Let’s face it, as motorcyclists we know we take on a certain level of risk every time we swing a leg over our bikes. We spend hundreds, even thousands of dollars on helmets, boots and various guards, to help protect ourselves the best we can. However, there is one area of our bodies that often goes completely unprotected from a serious threat to our health.

A UK clinical study published in 2013 found that riding motorcycles can create problems with insufficient blood flow to the lower limbs. The seated riding position on a motorcycle puts pressure on the major blood vessels, restricting circulation to the lower legs, which can lead to serious medical issues over the long term.

Blood circulation in our legs tends to decline as we age and riding motorcycles puts us at even higher risk of developing conditions related to improper blood flow. Riding motorcycles can lead to chronic venous diseases like varicose veins, deep vein thrombosis and even venous ulcers. These conditions can be difficult to treat, often reoccur and sometimes the damage is irreversible.

On long highway rides, you may have experienced swelling, aching or heaviness in the legs, cramping, even itching or burning skin — these can all be early signs of venous disease. Luckily, as the study mentions, there are ways motorcyclists can help prevent venous disease, such as, taking regular breaks to stretch during long rides, good diet and exercise, and the proven benefits of wearing compression socks.

Motorcycle Compression Socks

Compression socks have been used to combat venous diseases for decades now. They work by gently squeezing your lower limbs to prevent swelling and blood clotting in the legs. The compression assists the body’s own natural mechanism for returning blood to the heart and promotes better muscle recovery.

Performance benefits are one reason why compression socks are popular among professional basketball players and long-distance runners. Riding an Adventure Motorcycle for multiple days, over many miles, can be just as taxing as other endurance sports. Compression socks not only help you avoid swelling, soreness and leg cramps, but they can also improve recovery, allowing you to ride longer, harder and with less fatigue.

Moto-Skiveez, makers of the popular padded riding shorts, have now developed compression socks specifically designed for motorcyclists. While the primary objective of the Moto-Skiveez Compression Socks is to reduce the risk of venous disease, they also have a special ingredient that helps defend against another common issue riders face — foot odor.

Made with 40% Aloe Vera fiber, the Moto-Skiveez Compression Socks have a clean aromatic smell right out of the box. Aloe also has anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties, which help prevent odor and skin rashes in the hot sweaty environment of your boots. It’s also an incredibly soft fabric that reduces chafing and blisters. Even better, Aloe actually soothes and helps rejuvenate skin cells, and the fibers retain their properties after repeated wear and washing.

Field Testing

Over the last nine months, I’ve put the Moto-Skiveez Compression Socks to use in all types of situations from 12-hour days on the highway to fast-paced technical off-road rides. At first, I was concerned that they would be uncomfortably tight, but the socks compress the lower limbs effectively without cutting into your skin. They also proved to be relatively easy to put on and remove.

The Moto-Skiveez socks stay fresh smelling for days and when it’s time to wash them, they quickly air dry.

The Aloe/Nylon fabric is very soft and feels cool to the touch. The socks also breathe well and wick moisture away from the skin efficiently. They are machine washable and require hang drying, but are very quick to dry. So far, the Moto-Skiveez Socks have proven to be durable and show only light signs of wear.

Wearing a Moto-Skiveez sock on one leg and a standard motocross sock on the other, during multiple rides, allowed me to test the sock’s compression benefits. The aching legs and itchy skin I typically experience on long rides was significantly reduced on the Moto-Skiveez side and the nighttime leg cramps only occurred on the motocross sock side.

To test the anti-odor properties of the Aloe, I wore Moto-Skiveez Compression Socks over four straight days of riding. On day two, the socks emitted no foul odors and still had a pleasant Aloe smell. After four days, I was amazed how the odor remained minimal, even coming straight out of the boot.

Final Thoughts

Moto-Skiveez Compression Socks can help reduce leg discomfort and shorten your recovery time, giving you fresher legs day-after-day on longer journeys. What’s more, they may help counteract the increased risk motorcyclists face of developing blood circulation issues later in life.

The unique properties of the Aloe fibers (e.g. odor fighting, quick drying, plush feel) make these socks a real stand out and they are surprisingly affordable too. At $25 a pair, the Moto-Skiveez Compression Socks are just a few dollars more than standard motorcycle socks and significantly less than compression socks designed for runners.

The Moto-Skiveez Compression Socks are now available in two sizes from the MotoSkiveez.com website.

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Author: Rob Dabney

Rob Dabney started a lifelong obsession with motorcycles at the age of 15 when he purchased his first bike – a 1982 Honda MB5. Through his 20’s and 30’s he competed in off-road desert races, including the Baja 250, 500 and 1000. Eventually, his proclivity for exploration led him to dual sport and adventure riding. Rob’s never-ending quest to discover what’s around the next bend has taken him on Adventures in Latin America, Africa, Europe, Asia, and throughout the American West. As a moto journalist, he enjoys inspiring others to seek adventure across horizons both near and far.