if its your first time it might be that your not used to it. Also, if you have hair on your legs (this is one of my reasons for shaving my legs) it can irritate the hair ALOT. When my legs are shaved, i can wear mine for a LONG time. Longest i've ever gone is around 16 hours (i was on a plane for around 13 of them). I'll also sleep with them if my legs feel really tired the night before.

I will attest to them working wonders. I wear them on every run longer than 10 miles (i've been having serious calf tightness issues) these things have cured me right up. After an uuber long run 20-30 miles I'll wear'm all day and all night + ice as well. My recovery is split in 2.

Medical grade compression is very uncomfortable. Luckily, the products readily available don't provide quite the same compression as the medical stuff - otherwise they wouldn't be very popular, believe me. Can you say, human burrito? Compression is probably best reserved for racing or, like Kat says, extremely long training rides or runs when hydration and electrolyte replenishment becomes a hassle. They hurt because they are forcing interstitial fluid back into the cells, and this doesn't happen with a squeeze like grandma's....the compression eventually aggravates surrounding baroreceptors of the nervous system until the point where they become so hyperactive they shoot out pain signals to the brain. When the socks start to hurt, please take them off. A "deep and uncomfortable pain" is the pain from your peripheral nerves telling you it's time to give them a rest.

If you wear them because you get cramps often, trying to balance your water and electrolytes more effectively will help more than a pair of socks or compression underwear. Hydration determines cramps at least 90% of the time and post-workout recovery can be quickened by high glycemic carbohydrates and protein in the form of liquids (whey and carbohydrate mix in a 1:1 ratio) immediately following training. The 4:1 nonsense is fine if you don't mind lean body tissue catabolism...otherwise 1:1 is recommended.

So the quick answer is, take them off when they hurt in a way that doesn't simply feel like hair being aggravated. It may be 30 minutes, or it may be 3 hours...but please don't sleep in them if they are uncomfortable, you risk lack of blood delivery to deep tissues if they are too tight.

Anton, I agree with you. Although I love looking at the newest technologies and nice stuff - the suits and shoes and bikes - and love to watch talented athletes make use of them, I like your point. In the end, it's the athlete and the nutrition and training that makes the biggest difference. Good guess too, I'm a student...

why but the more expensive ones when both work? :)