The best compression socks for running in 2024, tried and tested by editors

Running a single mile — at about a 10-minute pace — consists of 1,700 steps. And each one of those steps produces ground reaction forces of about two and a half times your body weight. And you know what body parts bear the brunt of all that work? Your feet and lower legs.

You can’t do too much about running’s repetitive impact, but the right gear can help mitigate some of the effects. Compression socks — which are tighter at the bottom and get progressively looser to squeeze blood flow from the feet upwards — are often touted as a way to boost performance and recovery.

Compression clothing, including socks, did reduce muscle pain, damage and inflammation in runners, and the researchers found it may improve certain endurance performance variables — like time to exhaustion — in a 2016 study published in Sports Medicine.

A pair of socks isn’t going to make you faster or help you bounce back from a tough workout overnight, but if you’re seeking relief for tired legs, they could be a worthwhile addition to your running wardrobe.

To find the best compression socks for running, we put 10 pairs to the test in the middle of marathon training. Our tired feet appreciated the support, and in the process we found four great options that may help soothe your sore legs.

Best compression socks for running overall: Bombas Performance Compression Socks

$36 at Bombas: Men’s

The Bombas Performance Compression Socks were the softest of the bunch, and at first glance, we were a little concerned that our feet would overheat in the knit. These look more like a cozy pair of socks you’d slip on in the house during the winter compared to some of the sleeker, performance-minded designs. But we quickly realized how wrong we were when we ran a long workout in them on a hot fall afternoon.

The polyester/nylon blend is moisture-wicking and quick-drying, with elastane for stretch and a little bit of old-school cotton for breathability and comfort. When you flip the sock inside out, you can see how the fabric is knitted with temperature-regulating vents that allow cool air to flow in to prevent overheating. There’s also strategic cushioning — you can feel it under the ball of your foot and around the toes in your running shoes, as well as around the heel (and we especially loved having that padding as we neared double-digit mileage) — to help absorb some of the impact from running without weighing you down with excess fabric where you don’t need it.

From the inside, you can also see the honeycomb pattern that cradles the arch of the foot. That extra support is a welcome addition to the 20-30 mmHg (that’s short for millimeters of mercury, the unit for measuring pressure) of compression throughout the knee-high length. These are pretty tight — getting them on felt like a workout before the workout. Pro tip: To get them on, flip them almost all the way inside out, until just the foot bed is left inside the tube of the sock, then stick your foot in and roll the rest of the fabric up your leg. FWIW, this is a great method for getting into any tall compression sock.

Best knee-high compression socks for running: Feetures Graduated Compression Light Cushion Knee-High

$40 From $28 at Feetures: Women’s | Men’s

$40 at Amazon

Why are there so many knee-high compression socks on the market?  Because they offer a one-two punch of benefits: Not only do they support the arch of your foot and ankle, but by continuing to apply pressure up your leg, they can also help your poor, overworked calves, which can be prone to soreness and fatigue.

Feetures Graduated Compression Light Cushion Knee-High Compression Socks provide 15 to 20 mmHg of compression at the ankle, and gradually lessen the pressure up towards your knee. While wearing these, we were able to ditch our standard calf compression sleeve without experiencing any soreness. (They are tall, so depending on the length of your lower leg, you may not want to pull them all the way up to your knee crease, which can cause discomfort.)

Because these socks felt like they were on the thinner side, we found ourselves gravitating towards them any time we ended up running in the middle of the day. Excess fabric can be hot, even with advanced technology, but the nylon and spandex blend felt lightweight and iWick fibers kept moisture from gathering even in heavier, warmer shoes.

While not all socks have specific right and left foot designs, we preferred the styles (like these) that did, because the fit felt better and more comfortable, especially over longer runs. And we really liked what Feetures calls The Perfect Toe — a seamless design that didn’t show any bunching on the side of our foot, and was completely unnoticeable no matter how we twisted our toes around within a shoe.

Best calf-high compression socks for running: CEP Compression Mid-Cut 4.0

From $13 at Amazon: Women’s | Men’s

$20 at CEP Compression: Women’s | Men’s

Funny story: We were dealing with some unexpected pain on the top of our foot from the lace design on a certain running shoe, and our running coach recommended we try out a pair of the CEP Compression Mid-Cut 4.0. Lo and behold, they were already on deck for testing!

While they didn’t fix that pain — we ditched the shoes — we loved how supportive these socks felt around the arch and ankle. Wearing them felt like our feet were being hugged by the fabric, which is a mix of polyamide (a blend of synthetic polymers) and spandex. And that sturdiness lasted for an entire 20 miles, which more than we can say for our will to keep running. There’s 18-20 mmHg of compression at the arch and ankle, which is a little more approachable for runners who have never worn compression socks but still want to feel a noticeable difference from their regular socks.

When you’re running that long, breathability is as important as support, and we liked how lightweight and breezy these felt — even as the rest of our body started melting. CEP weaves air channels into the footbed and ventilation zones in the toe for optimal breathability and comfort, and the fabric is treated with silver to reduce unpleasant odors and eliminate bacteria.

Two things to keep in mind: While the brand says there’s anatomical padding in the foot, and you can see that the areas under the forefoot and heel are slightly thicker than other spots, these don’t have a ton of extra padding underfoot. And if you’re looking for a compression sock that will support your calf, too, this quarter-length style isn’t it.

Best no-show compression socks for running: 2XU Vectr Light Cushion No-Show Compression Socks

From $15 at Amazon

The 2XU Vectr Light Cushion No-Show Compression Socks look almost exactly like any standard no-show sock, except these deliver a slight, supportive squeeze around your foot without broadcasting their existence to everyone around you (knee-high socks are definitely hard to miss, especially when so many brands seem to opt for excessively neon color options).

The structure offered by the nylon and Lycra blend, while subtle, was noticeable as we ran. 2XU uses what they call an “X-Lock support system” to look the foot in place; even in our wider running shoes, we didn’t experience any excess movement that might cause blistering. There’s also a seamless toe box that’s just a bit wider than the rest of the sock, which allows for more natural toe splay (no cramped digits here) that encourages both balance and movement efficiency.

That support system also provides 15 to 20 mmHg of compression at the base of the foot, which gives the socks a really nice, snug fit — almost as if you were wearing a size too small, except these are anatomically designed to boost your arch and don’t squeeze anywhere they shouldn’t. The fabric, made from moisture-wicking yarns and with zoned mesh ventilation areas for breathability, has about 2.5 millimeters of cushioning — when you stretch out the bottom of the sock, you can see the thicker areas under the heel and forefoot, as well as the more open knit around it to allow for airflow.

What to consider when shopping for compression socks

Socks are an often underrated piece of apparel, but they play a pivotal role in running. So, if yours don’t fit right or feel good, you’re going to feel that with every single step. However, the right pair can energize you and maybe even help you last longer on the run.

Type and amount of compression

Compression — or pressure — is measured in millimeters of mercury. Most compression socks range between 10 and 30 mmHg. If you’ve never worn them before, start at the lower end of the spectrum. Over 20 mmHg is considered medical grade, and you shouldn’t wear compression socks that exceed 30 mmHg without talking to a doctor. Some socks offer graduated compression, where the highest amount of pressure is in the ankle area and gradually lessens up towards the top of the calf; this helps promote blood flow by pushing blood upwards, back to the heart. Other socks use even compression, where the amount of pressure is the same throughout. What’s best for you will come down to personal preference.

Size

No one ever wants a saggy sock with excess fabric, but size is especially important when it comes to compression socks. Because they work by adding pressure to your lower leg, it’s super important that they’re not too big or too tight. Most brands will have you measure the circumference (in centimeters or inches) of the widest part of your calf to find the proper size. Otherwise, you can select a size based on your shoe size.

Height

The length of socks — no-show, ankle or knee-high — you choose will come down to what feels best for you. All of those options will improve blood circulation, reduce swelling and offer relief from soreness. No matter which length you choose, make sure the fabric lies smoothly against your skin without wrinkles or bunching, and it should stay put as you run.

Fabric technology

This plays into comfort — an ill-fitting sock can mess with how your shoe fits, which can make running uncomfortable. Compression socks are generally made from a blend of synthetic fabrics, like nylon or polyester, and a stretchy material, like spandex or Lycra. Some may have additional materials, like cotton or specialty yarns, that have anti-odor and antibacterial properties. Ideally, you want a snug sock that still feels breathable.

How we tested

To narrow down our selection, we culled 10 of the most popular compression socks recommended by other runners and websites. We looked at materials used, the level of pressure offered, the height and style of the sock, additional features like fabric technology and, of course, price.

Then we took our top picks out on the run. We logged at least two hours in each pair, completing all of our initial hour-long test runs wearing the same pair of running sneakers, and considered how comfortable the sock felt, how supported our feet and legs felt, whether the sock caused any distractions at the toe or knee and whether the sock stayed where it was supposed to.

Other compression socks we tested

CEP Compression Run 4.0 Tall Socks

$60 at CEP Compression

These socks are very similar to the CEP Compression Mid-Cut 4.0 socks, except in a knee-high style. They’re built with 20 to 30 mmHg of targeted compression in the arch and ankle, which is slightly more pressure than the shorter version, as well as a little more padding underfoot. While we thought both pairs were comfortable and breathable on warmer runs, this taller pair uses more advanced fabric technology to adapt to weather conditions and keep the skin warm or dry (likely to make up for the fact that there’s just more fabric covering your skin). If you like the shorter ones and want to try knee-highs, these are a great option.

Zensah Tech+ Compression Socks

$50 at Zensah

We’d compare the Zensah Tech+ Compression Socks pretty strongly to the Feetures socks recommended above — but these are $10 more. Made from an almost identical blend of nylon and spandex (this percentage skews a tiny bit in favor of the stretchy material), Zensah’s socks are equally lightweight and moisture-wicking, with the added bonus of silver infused in the fabric to provide anti-odor benefits. These socks also felt just as supportive (although the exact mmHg isn’t listed), with graduated compressive giving the most amount of pressure in the ankle and less in the calf area.

Swiftwick Aspire Twelve Compression Socks

$30 at Swiftwick

If your priority is calf compression, the Swiftwick Aspire Twelve Compression Socks do a good job of supporting the upper part of your lower leg. They use 20 to 30 mmHg of compression at the ankle, and apply the same amount all the way to your knee. FYI, that also makes getting them on a liiiittle bit of a struggle. But once on, they’re great with temperature control thanks to Swiftwick’s signature olefin fabric, which, combined with nylon and spandex, helps provide maximum breathability while wicking moisture away from your skin. Just note that there’s not a ton of padding underfoot.

Lululemon MicroPillow Compression Knee-High Running Socks

$38 at Lululemon

With “MicroPillow” in the name, we had high hopes for the cushioning in the Lululemon MicroPillow Compression Knee-High Running Socks, but unfortunately that feature just didn’t really stand out compared to some of the other compression socks we tested. However, these are still a great option, with graduated degrees of light compression (the brand doesn’t list the exact mmHg) going all the way up to the knees. Lululemon’s fabrics are always top-notch, though, and these socks felt very light and breathable; we also liked the locked-in feeling of the 3D-knit PerformaHeel.

Go2 Compression Socks

$20 at Go2

If you’re looking for a more affordable knee-high option on the higher end of the compression spectrum, these Go2 Compression Socks are a great bet. The blended nylon fabric offers 20 to 30 mmHg, and still has some powerful technology: It’s infused with silver to fight odor and bacteria, and can regulate temperature to keep your legs warm when cold and cool when warm. However, you will be sacrificing zoned compression and extra cushioning underfoot — not a dealbreaker, but something to keep in mind if you’re dealing with trouble spots in any specific areas.

Physix Gear Compression Socks

$15 at Amazon

Another budget-friendly knee-high option, the Physix Gear Compression Socks hug your muscles — from your feet to your knees — with 20 to 30 mmHg of graduated compression. They’re also very light (lighter than the Zensah or Feetures socks), with a finely woven knit that allows the air to flow right through. One caveat: We found these to be very tall, which may be an issue for runners with shorter legs; we had to fold the tops of the socks down a good two inches so the top didn’t dig into the crease behind the knees.