A: Almost everyone can benefit from compression hosiery - even you! If you sit at a desk all day, stand on your feet all day, travel on airplanes, or exercise - compression will help you!

A: Sure - your socks are keeping your feet warm and dry, but they're not doing much else. Compression socks can actually improve your health by enhancing your circulation, and we think that's worth a few more dollars.

A: Your feet and legs are far from your heart, which means that your circulatory has to work very hard to overcome gravity and distance to receive fresh oxygenated blood.  As we get older and spend more time at our desks or on our feet, the pressure on our circulatory system increases, and our veins are not able to return blood back to the heart as quickly. You may start to see spider veins in your legs and swelling around your ankles. Or, your legs and feet may feel tired and heavy at the end of a long day.  These symptoms are signs that your circulatory system is not working as well as it once did. Compression hosiery helps restore healthy circulation in your legs. The gentle compression from your ankle to your calf, takes pressure off of your circulatory system, pushing blood away from your feet and back to your heart. Stimulating healthy circulation in your legs can also help prevent more serious medical conditions like Deep Vein Thrombosis and painful varicose veins. Increased circulation can also help during and after intense physical activity - allowing your body to recover more quickly.

A: Graduated means that the strength of the compression applied to the leg gradually decreases as you move from the lower to the upper part of the sock The result is that more pressure is applied to the veins in the lower leg than in the upper leg which pushes fluids up. The amount of pressure in compression hosiery is indicated using the measurement term "mmHg" or millimeters of mercury which is how the compression is measured. Some examples are 15-20mmHg, 20-30mmHg, and 30-40mmHg.

A: Great question! mmHg is millimeters of mercury. The higher the number, the stronger the compression. Or, more simply, the higher the number, the tighter the sock will feel.

A: You've probably heard stories on Good Morning America about celebrities like Nene Leakes and Serena Williams suffering from travel related blood clots.  No matter how healthy you are, when you are passively seated in a plane, a car, or even at a desk, for long periods of inactivity during which the leg muscles are not moved can lead to blood pooling in the legs. This causes swelling and discomfort and may even lead to the formation of blood clots in veins deep inside the legs. When activity resumes, a blood clot can move to the lungs and cause a pulmonary embolism. Anyone who spends long periods of time in passive sitting can be at risk. You can reduce the risk by wearing compression stockings. Compression therapy will help your legs feel energized and reduce swelling in the legs and feet. It's one of the simplest things you can do to prevent DVT.

A: The best brand for YOU depends on what you're looking for in a sock. It's a very personal decision and we won't be so presumptuous as to recommend the best brand for you without having spoken to you. When looking for a brand, you should think about the compression level you need, how and where you'll wear the sock or stocking, and what fabric type is best for this.  

A: Most compression socks and stockings will begin to lose strength after 6 months. Certainly you can wear the socks after 6 months, but to get the best benefits from the sock - they should be replaced every 6 months.

A: Sizing depends on the brand - you will find a sizing chart on each product page. Some socks and hosiery will size by shoe size, others by height and weight and others by measurements of ankle, calf and thigh.  If you need to find your measurements, please see our step-by-step measuring guide.

A: Many socks and hosiery on this site can be machine washed and dried, but you should always check the laundry instructions on the packaging.  

A: Compression socks don't just pull on like your every day cotton socks. There's a real technique to getting them on in under 15 seconds.  The best way to learn? Watch the video below. Don't be intimidated - everyone struggles the first few times, but once you've got the technique down, your legs will thank you for it! 

A: If athletes are wearing something, it must be effective.  Athletes, especially athletes that have to perform for long periods of time, are wearing compression to enhance performance and speed up recovery. Basketball players, runners, triathletes, cyclers, golfers, hockey players and more - they're all wearing compression socks.  In fact, the USA Olympic Hockey team wore compression socks in Sochi as part of their uniform.