Wanna wear ‘em right? A picture is worth a thousand words. Compression socks are more challenging to put on than regular socks. Watch our fun ‘How To’ video to learn how expert nurses put them on their patients. Once you’ve mastered these steps, you’ll see it’s easier than you expected and you’ll begin to feel the difference!
How should I select my size?
Sizing for compression is all about knowing your calf circumference. Carefully measure your calf - at its' widest part - using a fabric measuring tape. Lily Trotters can really stretch, so to ensure your calf feels the 15-20 mmHg hug accurately, select the size that matches your calf circumference.
If you are on the taller side, you may prefer the length of our L/XL. Remember, Lily Trotters are 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed. Follow our Returns & Exchanges policy if your socks do not fit and we will help guide you to the correct size.
Refer to our sizing guide below.
Lily Trotters sleeves are gear, for performance only, built to enhance athletic performance. They are a great option for athletes who are loyal to a specific sock brand but still interested in enjoying the benefits of compression. Compression socks work well for performance AND recovery. Wear calf sleeves while exercising to enhance performance and recovery time, when your body is in constant motion. DO NOT WEAR calf sleeves for extended periods of time while stationary. Wear a full Lily Trotters compression sock after workouts for recovery, travel, while sitting or standing for long periods and for general vein health.
Why should I wear compression socks?
Compression makes our legs feel refreshed and energized by increasing the blood flow from our legs to our heart and raising our blood oxygen level.
But compression socks do more than just make our legs feel great. They minimize leg pain and cramping and reduce swelling in our ankles and feet. Wearing compression socks can also help keep our legs healthy, by delaying the onset of varicose and spider veins. Most importantly, they can help prevent a DVT (deep vein thrombosis)— a life-threatening blood clot that can show up in our legs.
When should I wear compression socks?
You can wear compression socks for support in many aspects of your life. Elite and amateur athletes wear compression socks to increase their athletic performance, speed up muscle recovery and alleviate the lactic acid buildup that occurs post workout. Seasoned travelers wear compression socks to alleviate leg cramps and swollen feet and to minimize their risk of developing a DVT on a long flight. Many healthcare workers or anyone who sits or stands for long periods of time can wear compression socks for leg support and to keep fluid from pooling in the ankles and feet. Pregnant women wear compression to help their circulation, which is compromised for many reasons – including hormonal changes, thickened blood and the weight that babies put on veins. Compression socks are no longer the ugly beige medical ‘grandma’ socks of years gone by. They’re now part of an athlete’s arsenal of gear, a traveler’s must-have for long flights and the healthcare worker’s standard uniform.
How does compression work?
Graduated compression begins with a slight squeeze or pressure at the foot. The tightest compression is at the ankle, followed by a decreased, incremental and carefully measured squeeze moving up the leg. This squeeze, or compression, ensures blood flows toward our heart instead of down toward our foot— or even laterally into superficial veins. This upward movement keeps blood from pooling in our ankles, returning it to our heart and lungs more efficiently than without compression.
Compression reduces the diameter of major veins, which increases the velocity and volume of blood flow. The overall pressure we feel as a result of the compression is affected by many factors, including the elasticity and stiffness of the compression material, the size and shape of our legs and our movements and activities. As a result, we experience increased blood oxygen levels, which can enhance athletic performance, speed up muscle recovery and simply leave our legs feeling refreshed and energized.3
How is compression measured?
Compression strength is described as a range. Each range is described in the chart below. The higher number represents the pressure at the ankle and the lower number represents the pressure at the top of the sock. This unit of pressure is referred to as mm/Hg (millimeters of mercury).
| Category of Compression | Compression Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Light | 8-15 mmHg | |
| Moderate | 15-20 mmHg | |
| Firm | 20-30 mmHg | Typically requires a doctor’s prescription |
| Extra Firm | 30-40 mmHg | Always requires a doctor’s prescription and management |
| Heavy | 40-60 mmHg | Absolutely requires a doctor’s prescription and management |
What compression strength are Lily Trotters?
Lily Trotters are 15-20 mmHg— the IDEAL STRENGTH for athletic performance, recovery, travel, during pregnancy and everyday wear.
Is there a difference between high-performance (athletic) compression and medical compression socks?
Compression socks, stockings and other garments originated for medical purposes – to improve blood circulation, add support after injuries, treat venous insufficiencies, wear post-surgeries and manage chronic illnesses. The idea of wearing compression for athletic performance and recovery is relatively new. Medical compression socks range in strength from 8-15 mmHg to 40-60 mmHg. They’re typically a thin sock and available in mostly plain beige, white and black. Performance compression socks deliver the same benefits as medical compression socks, but they are gear, built marathon- strong. They are primarily 15-20 mmHg— the optimal compression strength for performance, recovery and non-medical wear.
Why might some same-sized socks appear to have different lengths?
A lot of factors can affect the way our socks appear when relaxed and not on our legs. Each sock we knit has a specified targeted length. In hosiery manufacturing, hitting that exact length 100% of the time is impossible, so there is an acceptable range for each size, and a slight variation in length is to be expected between pairs. Temperature and humidity in transit can also affect the appearance of relaxed socks. If you are concerned about the size of your socks, please first try them on, as they do stretch a lot. If you are not happy with your fit, contact us by email, or call us at 855.ROCK.SOX (855.762.5769) and we will replace your purchase as soon as possible. We are committed to our 100% customer satisfaction guarantee and ultimately your happiness.
If I have a medical condition, should I wear compression socks?
Compression socks are often used to minimize swelling and help with recovery from some surgeries. They are also helpful managing many medical conditions including Compartment Syndrome, POTS, venous issues, diabetes and more. If you have a medical condition (especially a history of blood clots), consult your physician before wearing compression socks to see if they could be part of your treatment plan, and if so which level of compression is best suited to your needs
Why isn't the sock’s entire footbed fully cushioned or reinforced?
From heel to toe, Lily Trotters are designed to be marathon strong. Our heels are cushioned to help absorb impact during strenuous and repetitive activity, such as running. Our reinforced toes are built to help keep toes from popping through the socks.
What does mmHG mean?
mmHg stand for millimeters of mercury which is how the strength of compression is measured.
What level compression does Lily Trotters use?
Lily Trotters uses 15-20 mmHg, which is conventionally the strongest level of compression one can technically use without a doctor’s prescription. It is also the optimal level of compression recommended for exercise, travel, sitting and standing for long periods of time and for general wear.
What is graduated compression?
Lily Trotters is committed to providing quality graduated compression – which is tightest at the ankle and incrementally and evenly less tight as it moves up the leg. Testing compression graduation is a core quality standard at Lily Trotters. We are committed to getting this right and test our socks regularly as standard-practice.
Visit the Compression Benefits section of our website to better understand how Lily Trotters will help you!
What credit cards do you accept?
Lily Trotters accepts Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover, AMazon Pay and PayPal.
How do I use an online promo code?
To redeem an online coupon code, enter your promotional code in the designated space on the last page of the checkout process, next to payment information. Only one coupon code may be entered at a time.
Do you offer gift cards?
Lily Trotters makes a wonderful gift. Gift cards are available for purchase at our on-line store. To redeem a gift card, enter your gift card code in the designated space on the last page of the checkout process, next to payment information.
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