Have you ever been discharged from the hospital and been given those horrendous compression socks that you were ordered to wear, come hell or high water, because supposedly if you didn’t, you could oh… I don’t know, die?! This happened to me after giving birth to my daughter. I was already exhausted, traumatized, overwhelmed, and in more pain than I had ever experienced, so the last thing I wanted to do was wrestle impossible knee-high tights onto my already battered body. Not to mention, they looked absolutely ridiculous, and didn’t even have closed toes, which I swear, was simply to add to their discomfort.
This horrible flashback is what came to mind every time I heard the words “compression socks.” Well, until recently, that is. It seems that compression socks are growing in popularity outside the healthcare industry. They are no longer just for hospital patients and those who have health issues. Now, people are learning that compression socks are quite beneficial for a variety of reasons (see below). And thank goodness, they look like regular knee-high socks instead of the ridiculous medical-grade, hospital issue ones.
I decided to jump on this compression sock bandwagon for the mere fact that they’re advantageous to wear while flying, and during long road trips. As someone who likes to travel, I was all for it. My maiden voyage in compression socks was a trip to the beach; and trust me when I say, I looked positively hilarious in my tennis shoes, shorts and knee-high socks. Not gonna lie, I got several weird looks for my dorky, wannabe soccer player ensemble, but… they did indeed improve my comfort during the trip. They pair much better with jeans if you don’t like to draw attention to yourself (or embarrass your kids), and if you’re flying, I recommend pants anyway because planes are usually cold.
If you’re interested in getting a pair for yourself, I have to say that I really, really love my Bombas compression socks. They are so soft, comfy, and fit just perfect. I was actually rather blown away the first time I tried them on. Clearly, not all compression socks are created equal. And speaking from experience, you’re probably going to want more than one pair. Actually, it makes sense to buy at least two – a pair for coming and going travel-wise (unless you wash them during your stay, because pee-ew…). If you work on your feet all day, or conversely, have a desk job, you’ll likely want several. As an added perk, if you buy more than one pair, you’ll qualify for free shipping. Bombas is also one of those feel-good purchases, as they are a Certified B Corporation and for every pair of socks purchased, they donate a pair to the homeless. I love kind corporations; don’t you? If you’re ready to get shopping, use this link to snag 25% off!
There are many benefits to wearing compression socks, and if any of the following speak to you, I recommend giving them a try. Like I said, I love mine and wear them every time I travel.
Compression socks can…
- Improve circulation
- Decrease swelling
- Speed up post-workout recovery
- Reduce fatigue
- Improve lymphatic drainage
- Reduce pain in legs and ankles
- Prevent blood clots
- Help with various health related issues
🙂