The Best Compression Socks, According to Doctors, Physical Therapists and Travel Pros (original) (raw)
When you think of compression socks, you may picture those medical-looking garments you’ve seen at the pharmacy. But these socks, designed to stimulate blood flow and increase circulation, have a wide range of uses—and some of them actually look nice. Whether you’re a traveler on a long-haul flight, a runner going the distance for a medal, a patient recovering from surgery or someone on your feet all day for work, the tight hug of compression may provide the relief you’re looking for from aches and swelling in your feet and legs.
We consulted healthcare professionals, travel experts and marathon runners about the socks they wear themselves and recommend to clients and patients.
Keep reading for their top picks and more on how to find the right pair for you.
Recovery helper
Pro Compression’s over-the-calf Marathon Socks are an essential for six-time marathoner and frequent traveler Louisa Tatum, who’s based in the Bronx. Compression level is measured in millimeters of mercury (mmHg), a unit of pressure, and this pair has a medium level, of 20 to 30 mmHg. The design also has arch compression for pressurized zones throughout the foot. Tatum says they’ve helped ease her tendonitis and with pain when she wears them while running. She also appreciates the range of colors and sizes (including a wide-calf option). While traveling, she depends on another pair from the brand, the Marathon Recovery Socks, which she says have been a “game changer” to avoid swelling, especially on long flights to run the Berlin and London Marathons.
All-day wear
Bombas is known for its comfortable everyday socks and slippers, but the brand also makes a calf-high version with compression. Caleb Birchler, D.O., a vascular surgeon at Evansville Surgical Associates in Evansville, Ind., is a fan of the brand’s Everyday Compression Socks. He wears them daily in the hospital, especially on long operative days. Physical therapist Alicia Ferriere, D.P.T., of Fortify Physical Therapy with offices in New York City and Maplewood, N.J., agrees. She wears Bombas while recovering from long runs, as well as when she was pregnant and had long days on her feet. She likes that the socks “come up high over the calf and provide a decent amount of compression without overdoing it,” she says of the pair, which has a low compression level of 15 to 20 mmHg.
Sustained comfort
Henley Vazquez, a New York City-based travel advisor and co-founder of Fora, says she didn’t take compression socks seriously until she knew a woman suffered a blood clot on a long flight. “It was devastating and a wake-up call.” Since then, she keeps compression socks in her travel backpack at all times. Her top pick is Thorlo’s Work Socks. They are designed for 12-hour shifts, with a light but steady 12 mmHg compression level and padding for extra comfort. “Some [compression socks] can be itchy,” she says, making her “ready to rip them off halfway there,” but the Thorlo’s acrylic-nylon blend is impressively soft and comfortable enough to wear for long stretches.
Moisture-wicking and odor-free
Back in 2018, Nina Ruggiero, a Los Angeles-based travel editor and co-founder of Be a Travel Writer, was about to board what was then the longest flight in the world: an almost 19-hour haul from Newark to Singapore. She turned to Dr. Richard Carmona, M.D, M.P.H., the 17th United States Surgeon General and wellness-resort company Canyon Ranch’s chief of health innovation for advice. He pointed her to compression socks. Ruggiero has been wearing this Dr. Motion pair ever since, including on a flight this spring from Los Angeles to London, where she ran the London Marathon. While she loves the benefits of increased circulation and blood flow, she’s also grateful that this pair—with mild 8 to 15 mmHg compression—is moisture-wicking and treated to keep the feet cool and odorless. “I would never, ever want to be that airplane passenger with smelly feet, so this is hugely important,” she said.
Support for active days
Brandon Berkson, the New York City-based founder of Hotels Above Par and a frequent traveler, wears compression socks for itineraries that require a lot of walking. His pick is this pair from SB SOX with a compression level of 20 to 30 mmHg, which he wears while walking and touring cities. They “ooze comfort from the moment you slip them on in the morning,” he says of the pair made of a blend of nylon and spandex. But most importantly, he says, his feet don’t swell when he’s wearing them.
Runner’s pick
“When sitting on a plane for four to six hours, I know that I’m giving my legs a better shot” by wearing compression socks, says Chris Heuisler, a Belmont, Mass.-based senior brand manager for Westin Hotels (he’s also the hotel chain’s global running concierge). He’s been a CEP loyalist for years and notes that this pair strikes the right balance of being light and comfortable, while providing medium compression with level of 20 to 30 mmHg. There is one quirk to the supportive pressure from these: “I will say, they’re comically difficult to put on, but absolutely worth the effort,” Heuisler says.
Padded with comfort
These compression socks from Figs stand out for their padding in the toe and heel, says Tanya Shevavesh, M.D., an emergency medical physician in Jersey City, N.J. She compliments the pair’s “even compression throughout the leg, without being too tight.” A frequent traveler, Dr. Shevavesh says wearing the socks while flying “help me get to my destination without terrible pitting edema,” which is when a swollen body part has a dimple after pressing on it for a few seconds caused by a buildup of fluid. She also notes the nylon-elastane blend is lightweight and doesn’t itch. Note that the sizing is based on calf and ankle circumference and not shoe size alone, which Dr. Shevavesh says helped her find a comfortable fit for her smaller ankles.
Variety of compression levels
Helen Bradley, P.T., a board-certified clinical specialist in sports physical therapy at Vail Health’s Howard Head Sports Medicine in Vail, Colo., recommends 2XU’s compression socks to her patients because of their quality, as well as their range of offerings with different compression levels. The 24/7 pair (20 to 25 mmHg) is best for those whose feet tend to swell after long periods of sitting or standing, but the brand also makes no-show socks with lighter compression (15 to 20 mmHg) and full-length recovery socks (25 to 28 mmHg). The right pick “depends on the purpose of use,” she says, saying those with lymphedema (swelling from an excess of lymphatic fluid) need a higher compression level than, say, a runner.
A hiker’s favorite
Jonny Bealby, the London-based founder of adventure travel company Wild Frontiers, has been trekking through the mountains of Pakistan since 1998, and in that time he’s come to understand the importance of quality socks on those tough hikes. Beyond boosting circulation and supporting the foot with its compression level (15 to 20 mmHg), he says these Rymora socks helped stabilize his ankles, making the pair “just as crucial as sturdy boots and trekking poles.” He says the reduced muscle fatigue allows him to go the distance and remain “fully immersed” in his adventures.
How do compression socks work
Physical therapist Bradley explains that compression socks improve the flow of blood back to the heart, known as venous return. “They create pressure on the veins and tissues of the feet and the calf, leading to an increase in venous flow out of the leg,” she says. Socks with different compression levels are ideal for different uses; lighter compression is best for travel and daily wear for most people, while firmer compression is often better for medical recovery. As always, consult your doctor if you’re not sure which compression level is best for you.
Who should wear compression socks
Those who have lower extremity lymphedema or venous insufficiency (damage to the leg veins) are encouraged to wear compression socks at all times, says Bradley. But she notes other situations where they can be beneficial, such as being confined to one position when sitting on an airline seat or standing for a long time, as doctors, nurses, teachers or airport workers often do all day. “Being in a gravity-dependent position for extended periods of time puts more stress on the venous system,” Bradley says. “So individuals who stand for prolonged periods can benefit from wearing compression socks to optimize circulation.”
Another common use for compression socks is among athletes, most notably runners. Bradley says there is “some evidence” that the imposed pressure can help with both performance and recovery. Whatever your reason for wearing compression socks, she emphasizes the need to find the right fit, both in length and pressure, and says not to sleep overnight in them unless told otherwise by a doctor.
Meet the contributor
Rachel Chang is a contributor to Buy Side from WSJ.