Questions, answered.

Graduated compression squeezes firmest at the ankle and gradually eases as it climbs the leg. This gentle pressure supports your veins as they push blood back up to your heart, mimicking the work your calf muscles do every time you take a step. The result, according to NHS guidance, is improved circulation, reduced swelling and aching, and a lower risk of varicose veins getting worse.

Almost anyone whose legs are working harder than they realise. That includes people on their feet all day (healthcare workers, hospitality, retail, teachers), travellers on long flights or drives, pregnant or post-pregnancy bodies, people managing varicose veins or lymphoedema, those recovering from surgery, and anyone who sits at a desk for hours without moving.

Compression is also a sensible preventative habit even if none of the above apply to you. NHS guidance recognises compression hosiery as a tool for improving circulation, reducing swelling and aching, and helping prevent varicose veins from getting worse.

Yes, especially on long shifts, long flights, or any day where your legs feel heavy by the evening. Most people don't think about their legs until something has gone wrong. We think they deserve attention sooner.

A 2016 Cochrane systematic review concluded that airline passengers wearing graduated compression stockings can expect a substantial reduction in symptomless deep vein thrombosis on flights longer than four hours. Light 15-20 mmHg compression is suitable for most healthy adults as a preventative habit.

It's the unit used to measure compression pressure, short for millimetres of mercury. The same unit you'd see on a blood pressure cuff. The number tells you how firmly the sock squeezes at the ankle, where the compression is strongest.

15-20 mmHg is light, everyday compression. NICE describes this level as suitable for travel, mild swelling, and preventative wear. This is the level every Bright Step sock uses, in both our Standard and Plus ranges.

20-30 mmHg is firm, Class II compression. In clinical settings it is typically prescribed for substantial swelling and circulation conditions, alongside professional fitting and assessment. We do not sell compression at this level. If you have a clinical condition, please speak to your GP about prescribed compression rather than relying on retail wear.

Compression classes are a clinical grading system defined under British Standard BS 6612. Class I is approximately 14-17 mmHg, light support for everyday and preventative wear. Class II is approximately 18-24 mmHg, medium support typically used in clinical settings. Every Bright Step sock sits in the Class I range, at 15-20 mmHg, the light everyday level. We do not sell Class II or firmer compression.

You'll need three measurements: your UK shoe size, your ankle circumference (narrowest point above the bone), and your calf circumference (widest point). Measure first thing in the morning before any swelling sets in, which is consistent with NHS guidance on fitting compression hosiery.

Then check our size guide for the matching size. If you're between sizes, size up for comfort.

The compression is exactly the same in both: light 15-20 mmHg, Class I, designed for everyday wear. The only difference between Standard and Plus is the cut of the calf.

Standard has a regular calf cut for everyday legs. Plus is cut on a wider last to comfortably fit fuller calves without binding at the top. If your calf measures wider than the Standard range, Plus is built for you. Our size guide has the exact measurements for every size.

Absolutely. Calves vary independently of overall body size, and plenty of athletic or muscular legs measure wider than the Standard range. If your calf sits above the Standard measurements, the Plus range is built to fit you comfortably.

There is no downside to choosing Plus for fit reasons. It uses the same light 15-20 mmHg compression as Standard, just in a wider-calf cut. You are simply choosing the shape that fits your leg.

Size up. Compression should feel firm but never painful. NHS guidance is clear that a sock too tight at the cuff can leave a deep mark or restrict circulation, which is the opposite of what you want.

A faint indentation that fades within 30 minutes of taking the socks off is normal. A deep red mark, pinching, or a sock that's painful to take off means the size is too small. Try a larger size or check the cuff isn't rolled.

Compression socks are notoriously fiddly the first time. Try this:

• Turn the sock inside out down to the heel
• Slide your foot in
• Roll the leg of the sock up gradually rather than yanking
• Smooth out any wrinkles

Marigold-style rubber gloves give you grip on the fabric. A small dusting of talc on dry legs helps the sock glide. NHS guidance also notes that a slipper aid (a smooth fabric sleeve placed over the foot first) can make application much easier. It gets easier each time.

We don't recommend it. Compression hosiery is designed for the upright hours when gravity is working against your circulation. NHS and NICE guidance is consistent: compression stockings should generally be removed at bedtime and put back on first thing in the morning, before any leg swelling develops or worsens. Take them off before bed unless your GP or vascular nurse has specifically advised otherwise.

Many people find everyday compression a comfort during pregnancy. Increased blood volume and hormonal changes put extra work on the venous system, which is why heavy, tired, and swollen legs are so common at this time.

Please check with your midwife or GP first, especially in the third trimester or if you have any pregnancy complications. If your calf measures wider as pregnancy progresses, our Plus cut gives more room, with the same light 15-20 mmHg compression as the rest of the range.

Compression is often part of recovery after surgery, but post-surgical compression should always be guided by your surgical team, who will advise on the right level, timing, and duration for your operation. Bright Step socks are light 15-20 mmHg everyday wear, not a substitute for the specific compression your surgical team may recommend. If you have recently had surgery, follow their guidance first.

For everyday lifestyle use, put them on first thing in the morning before any swelling sets in, and take them off in the evening before bed. That's typically 10 to 14 hours, which aligns with NHS guidance. If you're using compression for a specific condition, your healthcare provider will give you their own guidance.

Yes, all three. Our knee-high cut sits below the knee and disappears under most trousers, dresses, and skirts. Under boots is fine. Some people prefer a thinner knit for boot wear and a chunkier knit for dresses, but ours work in both situations.

If you're healthy and just want compression for everyday use, travel, or standing shifts, you don't usually need to. Light 15-20 mmHg compression is generally safe for most adults.

If you have a circulation condition, peripheral arterial disease, diabetes, varicose veins, lymphoedema, or you've recently had surgery, speak to your GP or vascular nurse before starting any compression. NICE guidance recommends an Ankle Brachial Pressure Index (ABPI) assessment by a clinician where arterial problems are a possibility, to rule out arterial insufficiency.

Compression can be helpful for people with diabetes, but it depends on your individual circulation. People with peripheral arterial disease (which is more common in diabetes) should not wear compression without clinical advice, as it can restrict already-reduced blood flow. NICE specifically lists arterial insufficiency as a contraindication to firm compression. Please speak to your diabetes team or GP before starting compression.

If you have diagnosed varicose veins, compression is something to discuss with your GP, who can advise on the right class and whether prescribed compression is appropriate for you. Bright Step socks are light 15-20 mmHg everyday wear and are not intended as a treatment for varicose veins.

For general leg comfort and as a preventative daily habit, light compression is widely worn. But if your varicose veins are severe, painful, or causing skin changes, please see your GP, who can advise whether you need further assessment.

Graduated compression supports healthy circulation, and many people find it eases the general heaviness and mild puffiness that come from long days on their feet or sitting still. That everyday comfort is what Bright Step socks are designed for.

Diagnosed oedema and lymphoedema are different. They can need a specific compression class and proper assessment, so they belong with your GP or a lymphoedema specialist. Our socks are preventative everyday wear, not a treatment for diagnosed swelling conditions. And if swelling is sudden, painful, or only in one leg, that needs urgent medical assessment, as it can indicate a DVT.

No. Our compression hosiery is sold as everyday wellness apparel, not as a medical device. The light 15-20 mmHg compression we use is widely available retail and does not require a prescription in the UK.

If your clinician has prescribed compression for a specific medical condition, they may direct you to a regulated medical-grade supplier instead. We're a great fit for everyday wellness compression, not a substitute for prescribed medical treatment.

Compression hosiery is available on NHS prescription for certain medical conditions, usually through your GP or specialist. If you've been prescribed compression, your prescriber will direct you to a regulated supplier. We sell directly to consumers and don't dispense prescriptions.

Machine wash at 30 degrees, inside out, with similar colours. No tumble drying. No fabric softener. Air-dry flat or hang. A wash bag protects the elastane from getting caught on hooks or zips. NHS guidance on compression hosiery care matches this approach.

With regular wear (a few times a week) and proper washing, expect six to twelve months of effective compression. NHS guidance is consistent: compression hosiery loses its compression gradually with use, and stockings should be replaced every three to six months for prescription wear. After that, the elastane gradually loses its spring and the compression weakens. The sock will still feel like a sock, but it won't be doing the same circulatory job. Time for a refresh.

Heat breaks down elastane, which is the fibre that gives compression its compression. Tumble drying once or twice probably won't ruin them. Tumble drying every wash will dramatically shorten their useful life. Air-drying is genuinely better, and is what NHS care guidance recommends.

Fabric softener coats the fibres and degrades elastane over time. It also reduces the moisture-wicking properties of the technical knit. Skip it.

We currently ship across the United Kingdom. International shipping is something we're looking at for the future.

We aim to dispatch within one working day of receiving your order. Once dispatched, delivery typically takes 2-3 working days via Evri ParcelShop.

Standard tracked delivery is £2.62 via Evri. Free delivery on orders over £40.

Yes. You'll receive an email with a tracking link as soon as your parcel is dispatched.

Compression hosiery is a hygiene product. Once the seal on the packaging is broken, we can't accept the product back for a refund. Sealed, unworn, unwashed products in their original packaging can be returned within 14 days of receipt for a full refund (excluding return shipping costs).

This protects all our customers from receiving anything that's been worn before.

If your socks have a manufacturing defect or you've received the wrong product, get in touch within 30 days and we'll sort it. Our default response is replacement or refund, at your preference. Your statutory rights under the Consumer Rights Act 2015 apply throughout.

If your order hasn't been dispatched yet, get in touch as soon as possible and we'll do our best. Once it's been dispatched, we can't pull it back.

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Bright Step was founded by one person, an occupational therapist with over a decade of experience across the NHS. That clinical background shapes the evidence behind the brand, and a love of colour and good design shapes the rest. The aim is simple: compression you would actually want to wear.

You can read more on our Our Story page.

No. Bright Step is an independent UK brand. Our founder works clinically within the NHS, which informs our product decisions, but we are not endorsed by, sponsored by, or affiliated with the NHS as an organisation. Where we cite NHS or NICE guidance throughout this site, we do so as published public health resources, not as a claim of partnership.

Our socks are manufactured by specialist compression hosiery suppliers, currently based in China, where the global compression sock industry is concentrated. We've selected partners on the basis of compression knit quality, fabric certification (OEKO-TEX), and minimum order flexibility, and we'll add more detail on our specific supplier as our range grows. Final packing, branding, and quality checks happen on the UK side before orders ship.

Our founder is an NHS clinician, and we love our NHS colleagues. Check back here for details on our NHS staff discount.

We're on TikTok and Instagram @brightstepsocks. Drop in for product launches, real customer stories, and the occasional clinical fact about why your legs deserve more credit than they get.

Email us at hello@brightstepsocks.co.uk and we'll get back to you within two working days. We genuinely read every email and we're happy to help with sizing, compression questions, or anything else.