The 7 Best Compression Socks for 2025
We tried the higher-compression options from Comrad and Dr. Segal, both 20 to 30 mm Hg, and they felt much more compressive than the Sockwell firm-compression sock. In testing we struggled to get the Comrad socks on—they were thicker and stiffer than the version we recommend—and the Dr. Segal pair cut off the circulation of one tester, causing foot cramps.
Figs Compression Socks for women and men are firm compression socks created with medical professionals in mind, and the cute illustrations of doctoring llamas, pills, and body parts are awesome. However, they suffered heavily in the wash, unusually so for a synthetic sock. One tester said, “I’d be disappointed if something I liked so much wore out so quickly.” Overall, the fit is comfortable, and if you like the patterns, you can care for them by air-drying (which is what Figs recommends).
The unisex Comrad Merino Wool Compression Socks fared the worst in the washer and dryer—the heels and toes were fuzzy and used-looking after just one wash. All merino does poorly in the washer and dryer, and Comrad says to air-dry, so this isn’t a surprise. But even so, other socks—including the nylon-spandex Comrad socks we recommend—suffered far less wear and tear in our testing.
Ostrichpillow makes a pair of Bamboo Compression Socks with sort of a color-blocked, modern styling. The compression is low, at 8 to 15 mm Hg. But like many other socks, they didn’t stand up very well to a washing machine, and we don’t think they’ll stay new-looking for long. If you want very light compression, this sock has the lowest of all those we looked at.
Blitzu Compression Socks (currently unavailable) offer some compression on the foot, which some people find comfortable. But after one wear and one wash, the bottom of the sock started pilling. Plus, there’s effectively only one size for women (the small/medium option covers women’s shoe sizes 5 to 11), which means people with smaller feet may not feel much compression.
The Feetures Graduated Compression Light Cushion Knee High Socks cost significantly more than any of our picks, and they pilled a lot on the heels and toes during our testing. They’re also shorter than most of our picks, and they dug into one tester’s calves.
A lighter-compression version of our pick, Sockwell’s Circulator Graduated Compression Socks for women and men come in a wider variety of colors than the firm versions. However, the compression (15 to 20 mm HG) didn’t feel snug enough, and the top of the sock became a little loose and warped after just a few wears.
The currently unavailable Nike Elite Lightweight Compression Over-the-Calf socks cost more than double the price of socks we recommend, and they come in only a single strength.
The multipacks of Happy Compression and Actinput socks looked and felt identical in our testing, just sold under different brand names with slightly different colors grouped together. They’re listed as offering different compression levels, though—Happy Compression says 20 to 30 mm Hg, and Actinput says 15 to 20 mm Hg. We think each pack might come with a mix of the two because some socks did feel more compressive than others. But they’re not well labeled, and we can’t say for sure.
This article was edited by Tracy Vence and Kalee Thompson.
