Flight socks are somewhat of a different breed when compared to their regular everyday cousin – the plain jane everyday business or sports sock.
What i mean by this is, if you rush into buying a pair of flight socks without making sure they are the right fit for you, you could be putting yourself into quite an uncomfortable situation.
If they are slightly too large for you then you pretty much nullify the whole purpose of having them, as you will not have the correct compression to support ongoing blood circulation throughout your journey.
Buy them too small and your feet will feel like a pig stuffed inside a tiny bird cage, squealing, wriggling and aching to get out.
So if you want to avoid either of these scenarios you might just want to pay attention here, after all, when it comes to health aids, you certainly want to be getting what you paid for.
To start off you need to be aware of 2 measurements when it comes to flight socks. First is the overall sock size, which is essentially your shoe size, and second is the amount of compression. I’m going to assume you don’t know how to measure for either, just to be on the safe side.
So lets take a look at sock size.
Generally speaking, your sock size will correlate to your shoe size, but unlike shoe sizes, the sizing parameters of a sock consider the fact that a sock stretches, as a result many sock manufacturers have broadened a sock size to accommodate a wider range of shoe sizes.
For example, for an average sized foot you can expect to find a sock with the size of 8-10. Meaning if your shoe size is anywhere from 8 to 10, then this sock is for you.
With that in mind it’s easy to see that the sock sizes are few, but what exists can fit many.
On top of correlating the size of your shoe to match the size of your sock, manufacturers also use a general size measurement – small, medium, large and sometimes X-large.
The chart below will give you a basic understanding of how the general size matches with your shoe size. Use either measurement when looking for a sock to fit you.
Please note that size ranges can vary between manufacturers, so it’s a good idea to double check you are getting the right size before you purchase.
Mens Flight Sock Size Chart
| General Size | Shoe Size (USA Size) |
|---|---|
| Small | 5 – 7.5 |
| Medium | 8 – 10 |
| Large | 10.5 – 13 |
| X-Large | 13.5 – 15 |
Womens Flight Sock Size Chart
| General Size | Shoe Size (USA Size) |
|---|---|
| Small | 6 – 8.5 |
| Medium | 9 – 11 |
| Large | 11.5 and up |
WARNING – If your calves are built like the Incredible Hulk then you will need to go for the next size up to accommodate your tank calves. So if your shoe size is an 8 but your calf size is Gorilla, then you will need to pick the medium sock size.
Now let’s take a look at compression size.
Compression is measured in the same way as blood pressure is measured, for the obvious reasons that the compression in socks is designed to facilitate blood circulation.
mmHg means ‘millimetres of Hg’, Hg being mercury. You probably didn’t really need to know that but at least now when you see it next time you won’t feel like a school kid in the back of the class.
Most good compression socks will supply you with a compression between 8-16mmHg. 16mmHg is the highest amount allowed within a non-medical aid. And unless your situation is serious, 16 is definitely as high as you want to go.
Compression Amount Chart
| Support Type | Compression From the Ankle(mmHg) |
|---|---|
| Extra Light Support | 6 – 8 |
| Light Support | 8 – 10 |
| Medium Support | 10 – 12 |
| Firm Support | 12 – 14 |
| Extra Firm Support | 14 – 16 |
As the chart indicates, the standard ankle compression of most quality flight socks will sit within the medium to extra firm range. Also keep in mind that flight socks have ‘graduated compression’, so the support in the chart is indicative of the pressure starting at the ankle, which gradually decreases towards the top end of the sock.
Also like the sock size chart before it, the compression amount will vary between manufacturers.
So in summary when choosing the right flight sock size to fit your itchy travelling feet, keep these tips in mind;
- To find the right sock size, go by your shoe size
- Good graduated compression will be between 8-16mmHg
- If you have calves like the Incredible Hulk, pick the next sock size up (the graduated compression should remain the same however)
As part of our selection criteria our top 3 flight socks had to meet all of these requirements, so if you’re still totally confused about which sock fits you best, I’d recommend taking a look at our top 3 flight socks to make it a bit easier on yourself.
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