Fee Swelling Compression Socks Over the Calf

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The Best Compression Socks For Maximum Comfort

Last updated: 24 Nov 2021

Compression socks are all the rage these days for athletes, and it isn't just some fad, either. These socks have actual benefits to the wearer, and they're used by athletes and those recovering from injuries, too. These socks are much more effective and pragmatic than traditional socks. It's a wonder why not a lot of people have hopped onto the trend of using them on a daily basis, especially with the best compression socks in 2021 feeling like regular socks, but better. If you want to make your feet and ankles feel great, these socks are great for athletes and office workers alike. From short socks to knee-highs, there's a compression sock for just about anyone, so don't be afraid to try them out for yourselves. Here are some of the best compression socks available on Amazon today.

Featured image courtesy of iStock

Best Compression Socks of 2021 Reviewed

Rymora Unisex Compression Socks – Best Overall

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Photo courtesy of Amazon

Key Features

• A premium tailored blend of nylon, polyester, elastane
• Contains ventilation strips to ensure breathability
• Suitable for extended use
• Comes in different colors

From the ankle to the knee, the socks' compression is significantly reduced to avoid muscle soreness after rigorous training or sports activities. Your calves are supported and blood flow is boosted, resulting in more oxygen reaching the muscles of the legs, reducing weariness and cramping.

The socks also feature foot and Achilles tendon cushioning to avert blisters and improve comfort. Perforated strips are also supplied in these spots to guarantee proper airflow, prevent chafing, and reduce sweat. When you take them off, there won't be any marks on your legs.

CHARMKING Compression Socks – Runner Up

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Photo courtesy of Amazon

Key Features

• Knee-high socks
• Comes in many colors
• For everyday use
• Very popular

We're starting off this list with one of the most popular compression socks on Amazon. With over 47,000 ratings and over 4 stars, it's safe to say that thousands of people are satisfied with these socks. They're knee-highs, making them great for a variety of situations, and the added coverage gives you compression therapy all the way up to your knees, which is an incredible feeling once you try them out for yourself.

One of the best things about these compression socks is the variety available in their store. You have many sets to choose from with many different colors, allowing you to add variety to your everyday look. These socks were designed for casual use, though you can definitely wear them out for jogging or for a sports game, should you feel like doing so.

Copper Men's & Women's Compression Socks – Honorable Mention

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Photo courtesy of Amazon

Key Features

• Nylon-based
• Imported
• Best-seller
• Money-back guarantee

While not as popular as the previous item, this set of copper compression socks ended up being a #1 best seller in Men's Novelty Socks on Amazon at the time of writing. That goes to show how popular this set of socks has become, and how popular the trend of compression socks is as of late. These socks are very similar to the previous one as well, with knee-highs that come in many different colors.

These compression socks are made mainly out of nylon and can be machine-washed. They can be used in casual situations or while exercising and feel great to wear. If you're ever unsatisfied with your purchase, you can also always just get your money back with their own 100% money-back guarantee.

FITRELL 3 Pairs Compression Socks – Breathable Knee-Highs

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Photo courtesy of Amazon

Key Features

• Breathable fabric
• Comes in four shades/colors
• Knee-high
• Friction protection

Those previous knee-high compression socks looked great and are loved by many, but there's one issue with them – they're not breathable. With a tight fabric covering your lower leg, you may feel hot and bothered. This can feel very uncomfortable when the socks are worn for long periods of time, especially while exercising. For these situations, you'll want a fabric that allows air to pass through, such as this one.

These compression socks may not be as cheap as other pairs of knee-high compression socks, but the extra cost goes into higher-quality materials and breathable fabric. You won't even know they're there until you look at them, making them great for jogging, playing sports, and much more. You won't have many colors to choose from, but that's a small price to pay for comfort and quality.

TechWare Pro Ankle Compression Socks – Colorful Ankle Socks

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Photo courtesy of Amazon

Key Features

• Ankle-high
• Comes in a few colors
• Great for tired feet
• Relieves pain

These compression socks are shorter than the ones we've covered so far, and that's because they're ankle-high socks. Ankle-high socks are great if you're wearing slacks, pants, and other long clothing. The socks do have a few colors to choose from, ranging from black, white, and grey to brown and even pink. This allows you to match your socks with your wardrobe more effectively if you're conscious about fashion.

Another neat feature regarding these compression socks is that they can help soothe tired feet. When feet are tired and physically worn out, they swell, which never feels nice. The socks are designed to compress on the swollen feet, making them feel much better. Just be sure to pick the right size, and you'll enjoy wearing these socks for sure.

SB SOX Plantar Fasciitis Compression Sock – Open Toe

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Photo courtesy of Amazon

Key Features

• Open-toe design
• Great for indoor wearing
• Helps relieve pain
• Great for athletes

Open-toe compression socks may look strange to some, but they're surprisingly useful. If you're staying at home, then wearing these without shoes or sneakers can feel great, as you have the added balance with your toes while still feeling compression. Aside from this, you could also wear these socks with typical footwear – toes don't really benefit nearly as much from compression therapy as other parts of your foot, so they don't really need to be covered.

While the socks can be worn indoors, however, the best place to use these socks is in the gym, at a basketball court, or some other place you plan on getting physically active in. You'll find that your feet feel surprisingly free, and the open-toe design will do wonders for keeping your toes nice and cool. It may take some time to get used to, but you'll eventually love the feel of these kinds of compression socks.

Feetures Graduated Compression Sock

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Photo courtesy of Amazon

Key Features

• 15-20 mmHg compression
• Five colors available
• Knee-high length
• Moisture-wicking material

Feetures Graduated Compression Socks are available in five attractive colors. They are lightly cushioned and offer 15-20 mmHg of compression, lending themselves to a snug fit that never feels too tight. These socks have been designed to reduce the risk of blisters and other issues you may experience with running socks. You can use them as travel socks, office socks, or for basketball and hiking. The seamless toe is comfortable and prevents irritation, and the material helps you keep your feet dry and moisture-free.

If you are looking for quality, you'll want to invest in a pair of Feetures.

Best Compression Socks Buying Guide

Compression socks are definitely great to wear, but you should do more than just buy the easiest available pair of compression of socks you see at the store. This guide should help you find a pair of compression socks you'll be satisfied with wearing at all times.

What are compression socks?

A compression sock is a type of sock that is worn on one's foot like a traditional sock. However, unlike traditional socks, compressions socks apply more pressure on one's foot and/or leg than usual, which is done for the purposes of compression therapy. This is said to help ease blood flow in the affected areas and help relieve certain joint and muscle pains.

Why is it important to have a pair of compression socks?

It promotes blood flow

When you first put on a compression sock, the first thing you'll notice is that the sock fits a lot more tightly around your foot and/or leg than a typical sock.  This isn't because the sock is a size smaller than what you ordered - it's intentionally tight to apply constant pressure on your joints and muscles. Supposedly, the pressure helps ease the veins and arteries in your body, allowing blood to more easily flow throughout your system.

Now, you may not think that this is useful for people that aren't athletes, think again. Everybody who can walk will need their feet and legs to be functioning properly to move around, and by using compression socks, you can keep the blood in your feet flowing properly at all times, minimizing the risk of injury in the future.

Of course, if you're an athlete, you'll definitely want some form of compression sock or sleeve. Keeping the blood flowing at all times is vital when exercising, as you want your feet to perform at maximum capacity while you're in the middle of a game or while you're going out for a jog outdoors. You don't even need to wear them every day - as long as you wear them when needed, you'll be able to reap their benefits. In fact, there's a good chance you won't notice they're compressing on your feet while you're exercising, so there's no reason why you shouldn't wear them while playing or working out.

It reduces swelling

Now, you may think that when we say, "it reduces swelling", it refers to the tightness of the compression sock literally preventing the skin and muscles to swell. And while this is obviously the case, there's much more to it than just that. You see, when one uses their legs for long periods of time, their feet start to swell. For most people, this happens immediately, but athletes and people who are active will have it happen after some rest.

This swelling isn't harmful by any means - it's just annoying in the sense that it can be a little painful. With compression socks, the liquid that causes the swelling will end up being absorbed back by the feet, which will, as mentioned earlier, lessen swelling. So while compression socks do literally make the swelling less apparent, it's far more effective and permanent than you may think.

Things to Consider When Buying Compression Socks

Breathability

When buying a pair of compression socks, you want to consider how breathable the fabric is. The sock is designed to compress around your feet, which means that there's less "breathing room" for your feet to feel cool. Most people can get away with any type of compression, as you won't be doing too much physical activity on any given day. However, athletes may need to worry slightly more when it comes to this factor. You don't want your feet to feel cramped and hot in the middle of an intense match or game.

This is especially true if you're wearing knee-highs. Knee-high socks are designed to cover your entire lower leg, and some compression socks don't offer breathability at all, which can make the socks feel cramped to wear on a hot day. Luckily, other knee-highs are made with breathable fabrics while serving as compression socks, though they do cost more comparatively as a result.

Length

You'll need to worry about the length of the sock just as much as you have to worry about the breathability, if not more. After all, quarter-high socks will always cover no more than the ankle bone, whereas knee-highs will still feel a little hot to wear in the lower legs no matter how breathable the fabric may be. Length can also be important to consider when choosing socks for fashion purposes, and not practical purposes.

The main reason why you'd want to worry about length, however, is because these are compression socks, not typical socks. Compression socks will apply pressure on anything it covers, so knee-high socks will help with blood flow all the way up to your knee, whereas low-cut socks, for example, only cover your ankle and a little more. Be sure to consider what parts of your foot you want to be compressed before choosing an ideal length.

Types of Compression Socks

Athlete socks

Athlete socks are socks that are designed to be worn by athletes and those who are physically active. They are made with breathable fabrics and are great for strenuous activity. They are also designed to minimize friction between the skin and the sock fabric.

Casual socks

Casual socks are more everyday-use than athlete socks. They're not meant to be used in intense scenarios, and so they often don't need to be that breathable or have fancy features. This results in casual compression socks being slightly cheaper than their athlete counterparts.

Compression Sock FAQs

Are compression socks for athletes?

While athletes can benefit from using compression socks, regular people will also find compression socks to be effective no matter what lifestyle they live.

Is ankle compression therapy safe?

Compression therapy is proven to be effective when properly applied.

What are the side effects of compression therapy?

No known severe side-effects have been recorded due to compression therapy, with skin irritation and mild pain being the most "severe" of cases.

Olivia has seen every up and down that a runner can, and knows how important the right training and the right equipment can be. She loves to share the outdoors with her golden retriever, Rocky, traveling through trails both on and off the beaten path. Olivia will often be providing her reviews from where ever she is at the time: the track, the road, or the woods.

Fee Swelling Compression Socks Over the Calf

Source: https://www.si.com/review/best-compression-sock/

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