Yeah, yeah. I know you want to read more about my FABULOUS trip to Portugal with Viking River Cruises, but I’m DYING to tell you about Sockwell travel compression socks.
Okay. I know what you’re thinking. Eleventh century cathedrals are sexy. Sipping ginja out of a chocolate cup is sexy. Compression socks are not so sexy.
Oh, let me tell you, my friends. Y’all are SO wrong. When a gal reaches a certain age, sexy has a whole new meaning and at 45, I’m at that age.
I’ve discovered that with the right design, travel compression socks are way sexy when compared with the alternative. In my case, death. Alright, that’s a little dramatic. Let’s just say the alternative is cankles.
But let’s go back to the potential death thing. Long story short, I have a blood disorder that has the potential to cause thrombosis (blood clots). I was diagnosed almost two years ago and as a disclaimer, having this doesn’t bother me or impact my day-to-day life. I continue to live a normal, active life managing it with supplements, nutrition and exercise. Guess you can think of it as someone living with high blood pressure or high cholesterol.
Thankfully, I haven’t had blood clots and if you’re not aware, long-haul travel (and other activities or non-activities) can cause deep vein thrombosis (DVT) which can cause a blood clot in a deep vein (typically a leg) which could break off, travel through your blood stream, block blood flow to your lungs and may result in death. I’m not a medical professional so I encourage you get the specifics yourself. But, having a medical emergency during your vacation would suck.
Let’s get back to me and my travels with this dishy pair of hose …
Cankles Are So Not Sexy
During long-haul flights, I take precautions to prevent blood clots and DVT. I pop an aspirin (in addition to the baby aspirin I take each day) before and during my flight to thin my blood. I try to move my body about once an hour to keep blood circulating. I avoid alcohol and sodas. (Yes, I turn down free wine on those long-haul flights.)
Despite doing all of these things, I still end up with swollen feet, ankles and legs when I reach my destination. Not only do I feel stiff but my legs look painfully dreadful. In other words, I have hideous cankles (as defined by Urban Dictionary, Cankles: “The area in affected female legs where the calf meets the foot in an abrupt, nontapering terminus.”). And trust me, cankles are NOT sexy. Unless you’re the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man or likewise.
To alleviate this problem, I was on the hunt for stylish compression socks on Amazon. Why? Because I thought compression socks would reduce swelling and keep blood flowing in my legs, plus I’m cheap, err, thrifty, and had some small Amazon gift certificates to use up. I figured it’d be easy to find a fancy pair.
After an hour of researching and comparing prices, I selected Sockwell Women’s Incline Compression Socks
They cost $24.99 plus shipping so I used my Amazon gift certificates and paid the balance with American Express points so out-of-pocket, I spent $0. Cha-ching!
I wasn’t sure if I was supposed to break them in like a new pair of shoes so I didn’t. Come travel day, I took them out of the packaging and pulled them on. They hugged my legs perfectly and I could feel the compression. They’re also soft, which is probably from the Cashmerino/Bamboo blend in the fabric. I worried if it was possible to wear them for too long and wondered if I should have waited to put them on at the gate rather than at home, but I don’t think it makes a difference.
After flying about 12 hours of air travel from Sarasota to Charlotte then to Philadelphia then to Lisbon, and landing around 9 a.m., I was able to get into my hotel room about 2 p.m. Between the time of landing and crashing in my room, I had eaten lunch and walked at least a few miles.
When peeling off my Sockwell compression socks I wasn’t sure what condition my legs, specifically my ankles, would look like. To my very happy surprise, there was minimal swelling, I mean, minimal. Typically when I travel that far, my legs, ankles and feet are swollen for three or four days so I was VERY happy with the wardrobe choice.
Sockwell Compression Socks – Worth It?
Returning to the U.S., I wore them again with the same results. I don’t know how many washes they can sustain before losing their magical powers and even if I only get a couple of more trips out of them, Sockwell compression socks are worth the $24.99 and I’d definitely purchase another pair.
Where is my next long-haul adventure? Germany is on tap for December to explore the Christmas Markets with Viking Cruises. Before that? We shall see!
Disclaimer: I am not a medical professional and encourage you to consult with your medical professional to discuss if compression socks are right for you because there are a variety of compression levels on the market, including ones only available by prescription.
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links in order to support my traveling habit.
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