I looked in vain to see if this subject has been discussed previously. If so, I couldn't find it. An earlier thread here mentioned all sorts socks as well as going sockless but I don't recall mention of the compression socks used by runners and also individuals with medical conditions such as poor circulation, blood clots, varicose veins, etc. I looked at some this afternoon in my local sporting goods store and discovered several things: 1. these socks are expen$$ive! ~$40.00/pair; 2. one needs to measure the diameter of one's calf before letting go of those aforementioned hard earned dollars; 3. while not thick, these socks are a bit thicker than the synthetic trouser socks I've been using to date which makes me wonder if, like thick socks, these will prove to be a disadvantage in skate boots. 4. they appear to come in different amounts of compression expressed in milligrams of mercury--kinda like a weather report(!)
However, several questions remain unanswered. Can anyone report whether compression socks are a good idea for figure skaters? Do these socks improve leg performance by improving blood flow and/or warmth? Do they wick away sweat or retain it? How bulky are they in reality? Are there any down sides (besides the cost)? I noticed that the packaging on one brand which I looked at indicated that if one experienced tingling of the foot to remove the socks immediately but didn't explain the reasoning for that statement. This leads me to wonder how much compression is too much? I'm talking about compression socks which one can purchase "over the counter" without a Doctor's prescription.