and makes the wearer look trimmer, slimmer and more defined - well surely that's just a bonus? And extra bonus - Equmen compression wear is machine washable and flat dries quickly. No need to use a dryer or an iron. Can't get better than that - right guys?