You’ve probably noticed while watching the professional road races lately that an increasing number of riders have been wearing brightly coloured strips across their noses. As part of the latest ‘in vogue’ training trend, where there’s an added emphasis on breathing efficiency, nasal strips are back in style. These have been an in-and-out performance gain over the last couple of decades. From the snore-stopping skin coloured strips of the 2000-2010s, to the in-nose turbine that Chris Froome was briefly sponsored by, and then Peter Sagan‘s magnetic nose-widening 100% sunglasses.
Nose strips are nothing new in cycling, but in 2025 they seemed to become the latest must-have training gain and influencer-plugged fitness-booster. Go onto Instagram as someone who follows cycling, and you will almost certainly have seen influencers and bike racers wearing Zone8 or HiStrip nose strips, often in bright pink for that added visibility. But just how do they claim to work, how do they actually work in practice, what does the scientific research and literature say, and are they worthwhile for us to invest in?
I’ve purchased them myself, so there has been no input from any nose strip brand. Instead, I have taken the information that they provide, analysed the studies to see if they truly support the claims, and seen what my own personal experiences suggest the benefits are. I went into this test admittedly a bit sceptical, but open-minded – here’s how it went.
What are nasal strips?
Nose strips are small, adhesive patches typically composed of several layers of material. Strips from the brand Zone8, for example, feature an outer layer of lightweight, breathable silk, three flexible strips that serve as the component that pulls the nostrils apart, and an adhesive that attaches to the nose. You can buy over-the-counter versions at a pharmacy developed for assistance in sleeping, but these ‘athletic’ ones feature a stronger adhesive to stay attached in the presence of sweat, as well as a more sprung tensile system to open the nasal passages further. Both kinds usually claim to work for up to 24 hours without discomfort.
They are worn over the bridge of the nose with the aim of expanding the nasal passages to improve the capacity to breathe through the nose, be that at rest or during exercise. The cost is generally around £20-23 for a…
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