As we mentioned previously, our running journey only started a few years ago and during that time we have picked up tricks from other runners including wearing compression socks. We’re big sports fans so we were already well aware of compression. We’d see our favorite athletes wear sleeves on their arms and legs and always wondered, “Does it really work or is just for looks?”

Doctors and physical therapists have long touted the benefits of compression socks for improving athletic ability, enhancing recovery and reducing muscle soreness, but how does compression really work? Is it just for professional runners? We looked into it and here’s what we found…

Why Compression?

Just as the name suggests, compression gear works by squeezing blood vessels together to create a narrower pathway in the vein, giving the blood better access to your muscles as it flows to and from the heart. This article gives a more detailed breakdown of how exactly the process works, but the short version is the more blood you have flowing to your muscles, the better it is.

Compression clothing has been recommended by doctors for years to combat varicose veins, help with pregnancy, assist bedridden patients and for much, much more. Basically, if you’re trying to increase blood flow, compression is proven to work.

When it comes to runners and compression, compression socks are, by far, the most popular choice.  

Why Use Compression Socks for Running?

As we said, the more blood you have flowing to your muscles the better, and that proves especially true for runners. You can use compression to accomplish two goals: either help keep your muscles fresh during a run, or assist in their recovery afterward.

For runners, the goal of compression is pretty simple. Get more blood into the legs as they’re pumping during your run and get that leg-locking lactic acid out of the legs as quickly as possible during recovery.

What Should You Use?

Compression on your legs comes in two flavors: sleeves and socks. Compression sleeves generally begin just above the ankle and end just below the knee. The reason for this placement is because the calf is a key location for distributing blood to and from the ankles and feet. Compression socks will be around the knee area (sometimes over, sometimes under) and cover the entire foot.

If you’ve suffered an injury in the past to your arch, Achilles, or if you’ve had problems with plantar fasciitis, then compression socks are definitely for you. If these don’t apply to you, you’ll be just fine with sleeves. However, there’s nothing wrong with wearing the full sock regardless.

If you’re curious about how to put on compression socks, check out this video. They aren’t as easy to slip on as your day-to-day socks, but they aren’t impossible either. Ladies, if you are used to wearing tights or pantyhose, it’s a very similar idea.

Here are some compression tips:

• • Try it out. You never want to try something new out on race day, so be sure you’ve done some training runs with your compression socks before you bust them out.

• • Double up. If you are unsure your compression socks will give you blisters, double up on your socks. Wear your “normal” socks and then slip on the compression socks on top. Or, opt for the calf sleeves instead.

• Stay comfortable. There is such thing as too much compression. If your socks are really tight, you may have the wrong size or are using too thick of socks underneath your compression socks.

Our Verdict?

It took a few races, but we finally decided to try compression socks during the 2018 Wine and Dine Two Course Challenge for the 10k. We wore aZengear’s graduated compression socks for our runs and they actually made a big difference for us!

The socks were comfortable and actually provided some warmth for the cool mornings. Following the race, we kept the socks on until we came home and proceeded to stretch. We both felt really great following the 10k and our legs weren’t as heavy as they usually are.

We would definitely recommend compression socks for distance races over a 10k. Unless you are an elite runner or have medical conditions, it’s a bit of overkill to wear them for a 5k.

Our compression sock experiment proved to be a success for us and we look forward to wearing them for our upcoming races, including the RunDisney Dopey Challenge! If you are curious about RunDisney events, check out our ultimate guide!

Thank you aZengear for providing us each with a pair of compression socks. If you are looking for compression socks for flight travel, running or daily wear, be sure to check them out! This post contains affiliate links which means we may receive a small commission if you purchase through that link.