Flight socks and flying 🧦✈️

Long-haul flight coming up? Here’s why below-knee compression socks earn their place in your hand luggage:

🩸 Help prevent DVT (deep vein thrombosis)

On long flights (>4–5 hours), blood can pool in the calf veins, especially when you’re motionless in that classic “knees vs seatback” pose.

Randomised trials show that passengers who wore below-knee graduated compression stockings had 0% calf DVT, compared with around 10% in those who didn’t on long-haul flights.

cebm.net

🥒 Less “cankles”, more comfy ankles

Studies in airline passengers show compression socks reduce leg swelling and discomfort during and after flights – so you’re not peeling your shoes off like a jar lid at arrivals.

📊 Backed by serious science

A Cochrane review found high-certainty evidence that flight socks cut the risk of symptomless DVT on flights longer than 4–5 hours, with no major side effects reported.

🧳 Who should especially consider them?

Guidelines suggest compression stockings as part of clot-prevention for higher-risk travellers on long journeys – for example those with previous DVT/PE, recent surgery, active cancer, pregnancy, major immobility or known clotting disorders. Always speak to your own doctor if you’re in a higher-risk group.

guidelines.ash.gradepro.org

✅ How to “sock it” to DVT & swelling:

Choose below-knee graduated compression socks in the correct size

Put them on before boarding, keep them on until you’re properly walking again

Combine with regular calf pumps, aisle walks and good hydration

Your legs shouldn’t have to work a long-haul shift just because you are.

Save this for your next ultra-long sector & tag a frequent flyer who never skips the window seat. 👀

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🔬 Key references (for the nerds in row 1A):

• Scurr JH et al. Lancet 2001;357:1485–89 – RCT of long-haul travellers: 0% DVT with below-knee class I stockings vs ~10% without.

cebm.net

• Belcaro G et al. Angiology 2002 – LONFLIT studies: elastic stockings reduced edema, “flight microangiopathy” and travel-related venous thrombosis on long flights.