Microfiber Compression Socks for a Long Flight

I never used to take this foot swelling, deep vein thrombosis (DVT) thing too seriously until one time when I wore a pair of Skechers velcro wraparound sandals on the plane and my ankles hurt for a week afterward from bruising. My feet had swelled up a size or two but the straps hadn't.

So I don't do that anymore and I make sure I keep my legs and feet moving around. Not easy to do when you're on a long coach flight across an ocean though, which is where these compression socks from Ames Walker come in. To reduce the risk of blood clots, these socks decrease pressure from the ankle to the knee, keeping blood from pooling and forcing it to the leg's deep veins. They improve circulation and reduce swelling by applying more pressure at the bottom than the top.

I haven't taken these on a flight yet, but definitely will on my next long one. I did wear them around for an afternoon and although I looked like a Miami retiree when I put them on, nobody was the wiser when I had pants on. They did feel very different than normal socks and I got the sensation like I was getting a bit of a massage.

So if you're going on a long flight and aren't fortunate enough to score business class, these microfiber compression socks can help you avoid "economy class syndrome." Although the elderly and those with circulation problems are most at risk for DVT, plenty of younger people in good health have gotten clots as well. Be safe on that long haul flight to distant lands, or buy these for a friend or relative who takes business trips a lot. They list for $17 to $20 usually, but are often marked down quite a bit from that. Buy them direct at Ames Walker or get them at Amazon.