Some of us don’t have the option to go sock-less when the weather heats up. We HAVE to wear compression socks or stockings all year long. So, what are the best compression socks options for staying cool and comfortable during the summer months? We think fabric choice is the most important decision in selecting summer compression socks and stockings. Here’s what we suggest if you’re looking for breathable socks and stockings for summer: 

1. Cotton is a natural fiber that’s ideal for hot months. It lets air in and quickly wicks away any moisture on your skin. It’s also perfect for anyone who has sensitive skin. A few cotton options to explore:

• Sigvaris Sea Island Cotton socks for Men and Women are available in 15-20 mmHg and 20-30 mmHg. These Sigvaris socks are great for spring and summer because they are made with a soft and breathable cotton fabric.
• Allegro Allegro Italian Cotton Knee High are made of luxurious Italian cotton – imported just for your summer sock needs! Also available in 20-30 mmHg and with an open toe (for your flip flops!)
• For more stylish cotton options, check out the try the Allegro Men’s Mosaic Cotton Compression Sock or the Allegro Women's Mosaic Cotton Compression Sock. Both with 20-30 mmHg of graduated compression 

2. Microfiber is another great summer fabric for socks. It’s soft, stretchy and breathable. It also wicks away moisture from the skin to keep you cool and comfortable. Some people will choose microfiber over cotton because it’s a thinner fabric, which can be better for dress shoes.

• The Allegro Microfiber collection includes socks, thigh highs, and pantyhose to meet all your compression needs at an affordable price! Choose from 8-15, 15-20 and 20-30 mmHg compression levels. Made from a soft, comfortable fabric.
• Sigvaris Midtown Microfiber for Men is a collection of men’s knee high socks in 15-20, 20-30 and 30-40 mmHg. These latex-free socks are super stretchy and durable. Looking for stripes? Try Sigvaris Shades for men and women, available in 15-20 and 20-30 mmHg in a variety of striped patterns and heather colors.
• Sigvaris Soft Opaque for Women is a line of stylish compression wear that comes in a wide variety of colors. It features an advanced moisture management system that keeps legs cool and dry.
• The EASE Microfiber Collection by Therafirm comes in knee highs, thigh highs and pantyhose in a variety of colors and compression levels. EASE by Therafirm is available in microfiber, opaque and sheer fabrics with a closed or open toe style.

3. Silver and Copper infused fabrics are another great addition to your summer wardrobe. Silver and copper will eliminate any dangers of stinky, sweaty summer feet because it kills the bacteria around your feet. Additionally, the fibers in these socks have thermodynamic properties so you will stay cooler in the summer.

• Juzo Silver Socks are the best of the best. Socks are available in anklets, crew length, knee highs, and thigh highs. Compression options range from zero to 30-40 mmHg.
• Allegro Athletic Copper Support Socks has copper, (which kills 99.9% of bacteria), embedded in the foot bed. This soft, ribbed sock is made with a heavily padded foot and features a fitted toe to prevent blisters and irritation. This durable sock is affordable and is great for summer runs!

4. Sheer stockings are great for summer! We offer a wide variety of sheer, open toe stockings for those of you who want stockings that are less visible for summertime. Customer favorites for warm, humid climates are:

• Mediven Sheer and Soft: Available in 4 different compression levels and a wide variety of sizing, both male and female customers love this line of breathable sheers. A customer in Georgia said, “Living in the south, the summer is very hot and humid but I don’t like to go without hose to work. Compression hose are often uncomfortable hot on a humid day but these are terrific. I can’t say enough about the comfort.”
• Allegro Essential Sheers: Available in 3 compression levels, with many open toe and wide calf options, these stockings are a great affordable option for summer-time wear. Even our customers in Santa Fe are raving about them, “With it being summer, I wanted something I could still wear sandals with. These open-toe stockings are the answer!  And they are sheer…I have had several people comment that they couldn’t even notice I was wearing them.”

Additional Options: The compression experts have been creating their own technologies and materials to keep you cool. Check out these additional, moisture-wicking and skin-cooling fabric options:

• Mediven Comfort for Women: Medi’s patented Climafresh and Clima-Comfort systems allow for high breathability, reliable temperature control and the prevention of odor formation.
• Therafirm Ease: Made of high stretch, moisture wicking CoolMax fibers to provide all-day dry, comfortable coolness. Available in knee high, thigh high, and pantyhose. This line is also available with open toes and an even thinner sheer fabric.
• Go for a run or hit the gym in Jobst Active compression socks, available in black and white. Wear 20-30 mmHg to enhance performance or wear 15-20 mmHg to speed up muscle recovery or help relieve fatigue and swelling after your workout. Now available in full-calf sizes!
• Core-Spun Patterned Compression Socks come in a variety of stylish patterns in 4 compression levels for men and women. These socks are made with an ultra stretchy fabric and CoolMax polyester to make them nice and cool!

Armsleeves: For those of you who wear armsleeves during the summer, we have some great options for you too. Juzo  features a ton of fun patterned armsleeves, gloves and gauntlets. The best part is, these garments are made with a soft, moisture-wicking fabric to keep you cool and dry during the hotter months. 

Rock Your Summer Stockings In Style

Now that you have the basics down, here are some fashionable ways to pair compression with your favorite warmer-weather outfits.

When it's still a bit chilly outside, rock a pair of patterned compression socks with jeans and a tank top or t-shirt. Some of our favorite stylish brands include Sockwell, Sigvaris, and Rejuva.

Not ready to show off your untanned winter legs? Throw on a pair of sheer stockings with your short shorts or a dress for a polished look. There are patterned ones too for a fun vibe.

Looking for something a bit more casual but not boring black? Rock a pair of Sigvaris compression socks under your khakis for a punch of color this season!

Every trip wheter by car, train or plane, needs a pair or two of compression stockings.  Frequent flyer miles are great, but you don’t want to arrive for your dream vacation with sore, swollen legs and feet. The reason your legs and feet get so achy when traveling is that your muscles are not being flexed or used enough, and blood pools in your leg veins. This lack of fresh oxygenated blood can cause soreness and cramping in your legs, and swelling in your ankles and feet. If you’re at higher risk for blood clots, are overweight, or you have notoriously poor circulation, this could lead to more serious problems like Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT).

There are a number of ways to increase circulation when you’re on a long flight. First, and most important is to get up and move! Stand up, shake your legs, and walk the aisles when possible. Unfortunately, that’s not always an option if the seat-belt light is on. The easiest way to increase circulation is by wearing compression socks or stockings, often called “travel socks.”  Travel socks provide graduated compression from your ankles to your knee. This increases circulation naturally, coaxing the blood to flow back to your heart, instead of getting trapped in your legs and feet. Here are a few things to look for when shopping for compression socks to take on your trip:

• Medical-grade compression socks will have a compression rating of 20-30 mmHg or 30-40 mmHg, but for traveling, it’s fine to wear socks that have a compression rating of 15-20 mmHg. (This is assuming you don’t suffer from other venous disease.) These ratings simply tell how tightly the compression socks will squeeze your leg (i.e. 15-20 mmHg is a lighter compression than 30-40 mmHg, which will feel much tighter on your legs and be more difficult to put on).
• Find socks that have graduated compression. This means that the compression will be tighter at the ankle, and will gradually become looser as the sock extends up your leg. This will help return blood to your heart.
• Pay attention to the material the socks are knit from. Travelers often prefer natural fibers like cotton, because they’re plush, absorb moisture, and are very comfortable.  Polyester, merino wool, and fabrics embedded with copper and silver are great for absorbing excess moisture on the skin, keeping your feet cool, and decreasing foot odor. No one wants stinky feet on a plane!
• Socks don’t have to be labeled as “Travel Socks” to be used on a long trip. You only need to find socks with a stated compression of 15-20 mmHg, and at least knee high.  If you prefer thigh-highs or tights, they work just as well in the same compression level.
• When you arrive at your destination, don't rush to take off your compression socks. Let your body acclimate to being out of the car or on the ground again before removing your socks. 

If you’re looking for the best quality compression socks at a great price, be sure to check out our full selection of Travel Socks.  If you think of compression socks as thick, flesh-colored tights your grandmother wears, you will be pleasantly surprised with these. No one will know you’re wearing compression!

Allegro Premium – Italian  Cotton Socks are a favorite among flight attendants – so you know they’re good!  Compression socks are great for everyday wear while traveling too.  They provide all day leg comfort while hiking, on city tours, and country walks.

The Medi Assure Knee High is a unisex sock that has 15-20 mmHg of compression. While it isn't available in a wide array of colors (Beige or Black), it does come in a wide variety of sizes. It is also available in an open or closed toe style. Plus they are machine wash and dry for easy care.

If you’re someone who likes to roam the plane in only socks during flight – try The Sockwell Circulator Stripe available in  men's and women's, with 15-20 mmHg compression and your choice of a variety of colors. These socks have a fun striped design you’ll want to show off! The Sockwell brand offers a wide variety of natural fiber blend socks that are a customer favorite.  We stock the full line, and there are colors and patterns available for every taste. 

Don’t travel without compression…. And Bon Voyage!

The latest option is from Sigvaris.  They recently launched Midtown Microfiber as a replacement for Men’s Select Comfort.  Available in knee highs and thigh highs, Midtown is made from a great fabric that’s really soft and elastic.  Midtown is available in extended foot sizes in the 15-20 and 20-30mmHg knee highs.  Sizes MX, LX, and XX will will fit a men’s shoe size of 12.5-17.5.  This is the largest foot size available in any ready-to-wear support sock.  The rest of the Midtown line fits a shoe size up to 14.

Jobst has offered Tall sizes in their Jobst for Men and for Men Casual lines for some time.  These sizes fit a men’s shoe over 12, and a lower leg length over 19.75”.  Their newer Ambition line, which we’ve heard will eventually replace Jobst for Men, is available in long lengths to fit a lower leg up to 20”, but no foot size is given.

Other options that will fit a men’s size 14 foot include Mediven for Men Select, Jobst SensiFoot, and Juzo Ribbed Silver Sole.

If your feet are larger than your budget, and you don’t want to spend $50 or more on a pair of socks, check out Allegro’s Premium Italian socks.  The Italian Cotton is available in 15-20 and 20-25 mmHg compressions.   The Italian Wool is 15-20mmHg only.  Both will fit a men’s size 14 foot.  Priced at $20.96 for the 15-20 cotton, and $24.94 for the wool and higher compression cotton.