What Is Sizing Like at Pressio? An Honest Guide Before You Buy

By Ella Blake — Fashion Stylist | Tellar Fashion Hub — Always honest, unbiased & unsponsored

Pressio sizing runs true to size for tops and bras, but compression tights and half-tights can feel a size smaller than you're used to — if you're between sizes, size up. That's the short answer. But as someone who's had more than a few kit disasters mid-run (a certain pair of non-Pressio tights that decided to slip southward around mile four will haunt me forever), I want to give you the full picture before you spend your money on this genuinely brilliant brand.

Pressio is a New Zealand-founded performance sportswear label that's earned serious credibility in triathlon, running and endurance sport. The compression technology is exceptional — we're talking LYCRA® fibre, a 36-gauge knit structure and their own EcoPower CK fabric that works with your muscles, not against them. It's also one of the most sustainably produced technical sportswear brands on the market, using GRS-certified recycled nylon and dye-free processes. Premium in price, but it justifies every penny.

Pressio Women's Size Guide

Pressio sizes women's pieces from XXS through to XL across most categories (some styles go up to XXL). Use your bust for tops and bras, and your hips for tights and bottoms.

Pressio SizeUK SizeEU SizeUS SizeBust (cm)Waist (cm)Hips (cm)XXS634278–8160–6384–87XS836482–8664–6788–91S1038687–9168–7292–96M1240892–9673–7797–101L14421097–10178–83102–107XL164412102–10784–89108–113

Ella's tip: Always check your hip measurement against the tights sizing — compression garments have less give at the top of the leg than you might expect. If you're right on the boundary, go one size up.

Sizing by Garment — What You Actually Need to Know

🏃 Compression Tights & 7/8 Tights

This is where sizing at Pressio needs the most attention. The Power Run Tight and the 7/8s High Rise Tight are engineered for genuine graduated compression — meaning they are supposed to feel firm, particularly around the calf and thigh. If you've only ever worn standard leggings (Lululemon, say) rather than true compression kit, expect to size up. Reviewers consistently note that the tights run snug, with at least one independent review noting they wore their normal size in the top half but needed a medium rather than a small for the tights. Once you've got the right fit, though, the muscle support is transformative — and the no-sheerness guarantee is absolutely real.

🧢 Run Tops & Long Sleeves

The tops — singlets, short-sleeve and long-sleeve — run true to size and have what Pressio calls a "sporty fit." This means they're close to the body but not restrictive. I'm usually a UK 10 and a small works perfectly. The moisture management on the Arahi Tee in particular is exceptional — I wore mine on a hilly two-hour run in September and it felt as fresh at the end as it did at the start.

👙 Crops & Sports Bras

Crops and bras at Pressio size true to your standard sports bra size. They're supportive without being suffocating. If you're fuller in the bust, the medium or large will give you the coverage and hold you need without cutting in. These do run slightly smaller across the back band than high street bra sizing, so if you're a 34-inch back on the high street, go medium rather than small.

🩳 Shorts & Half Tights

Similar story to the full tights — the half tights have compression panels so they sit more firmly than regular shorts. Go true to size if you're slim through the thighs, but size up if your hips and thighs are your dominant measurement. The shorts without compression panels are genuinely true to size and very forgiving.

🧥 Jackets & Gilets

The outerwear runs generously — true to size with room to layer a base layer underneath. If you're between sizes and want a closer-to-body athletic fit, size down here. If you need layering room, stay true to size.

Is Pressio Worth the Price?

I'll be honest — Pressio is not cheap. Full-length compression tights sit in the £80–£130 range. But here's the thing: if you run regularly, race, or do any serious endurance sport, the quality of the compression and the durability of the fabric is genuinely on another level. I've had pairs from other brands pill, fade or lose their compression after 20 washes. My Pressio tights still look and perform exactly as they did when I bought them two seasons ago.

The sustainability credentials also matter to me. Knowing your kit is made from recycled nylon, with chemical-free dyeing that uses 70% less water, makes it easier to justify the spend.

High Street Alternatives to Pressio

Not everyone wants to commit £100+ to their first compression tight. Here are the brands I'd recommend based on performance, reviews and what I've personally tested:

Sweaty Betty — Probably the closest high street equivalent. The Zero Gravity and Power Leggings are seriously good, with compression technology that punches well above their price point. Size true to size.
Lululemon — The Wunder Train and Fast & Free tights are a genuine staple in my kit bag. Premium pricing for high street but still £30–50 less than Pressio. True to size.
Gymshark — Great for the price, particularly the Training and Vital collections. Tend to run slightly small, so go true to size or up one.
ASOS (4505 range) — Surprisingly solid performance gear at accessible prices. Ideal if you're just starting out with compression fit. True to size.
H&M (Sport range) — Underrated. The Move collection has improved enormously in the last few years. Size up one — they run small.
M&S (Move range) — Trustworthy British staple. Excellent coverage, honest sizing, and lovely for lower-impact workouts and yoga. True to size.
Superdry (Sport range) — Good for colder-weather training layers. Runs slightly large, so consider sizing down one in bottoms.

A Couple of Independent Picks Worth Knowing About

Tala — A brilliant UK-based sustainable activewear brand founded by Grace Beverley. The quality is excellent, the ethics are solid, and the sizing is very consistent (true to size). Perfect if you love Pressio's green credentials but want a lower price point.
Varley — A London-founded, LA-loved activewear brand that sits beautifully between gym and street. Their compression tights are genuinely impressive. Runs true to size. A proper stylist's pick.

Premium & Luxury Options

If Pressio is your entry into the premium tier, these are the brands that sit alongside and above it:

Vuori — Premium performance with an elevated, relaxed aesthetic. Beautifully made, true to size. More lifestyle than pure performance.
Alo Yoga — The luxury end of the activewear market. The compression is excellent and the styling is effortlessly cool. Size true — though they run slightly long in the leg.
Adidas by Stella McCartney — Where performance genuinely meets couture. Serious technical fabric and exceptional fit for athletes who also care deeply about what they look like leaving the gym.

Never Guess Your Size Again — Tellar.co.uk

Pressio sizing can be tricky, especially when you're ordering compression kit online and can't try before you buy. That's exactly why Tellar.co.uk exists.

Tellar is the UK's leading free sizing platform — your measurements matched instantly to 1,500+ brands, so you always know your correct size before you click "buy."

Measure once — bust, waist, hips, or use your size in a brand you already know
Use the Store Size Lookup tool to find your precise size across hundreds of brands instantly
Always free. No downloads. Works in your browser right now.

Plus, the Tellar Fashion Hub is packed with honest, unbiased, unsponsored style guides from our team of stylists — covering every brand, every body shape, every fashion question you've ever Googled at 11pm.

👉 Visit Tellar.co.uk