Two things are worth being unusually clear about: how graduated compression works, and where a sock’s job ends.

The taper, plainly

Pressure is highest at the ankle and reduces as the garment travels upward, which is why the knit looks and feels denser low down.

Achieving that reliably is a knitting problem, which is why a stated class costs more than a tight tube.

Why firmer is not better

The right class is comfortable enough to stay on all day; the wrong one gets rolled down into a band, which is worse than wearing nothing.

Above everyday support, the class should be advised, not chosen off a website.

What we do not claim

We do not claim these treat, prevent or cure anything — not clots, not varicose veins, not swelling.

Anyone with diabetes, arterial disease, reduced sensation, an ulcer, a swollen limb or a clot history should speak to a clinician before wearing compression at all.

What a good garment does do

It holds a stated profile, fits a measured calf, survives the laundry for a stated window, and is comfortable enough to actually be worn.

That is a real product. It just isn’t a medical one.