Compression stockings and socks for air travel

Why do legs swell on a long flight?

Four, six, twelve hours sitting down, with your knees bent and little room to move. You land, and your ankles look like they belong to someone else, and the shoes that felt so comfortable in the morning now feel tight.

There is an explanation. Blood from the legs returns to the heart uphill, and what helps it climb most is the calf: every time you walk, the muscle contracts and pushes it upward, like an escalator. In an airplane seat, that escalator is switched off. Blood tends to pool at the bottom, pressure in the leg veins rises, and some of the fluid passes into the surrounding tissues. That is why the swelling is most noticeable in the ankles and feet, and it gets worse the longer the flight lasts.

If you are worried about the risk of thrombosis on long flights, we cover it in our article on economy class syndrome.

How do compression stockings help on a plane?

Graduated compression stockings are tighter at the ankle and loosen toward the knee. This pressure difference does some of the work your calf cannot do while you are sitting: it guides the blood upward and makes it harder for fluid to stay in the ankle.

Translated to travel: you get off the plane with lighter legs, without that feeling of having sand inside your calves.

How to choose compression stockings for flying?

Four things determine whether a pair of stockings will keep you company on the flight or ruin your trip: pressure, size, material, and length.

How many mmHg do I need for flying?

mmHg measures the pressure the stocking exerts at the ankle. Calcetinos have between 14 and 17 mmHg, tested in an external laboratory: light compression, designed to prevent heaviness and swelling after a long day or a flight when there is no medical indication. You can feel them working, yet they can be worn for hours without discomfort.

There are stockings with much higher pressure, and they are usually prescribed by a doctor for each specific case. If yours has recommended a particular compression level for your trip, that is the one to use, and it is bought at a pharmacy. If you are looking to arrive with light legs, light compression is the one for you. If you want to understand the figure properly, we explain it in what mmHg means in compression stockings.

How do I get the size right?

By the leg. Compression works on the ankle and the calf, so the size comes from measuring there; the foot does not compress and stays loose whatever size you choose. There are four sizes, from S to XL, and the size chart shows you how to measure yourself.

A hint to know whether you got it right: it is normal for the top to leave a slight mark when you take them off, just like any sock. A deep mark, the kind that looks like a constriction, usually means the size is not the right one for you.

Which material is best for my trip?

• Cotton, for almost everything. The Basic socks are for everyday wear, and they work just as well in the cabin.
• Bamboo, if you have sensitive skin. The Nature Bambú socks are soft, hypoallergenic, and more breathable than cotton. A good option for a long night flight.
• Coolmax, if you are flying somewhere hot. The Fresh socks are the coolest, for a hot or humid destination where you will keep wearing them after landing.
• Polyamide, if the journey continues on foot. The Dynamic socks have a reinforced sole: if a hiking route or the Camino awaits you on arrival, these are the ones for you.

How high should they reach?

Just below the knee, which is where the swelling builds up when you spend hours sitting. All Calcetinos are that length.

Basic: for every day, and for flying too 🧦

Combed cotton, light graduated compression of 14-17 mmHg, and the right length just below the knee. Made in Spain.

• No tight elastic at the top, so they don't mark your leg after hours of sitting
• No patterns or raised seams that would spoil the compression
• OEKO-TEX Standard 100 certification

Buy See all models

When should I put them on and how long should I wear them?

Before leaving home, while your legs are not yet swollen. Putting them on at the airport also works, but the sooner they start working, the better. Take them off when you reach your destination, or at the end of the day if the journey continues.

Wear them for the whole flight, even if you fall asleep in your seat. While you are sitting, your legs stay below your heart and the compression still has work to do.

And even when you wear them, get up and stretch your legs whenever you can and move your ankles in your seat from time to time: your calf appreciates any chance to do its job. If you want details on how many hours for each use, see how long to wear compression socks.

What is behind a pair of Calcetinos?

Calcetinos are light graduated compression socks for everyday life and for travelling, made in Spain. The 14-17 mmHg compression is tested in an external laboratory and the fabrics have OEKO-TEX Standard 100 certification.

Two details sometimes surprise people, and both are intentional. They have no tight elastic at the top, so they don't cut off circulation or mark the leg after hours of sitting, which means that part may feel a little loose. And they have no patterns or raised seams, because these would press on specific points and spoil the graduated compression.

Frequently asked questions about compression stockings for air travel

Have a good trip, and remember that not all compression socks are Calcetinos… or equal 😉

This content is for information only and does not replace the advice of a healthcare professional.