While doing your duties as a nurse, it seems like you’re always on your feet. From walking around and attending to patients to standing for hours while operating equipment – nursing can be pretty tough on the legs.
As noble as their profession is, nurses need to take care of themselves too. A good place to start is relieving some of the strain of standing and walking for so many hours. And the best way to do it is by wearing reliable compression socks.
These socks work by applying light pressure to the legs. It feels a lot like a gentle massage that helps to reduce pain, swelling, and inflammation. It also boosts blood circulation in the legs.
If you’re a nurse looking to buy these socks, you need to choose wisely. Not all of the products in the market can meet the needs of the job. Thankfully, we’ve done all the research for you.
Our team has created a list of the best compression socks for nurses. These products are durable, effective, and affordable.
In this post, we’ll review each of them. We’ll also shed some light on why these socks are important for nurses and how to pick the ones that suit you the most.
Let’s start with a quick overview of the 10 best compression socks for men and women in the nursing profession.
Being one of the jobs that require the most standing, nursing can be tough on the legs. Compression stockings help to reduce the impact of this job requirement on nurses.
Here’s how:
Many nurses suffer severe leg pain after working for several hours. Your feet could get sore from standing for long.
The constant pain could affect your work productivity. It could even negatively impact your personal life.
By wearing compression socks, you’ll relieve a lot of the pain you feel after a hectic shift as a nurse. The socks also help to reduce blisters on the feet.
They will make nurses feel much better at work and at home. That way, you can get some pain relief, even while you work hard serving the community and saving lives.
Nurses are prone to suffering from blood circulatory-related issues such as varicose veins, deep vein thrombosis (DVT), blood clots, and spider veins.
These conditions look and feel bad. Nurses who suffer from them feel self-conscious and find it hard to carry out their duties because of the discomfort.
Compression socks with the right amount of pressure offer a way out. They improve blood circulation around the lower legs.
By staying on your feet for long, you risk developing swollen or inflamed feet, legs, and ankles.
The constant pressure you get when you wear compression stockings will keep the muscles from swelling.
If you notice that your feet or lower legs tend to swell easily, you should get yourself some compression socks ASAP. You’ll be saving yourself from a lot of pain and discomfort.
Before you buy these special socks, you should know that it’s possible to make a wrong choice. There are various compression stockings for different situations.
That means you need to pick one that’s just right for you. To do this, follow our buyer’s guide for getting the best compression sock for nurses below.
The most important factor to consider is your comfort level while wearing the socks. If you don’t like how the socks feel when you put them on, then it’s not for you.
One common case of poor comfort with such socks is itching. If you find that your legs are irritated by the socks, you should find an alternative.
There’s also the issue of the length of the socks when you wear them. The low (just above the ankles) or knee-length cut could determine whether or not you buy. Some people love low-cut or ankle socks, and others prefer knee-high socks.
You should also ensure that the socks you pick match your size. There are compression socks specially designed for plus-size people. Getting the correct size of legwear will make you more comfortable.
We can determine the compression level of socks based on the mmHg metric. It tells us just how much pressure the wearer’s legs will be under while the socks are on.
Nurses need more compression than the average person. This is especially true for full-time nursing professionals.
We recommend that you get socks with any of the following compression levels:
Moderate Compression: This is about 15-20 mmHg. It works fine for most nurses, especially those new to using this kind of socks. Moderate compressors work well in treating circulatory issues.
Firm Compression: This is about 20-30 mmHg. It offers more tightness without going overboard. However, first-timers may struggle to adapt to having such high pressure on their lower legs.
Nurses can wear extra firm socks. However, you shouldn’t do that if you’re not used to compression socks. Sometimes, a health issue might require you to get tighter socks. In such cases, it’s okay to get extra firm ones.
You should always consider what kind of material makes up the bulk of a pair of compression socks before you buy them.
There are three common types of fabric to consider. Each one has its perks.
Each of these fabrics can be infused with copper yarns. The process makes the socks a lot more odor-resistant. Copper compression socks also help you to fight off infection and improve blood flow.
It’s important that your compression socks are not tough to look at. Get products with beautiful designs and bright colors.
Since you’ll be working with patients on your shifts, you want them to feel comfortable around you. Looking nice is the first step towards achieving that.
If your socks don’t compliment your uniform, consider changing to something more fitting.
Let’s dive into helping you find the perfect product!
Copper-infused compression socks are better than regular ones, thanks to their antimicrobial properties. Seeing that hygiene is a priority in any hospital or clinic; these socks are ideal for nurses.
Our long compression socks offer the best lower-leg comfort money can buy. You may wear them at home, at work, or while exercising.
Nurses can enjoy natural relief from stiff or swollen joints thanks to the copper compression tech. The base material is nylon; hence, it helps to remove moisture from the legs.
The design is dark and gold, giving it a professional touch that fits right in with the hospital environment.
Pros
Cons
Reason to Buy
No product on our list is as comfortable as these. If you don’t mind paying more for premium comfort and pain relief while you work, this is an ideal choice.
The Gear Sport is made up of nylon (70%) and spandex (30%). Hence, it has a tremendous amount of stretching power.
It’s also highly durable and can withstand prolonged use better than most on our list. Nurses will have no problem wearing these socks on multiple shifts.
They offer firm compression at 20-30 mmHg. These socks will apply all the pressure you need without ripping.
Pros
Cons
Reason to Buy
Nurses with conditions that require tight socks should consider the Physix Gold Sport.
Third on our list is the FIGS compression socks. It’s made of 91% nylon and 9% elastane. These are long socks specially designed for men. Male nurses can wear them during their shifts and enjoy relief from aching joints.
The socks offer light compression, which is good enough to improve circulation. They also come with some padding for the toes and heels.
Pros
Cons
Reason to Buy
This is ideal for male nurses who have never tried compression socks before.
These were designed to deal with aching in the heels and calves. Thanks to their 20-30 mmHG compression level, they can help nurses with feet or lower legs that are prone to swelling.
The cuffs at the calves are wide enough to support any calf size. With this product, you’ll have more energy even after a long shift at the hospital.
Pros
Cons
Reason to Buy
The Levsox socks are perfect for nurses who need firm pressure socks for wide calves.
These socks are heavier than most of the products on this list. That’s because they’re made of merino wool, spandex, and polyester. The warmth they provide makes them one of the best compression socks for nurses during cold weather.
The fabric also keeps you dry while the socks apply 15-20 mmHg compression to your legs.
Pros
Cons
Reason to Buy
If your current socks don’t feel as comfortable in winter, you may want to consider Bombas’s product.
You’ll get a pack of eight pairs of socks when you buy this product. The CHARMKING compression socks are made of nylon-based material.
They offer moderate compression of 15-20 mmHg. You’ll also get some padding for toes and heel support.
There’s not much going on in the way of design. However, you get to choose from an offering of several colorful compression socks.
Pros
Cons
Reason to Buy
You should get this if you don’t want to spend time washing socks on a regular basis. The eight pairs are enough to cover you for a week.
This product consists of 80% nylon. The remaining 20% is spandex. It has a firm 20-30 mmHg compression level that soothes swelling and boosts blood flow.
The socks are lightweight and breathable. They also have a cool design that suits any gender. There are a variety of colors for you to pick from.
Pros
Cons
Reason to Buy
You should buy it if you need high-compression socks that are comfortable and look good.
These socks have been popular among female hikers for some time. Nurses can also benefit from the countless perks it offers.
BlueMaple socks have bright designs that patients will be happy to look at. They also have good moisture management and moderate compression of 15-20 mmHg.
Pros
Cons
Reason to Buy
If you’re a female nurse looking for affordable, durable, and fashionable nursing compression socks, this is the product to buy.
These are versatile copper-infused compression socks that help to improve blood circulation. They are great for nurses and doctors.
The product comes as three pairs of socks at a ridiculously affordable price.
It’s also machine washable, which saves you the stress of regular hand-washing.
Pros
Cons
Reason to Buy
If you need compression socks that work well both at home and at work, this is a great choice.
These socks are graduated, and they have 20-3o mmHg compression power. Nurses who do a lot of work out can say goodbye to muscular swelling and inflammation.
It has a high copper content of 5% infused into a nylon and polyester material. You don’t have to worry about foot odor with this product.
Pros
Cons
Reason to Buy
These medical compression socks are ideal for nurses who are workout enthusiasts. You’ll feel more energetic in them. Plus, they help to reduce pain and injury.
Most nurses should use compression socks with a pressure of 15 to 20 mmHg. It helps to boost circulation and reduce swelling in the legs. The pressure is enough to eliminate the discomfort that comes with staying on your feet during long shifts.
The average person should wear compression socks during the day and take them off at night before bed. This means you can wear them for about 10 to 14 hours a day. After that, take them off and wash them.
Compression socks for nurses should be firm around the lower legs. However, they should not be so tight that they affect blood flow in the area. Stockings with mild compression are not recommended.
Nurses should wear compression socks during their shifts. You can remove it at home. Even if your shift lasts for 12 hours, you can have the socks on throughout its duration.
Nurses’ feet swell because they have to spend a long time standing or walking. The constant pressure on the feet will cause fluids to build up in the lower legs, particularly the calves and ankles. This build-up is what leads to swelling.
The overall best nursing compression socks on the list has to be the CopperJoint Copper stockings. It’s built for people who spend a lot of time on their feet, making it ideal for nurses.
Although slightly expensive, this product is worth every penny.
