Millennials are embracing compression socks — and trying to make them cool
Hot girls wear…compression socks?
Designed to help reduce inflammation and increase blood flow, the once-niche, medical-grade product is frequently spotted in nursing homes and hospitals.
Now, compression socks are becoming increasingly popular among millennials and Gen Zers. It shouldn't surprise anyone who has been paying attention to the former's shopping habits.
Millennials are big fans of products that promote longevity and help them be proactive about their health. They sport Apple watches, bring earplugs to concerts, and track their VO2 max when they work out.
Sock brands are capitalizing on consumer interest with stylish new designs that are far from your grandma's compression socks, combining the benefits of compression with fashion cute enough for TikTok. Here's why younger audiences can't get enough.
Compression socks go mainstream
Kate Garfield, the 38-year-old co-owner of Violet Hour Pilates in Brooklyn, told Business Insider she's been regularly wearing compression socks to teach Pilates since she sprained her ankle a few years ago. She also pulls the socks out for long-haul flights.
"When I was barefoot and teaching, I kept twinging my ankle, so I started wearing them," Garfield said. "It definitely helped in that recovery, but then I noticed I was also just feeling a lot more energized through my day."
Wearing compression socks, Garfield said she doesn't feel the urge to clench and roll her feet, which helps her feel more stable. She can leave a full day of teaching without feeling sore.
So, how do they work?
Standing, sitting, or lying down for a long time can cause blood to pool in the feet and lower legs, creating swelling and discomfort.
Compression socks encourage the blood to get moving again by putting pressure near the foot and ankle and gentler pressure up the leg, squeezing the blood back toward the heart.
They're often recommended for expectant mothers, people with varicose veins, post-op patients, and older people, who may need extra help with healthy blood flow.
The feeling of pain relief you might get from wearing compression socks can be a result of better circulation in your legs, lower inflammation, and less stress on your muscles, Dr. Anahita Dua, a vascular surgeon at Massachusetts General Hospital and professor of surgery at Harvard Medical School, told BI.
A younger consumer base
Like Garfield, Sam Sarabi, a 25-year-old nurse from Temple, Texas, told BI she started experimenting with compression socks in 2023. She was searching for a way to help ease the pain she experienced in her thighs and calves, which popped up in the middle of her shifts and persisted when she got home.
She didn't find a compression product that worked for her until Julia Gretars, a nursing student she connected with online and the founder of Juy Compression, sent her a pair of the brand's compression sleeves in November 2024. The sleeves are like compression socks, but they don't have feet.
She said the sleeves leave her pain-free and with more energy. "I noticed a difference within the first day," Sarabi said.
There's not much evidence that compression socks are good for already-healthy people who aren't struggling with swelling or circulation problems, but there's little downside as long as the socks fit well.
Signs that you might benefit from compression socks include a feeling of tightness in the legs and feet, your shoes not fitting properly, and visible swelling (if you poke your leg with a finger, you'll see an imprint).
There's still a good reason people in their 20s and 30s are stocking up on compression socks: they can be a game changer if you're pregnant or do a lot of exercise.
For exercise, the evidence is growing that compression socks might have a small benefit for easing soreness after a workout, although they may not improve performance, according to Dua.
The socks' squeezing effect on your legs mimics how your muscles naturally help to pump blood during active recovery, like walking, flushing out by-products of hard exercise like lactate to ease soreness and get you back to the gym faster.
"It definitely wouldn't hurt if someone has low-grade inflammation after a run," physical therapist Jessica Chellsen said.
Compression socks got a glow-up
The compression sock renaissance is, in part, driven by new brands that appeal to younger consumers.
For instance, in 2016, then-30-year-old Andrew Ferenci founded Comrad, a popular compression socks company, because he couldn't find an aesthetically pleasing version. The socks helped with his aches from travel and working out, but the plain black and beige pairs he found at Duane Reade left something to be desired.
Ferenci said he created Comrad to offer a "compression sock that has all the benefits of a medical product and meets all the requirements, but is stylish and functional and has all the benefits of a lifestyle or athletic sock that you would wear."
Ferenci told BI that millennials make up most of Comrad's customer base, but its products are also gaining popularity with Gen Z shoppers.
The other major player is Bombas. Some of its socks are designed for everyday wear, and others for health or exercise support. Bombas offers new colors and patterns every season.
Tam Conlin, Bombas' senior vice president of merchandising and design, told BI its compression products, which were first introduced in 2019, have grown 231% in the past three years, and the category is plus 31% for 2025 alone. BI couldn't independently confirm those percentages.
Conlin also said millennial shoppers make up Bombas' biggest growth market.
Conlin thinks compression socks are resonating with younger consumers because they are interested in "products that help you live more healthfully."
"I think that mindset and consumer behavior is something that's really been taken on by the millennial generation and Gen Z, where there's specific products for specific needs that can really help you, and it's kind of like a life hack," she said.
Garfield, who wears Bombas' compression socks, said the look is a game changer.
"I think I used to hide them or want to not have them as visible, but they just look like socks. And they're cute," she said.
Sarabi is also excited that more compression products are on the market, particularly in cuter styles.
"In the majority of healthcare systems, you can only wear one color," she said. "I think if you could bring in a little bit of personality to design, it makes things fun."
How to pick the right compression socks for you
Here are some tips if you want to get in on the trend:
Find the right fit and pressure. Look for socks that are snug but don't completely cut off your circulation.
Avoid compression if you have difficulties with wound healing, and ask your doctor if you're unsure whether compression socks are right for you.
Don't scrunch them up. Make sure they're aligned with your foot and aren't too long or too short so they can work as designed.
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Millennials are embracing compression socks — and trying to make them cool
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