Article by Derek Li
Derek: Compressport is a Swiss brand that really elevates sock (and increasingly apparel )design. I have been using their products for over 10 years now. Here, I test, review and compare a variety of their high performance socks and their Pro Short Sleeve Tee Shirt in tropical Singapore conditions.
Features
The key features of the Pro Marathon Socks are as follows:
Anti-bacterial PTFE yarn designed to reduce friction, chafing and hotspots. This is most clearly seen at the toebox.
3D.dots and novel anti-slip band (black) improve the sock’s grip on the sock liner and prevent the foot from moving around in the shoe; foot movement in the shoe is the primary cause of hot spots and blisters.
Arch support provides medical grade compression for the arch
Reinforced Achilles strap provides extra support
Ultra thin mesh panels in low friction areas provide exceptional breathability
Fit
Derek: Compressport sizing has always been spot on. If you follow their size charts, you won’t go wrong. Do note that their size charts do vary a little from model to model and year to year, so make sure to check the chart for the model you are purchasing to avoid errors.
I am usually a size T3 or T4 for a Eur43 shoe. Note that Compressport socks are, well, compression focused, so you are not going to get a “looser fit with any of their socks. When I first tried their socks around 2014, I was a little put off by the amount of compression at the arch, but I have since gotten used to it. Expect to get snug fit at the arch in these socks, but fear not, there are no compression elements around the toes so your toes won’t feel scrunched up.
The trick is to make sure the heel padding aligns with your heel after you wear the socks, and you will actually find the toes have plenty of slack and wiggle room, while the arch is nice and snug. you might also find that the section above the ankles are quite snug. This is sort of intentional, and as you stretch out the sock to mid-shin, the material will stretch and thin out, giving you the extra ventilation that you need on the top of your foot and the shins. There is a slightly tighter band right at the top of the sock. This is not uncomfortable and is meant to keep the sock from riding down as you run.
Performance
Derek: I will preface by saying I generally run in quite warm conditions close to 90 F / 32 C year-round, and the majority of the Compressport socks I have bought over the years have been under the Pro Race category, which are slightly more spartan in construct.
So the toebox and arch area of these socks are slightly thicker than I am used to. That said, I found that the socks work really well for me, and while my feet are soaked at the end o f every run no matter what socks I used, I found that the socks were comfortable, and kept my feet completely blister free even on longer runs. I think the best socks are the ones you just put on and forget about them and these socks do just that.
They are thick and structured enough that I think they would be great as an everyday training sock and not just something you reserve for race day or particularly for longer runs. I have used them quite regularly over the past month and over 10 washes later, the elasticity and plushness of the cotton are as good as new.
Comparisons
Derek: The race socks are thinner with a simpler construct. So there is just much more area of super thin low friction fabric. There is less of a compressive element felt at the arch. I think the main difference is the degree of compression and arch support. The Marathon socks have more of that and the Race socks have less. I think it comes down to preference and which ones make you feel faster at race efforts. I have always had a bit of mental boost from compression garments, having raced in calf sleeves for a good number of years, so my preference is for the more compressive sock.
Darn Tough Ultralight Run Socks
Derek: I bought these at the Chicago marathon race expo back in 2022, because Sam highly recommends them. I think it’s a good comparison because they have a sort of similar level of underfoot cushioning and padding.
Darn Tough socks don’t have any compression but they make up for it with generous padding underfoot. Do note that their “ultralight” is still a fairly thick fabric even on the top of the foot. I think they are based in a very cold part of the USA.
Both socks have excellent padding and excellent anti blister function. I have zero issues with heat in these socks, but for warm climates, the Compressport socks are a better option and I think they make for a better race day option as well. That said, I think if you want a padded highly durable daily training sock, the Darn Tough socks offer excellent value.
Mid Compression Socks (Mid-Calf) $34
Features
Derek: The key features are as follows
Targeted support through medical grade compression to enhance performance and delay fatigue
Exceptional breathability through the use of ultra-thin fibres
3D.dot technology enhances airflow, impact absorption and grip
This sock offers the perfect blend of compression and ventilation. I think the holy grail of compression garments, especially in the sporting space, has always been about trying to achieve the level of medical grade compression you need without making the garment overly thick and warm.
As a doctor, I have lost count of how many of my patients who have complained to me about how their flight compression socks are too warm and abrasive to wear for the whole duration of a long haul flight.
Well, maybe they should be looking at a sock like this though they probably want a higher cut version. I cannot emphasize enough on the ventilation of this sock. The pictures show just how thin the fabric is by how much skin you can make out through the sock.
The yarn is silky smooth on the top as well. The 3D.dots work very well to keep your foot from sliding around in your shoe.
The fabric is very slippery otherwise, and the 3D.dots help to add just a little bit of friction where it’s needed underfoot without creating hot spots. Of the 3 pairs of Compressport socks I tested, these are the most classy by far.
Fit
Derek: This sock fits more like a conventional sock, in the sense that the arch compression is not as prominent as in the Marathon socks.
The emphasis here is more on the ventilation. I think the compressive aspect is more perceptible around the ankle and the lower calves, so even though it’s a compression sock, don’t expect it to have a very compressive fit around the arch. It is highly elastic and snug for sure, and like the Marathon socks, as you stretch out the fabric over your foot, the weaves of the yarn really open up and give you a lot of ventilation, but the bulk of the compression is felt more at the ankle and up.
Performance
Derek: The socks perform very well in warm conditions and look great to boot.I especially like that the material is quite thin so even when your feet are wet, the sock doesn’t really retain sweat. Compression benefits are always going to be more of a subjective thing.
The socks here don’t go high enough to offer calf muscle compression, so for me the benefit is mainly in terms of supporting the Achilles and ankle area.I suppose if you have weak ankles, this would be where you get some benefit from the compressive aspects of the socks.
I like that the sock is overall snug without being oppressive on the foot and gives you a fast racy feel when you wear them.
Comparisons
Derek: T8 are primarily a trail running brand, I believe based in Hong Kong. I only have one pair of their socks but they have lasted me through a lot of long warm runs over the past 3 years and held up quite well in terms of compression and elasticity.
They are not a compression sock per se, but the fit is relatively snug and the material is quite slippery. I think the silky feel of the Mid Compression Socks bears a close resemblance to the T8 run socks. T8 socks are a little bit thicker and less ventilated, and they don’t have the dots underfoot, and so the foot does slide around a little bit if your shoes are worn on the looser side.
I think if you want all out breathability and compression, the Compressport Mid Compression socks are a better option. If you want a more conventional relatively thin and robust sock (with options for bold statements) then the T8 socks are a good option.
Features
Derek: These are easily the most breathable knee length compression socks I’ve tried. Granted, I have not worn knee length compression for a few years now, but in the early days when options were limited to a few brands, I had a pair of 2XU compression socks that I trained and raced in. The materials were a lot thicker back then.
This version has what they call graded ventilation woven directly into the fabric. In the pictures you can see the chevron markings quite clearly.
These zigzag aeration bands are designed to allow the calf muscle to breathe and expand during efforts.
The Full Socks Oxygen is the lightest compression sock in the range and is designed for racing in hot conditions.
The signature 3D.dots are present underfoot and extending up the rear to support the Achilles tendon, but the structure and volume of the dots are reduced compared to other models in an effort to reduce weight.
I found that the socks breathed really well in warm conditions, and the thickness of the material is only slightly thinner than the Mid Compression socks.
I think the key difference here is a) coverage now extends up to the knees, and b) the degree of compression is not as strong as the Mid Compression socks.
Fit
Derek: The socks fit a little bit long for me at the legs, but it’s probably just me. I’m only 5’7” tall, and a taller runner would likely find the length spot on. For me, the sock itself fits my foot length great, but the calf section extends up behind my knee a little. I was a bit wary on that first run because I’ve had chafing issues with other longer socks in the past, with the fabric biting into the thinner skin behind my knees when my socks get wet with sweat later into a run. With the Full Socks Oxygen, the bunching feeling behind the knees is a bit noticeable but at no point did I feel like an abrasion was developing. This was very promising.
Performance
Derek:Of the 3 Compressport socks I tested, this is also the sock where I experienced the least amount of compression in the foot section, so on the overall scale of compressibility, this is the least compressive sock I tested. There is some compression of the calves, but not as much as what I can get with calf sleeves (my go-to sleeves are the Compressport R2 sleeves.
Bombproof. Mine are over 10 years old and still going strong). I do get some odd looks from other runners with knee length socks around here.
I am primarily a road runner, and while calf compression is pretty standard fare on the trails, it’s not particularly popular on the roads. I think for a long time, we didn’t see compression socks as a popular option since Paula Radcliffe retired.
Well, that was before Sifan Hassan came along. Now, compression socks are the harbinger of Olympic medals, so I think we will start to see a return of compression socks on the marathon scene again.
Personally, I like higher socks for the runs where my route includes any sandy trail sections. It drives me nuts when the sand just sticks to the upper rims of my socks and on my skin during and after one of those runs, and just the practicality of having higher sock coverage makes it so much easier to dust (or in most cases wash) off the sand particles at the end of the run.
Comparisons
Pro Marathon Socks
Derek: The Marathon socks are significantly more padded, especially around the heel and toes where you want maximum blister prevention. I think I would prefer the knee length socks just for convenience, if there is any sort of gravel/trail sectio to the run, and if the run is very hot, where the coverage also helps with UV protection. For shorter runs and races, especially in cooler conditions, I would probably go with the Pro Marathon socks instead.
Pro Race Socks
Derek: The Pro Race socks are also very thin, but still slightly thicker than the Oxygen socks. I think for longer races, where one might benefit more from the calf support, but where you don’t really want to go with socks and calf sleeves separately for whatever reason (maybe it’s real hot, and even the thinnest calf sleeves are still thicker than Oxygen socks), then the Oxygen socks would come in very handy. Otherwise, if you don’t want too many bells and whistles, then the Pro Race Socks are very very good and cheaper option.
Mid Compression Socks
Derek: The mid compression socks are my favourite, both aesthetically, and in terms of the degree of compression, the length (somehow as I got older, I grew out of the no-show ankle length socks phase and gravitated more to a crew length fan. Soon you will see me in Nike Monarchs, and the design. I think for a do it all sock, the Mid Compression sock is an excellent option, and definitely would do well as a racing option too. The Oxygen socks would be a better option if I wanted more coverage, or maybe a bit more calf muscle support, but otherwise the mid-compression sock feels slicker for me.
Features
Derek: This is their top of the line featherweight running t-shirt, using a soft, seamless microfiber weave that prevents chafing and allows for maximum ventilation and sweat evacuation. There is a lot of emphasis on preventing abrasions of any kind. The soft, slightly thicker knit over the nipples protects you from unwelcome chafing and also protects your modesty, while the round neckline and flat-lock seams sit smooth against the skin to reduce any chance of irritation.
The striped Oxygen pattern on the sleeves and lower midriff combines with larger openings down the spine, sternum and under the arms to enhance ventilation by using an extra thin almost see-through knit.
Fit
Derek: The fit is quite relaxed with this shirt. I think it has been pretty well established that a relaxed fit enhances airflow and allows for better ventilation in hot conditions, so it’s really no surprise that the fit is relaxed here.
The shirt is on the longer side. I am 5’7” and wearing a size S here and you can see the shirt extends well past the waistline for me. Incidentally I have a 95cm chest circumference and this usually means the chest area can be a bit on the snugger side for more fitting brands (think Soar running as an example; I wear S for their vests too) but S is plenty loose for me here. Do note this because I think if you have a smaller chest wall, the shirt might not sit so well on your frame.
Performance
Derek: I found the ventilation properties of the shirt to be quite good, but the knit material does soak up a fair amount of sweat quite easily. Once fully soaked, the whole shirt can feel quite heavy on your body.
Comparisons
Compressport Pro Racing Singlet
Derek: The model of racing singlet I have is actually an older model, but I think the material used is still quite similar. Both use a silky soft knit that has a barely there type of feel to it. I think the primary benefit of a shirt, especially one that is designed to maximise ventilation, over a tank, is the coverage on the arms and shoulders. The benefits are twofold: a) UV protection for the shoulders which can be crucial for a hot ultra-distance race like Badwater, and b) reduced chafing, if you plan to run with any sort of hydration vest or racing backpack, again for longer trail/ultra events or simply a darn long training run. For my purpose, where my longest ever training run has been 40km, I think a singlet is the more practical option.
Tester Profile
Derek is in his 40’s and trains 70-80 miles per week at 7 to 8 minute pace in mostly tropical conditions in Singapore. He has a 2:39 marathon PR from the 2022 Zurich Marathon.
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