TIGHT & SECURE

A crash at the 2006 Winter Olympics destroyed Allison Forsyth’s anterior cruciate ligament, or ACL. Like a lot of skiers, the former national team ski racer used a knee brace to help recover after reconstructive surgery. It was itchy, sweaty and bruising, restricted range of motion, and encouraged her to overcompensate with the other leg.

Fifteen years later, the first product from Vancouver-based Stoko Design, the K1 is a compression tight designed to mimic the ligaments of the knee to offer the same level of support as a rigid knee brace. “It feels comfy, provides all the support I need and retains the mindbody connection,” Forsyth says, who now works for Stoko. “I wish it had been around in 2006.”

Inside the tight is a series of cables that run over the quads and wrap around both sides of the knees. The dials on the lower back adjust the tension on the cables and the support for each knee. In tests, Stoko research showed the K1 tight provides the same level of lateral support as the stiffest rigid knee braces. But they don’t impact range of motion, are lighter and more comfortable to wear.

That makes the K1 more versatile than just injury recovery and ongoing support. Skiers and other athletes in high-risk sports are using them to prevent injury. The only knee problems it doesn’t help are ones related to a loss of cartilage. $500; stokodesign.com