If you haven't worn compression socks and aren't sure if you should let me share some of the benefits. If you’re a compression wearing pro you can skip this     part ; ). Compression stockings improve circulation, so your doctor might recommend compression if you have lymphedema, are having surgery or have vascular disease. But you don’t need a medical condition to wear them, because everyone can benefit from the improved circulation compression socks offer. Even if you've never noticed it before, your legs swell. Every day. Seriously, measure your ankles when you first wake up and when you go to bed that night, there will be a difference. As the day goes on gravity has a hard time getting all the blood back up your legs which causes swelling. This lack of blood flow can cause aching in your legs and even tiredness. Don compression stockings to reduce daily leg swelling and the cons that go with it. Other benefits of compression include reducing or preventing varicose veins and spider veins, speeding up recovery after a workout or long walk. Similarly, if you are sedentary, stand a lot or are pregnant your legs will thank you for wearing compression.

These socks can be confusing for a first-time purchaser because there are a variety of sizes and gradient pressures. Check out our size finder blog for help choosing the correct size for you. Or contact us, we have professional fitters ready to help. As for compression levels, a 20-30 mmHg sock will squeeze your leg tighter than 8-15 mmHg. If you’re just beginning your compression sock wearing journey you will want to start at 8-15 mmHg or 15-20 mmHg. Put your new compression socks on first thing in the morning and be amazed when you go to bed and realize the tired, achiness has disappeared.  “My legs and feet are less tired when I wear them, and they control the swelling I tend to get in my ankles” one customer reviewed after purchasing an Allegro pair.  

The Allegro brand offers quality and support identical to the more famous, more expensive brands. You save money buying Allegro because we buy direct from the manufacturer and pass those savings on to our customers. We also utilize simple, cost effective packaging so your money stays in your pocket. Most importantly, our customers have continuously rated Allegro the best of all the brands we sell. “These socks were half the price of the big name socks and stay up on my leg, support better for a longer time than the rest. I have tried a number of others, and these are the best. I have been using support socks for 15 years now, I wish I would have tried these earlier because I would have saved a lot of money” one customer wrote. 

What else does Allegro offer? Options! Pairs under twenty dollars for men and women, athletic styles and sheer-open toes are just a few of the options.

Open toe socks are offered in knee high, thigh high and pantyhose styles.  

Sheer, opaque, patterned and ribbed fabrics, to name a few.  

We also have Armsleeves available from Allegro, including an armsleeve/gauntlet combo.

After buying our Allegro Essential Sheer a returning customer wrote, “I've been wearing these for over ten years and will keep buying them.” 

Discover for yourself why Allegro is our highest rated brand. 

Allegro Compression Stockings are knit on the same machines (Merz and Lonati) as Jobst and the other major brands.   A pair of 15-20mmHg Allegro Sheer pantyhose are $21.59, with an open or closed toe.  Allegro Men’s Nylon Dress socks are $14.49.  For $17.74 you can get a men’s knee high knit from a combination of microfiber and cotton, very similar to Jobst Casual for Men.  And these are our everyday Allegro prices.  When we have a buy 3 get 1 free sale, you can save an additional 25%.

So what is the difference?   A big part of the price difference is marketing.  Unlike Jobst, Allegro doesn’t have a slew of salespeople making calls to convince doctors to recommend their brand.  Allegro is packaged in a simple poly-bag with a paper insert… no fancy box.  The fibers and fabric used by Jobst are perhaps a bit more expensive, but both stockings provide the same degree of graduated compression that will reduce swelling, increase blood flow, and make your legs feel better.

If you wear compression stockings, give Allegro a try. The Allegro line offers compression socks for men and women, has the highest customer ratings of any brand we sell and a huge selection of styles, compression levels and fabrics.

BrightLife offers a 30-day money back guarantee if you aren’t completely satisfied.  And don’t miss out on our amazing sales.  Because Allegro isn’t covered under minimum advertised pricing (MAP) like the major brands, we offer discounts throughout the year.  Be sure to sign-up for our emails so you don’t miss out on these great opportunities to save some money…. one is coming up very soon.

At the age of 76, Cindy Peterson has run 49 marathons, is a founding member of the Mercury Masters running team, and is also a member of the Seven Continents Club, a privilege she earned from running in at least one marathon on each continent. Cindy ran her first marathon at the age of 55 back in 1994 and has no plans to stop running anytime soon. She is currently looking forward to running her 50th marathon in a few weeks.

We found out about this amazing woman when she called our customer service staff to reorder one of her favorite running accessories – Allegro compression hosiery! She mentioned her upcoming milestone and we just had to know more.  We had the opportunity to get to know Cindy in a recent interview, and pick her brain about marathon advice, strategy, training. Here are Cindy’s best tips and what fuels her motivation and dedication to marathon training.

Q: What motivated you to start running?

It all started about 35 years ago when Cindy made a bucket list of 30 things she wanted to achieve in her life. She looked at it for 2 weeks, then put it away, and forgot about it for a little over 10 years…only to find that 28 things were achieved without even trying! The 29th thing was “own a Jaguar”, and the 30th goal was “RUN A MARATHON”.

“I watched the NYC Marathon in 1993, when the Founder, Fred Lebow, ran with a brain tumor. I was so motivated that if he could run with a brain tumor and complete the Marathon, I could also run it, even though I had varicose veins, couldn’t walk a block, and was 20 pounds overweight. I was motivated!!”

Cindy crossed off the last item on her bucket list in 1994, (a year after rediscovering the list), when she completed her first marathon in NYC. Now, flash-forward to 2016, as she prepares to run her 50th marathon back in NYC in a few weeks.

“Reaching my goals with the training every day, makes me feel great, makes my mind sharp, and feel a lot younger than my 76 years of age.”

Q: Tell us about your experience with the “Mercury Masters.” How does getting involved with a group change the running experience for you?

Cindy is one of the Founders of the “Mercury Masters,” a running team for women 50 and over. It all started with a handful of runners who met in NYC once a week and trained together in Central Park.

“We really bonded together when we ran the Mini Marathon, which is a 10K women’s only race in NYC. Then we set out to run the 1996 100th Boston Marathon, where 5 of us came through the finish line together holding hands. Since then, we have 74 members in the group.”

The Mercury Masters team encourages each other by running together, attending running classes together and supporting each other. The President keeps the group motivated and informed about upcoming team races, as well as any other member news. This group of ladies have played a big role in encouraging Cindy to run.

“Running with The “MERMS” as we are referred to by other teammates, has been a wonderful experience through the years, without which I would not have completed so many marathons. We motivate each other.”

Q: How do compression stockings benefit you during training? Why do you love Allegro Sheer Open Toe Pantyhose for running?

Many runners wear compression socks to enhance performance, speed up muscle recovery afterwards and prevent injury like shin splints. Cindy loves wearing our Allegro Sheer Compression Pantyhose for training and marathons. In her early running career, she started wearing compression hosiery to manage varicose veins and relieve the pain caused by them. Compression socks have played a vital role in allowing Cindy to train.

“The support pantyhose were a big relief. I will not go out for a run without wearing support pantyhose. They give me stability, comfort and confidence, and are a part of my uniform. I would not train without them because I would not be able to run very far with the pain from the varicose veins. They were a miracle for me. I had absolutely no pain after a 6, 10, or even a 15 mile run.”

Cindy wears the Allegro Essential Sheer Open Toe Pantyhose (#32) in 20-30 mmHg compression for long training runs and marathons. This level of compression is ideal for boosting athletic performance and for managing varicose veins. Cindy also likes to wear the Allegro Essential Sheer Open Toe Pantyhose (#14) in 15-20 mmHg, which is great for speeding up recovery and relieving muscle fatigue and minor swelling.

“The Allegro open toe pantyhose gave me great support on my calves, quads and my toes were free. They had more stability than my previous hose, and I was able to start running again. It was an amazing find!!”

You may have seen runners wearing bright colored athletic knee high socks. Other runners and gym-goers opt for compression leggings or pantyhose for full leg coverage. Cindy loves wearing sheer pantyhose with an open toe. Since there is no difference in the compression provided between an open or closed toe style or between a sheer or opaque fabric, it’s mostly up to personal preference.

“I love the sheer style because it gives my legs a great look. It does not look like I am wearing pantyhose at all. The reason for the open toe is so my toes are not constricted at all. Two years ago I had major surgery on my toes, which made my feet wider. My support pantyhose would constrict my toes and cause me great pain and discomfort.”

Q: What’s an overall week of training look like for you?

When Cindy isn’t training, she is running about 6 miles a day, 6 days a week, adding up to a total of 30 miles each week. While prepping for a marathon, Cindy averages 50 miles weekly. If you want to run a good marathon, Cindy advises completing at least three 20 mile runs. To prepare for a marathon, it’s a complete lifestyle change. Diet is also important, just like exercising and staying hydrated.

“When setting out for a run, I eat a banana, and that’s great for a 6 to 8 mile run. When running a long run, I bring “Gu” which is an Energy Gel. I also have a product called “The Right Stuff”, which is an electrolyte drink additive for hydration to make you perform stronger and recover faster. It is developed by NASA for astronauts.”

Q: After completing 49 Marathons, what advice do you have for beginner runners?

Cindy’s advice to a runner preparing for their first race is to partner with a friend or join a group like the Mercury Masters for motivation. This will help you stay dedicated, the time will go by faster and you have someone to push you. When you’re running with a friend, they won’t let you make excuses for missing a run! It also makes it more fun to train for the same race and help each other grow.

“The time spent running will go quicker and you will begin to feel the energy you get from the daily run. Eventually, you can plan for your first 5K, and move on to a 10K. Training is the key, and maybe you can even plan to do your first marathon. All you need is DETERMINATION! I ran my First Marathon at age 55. You can do it too no matter how old you are!!” – Cindy Peterson

Want to know more? Check out this interview Cindy did with New Jersey TV: