NormaTec PULSE 2.0

NormaTec has solidified itself in various professional sports as the go-to for compression recovery. Triathletes rely on NormaTec’s gradiated compression boots for reducing DOMS (Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness), thus allowing for improved speed of recovery—second only to training for enhanced performance.

The PULSE 2.0 is 27% smaller than NormaTec’s previous model with no loss of power. In addition to its new compact form, the PULSE 2.0 is powered by a rechargeable lithium battery that makes this truly a portable system—allowing for use as a warm-up or as an immediate recovery device post-race or workout.

The high-grade quality of materials and intuitive control panel yields confidence, and given NormaTec’s history starting as a medical company, it’s no surprise that their device is built to last. Starting at $1,300 with options for full-length leg, arm, and hip attachments, the PULSE 2.0 provides ample flexibility for treating soreness following swim, bike, and run.

In addition to having massage patterns like sequential inflation or the “NormaTec Pulse”, the PULSE 2.0 features “Zone Boost” which provides additional compression for troublesome spots.  The PULSE 2.0 is also the first connected compression device with a Bluetooth-enabled smartphone app. Beyond using your smartphone or tablet as a remote control—saving your favorite settings, sharing data, and recording statistics—using the PULSE 2.0 through Bluetooth allows recovery and Strava uploads to occur simultaneously from the same device. Having access to NormaTec through Bluetooth seems redundant given the portability of a small, lightweight, battery-powered control panel, but considering that the unit is inflated via air hoses, having additional control through a device not attached to an air hose is a surprisingly welcomed feature.

In a sport where “marginal gains” translate into real-world results, incorporating NormaTec’s new PULSE 2.0 may provide the needed recovery edge to push you to the next PR.

NormaTecrecovery.com, $1295