Sleeves vs. Socks

Now more than ever, all kinds of athletes are beginning to use compression socks and sleeves to protect themselves throughout the most rigorous training and exercise. These compression garments serve to protect your legs from excessive shock in high impact motions, prevent shin splints, increase circulation, and reduce lactic acid buildup. For the rookie player to the seasoned athlete, everyone can benefit from wearing compression during exercise. But what are the differences between the socks and footless sleeves? Are there benefits of wearing one over another? Here's our comparison:

Compression Sleeves are excellent for running, walking and even swimming. They serve to promote healthy circulation to the legs, which ultimately increases your endurance and keeps lactic acid from building up. In addition, the bright colors coupled with reflective properties help you to avoid accidents while running or walking in the dark. Some people enjoy having a footless sleeve for the sake of convenience and flexibility of wearing non-compression socks as well as those Vibram Five Finger shoes.

One of the main differences between a compression sleeve and a sock is that if you have any swelling in the ankle or foot, the compression sleeve will not benefit you as a compression sock would. Having an enclosed foot will keep the edema from moving from your ankle in the feet or toes. Aside from that, the compression sock performs just as well as the sleeve would in terms of functionality. The socks will also keep lactic acid from forming in the calf and increase blood flow for longer endurance. Some also have reflective properties for your safety when you are exercising at night.

Whether you prefer sleeves or socks, let us know which one works best for certain activities! Need help with sizing, or have other questions about wearing compression for exercise? Don't hesitate to contact us! Leave us a comment, call (425) 880-7893, or email us: Support@LegSmart.com any time! We're here to help.