Compression Socks & Stockings New Zealand

The knit is deliberately uneven. Pressure is at its highest around the ankle and tapers as it rises toward the knee, so the calf muscle gets mechanical help returning blood upward instead of letting it settle in the lower leg. In practice that means better circulation, less swelling and far less of that heavy feeling by evening. TheraWear knits every pair at 15–20 mmHg in a breathable cotton blend.

A broad mix of New Zealanders: ward nurses and healthcare staff on their feet all shift, expectant mothers managing swelling, anyone facing the long haul out of Auckland, athletes recovering between sessions, drivers covering distance between towns, packhouse and shearing crews, desk workers, and people managing varicose veins, clot risk or recovery after an operation. If your legs feel heavy, tired or puffy at the end of the day, compression is worth trying.

Our range is knitted at 15–20 mmHg, the strength that suits the widest group of wearers — everyday use, flights, pregnancy, sport and milder clinical needs. It improves circulation, settles swelling and helps reduce clot risk on long journeys, with no prescription involved. If you are dealing with something more serious, talk to your GP about stepping up to 20–30 mmHg or 30–40 mmHg.

Take two measurements: the widest part of your calf, and the narrowest part of your ankle just above the bone. Compare both against the size chart shown on each product page. A correct fit feels firm and supportive but never pinches — that is what delivers the graduated pressure properly. Sitting between two sizes? Take the larger one.

The technology is the same graduated knit; length is what separates them. Compression socks stop below the knee, while stockings can run to the thigh or waist and are usually dispensed for a diagnosed condition. For travel, work, sport and pregnancy, a knee-high does everything you need. TheraWear concentrates on knee-highs because they are easier to pull on and far more comfortable across a full day.

Yes — flights out of New Zealand are long, and hours of sitting still is exactly the situation graduated compression is designed for. It keeps blood circulating when your calf muscles are doing nothing, which reduces both ankle swelling and the risk of deep vein thrombosis. Put them on before you board rather than mid-flight, and leave them on for the whole journey.

Yes. Compression is commonly suggested through pregnancy to help with swollen ankles, emerging varicose veins and general leg fatigue, and it tends to matter most in the second and third trimesters. The 15–20 mmHg strength we knit is suitable for daily wear. If anything about your pregnancy is being monitored closely, raise it with your midwife or GP first.

Worn most days and cared for properly, a pair holds its graduated pressure for roughly 3–6 months. Wash cold on a gentle cycle and hang them to dry — the dryer is what kills compression socks, because heat breaks down the elastic fibres. The tell-tale sign that a pair is finished is looseness around the ankle.

We do — North Island and South, with tracking on every order so you can follow it to your door. Orders over $60 ship free, and faster options are available at checkout.

Send them back. Unworn pairs can be returned within 30 days of delivery for a full refund, no argument required. Getting the strength or size right occasionally takes a second go, and you should not be out of pocket for that — our returns page covers how to start one.