SB SOX Compression Socks for Men & Women (20-30mmHg) – Best Compression Socks for Flying, Medical, Sports, Wide Calf Fit, and Daily Wear

I'm young, and decently healthy, not super tall, not overweight. So imagine my shock and horror when I began to notice that my feet visibly turn purple and swell when I stand still for long periods of time. Gravity was against me and blood was pooling in my feet and ankles--I knew I had to act fast. Now don't worry folks, I will be talking to my doctor about this. I'm no cowboy. But I'm the meantime, these socks have been a perfect fix. I wear a size 8.5 in women's shoes. Wide. The widest feet you'll ever see. (Actually you won't, no free feet pics). The size small fits me excellently. I was worried that my feet would be squished. I have major sensory issues with my toes, they're not friends and they don't want to be forced to touch each other within the sticky sweaty environment of a too-tight sock. I'm pleased to report that these socks don't force my toes together. The toe and the heel do not have the same compression as the rest of the sock. I can wiggle my toes freely and they can maintain the desired 6ft apart (COVID both broke and awakened different parts of my psyche, in case that wasn't clear by now). If you stand all day. If you sit all day. Get these socks. I mean, also remember to stretch and sneak away for little walks around the office; sitting is the new smoking, kids. Are you anxious? Who knew that an impending sense of doom while simply sitting at my work desk was actually just all the blood partying in my feet? Now, I'm not saying that these socks are life changing (yes, I am). But I've worn them for 3 days and my mood has even improved. I'm flourishing. Moisturized. In my lane. Gently and efficiently cradled by my SB SOX.

I've been wearing the SB SOX Compression Socks for two weeks, and they're a good choice if you want quality, knee-high, compression socks at a reasonable price. The sizing matches the sizing chart—no guessing games or exchanges needed—and the compression level hits that sweet spot where it's effective without feeling restrictive. Whether I'm wearing them during workouts or just going about my day, they provide consistent support and comfort.

UPDATED REVIEW: 6 years later. When I initially bought compression socks 6 years ago, I bought a few different brands. This brand is the best & my favorite from the different brands. It’s been 6 years & I just purchased two additional pairs. Yes, they pill (as I noted in my first review below). That’s not an issue, as it in no way affects the functionality. Regarding my first review & having an issue with the tightness when sleeping with them on…….you’re not supposed to sleep with them on, so I stopped doing that. The tightness of the socks are perfect. I appreciate the variety of colors. I absolute love the longevity of these socks. 6 years in & all of the SB Sox I purchased have 0 issues. The elasticity is as good today as it was when brand new. I can say that’s not the case with all compression socks. I recently threw out another brand, as that brand’s sock lost it’s compression. NOTE: I do not put these socks in the dryer, as over time, the heat can break down the elasticity. I air dry them after every washing. If you are looking for a great pair of comfortable, supportive & long lasting compression socks, this is the brand for you. My massage therapist recommended that I get compression socks to assist with a painful arthritic toe & related the swelling that had been impeding my daily activities. I did a lot of research to better educate myself on compression socks, how they should feel, how to measure for the proper fit, benefits of the socks etc. Once I completed that research, I read hundreds of reviews (on Amazon) on the numerous brands that offer compression socks. I purchased a pair of SB Sox as well as two other brands. So far, these are my favorite pair. I can feel the compression thru my calf and the cushioning provided in the entire foot is quite noticeable. From my toes to my heel, my foot was resting on what feels like padded softness. I did not have this experience with the other two brands. The band at the top is secure and I have not had any slipping. I find it to be tight enough to stay up by not so tight as to cause discomfort, pain or indentation on my leg. I wore them to bed (even though much of what I read did not recommend this). I had no discomfort during night from the socks and woke up with minimal swelling in my foot and both my foot and legs felt really, really good. I then wore them to work where I was on my feet all day. Where as in the past, a full day on my feet would have me limping by day's end, this particular day I found myself with minimal foot pain and my feet felt really good. I didn't want to take them off at the end of the day because my lower legs and feet felt so good. I did machine wash and air dry them. They held up great. One thing I noticed (that I had read in another review of these socks) is that the heel / toe part of the socks started to pill up. At this point, it is just cosmetic and the benefits I receive from these socks out weight the pilling. After work I put on another pair from a different manufacturer (I'll call Brand #2). With the SB Sox being the first pair of compression socks that I've ever worn, I had nothing to compare them to. I wore Brand #2 to bed. Brand #2 did not have the same padding in the feet, although the compression through out my calf on Brand #2 was great. The big downfall for me on this brand was that the band at the top of the sock was so tight, I woke up and had to take the socks off because it was hurting too much. I was disappointed as the compression was great. Tonight I will try Brand #3. I can say that I woke up today and bought my second pair of SB Sox. I also decided to purchase ankle compression socks to wear to bed in lieu of the knee high compression socks.

Overall, this is a great product. My only problem is with the measurement guide. I have two pairs of Large and one of XL. By the measurement guide, I have just over an inch of room for the Large, so I got two pairs. After a few wears, I developed a reaction with a red irritation line on the inside of my calf. The lines were in the same place on each side of my calf. Now, full disclosure, I do have skin issues, and though the large wasn't too big according to the size guide, I think the tightness caused issues. This truly is a great product and helps my legs, so I ordered the XL. So far, there have been 0 issues with the extra large, and I would absolutely recommend it. If I didn't have sensitive/skin issues, then I'm sure the Large would have been fine. The XL is almost a bit too long, but it works for me, and there are no issues after with irritations. My legs feel great while wearing them. I only give this 4 stars, due to hopes this could stand out and give those with sensitive skin a heads up that there could be issues with the correct size.

SB SOX (20-30mmHg): The best I've tried thus far (and I've tried a lot of compression socks). Suffered from multiple DVT's in the left leg due to several veins collapsing during one of the surgeries. They installed some 6+ FT of stents on the veinous side to save the leg (one of the FDA studies out there). Anyway, the end result is that I now get to wear compression stockings from now on. These are simply the best compression stockings that I've found so far (including the medical grade ones you need an Rx for - that simply cost 4-times as much, but have same rating and do the same thing). The band at the top does not cut, they provide good/solid compression from the ankle up, and they make your legs feel great. I've tried some brands that I've simply had to throw away after wearing them once (they were that bad or the band at the top was simply not worth it). For walking/exercise, the SB-SOX also feel great and help during and after the walk (can now do 5-8K's). Or, if you are on your feet all day, these socks will make you feel better when you get to the end of the day (at least your legs will feel better). For the athletes, I can see these socks helping runners at any distance. The vendor is terrific to deal with and they are always willing to help (vendor provides some nice discounts for buying more than one - and you'll want to buy more than one so that you don't have to wash them every night). The only other one that I'd recommend is made by "Run Forever Sports" (also a 20-30mmHg compression) - they feel just as good. The SB-SOX's are a little cheaper out the gate and if you are buying more than 1-pair, they give you a 5% discount for each added pair (up to 30% off for 6-pair). For the money, the SB-SOX's are my go-to brand and I suspect I'll eventually be wearing this brand exclusively (once I've weeded out or worn out the sub-par brands that I've tried.........or once I've worn them enough that I can justify throwing them out; as they are expensive and I wanted to try and get some use out of the other brands that I still have). To anyone out there that wants to simply feel better at the end of a race or at the end of the day - give this brand a try. To anyone out there that needs to wear them for a medical condition (such as DVT's or the pain caused by them), you also will not be disappointed (hang in there and I hope you get some relief). Disclaimer: I paid for each pair of SB-Sox's that I own out of my own pocket and rec'd nothing for free (also got nothing for the time I spent to write this review). At times, I do wonder if the review is unbiased or not and I also wonder if the review can truly be unbiased if the product was given to them for free (I suppose it can be done - but you do still wonder). Anyway, we've all seen reviews where a product was given to a person for free or in exchange for an 'honest-review'. I wanted to put in the same sort of disclaimer - just stating that I paid for them outright. I do try to read reviews when I'm looking to make a purchase and I do appreciate when an honest review is available. While I don't write many reviews, I wanted to at least provide the same courtesy to others that I look for. So, I'll try to find time when a product is working for me and at least provide some feedback - hence this (long-winded) review. Best regards.

I wear a size 10 and followed the sizing chart, which recommended a Medium. Unfortunately, they were much tighter than expected. After about 3 hours of wear, I had to remove them because they were too uncomfortable. In hindsight, I should have ordered a Large instead. That said, the overall quality seems very good. The material feels durable, and I liked that the sole had some extra padding for added comfort. I do wish I had exchanged them for a larger size while I had the chance. If you’re between sizes or prefer a slightly less snug fit, you may want to consider sizing up.

Great socks! I wear medium but ordered large; perfect fit. My Venous Insufficiency is no longer a medical issue. I would recommend these socks to anyone suffering from pain, swelling or blood flow issues

The socks are thick and tightly woven, providing solid compression. The foot and ankle areas in particular have a good amount of compressiveness, which offers great support. I was between S & M sizing and went with the medium to avoid excessive tightness, which turned out to be the right choice. They worked really well for long flights and stayed comfortable throughout.