You know the feeling. You sit on the edge of the bed, pull, tug, and five minutes later the sock is twisted halfway up your calf and you are out of breath. It is the reason many people give up on compression socks before they have felt what they can do.
Here is the good news: with the right technique, putting on compression socks takes less than a minute. And everyday compression socks like ours are a lot easier to handle than the stiff stockings you may remember from the pharmacy.
Why compression socks feel tighter
Compression socks are designed to fit snugly. Gradual compression means the sock is firmest at the ankle and gently eases off further up the leg. That firm fit is what gives your legs support through the day, but it also means you cannot simply pull them on like an ordinary sock.
The trick is not to pull harder, but to work smarter.
Put them on in 6 simple steps
1. Choose your moment. Put them on in the morning, ideally soon after you get up. Your legs are at their slimmest then, before the day has had a chance to make them feel heavy.
2. Sit down. Sit on a chair or the edge of the bed with your foot within easy reach. No balancing on one leg.
3. Fold the top down. Fold the top half of the sock down over itself, so the cuff sits around the ankle part. Now you only have half the sock to deal with.
4. Slip your foot in. Slide your foot in until your heel sits snugly in the heel of the sock. Check that it is not twisted.
5. Ease it up. Gently pull the folded sock up over your ankle and lower leg, a little at a time. Use your palms and fingertips rather than pulling on the top band, which only stretches the top.
6. Unfold and smooth. Unfold the top and smooth it up your leg until the cuff sits just below the knee. Run your hands up the leg to smooth out any wrinkles. Never roll or fold the top over: that creates a tight band in exactly the wrong place.
Handy tricks that make it even easier
- Wear household rubber gloves. It sounds odd, but the grip makes smoothing the sock up your leg much easier, and it protects the knit from nails and rings.
- Make sure your skin is dry. Apply body lotion in the evening rather than just before putting your socks on, so the sock slides on instead of sticking.
- Take off rings and watch your nails. Sharp edges can snag the fine knit.
- Do not bunch the whole sock up first. Gathering the entire sock into a ring and pulling it over your foot makes it tighter, not easier. The fold-down method in step 3 works better: you only pull up half the sock at a time.
- Struggling a lot? Check your size. If a sock is very hard to get on, it may be too small. Our socks are sized by both calf and shoe size, and the size guide is on every product page. Measuring your calf takes about two minutes.
Taking them off
At the end of the day, fold the top of the sock down and peel it inside out down your leg towards your ankle. Then ease it over your heel and off your foot. It comes off much more easily than it went on.
Made to be easier
Many people's idea of compression socks comes from thick medical stockings that are hard to get on and even harder to love. That is one of the reasons we started Comfort2Prime.
Our Bamboo Everyday Compression Socks combine gradual compression with soft, stretchy bamboo, so they are easier to put on and comfortable to wear from morning to evening. And once they are on, they look like ordinary knee-high socks.
Want to know why compression socks can help tired legs in the first place? Read our article on heavy legs after standing all day.
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If you have limited mobility, a skin condition or a medical reason for wearing compression, ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice. They can also tell you about aids that help you put on compression socks.