Compression grades and deniers

Compression stockings and support stockings are divided according to the pressure they have around the ankle. This is called the compression class. The pressure is given in mmHg, millimeters of mercury.

Compression class 1 and 2

Class 1 has a light compression and lies somewhere within the range of 15-20mmHg. It is the lowest medical class and is mainly used for preventive purposes and for fatigue symptoms in the legs. Perfect for pregnant women, when traveling and when sitting still or when there is a high load on the legs. Recommended for people without a medical history.

Class 2 and above is used for severe fatigue symptoms in the legs, venous leg ulcers, lymphoedema treatment, etc. Prescribed by a doctor or competent healthcare staff.

Denier for support socks

Compression stockings and support stockings in nylon are also listed in Denier. This can sometimes be a bit misleading. Denier is basically a measure of the thickness of a yarn used for nylon stockings. Denier indicates the weight of a yarn that is 9144 meters long. The higher the weight of the yarn, the thicker the yarn and the higher the denier number. A 70 denier yarn with a length of 9,144 meters therefore weighs 70 grams.

When manufacturing compression stockings in nylon, the denier indicates the compression in the stocking. 70DEN is around 15-18mmHg and 140DEN is around 18-21mmHg. However, this has nothing to do with the thickness of the yarn. A 140DEN compression sock can be thinner and more transparent than a 70DEN one. Here, it is the knitting technique itself and the structure of the sock that affects the denier specification.