How to Put On and Take Off Compression Socks

Turn the sock inside out down to the heel, slip your foot in until your heel sits in the heel of the sock, then ease the rest up your leg in small, even pulls. Smooth the knit as you go so it lies flat, and stop when the top band sits just under your knee. To take them off, peel the sock down from the top, turning it inside out over your heel.

That's the short version. The detail matters, because a compression sock is knitted to fit your leg closely, and the way you'd put on an ordinary sock (bunch it up and yank) makes it harder than it needs to be.

Why they're harder than ordinary socks

An ordinary sock is loose enough to pull on any old way. A compression sock is made to hug the leg, so it resists being hauled up from the top. Vital Socks are sized by ankle circumference rather than by shoe size, and knitted from 75% combed cotton, 22% polyester and 3% elastane, so a pair in the right size will feel close-fitting from the moment it goes over your heel. That's normal.

If getting them on feels like a fight every time, check the size before anything else. Our guide to measuring your ankle at home shows you how to take your ankle and calf measurements, and the fit finder on our size guide turns your ankle measurement into S, M or L.

Before you start

Take off rings and bracelets, and check for a rough fingernail. Anything sharp can snag the knit.

Sit down. A chair or the edge of the bed gives you a stable place to work, and you can bring your foot up close.

Start with dry skin, because damp legs straight out of the shower make the knit drag. A little foot powder can help the sock slide over your foot, though ordinary talc tends to clump if your feet are damp. And put them on as you get dressed, before your shoes and before you head out the door.

Putting them on, step by step

1. Put your hand inside the sock and pinch the heel from the inside.
2. Keeping hold of the heel, turn the sock inside out down to the heel. You're left with the foot section tucked inside, and the leg of the sock turned back on itself.
3. Slip your toes and foot into the foot section. Stretch the opening gently with your fingers rather than forcing your toes through.
4. Line up the heel. Work the foot section on until your heel sits squarely in the heel of the sock. This matters more than any other step. If the heel is off, everything above it will twist or bunch.
5. Ease the rest of the sock up your leg, a little at a time. Take hold of the knit near your ankle, not the top band, and draw it up in small pulls. Then move your hands up and repeat. Don't drag the whole sock up in a hurry.
6. Smooth the knit as you go. Run your palms up the sock so the fabric is spread evenly, with no twists and no creases at the ankle or across the top of the foot.
7. Check the top. Vital Socks are knee-high and end just under the knee. If the band has crept up onto your knee, ease the sock back down and smooth the fabric out again.

Never fold or roll the top band over to shorten the sock or make it sit lower. If it feels too long, take it back down to the ankle and ease it up again more evenly.

If your hands slip

Wear rubber gloves. Ordinary kitchen gloves with a bit of texture give your fingers a better grip on the knit than bare hands do.

Keep your pulls short. Long, hard pulls stretch the fabric in patches; small ones spread it evenly. And use the heel as your anchor: if the sock starts to twist, go back down to the heel, line it up again and work upwards from there.

You can also look out for donning aids: sliding sleeves and frames made to help you get compression garments on without bending as far.

Taking compression socks off

Taking them off is quicker, but the same rule applies: peel, don't roll.

1. Sit down with your foot within easy reach.
2. Hook your thumbs inside the top band and fold it down over itself.
3. Peel the sock down your leg, turning it inside out as it goes. Keep the movement smooth rather than tugging.
4. Ease it over your heel with your fingers, then slide it off your foot.
5. Turn it the right way out, so the pair is ready for next time.

Rolling the sock down into a tight band and then forcing that band over your heel is an easy way to overstretch the knit and pull threads.

Looking after them between wears

Wash them the way our FAQ says: hand wash in cold water using a mild soap, gently remove excess water and leave them to air dry in the shade. Avoid bleach, harsh detergents, tumble drying and excessive heat. So don't dry them on a heater or a heated towel rail either: heat is hard on the stretch in the fabric.

What if they still won't go on?

You've tried the inside-out method, the gloves and the short pulls, and the sock still won't get past your heel. Or it bunches or rolls no matter how carefully you smooth it. Then the size may be wrong. Measure again in the morning using our measuring guide, and compare your numbers with the size guide. If your ankle and calf point to different sizes, send us both measurements and we'll check the size with you before you order another pair.

The method is the same for every Vital Socks design, from Cherry Pop and Daisy to Espresso, Checker and plain Black. With practice, it becomes part of getting dressed.

Before you order

Vital Socks are everyday compression socks, made for long days standing, sitting or travelling. Our FAQ covers how compression socks should feel once they're on.

Ready to find your size? Grab a tape measure and open the fit finder on our size guide.