Short answer: Compression socks have graduated compression: they fit most firmly at the ankle and loosen towards the top. For sport and hiking, choose them by composition (sports socks of nylon and lycra, hiking socks with cotton, merino) and the size by shoe size: 34–36, 37–41, 42–44 or 45–49. The sock should fit firmly but without wrinkles, with the heel in the right place and a cuff that does not cut into the skin.
What are compression socks and what does graduated compression mean?
A compression sock is knitted from elastic fibres so that it fits more firmly than an ordinary sock. Graduated compression means that the fit is not the same along the whole length: the sock is tightest at the ankle and loosens towards the top cuff. The elasticity comes partly from lycra, which all NORDBLANC compression socks contain in their composition (25%, in ski knee-high socks 28%).
This guide covers sports socks; if you have health problems with your feet or legs, consult a doctor.
Which compression socks does NORDBLANC offer?
In the category socks you will find compression sports, hiking and merino socks and ski knee-high socks. An overview by composition and product descriptions:
| Type | Composition | Heel and toe according to the description | Intended use according to the description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sports | 75% nylon, 25% lycra | reinforced heel and toe | training and hikes |
| Sports with coolmax | 45% nylon, 30% coolmax, 25% lycra | reinforced heel and toe | all-season, for various sports |
| Hiking | 40% nylon, 25% lycra, 35% cotton | reinforced toe | day trips, walks, everyday wear |
| Merino, 30% merino | 45% nylon, 25% lycra, 30% merino wool | reinforced heel and toe | mountain trips, everyday wear |
| Merino, 15% merino | 45% nylon, 25% lycra, 15% merino wool, 15% acrylic | reinforced heel and toe | sport and hiking |
| Ski knee-high socks | 72% nylon, 28% lycra | protection for the shin, toe and heel | skiing |
For the socks, the product parameters list the activity hiking, while for the knee-high socks the intended use is given in the name and description. The descriptions of the sports and hiking socks and of the knee-high socks explicitly mention graduated compression; for the merino socks the description speaks only of compression. You will find a selection in the collections compression socks, merino socks and ski knee-high socks.
Which compression socks should you choose for sport and hiking?
The sizes are the same for all types; the main difference is the composition:
- Sports socks are made of nylon and lycra, some with 30% coolmax, which is a functional fibre. The descriptions mention ventilation and use in sport and training, and for the models with coolmax also fine knitting and all-season wear.
- Hiking socks contain 35% cotton. Cotton absorbs more moisture and dries more slowly than synthetics, so these socks suit day trips, walks and everyday wear better, as the products themselves describe. For long periods of exertion with heavy sweating, synthetics are the safer choice.
- Merino socks contain 15 or 30% merino wool, supplemented by nylon and lycra, and on some also acrylic. The wool keeps you warm even when damp and is softer on the skin than conventional wool, but it dries more slowly than synthetics. Its properties are covered in the guide What is merino wool. They suit outings with stops and cooler days.
- Ski knee-high socks are made of nylon and lycra. The description mentions protection for the shin, toe and heel and protective zones where the foot meets the ski boot. One pair goes in the boot. Other clothing is covered in the guides What to wear skiing and What to wear cross-country skiing.
Suitable trousers and a jacket belong with socks for a hike, see Hiking and outdoor trousers and Lightweight sports jacket.
How should compression socks fit?
The sock should fit firmly, most of all at the ankle, but must not press or cut in. After putting it on, check:
- The heel. The reinforced heel lies under your heel, not higher up on the ankle.
- The toe. The toe is not twisted or stretched out in front of your toes.
- Wrinkles. There must be none under the heel or across the instep; in the shoe they would press.
- The top cuff. It lies flat, does not cut into the skin and does not slide down.
- The shoe. Put on the shoes you will be walking in and take a walk. The sock must not shift inside them.
Put it on carefully: turn the sock inside out as far as the heel, slip it over your foot and smooth it up around the ankle. Do not pull on the top cuff.
How do you choose the size of compression socks?
The socks come in sizes 34–36, 37–41, 42–44 and 45–49. The numbers correspond to shoe sizing (EU sizes), so choose by the size of the shoes you wear. The ranges 37–41 and 45–49 cover five shoe sizes, and the ranges 34–36 and 42–44 three. Conversions to UK, US and millimetres are in the Shoes section of the Size charts page. The sock names do not distinguish between women’s and men’s; only the size matters.
The size affects the fit: a sock that is too large wrinkles, and in one that is too small the fabric is stretched and the cuff presses. You can see the availability of sizes and colours on the product page.
How do you wash compression socks?
Follow the label in the sock. The Product care page generally recommends washing the item with similar colours on a gentle programme, inside out and without fabric conditioner, which according to the page damages the function of the material. Dry them inside out, hung freely and not in direct sun, and do not soak them before or after washing. For knitted items, the page allows for shrinkage of at most 3–5%. Wash socks containing merino according to the advice in the guide What is merino wool.
Frequently asked questions
What should I do if my shoe size falls on the border between two sock sizes?
The borders lie between sizes 36 and 37, 41 and 42, and 44 and 45. Size 41 is the highest in the 37–41 range, where the sock is stretched the most, and size 42 is the lowest in the 42–44 range, where the sock is the loosest. Choose the range your size belongs to and decide by the fit: if the toe and heel are stretched, take the higher range; if the sock wrinkles, the lower one.
Which compression socks are also suitable for everyday wear?
According to the descriptions, the hiking socks with cotton and the merino socks with 30% merino are intended for everyday wear. The description calls the sports socks with coolmax all-season. You will find the composition and description on each product.
Are compression socks suitable for ski boots?
The ski knee-high socks are intended directly for skiing; for the other socks the parameters list hiking. One pair goes in a ski boot. What else to wear on the piste is described in the guide What to wear skiing, and you will find socks among the ideas in the article Gifts for skiers.
What do nylon, lycra and coolmax in the composition mean?
Nylon is a strong synthetic fibre and makes up the largest share of every NORDBLANC compression sock. Lycra is an elastic fibre and coolmax a functional fibre found only in some of the sports socks. Cotton and merino wool are natural fibres. You will find the proportions in the composition on the product page.