Kinesiology Tape vs. WaveWear

Kinesiology tape is an elastic therapeutic tape made from a thin, stretchy synthetic fabric. It is designed to mimic the elasticity of skin and muscle, so it gives dynamic support without restricting range of motion. Since the late 2000s it has become hugely popular, especially with athletes.

The catch: tape only delivers its full benefits when it is applied precisely. That is where WaveWear comes in. This page compares WaveWear with traditional kinesiology tape on three points: application, sustainability and effectiveness.

Kinesiology tape takes practice to get right. There are thousands of videos explaining how to tape each body part, yet people still misapply it, and misapplied tape gives weaker results. The guidelines are long:

Even with video guides, getting all of this right is the leading cause of weaker results with tape, and it keeps the full range of benefits out of reach for many everyday users.

WaveWear has a much simpler application process: you put it on like clothing. Offering the benefits of kinesiology tape without the taping routine was one of the main reasons WaveWear was created.

Inside each garment is Bio Waved Adhesive Silicone (AlignX™), researched and developed for six years and mapped in a wave pattern to recreate the effects of kinesiology taping (Figure A). AlignX™ works well with sweat and is made to be gentle on the skin.

The ease of application comes with a trade-off: AlignX™ grips slightly less than tape (see Figure B). In return, WaveWear brings other benefits, covered below.

Sustainability is the area where kinesiology tape still needs the most innovation. Tape is sold by the roll and cut into pieces. A roll holds 15–20 applications and lasts around one month: a strip can stay on for 3–5 days, but it should be changed daily. When the roll runs out, another must be bought. Changing tape at least every 3–5 days creates waste that adds up over time.

Brands market tape as breathable or skin-friendly, but kinesiology tape is not biodegradable, compostable or recyclable. That creates a continuous stream of plastic-based waste, especially in clinics and sport. More eco-friendly tapes have been developed, but they trade away key beneficial features for sustainability.

WaveWear solves this with products you can wash and reuse. AlignX™, which acts as the kinesiology tape, is combined with compression clothing, giving the product a long life span.

It can also be easier on the budget. Tape gets more expensive with every new roll, while a WaveWear item is made to be worn and washed again and again.

Kinesiology tape is well studied. Across studies, it is widely used by athletes for added support during activity (Dehghan, 2023).

Tape is also used in everyday and training settings because it provides extra support to the target area. It is designed to lift the skin slightly, creating space between the skin and the underlying muscle and fascia (Le, 2023). Users like the tape when it is applied correctly, which is why the kinesiology tape market in America alone is around 500 million USD.

WaveWear offers support similar to kinesiology tape through AlignX™, plus the extra support of compression. How does its grip compare? In a peel test on skin, AlignX™ held slightly less strongly than average kinesiology tape (Figure B).

Slightly less grip can be a benefit when you wear the product for a long time. Lower peel strength means gentler removal and less discomfort when you take the garment off, while still giving sufficient support. AlignX™ balances performance and comfort: it sticks well enough to work, but is gentler on the skin.

On top of that, WaveWear gives you the benefits of compression wear. AlignX™ is built into compression wear for more support to muscles and joints, along with the snug feel of compression. Getting kinesiology and compression benefits in one product also reduces the plastic needed for muscle and joint support.

If you like what kinesiology tape does but not the daily taping, WaveWear gives you similar support in a product you simply put on, wash and wear again. You trade a little grip for comfort over long wear, and get compression on top.

See how the silicone is built on the AlignX™ technology page, or what it did to blood lactate in our lactic acid study.