Gifts for Nurses They'll Actually Use

We think the best gift for a nurse is something they'll take to work. A pair of printed compression socks fits that idea well. They're knee-high, they sit under work trousers, and we make them with long shifts in mind. The print is what makes them feel like a present rather than a practical buy.

Why socks?

Because socks get worn, not kept on a shelf. Ours are made for everyday wear, so they can go on for a shift, the commute home and a day off. The fabric is a soft blend of 75% combed cotton, 22% polyester and 3% elastane, with comfortable stretch, for winter or summer.

They end just under the knee. Under trousers they stay out of sight, so the print is a bit of fun for the wearer, and anyone else only sees it when a hem rides up.

Which print should you choose?

Think about the person, not the job.

Espresso, our compression socks for nurses, is where we'd start. On our site it's called "The shift worker", and it's cream cups and beans on mocha, with a dark chocolate cuff, heel and toe. If the nurse you're buying for runs on coffee, this is their pair.

If you don't know what their workplace allows, or they simply prefer to keep things plain, go for Black. It's plain black, with VITAL in white on the cuff, and it looks at home under a uniform.

For someone who likes colour, Cherry Pop has red cherries on warm cream, with a red cuff, heel and toe. Daisy is softer: white daisies on soft lavender, with a deep purple cuff, heel and toe. Checker is a black and cream checkerboard with a cream heel and toe. It's bold, but it stays in black and cream, so it's an easy pick when you're unsure about colour.

You can see every print side by side on our collection page.

How do you get the size right?

This is the tricky part of buying compression socks as a surprise. We size by ankle circumference rather than shoe size alone, so knowing their shoe size won't tell you which size to buy.

The simplest answer is to ask. You can keep the print a secret and still ask for an ankle measurement. If they share a home with someone, that person may be able to measure for you instead.

However you get it, here's how to measure, from our size guide:

• Measure first thing in the morning, before they've been up and about.
• Measure just above the ankle bone, at the narrowest point, with the tape snug, not tight.
• Enter the ankle measurement in the fit finder on the size guide. It shows the size: S, M or L.
• If you can, add a calf measurement too, taken around the fullest part of the calf while sitting with the foot flat. It's a fit check.

If their ankle and calf point to different sizes, send us both measurements before you order and we'll advise you.

Buying for a whole team?

If you're putting a gift together from the staff room, pass round a tape measure and a sheet of paper. Everyone writes down their ankle measurement and picks a print, and you check each size in the fit finder before you order. Nobody has to guess, and nobody ends up with a print they wouldn't have chosen.

What if the size turns out wrong?

The surest way to avoid it is the ankle measurement. If you can't get one, ask us before you order. Exchanges are set out in our refund policy, and they count from the day your order arrives, not the day you hand the socks over, so it's worth ordering close to when you plan to give them.

When should you give them?

Christmas is the natural time, and so is International Nurses Day on 12 May. Socks work just as well for someone starting a new job, for someone finishing their nursing studies, or as a thank-you to a nurse who looked after someone you love.

Pick a print from the collection, get that ankle measurement, and run it through the fit finder on the size guide before you order.