How to Choose the Right Compression Socks for You

Everyone needs to protect their feet, but not everyone knows how to protect their feet.

Along with regular foot care, you can help your feet stay healthy with compression socks. Compression socks are a great way to keep your feet healthy year-round, but not every type is right for every foot.

What do you need to consider when choosing compression socks?

Keep reading - our quick guide will help you choose the right compression socks for you.

What Are Compression Socks?

Compression socks place pressure on your veins, enabling better blood flow and circulation. This improved circulation can help with leg aches and fatigue. It may also prevent blood clots since blood is less likely to pool in your veins. Blood clots are a serious medical condition that can lead to a heart attack or stroke.

Who Uses Compression Socks?

Compression socks are popular with athletes such as cyclists and runners. Workers who spend a lot of time on their feet and work long shifts, such as nurses and servers, may also choose compression socks.

Anyone who wants to fight fatigue and improve their circulation can benefit from compression socks.

Choosing Compression Socks

When comparing options for compression socks, you may see a number followed by mmHg. This is the measure of compression or pressure of the socks. It is measured in millimeters of mercury.

The lower the mmHg number, the lower the level of compression. A compression sock of 12-20 mmHg is ideal for everyday use. You may want to choose a compression sock of this type if you spend a lot of time on your feet, plan on traveling, or are pregnant.

A compression sock of 20-30 mmHg provides a higher level of compression that can prevent varicose veins and blood clots.

Some compression socks are graduated. Graduated compression socks provide more compression around the ankles, gradually decreasing and lessening the higher up the sock you go.

If you're diabetic, compression socks may help you control swelling and neuropathy, or nerve damage in your feet.

However, you should talk to your doctor to determine what strength of compression is right for you. You may only require light compression. Too much compression can limit blood flow to your feet and make potential foot injuries worse.

However, you shouldn't stop at socks. For the best foot care, pair them with a comfortable pair of our diabetic shoes.

Other Factors to Consider

When shopping for compression socks you should also consider different sock sizes and styles, the material they are made out of, prices, and the design.

Compression socks go past the calf but usually stop below the knee. They come in a variety of styles such as low-cut, mid-calf, and knee socks. Compression stockings extend further than compression socks, stopping at the thigh.

Compression socks are often made out of cotton, nylon, spandex, acrylic, or wool. If you are new to wearing compression socks and want something that feels familiar, look for cotton compression socks. If you're looking for something to keep your feet warm, look for Merino wool compression socks.

Fortunately, compression socks don't have to be expensive. They also don't have to be drab. We have a wide selection of affordable, stylish compression socks.

Shop Our Selection of Compression Socks

Choosing compression socks doesn't have to be hard. Whether you are looking for compression socks for everyday wear, or medical grade compression socks, we have affordable compression socks for men and women.

Check out our full selection of socks to find the right pair for you.