Top-Rated Travel Compression Socks – (How to Choose?)

When are you taking your next flight? Or are you taking a bus or a train? Probably, you are traveling to have fun or to strike some business deal to improve your life. The last thing you want is to develop some defects over failure to wear travel compression socks. The lower back pains could ruin a few of your days and even make you unproductive. Cramps hurt and you need a working solution. If you are the kind that loves researching before engaging in anything, then you should have come across the term Deep Vein Thrombosis.

If you haven’t come across it yet, then it is high time you learned about this acute condition. The Deep Vein Thrombosis occurs after someone stays immobile over prolonged periods. It starts with a blood clot developing in a deep vein within your body system and this could be in your leg. These clots are commonly referred to as venous thrombosis. It can cause so much discomfort and significant swelling.

You will quite agree with me that the distance and the time of your flights will differ each time you travel. You don’t want to suffer from deep vein thrombosis and other associated defects. But how do you avoid these problems? You will need to get yourself at least two pairs of the travel compression socks.

These compression socks for travel will reduce the chances of your lower limb swelling. The other thing is that wearing these compression socks will help a lot in stabilizing the muscle tissues in your legs.

You need to ensure that you are getting the best quality of these travel compression socks. To achieve this, you will have to buy them from trusted suppliers or retail outlets. The online platform offers you a wide range of selections. You can go there and get the most affordable ones but be sure that isn’t at the expense of quality.

What are compression socks?

Before we describe them, take a look at this picture to see what these socks look like.

an outstanding selection of compression socks for travel

These are types of socks worn by nurses, travelers and even athletes and they come with a snug fit. In most of the cases, they are manufactured by striking a proper combination of LYCRA® and a wide range of other strong fibers. Leading manufacturers usually weave them in such a way that they can provide great support to your limbs throughout your journey. These types of socks exert some amount of reasonable pressure on your calves and shins and that means more comfort for you. They eliminate the various fears that are associated with traveling. In this case, think of severe conditions such as varicose veins and diabetes. With proper blood circulation, the cases of swelling won’t have to worry you at all. This is just part of what the travel compression socks are about.

 The travel compression socks are stretchy and it is this attribute that makes them effective. You can buy them on the various online stores or over the counter.

At times, your doctor may be particular on the kind of compression socks that you should wear. The medical practitioner may have noticed that the risk at hand is, for example, that of a severe or acute Deep Vein Thrombosis.

Here is an image showing the condition

sketch of a limb affected by deep vein thrombosis for not wearing travel compression socks

You need to listen to him and don’t worry in case you have an insurance policy. The insurer will take care of this on your behalf and so you won’t have to dig deeper into your pocket.

The versatile nature of the travel compression socks is limitless! For instance, you could wear them after surgery and if you are a sportsperson then you might find them useful too.

Are you the kind that is usually on your feet all day? Do you have to keep moving up and down? Some professions such as nursing and even teaching require that you keep moving about. The proper quality of the travel compression socks ensures your safety a great deal. You need to wear them properly so that they can relieve pressure on your legs and offer you a good feeling all day long.

 Why the compression socks

Putting on compression socks applies some reasonable amount of pressure to your ankles and legs. As a result, the flow of blood from your lower limbs to your heart receives a significant boost. This means more comfort for you all day long.

Asides from that, you won’t have to put up with issues such as the swelling of your legs and the associated pain. The fears about suffering from the various types of blood circulation problems are reduced significantly. The conditions might include blood clots and deep vein thrombosis.

a swollen limb for lack of wearing compression travel socks

These products come in different strengths and sizes. The best-placed person to advise you is a professional such as your doctor. Such a person will help you a huge deal in settling for what works best for you.

Reasons why should consider wearing travel compression socks

Most of us want to look good most of the time and there is nothing wrong with that. However, there is a common misconception about wearing compression socks. A lot of people still stick to the old ways of thinking that these garments are about compromising one’s appearance or outlook.

That is completely wrong because the changes in time are impacting the way things are done a great deal. You are not going to wear something close to what your grandma used to put on by buying compression socks. I am here to ease your mind.

Business dynamics keep shifting from time to time with entrepreneurs developing products to entice buyers. The sellers of the compression socks for your long flights and other travels are no exception! They are now perfecting the art of developing very attractive compression socks that give you your most desirable look during travel.

best compression socks for travel

Shopping in the right outlets will expose you to a wide range of products. You have the freedom to choose from the various fashionable colors available. Selection of the travel compression socks matching your casual shoes or hiking boots will give you a great look. You may also want to match them with your sneakers and the results will be fantastic. That is provided you are making the right selections aligning to the colors of what you are wearing them with. Gone are the days when you had to compromise your look for wellness reasons. Currently, you can have your cake and eat it as well!

Here are some of the reasons why you should consider wearing the travel compression socks.

Check out the image of ladies wearing compression socks

images of compression socks for travel
fit ladies wearing compression socks during travel
  • Prevents rubs, soreness, and unnecessary pain

The foot rubs, pain, and soreness are preventable. Accidents usually occur unannounced. You may be entering the plane or alighting and by mistake, you get scrubbed. This won’t happen if you are the kind that takes the precautionary measure of putting on the travel compression socks each time you travel.

Remember that wearing travel compression socks is also about boosting blood flow and oxygen. As a result, you prevent the accumulation of lactic acid that causes pain in your muscles.

  • Prevents your legs from swelling

The number of hours that you are traveling may be long and this may cause discomfort. You don’t have to bear the pain and embarrassment of swollen legs after you alight. This is the reason why you need these helpful products.

Some of us would rather keep bothering our partners to massage our feet or rub them after travel. Why should you go through the trouble when the travel compression socks could work well for you? These kinds of socks have been proven to minimize swelling significantly by experts.

  • Reduces chances of suffering from spider and varicose veins

You will quite agree with me that the hustle and bustle of life can get overwhelming at times. You need to move to different countries for business deals or other reasons. You have to stop in the areas or countries of interest and even sleepover.

Some business deals may require a lot of paperwork and even enduring in some long ques. Standing for too long in the queues implies that you will be risking a health concern known as the spider or the varicose vein.

Image of the condition

Image of the varicose veins for failure to wear compression socks

It normally occurs because your lower extremities aren’t getting a proper level of blood circulation. Proper blood regulation is necessary for you and that is where the travel compression socks come in. Don’t keep complaining about commitments because they are inevitable. How many times have you heard it being said that we should focus on what we can control? Get yourself several travel compression socks for your comfort.

 Your lower extremities require a proper level of blood regulation. This can get challenging when you are working as a nurse because it is a requirement that you stand for long hours. The act of standing for too long is what usually transforms into the spider or the varicose vein problem.

You don’t work every day. There are those moments when you want to feel sexy and show off your beautiful legs. The varicose vein or the spider may be very embarrassing and can even make you detach with your self-confidence. But why get to this point when the problem is avoidable? Wearing the travel compression socks while moving around minimizes the chances of defects related to issues to do with blood flow. Prevention is better than cure and so you need to get accustomed to wearing compression socks before you suffer from the spider and varicose veins.

  • It is a way to appreciate your legs as well

Your legs are a major contributor towards you getting the finer things in life. It is thus important to consider ways to pamper and keep them in good condition. One of the best ways is by putting on the travel compression socks on any journey you embark on. This is a great way to show respect to your legs since for some time they get hugged tightly.

Asides from that, they stay in a good condition since they won’t experience the scrubs. Your legs deserve this fantastic feel!

How to choose the best travel compression socks

  • Buy the ones that stay up during all your travel hours. Avoid the ones that roll down since they aren’t effective in protecting your legs.
  • The last thing you want is your legs stinking. The wide-ranging options available are to ensure that you get the best compression socks. Go for the ones with some anti-microbial agents
  • You don’t want your legs getting itchy or overly hot. Buying well-aerated socks will help prevent this problem
  • Ensure you are purchasing compression socks with the right level of compression index. Something like the knee-high 20-30 mmHg would do just fine for you
  • Go for the flat seems because that won’t interfere with your wearing of shoes. You can also access some compression sleeves that offer a great fit from your ankles to your knees

Tips on wearing compression socks

As mentioned earlier, these socks help with blood circulation issues.

Check out the image below to understand the design of compression socks

design of the compression socks for travel

Here are some helpful tips

  • Align it to your leg properly with the tightest section covering the ankle. You need to fold the top part and that is of course outwards. Gently place your foot in the opening section and eventually unfold it over your ankle
  • Pull it up smoothly because wrinkles and bunches could cause much discomfort. Ensure that the compression socks you buy for circulation issues don’t move beyond your knee. Therefore ensure you are settling for the appropriate length
  • You can use rubber gloves in wearing compression socks. At times your hands may be sweaty or may have a poor grip but with gloves everything becomes easy.
  • You can ask for help. If you have a relative or a loved one around, he can also help you wear the compression socks
  • Get in touch with your doctor in case you experience any problems. If you witness any undesirable changes on your feet such as a change in color or irritation, talk to a medical practitioner. He will advise you accordingly

Advice from medical experts

Doctors have a very special role in society and that is to ensure wellness. There was a glaring headline sometime back where doctors send out a warning to travelers about compression socks. These doctors were not in support of the way most of the travelers went about the use of the travel compression socks. They feared that it could result in some adverse conditions if the travelers were not going to change their way of doing things.

But where is the problem? According to the medics, most of the travelers were not adhering to the best practices of wearing these traveling garments. They recommended that travelers put on the travel compression socks before embarking on the journey. According to them, this would be a remarkable way to prevent issues such as the swelling of legs. They also warned about the heightened risk of developing deep vein thrombosis.

A doctor working with the Worldwise Travel Clinics known as Marc Shaw spoke quite elaborately about the matter. He advised travelers to put on these compression socks for travel immediately they wake up. The good part about wearing them much earlier in the day is because at that time the legs are usually less swollen.

According to the expert, it helps a lot because the body adapts to the socks. That spells out quite minimal chances of swelling thereafter. He also sounded a warning asking them to restrain from taking off the travel socks immediately after they and. According to him, they should have them on for a while to give the body room to adapt. This could, for instance, be after two hours.

Compression socks and the associated side effects

You shouldn’t stop at the doctor prescribing compression socks for you. It is your responsibility to check out how your legs cope with these socks. For instance, you might notice some red patches or irritation of the skin surface of your legs. These could point to several things such as:

  • You are wearing compression socks that don’t fit you perfectly
  • Your practices of wearing compression socks are inappropriate
  • You may be allergic to the material used in the manufacture of your compression socks
  • It may be a sign that you have an infection

Conclusion

I have taken you through a lot regarding the travel compression socks and I hope that improves your decision-making. I wish to reiterate the great need to ensure your compression socks fit you properly. These products come in different strength levels and you must settle for the most appropriate one for you. Deciding on what suits you can get challenging at times. That is where you need to consult your doctor. Matters are different when it is the high-pressure compression socks in question. It is advisable to get in touch with your medic so that he can advise you accordingly. The other thing is to adhere to the proper guidelines of wearing these compression socks for nurses. Finally, be keen on observing changes that might occur and ask for help before they get severe.

This page last updated January 7, 2022