Best Flight Socks for Long-Haul Flights UK
Choosing the best flight socks for long-haul flights can help reduce swelling, improve comfort and support healthy circulation during air travel. In this buyers guide, we explain what to look for in quality flight socks, including graduated compression, cotton comfort, correct fit and support for travel-related leg fatigue.
Whether you are preparing for a long-haul flight, standing for long periods or looking for comfortable compression socks for travel, this guide will help you understand which features matter most.
Find out more in this Buyers Guide.
Comprehensive Buyers Guide:
What are flight socks compression socks?
“Compression kit is technically a tight sock or stocking,” Cameron says. “When someone uses compression flight socks, the whole point is to minimize or prevent fluid buildup in the lower limb.”
Standing or sitting for an extended period can lead to fluid pooling in your legs ‘’due to gravity,’ Cameron adds. Potentially resulting in discomfort, pain, and swelling in the lower body. Additionally, this increases your risk of developing a blood clot or deep vein thrombosis (DVT) due to the higher likelihood of clot formation as blood flow slows down. The longer the duration of the flight, the higher the risk.
Lord suggests that the science behind compression gear works by enhancing blood flow and circulation. The gentle compression squeeze aids in pumping and moving fluids throughout the body.
When traveling, Lord explains that ‘’many people experience swollen feet on airplanes because of the pressure changes’’. She recommends using ‘’highest cotton content’’ graduated compression flight socks to reduce swelling.
What are the different types of compression socks?
Cameron identifies three primary types of compression socks: Anti-embolism socks, (which are used under medical supervision), graduated compression socks, and general nonmedical support garments.
Graduated compression socks apply higher compression at the foot, offering a looser fit at the top, promoting better circulation and oxygen flow. Lord explains that ‘’this excellent design incorporated in professional flight socks is beneficial as pooling often occurs further from the heart, so I like those,’ Lord adds.
The class I compression socks are some of the most common ones you’d find from major retailers, Cameron says. However, many may provide lower levels of compression.
How is compression measured?
When looking at compression garments, you’ll often see them labeled with measurements in millimeters of mercury (mmHg).
“That’s the metric for how much pressure is getting applied from the sock,” Cameron summarizes. You’ll typically see from 10 mmHg. DVT is a significant risk for passengers and long-haul travellers. Ordinary flight socks graduated compression factor of 10mmHg are considerably less effective in applying Therapeutic pressure. Kensington flight socks have Optimum Graduated Test Compression is 18-21mmHG (class 1)
Can compression socks help improve performance?
Aside from their potential benefits for travelers, nurses and teachers (or anyone else who spends a lot of time on their feet), some people have also been interested in whether they can help performance for exercises or sports. While it may help with getting oxygen to the muscles, many of the performance benefits are likely marginal, Lord hints. “It’s the fine margins that make incremental performance gains, so for me, that’s enough.” For a complete overview of graduated support levels, fabrics and sizing, see our compression socks UK guide.