How to Choose the Right Compression Socks
You’ve heard the many benefits of compression socks, from better athletic performance and less muscle soreness to safety against critical blood clots, not to mention less pain from standing or sitting all day.
Compression socks for women and men come in many sizes and types. To enjoy all those benefits you need to find the right compression socks.
CONSIDER THESE CRITERIA TO CHOOSE THE PERFECT PAIR FOR YOUR NEEDS.
1. Compression Graduation
In compression socks, graduated compression is compression that is tighter at the bottom of your leg and gradually looser toward the top of your leg or calf. The purpose of this is to help the blood flow from your feet to your heart more efficiently.
The veins in your legs push blood upward against gravity one heartbeat at a time, and they have one-way valves that prevent blood from falling back down your legs. However, in many people, those valves aren’t strong enough to continue doing this efficiently, especially as we age.
The graduated compression creates directional pressure to help this process.
2. Compression Level
While shopping for compression socks, you’ll notice that they are listed with a certain number of “mmHg,” or millimeters of mercury. This indicates how much compression they’ll apply.
Most often, you’ll see these numbers range from 15 to 30mmHg. 15-20mmHg is enough compression for mild daily use, such as staying warm or enhancing your blood flow during mild to moderate athletic activity. For medical benefits like lowering the risk for blood clots, 20-30mmHg is usually recommended.
If your doctor recommended compression socks, they will likely tell you what level or range of compression to buy. If not, choose the compression level based on the benefits you want from your compression.
3. Height
Just like traditional socks come in many forms and heights, so do compression socks. The most common type of compression socks and compression sleeves reaches the top of your calf.
You’ll see compression socks that only cover your foot as well, and the same goes for compression foot sleeves. These types of compression socks can keep your feet warm and enhance blood flow in your feet alone, rather than your feet and legs. They can also provide plantar fasciitis support and pain relief.
Ultimately, it’s a matter of knowing what you want to gain from compression socks and what areas you want them to affect.
4. Size
Choosing the right size for your compression socks will ensure that you’re getting the compression you need without the socks being too tight or too loose. Remember that sizes can vary between different brands and models of compression socks, so always use the product’s sizing guide.
For compression socks that cover the calf, start with the calf measurement. You should measure your calves at the widest part of the calf and use this as a starting point on the sizing guide. If your calf size falls into multiple size categories for the socks, use your shoe size or foot measurements to narrow it down. Most compression sock sizes fit a range of shoe sizes, but remember that your calf measurement is most important.
For compression foot sleeves, the most important measurement is your arch circumference. Then use the product's size chart to select the proper size.
Buying the Right Compression Socks
Buying compression socks can be the first step toward better health and daily comfort, but that’s only true if you buy the right size and type of socks. To find your perfect fit, shop our compression socks for women and men, our compression foot sleeves, and our compression calf sleeves.
