First off, sizing is a nightmare. I usually wear a medium, but based on reviews, I sized up to large. Still tight! These shorts are NOT forgiving if you have curves or 'junk in the trunk.' The waist gapes while the thighs feel like they're in a vise.

The neoprene material feels industrial - stiff, noisy when walking, and smells like a scuba shop. During my HIIT class, I sounded like a squeaky wetsuit! But holy sweat, Batman. Within 10 minutes of jumping jacks, I looked like I'd jumped in a pool. My outer leggings were drenched - great for water weight loss, terrible for laundry.

Oddly addictive though? After the initial discomfort, I reached for these constantly for outdoor runs where the stiffness mattered less. The compression makes my legs look amazing mid-workout (when I'm not fighting rolling waistbands). Just wish they'd make a version with adjustable drawstrings!