Do you plan on getting away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life? There is nothing better than visiting friends, or a foreign land to pause for a moment. However there are a lot of dangers involved with the long flights or car rides it might take to get to our destination. If you want to maintain healthy blood circulation, you will need one of the best compression socks for air travel. This article is about what you need to look out for when choosing the best compression socks for travelling. I will also name some of the best men’s compression socks for travel, and some of the best women’s compression socks for travel. I will take into account the best compression socks for air travel.
The best compression socks for air travel are:
The Need For the Best Compression Socks for Air Travel
I personally really enjoy flying. I like the experience of going to the airport, enjoying a cup of coffee and reading a book while waiting for the gate to be announced. Then I take my seat on the plane, and I have multiple hours to work undisturbed, or catch up on sleeping.
Even during this time the best compression socks for air travel can be a real godsend. After all standing or sitting in one place for extended periods is one of the biggest reasons why people starting to suffer form varicose veins. The best compression socks for air travel help your blood circulation. They speed up the blood flow from your ankles to your heart. The blood is prevented from pooling up in your veins. The waste materials leave the muscles sooner, and the in turn they get fresh nutrients sooner too. But more on this later.
Unfortunately from time to time I experience severe leg pains after getting off. My muscles are sore, and my ankles are slightly swollen. But these symptoms can be prevented with the best compression socks for air travel
The situation is the same if I take long bus rides. I remember taking a twelve hour bus ride from London to Edinburgh once. By the time I got to the scenic Scottish city, my legs were killing me. Spending all that time sitting in a cramped little chair does not go easy on your limbs.
The Real Danger: DVT
If someone spends long hours in a sitting position – for example during car rides or flights – the veins in the legs can become tired. There are two main causes behind this:
- The veins have to work very hard at pumping the blood against the force of gravity.
- The leg muscles fail to help the blood circulation with regular contractions.Leg pains, muscle cramps and swollen ankles are only inconveniences, but there are real, life threatening dangers involved with long flights, like Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT).
The MayoClinic website defines DVT as:
Deep vein thrombosis occurs when a blood clot (thrombus) forms in one or more of the deep veins in your body, usually in your legs.
Most of the time the blood cloth gets stuck in one of the deeper veins inside the legs, which cuts off the blood flow to the affected muscles. The patients usually feel tiredness and soreness in the muscles. The legs can get swollen, as the veins are unable to properly transfer the fluids from the limbs. These are not life-threatening problems, but in some cases the blood cloth does not get stuck in the leg veins, and travels through the circulatory system to the brain or the lungs. If it gets stuck in one of these vital organs, the consequences can be fatal.
The Wikipedia page about the condition writes:
Pulmonary embolism, a potentially life-threatening complication, is caused by the detachment (embolization) of a clot that travels to the lungs.
The chances of suffering from DVT increases with age. Statistics show that one in a thousand adults suffers from DVT every year.
What are the best ways of preventing this condition? Well, certainly one of the best preventive methods has to be using the best compression socks for air travel.
Best Compression Socks for Air Travel:
Wanderlust Air Travel Compression Socks Review
The seamless toe box reduces friction and prevents blisters. You will feel amazing and comfortable in these excellent air travel compression socks. These models are both the best men’s compression socks for air travel and best women’s compression socks for air travel.
Made of 80% cotton, and a little bit of nylon, polyester and lycra. This is an excellent, comfortable and durable material mix.
The company offers a 100 % love at first sight money back guarantee for these air travel compression socks. However you will not call them on this guarantee ever…
Click here to check pricing and further reviews on Amazon
Wearing The Best Compression Socks for Air Travel
These garments are clinically tested to reduce the risks of muscle soreness, swelling and thrombosis. The best compression socks for air travel help in two ways: it helps blood circulation while preventing blood cloth formation. The best compression socks for air travel put pressure on the veins, which makes the diameter of the veins smaller, thus preventing the blood from pooling up.
Another positive effect of the compression socks is the structure they give to the leg muscles. The contraction of the muscles during movement has an important part to play in keeping the blood circulating. The muscles are tighter and hug the veins, thus the movement can have more effect on blood circulation. The best compression socks for air travel help the blood circulate better this way.
Always make sure that you wear graduated compression socks on flights. All the best compression socks for air travel are graduated compression socks. These items put the most amount of pressure on the ankles, and then gradually decrease the pressure the higher up the socks are on the legs.This promotes optimal blood flow.
Depending on your age and your health, you might need multiple compression garments. Older people, or ones with severe cases of varicose veins might need a compression sock that goes from the ankles to just below the knees, and another model that puts pressure on the thighs. These two models should never overlap at any point on the legs.
Choose a sock that has an elastic bland just below the knees. This construction is comfortable, and promotes optimal fit. The socks should not be too tight, then you would feel very uncomfortable during a long travel.
The material of the socks should be moisture-wicking and hygienic. Product with a few thin lines of silver in them prevent bacterial infections and fungi growth. This is crucial, since wearing these socks for hours will make you sweat for sure. The most comfortable socks are the ones that are made of nylon mixed with spandex and some natural material, for example cotton or silk. These products are tight, thick and elastic at the same time. The natural materials give the skin a chance to breathe and help fight odors.
Apart from wearing compression socks, what other methods are there for lowering the chances of deep vein thrombosis?
Living a Healthy lifestyle
Being overweight and smoking significantly enhance the chances of suffering from DVT. Since we don’t exactly count the calories during a vacation, and we want to look our best in swimsuits, it can not hurt to loose some weight before travelling.
Giving up smoking has huge benefits when it comes to general health concerns and life expectancy. Not to mention, that it can be a real torture to take a long distance flight and abstain from lighting a fag if you are a heavy smoker.
Take a walk every every hour or two
Moving around a little bit can help rejuvenate your legs with energy. The muscles need to work again, the blood flow speeds up a little bit, and you get an increased sense of vitality.
If you sit next to the window on a plane, and you have no chance of standing up and walking a bit among the isles, just try massaging your legs. You can also attempt to roll your ankles around a bit, or just stand up as much as possible in your seat. Any movement is going to be better than no movement at all. Even if this doesn’t help as much as wearing the best compression socks for air travel, it is still something.
If you are travelling by car, stop at least every two hours to move your legs. You are already better off than if you were sitting on a plane because working the pedals requires a little bit of movement, but it is just as important to walk around, get a bit of light cardio and move those thigh and butt muscles. The best compression socks for air travel can work just as much when it comes to travelling in cars.
Consult your general practitioner before travelling
There are some medical treatments that increase the chances of DVT. Such treatments include hormone replacement therapy, or various heart medications. If you are taking any of these, consulting your GP is a wise idea.
Pregnancy can also significantly impact your chances of suffering from DVT.
Do you have any other tips when it comes to choosing the best compression socks for long distance travel, or other methods for reducing the risks of DVT? Leave a comment below!
The Best Compression Socks for Air Travel
Apart from the Wanderlust Compression Socks
Blitzu Air Travel Compression Socks
They are perfect for preventing varicose veins as well as leg swelling. It prevents blood cloths during long haul flights. They put up to 30 mm Hg graduated compression on your legs.
The reinforced and cushioned heel and toe areas add extra comfort to the socks. The fabric has 360 degrees stretchability. It combines the comfort of kinesiology taping technology with the positive effects of graduated compression.
The company has a 100% money back guarantee on these products. If you don’t like them, they will return your money no questions asked.
All of these factors combined make the Blitzu Air Travel Compression Socks one of the best air travel compression socks on the market.
Click here for further reviews and pricing on Amazon
Physix Gear Compression Socks
Excellent for preventing varicose veins and swelling. Puts between 20-30 mm Hg graduated compression on your legs. Machine washable, made mostly of lycra.
The toe area is especially spacious so it won’t squeeze your toes. The heels and the arch of your feet have extra padding to give you protection and comfort.
Although a little bit on the pricey side, their design, durability and comfort makes these one of the best air travel compression socks on the market.
Click here for further reviews and pricing on Amazon
Frequently Asked Questions
Do Compression Socks Work on Planes?
Absolutely. The mechanism of compression socks doesn’t have anything to do with the outside pressure while you are in the air. Compression socks have their effect by putting pressure on your legs, which in turn squeezes the veins. The external pressure has nothing to do with it.
What strength – mmHg – compression socks do I need?
This depends on multiple factors. However the most popular compression socks for air travel are somewhere between 15-25 mm Hg. You won’t find many compression socks over 30 mm Hg. Any compression socks above this should be worn only if a doctor prescribes them.
Is it safe to wear compression socks all day?
You can wear them, however it is not advised in most cases. You might need to wear them on both legs, or just on one. The best is to wear them during the day and take them of for the night. This way your skin gets some fresh air, and your muscles can loosen up a bit during the night.
Here is an article about wearing compression socks to bed. Check out this article about how long you should wear compression socks.
How to measure for the right size compression socks?
Sit down on a chair, with your thighs parallel to the floor. Measure the distance from the bend in your knee to the floor. You will need this measurement for any compression socks you might buy. If you need any other measurements, the size chart on the product page on Amazon will tell you what to look for.
This concludes the reviews and buying guide to the best compression socks for air travel currently on the market. Which are your favourite compression socks for air travel?