2XU’s first Hong Kong flagship store opens in Causeway Bay

2XU may already be a familiar brand for local fitness fanatics (especially those in the runner community), but others likely are not aware that the Aussie brand has had a presence in Hong Kong for the past eight years. That’s all about to change, as the high-performance sportswear brand has finally opened up its first Hong Kong flagship in Causeway Bay, which officially opens on the 5th of May.

We recently went for a preview of the 2XU flagship store: Occupying a 930-sq.-ft. half-mezzanine floor space at Leighton Centre, the storefront flashes multi-coloured LED displays to promote currently featured lines (green at the moment, for the new Recovery compression line), while the store interior gets the minimalist concrete treatment. The space is divided into walls of products aimed at male or female athletes, as well as by sport — whole racks are dedicated to triathlon gear, for instance, as well as 2XU’s spring/summer collection, plain sports bras and tops, and a wall dedicated to colourful compression socks for any occasion, from sitting through a long flight to pushing through your next workout.

Made for post-workout wear, the new Recovery tights come mainly in green and black, designed with graduated compression rings that bring blood flow up each leg. I tried the The Elite Power Recovery tights (HK$1,250), designed with stirrups so they feel like dancer’s leggings, which are very, very tight. It takes a while to put them on because of this, but the thinner material is breathable, stretchable, and comfortable as it hugs your body’s contours. Those like me who don’t particularly want neon-green striped leggings (risking looking like you just walked off the stage of Wicked) can also opt for the double-black colourway.

While the idea of pulling on new tights after a sweaty workout session — rather than before — didn’t appeal to me, the practice is heavily encouraged so that it helps your blood take away harmful lactic acid, and bring new oxygenated blood to help repair and prevent damage to the muscles after a workout. The Recovery line also features long-sleeved tops, arm sleeves, leg sleeves, and compression socks.

If you’re looking to pick up a new pair of compression tights, you may be tempted to shop 2XU’s MCS line. Standing for Muscle Containment Stamping, MCS leggings contain uniquely stamped grooves and grills on the inside of the fabric, placed at key muscle groups to keep those areas activated for particular sports. At the store’s opening, it seems gents have a wider range of MCS tights to choose from, with options for basketball, weightlifting, and cross training; for females, anything apart from running seemed to be much harder to find. We hope the variety and stock for women’s gear expands in the coming months, but so far, if you’ve ever prayed for a one-stop-shop for high-performance gear in Hong Kong, this is the place to go.

2XU, Shop G08, Leighton Centre, 77 Leighton Road, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong, +852 2818 9337 / +852 2818 3498; open 10:30am–10pm daily