Which Brand of Compression Socks Are Best

Credit: Reviewed / Betsey Goldwasser

Figs are the best compression socks we tried.

Credit: Reviewed / Betsey Goldwasser

Physix are great, all-purpose socks at a low price.

Credit: Reviewed / Betsey Goldwasser

Sockwells have lighter compression than some other socks.

How We Tested

The Tester

My name is Sara Hendricks, and I am a staff writer covering "emerging categories" at Reviewed. (What does this mean? No one is totally certain, but it involves writing about period underwear, indestructible tights, and Baby Yoda.) Even before diving into tests for this piece, I had long been a proud compression sock enthusiast—my mom once gave me my first pair of Physix for a flight to Paris, and I haven't taken a long journey without my legs compressively ensconced since. I didn't know much about the multitude of podiatric health claims made by health professionals (or the compression sock companies themselves), but I did know that my feet felt less puffy after that seven-hour flight than they had on long-haul flights I'd taken before.

I knew I loved compression socks in general—but was there one brand that could rise above the rest? With the help of Reviewed's senior scientist Julia MacDougall, I embarked on some tests to find out.

The Tests

Credit: Reviewed / Betsey Goldwasser

Testing involved trying on many different pairs of socks.

There are important points of comparison that helped us reach our ultimate choice—namely, some are easier to put on than others, some look better than others, some feel better over longer periods, and some are cheaper, for stocking up. But the good news is, if you go for most of the pairs on this list, you should be generally satisfied.

For the tests, I wore each pair we ordered for a full day. I started each day by jumping rope for five minutes (using this jump rope, if you're curious ) to gauge how they felt post-workout, which is one use for compression socks. Then I went about my day as usual—I walked to work, sat in an office, and walked home—before taking them off and rating them based on their comfort, style, quality, smell retention, and my overall experience. Next, I washed and dried them, then tried them on again to see how and if the compression was affected by being laundered.

This left us with four top contenders: Figs, Sockwell, Pro Compression, and Smartwool. To settle on our top picks, I had people in the office test out each pair for a few hours, then fill out a survey where they answered similar questions.

What Do Compression Socks Do?

It's easy to find claims of the benefits of compression socks—especially from the companies that manufacture them. But how true are these claims of increased blood flow, leg and foot comfort, and overall vascular health? To find out, I contacted an impartial expert: Dr. Miguel Cunha, a podiatrist and the founder of Gotham Footcare in New York City.

As it turns out, most of the blood-flow-boosting claims are true. "When worn correctly, compression socks are very beneficial in providing good circulation of the blood flow in the feet and legs," Cunha says. "The consistent pressure along with the feet and legs [and in response to] movement promotes blood flow up from your ankles through the veins in your legs and back towards your heart." This, he says, can improve circulation and reduce aches and pains caused by blood flow problems.

Who Should Wear Compression Socks?

According to Cunha, compression socks are great for people who have diagnosed circulation problems such as deep vein thrombosis (DVT), varicose veins, blood clots, and diabetes, as well as post-operative patients, pregnant people, people who stand or sit for long periods of time, and athletes, especially those who run for prolonged periods of time. (Some studies show that compressive clothing can slightly improve athletic performance and recovery.) He prescribes compression socks to people with swelling in their lower extremities and associated pain or discomfort resulting from venous insufficiency, lymphatic damage, and/or injury.

Based on these criteria, compression socks may be worn by almost everyone. But to find the right pair, you need to find the proper amount of compression based on your needs.

How Tight Should Compression Socks Be?

Compression socks come in five levels or types of compression, ranging from under 15 to 50 mmHg, or millimeters of mercury, a unit of measurement used to gauge pressure (it's the same unit that's used for measuring blood pressure), ranked in classes from I to III. The higher the number, the greater the compression.

Cunha recommends 15 to 20 mmHg socks for someone who needs mild compression and relief from minor to moderate swelling, aching, and varicose veins, "especially during pregnancy or in people with foot and ankle swelling who travel by plane to help prevent deep vein thrombosis," he says. Socks of 20 to 30 mmHg are the most frequently prescribed pressure by physicians, according to Cunha, and are used to provide relief from varicose veins, edema, deep vein thrombosis, and to help recover from vascular surgery. Socks with 30 to 40 mmHg of pressure are prescribed to provide relief from severe edema, varicose veins, DVTs, and venous stasis ulcers. "Socks of 40 to 50 mmHg have the highest level of compression available and should only be worn under medical supervision," Cunha says. "This level is typically used to treat chronic venous insufficiency and DVTs."

All the socks we tested are either 15 to 20 mmHg or 20 to 30 mmHg, according to their manufacturers. You can buy socks with higher compression rates from specialty retailers, but almost all socks that crop up in a casual online search for compression socks are in the 15 to 30 mmHg range.

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Other Compression Socks We Tested

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Which Brand of Compression Socks Are Best

Source: https://www.reviewed.com/lifestyle/best-right-now/the-best-compression-socks

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