Are you an athlete who applies a CBD topical to your sore muscles after a workout?

The newest product on the activewear market asks: why are you waiting so long?

Acabada’s line of workout gear is infused with CBD, which they say will mimic the effects of a CBD cream or pain salve the entire time you’re wearing them.

What’s the Deal with CBD Activewear?

Okay, we’ll get this out of the way: we don’t plan on selling CBD activewear anytime soon—but we do find it interesting.

Acabada is getting a lot of attention from the hemp world for their novel idea of weaving CBD into your clothes, rather than just rubbing it into your skin post-workout. The cannabinoids aren’t just sprayed on, either. They’re micro-encapsulated and bonded to the fabric of Acabada’s workout pants, sports bras, and jackets. 

The CBD-infused fabric is strategically sewn into areas that come into contact with parts of the body that are most likely to experience pain, inflammation, and soreness—like the back, hips, and calves. The CBD micro-capsules are triggered when the fabric comes into contact with skin. The CBD capsules last roughly 40 wears and washes, and customers can trade in used gear for a discount on replacements.

Does CBD Activewear Work?

Well, we can’t really say. We haven’t bought a pair to review, and we’re not scientists or fashion designers. However, we can take a look at some of the data surrounding CBD topicals and pain salves.

CBD topicals and pain salves are popular. So popular, in fact, that they’ve crossed over into the mainstream, with Walgreens and CVS selling CBD topical products. “Topicals” covers a wide range of products, ranging from beauty products to massage oils to the pain salves and joint creams we associate with athletic activity.

Many people swear by CBD topicalsfor bone and joint pain, muscle soreness, and nagging injuries. However, scientists say there haven’t been enough studies to confirm any of these reported effects.

The Science of CBD Topicals

Cannabinoids work by interacting with the body’s endocannabinoid system—a series of receptors that works with all of the other bodily systems to maintain a happy equilibrium. When your body temperature, inflammation, stress levels, etc. are out of balance, the endocannabinoid system kicks in. The endocannabinoid system’s two main receptors, called CB1 and CB2 receptors, are found everywhere in the body, including the skin.

Some studies have suggested that patients with chronic pain “experience a clinically significant reduction in pain symptoms” when treated with cannabinoids. However, many studies on cannabinoids like CBD use patient interviews or literature reviews. All of lab trials conducted on the effects of CBD use animal subjects, and it seems like we are still years out from a clinical trial studying CBD’s effects on human pain symptoms. Until then, we have an idea of how things seem to work, but no definitive answer.

Where to Find CBD Topicals

So, we don’t carry CBD yoga pants. We do, however, have plenty of CBD topicals, oil tinctures, and vaporizers for sale at Smoke N Brew in Charleston and Greenville. If you’re looking for top-of-the-line CBD products made with USA-grown hemp, but no spandex, stop on by. We don’t recommend soaking your clothes in the oils you buy from us, either, but hey—the customer is always right.