Updated October 2026. FinalMedic stocks every ready-to-wear JOBST line sold in Canada, so this comparison covers the whole range, not just the few models a store happens to carry.
JOBST, made by Essity, is one of the most prescribed compression brands in Canada and sells nine ready-to-wear lines that look and feel very different even at the same compression level. The compression therapy is the same across the range; what changes is the fabric, the look, the durability, the top band, and the price. This guide compares them so you can pick the right one the first time.
Quick comparison
| Line | Look | Feel | Levels (mmHg) | Styles | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UltraSheer | Sheer hosiery, shimmering | Light, satin-touch | 15-20, 20-30, 30-40 | Knee, thigh (lace, dot or Sensitive band), waist | Dresses, office, occasions; looks like regular nylons |
| Opaque | Solid, matte, conceals veins | Soft, slightly thicker | 15-20, 20-30, 30-40 | Knee, thigh (dot or Sensitive band), waist | Everyday wear, cooler months, hiding veins and bruising |
| Relief | Plain medical stocking | Firm, durable, reinforced foot | 15-20, 20-30, 30-40 | Knee, thigh, waist, chap (one or two legs); open or closed toe; Full Calf | Daily clinical use at the best price; unisex |
| forMen | Ribbed dress sock | Cushioned sole, anatomic toe, SoftFit band | 15-20, 20-30, 30-40 | Knee-high; Regular and Long; Full Calf | Men who want a sock nobody can tell is compression |
| ActiveWear | Athletic sock | Cushioned foot, Dri-release yarn, cotton feel | 15-20, 20-30, 30-40 | Knee-high; Full Calf | Walking, work boots, hikers, anyone who finds hosiery slippery |
| Sport | Two-tone athletic sock | Breathable knit, cushioned heel and sole, odour control | 15-20, 20-30 | Knee-high | Running, cycling, gym, travel |
| Style | Argyle pattern | Cotton blend, SoftFit band | 15-20, 20-30, 30-40 | Knee-high; Petite, Regular, Long; Full Calf | A fashion sock that hides the compression |
| SensiFoot | Plain white, black or navy sock | Padded, non-binding, seam-free toe | 8-15 | Knee-high, crew, mini-crew | Diabetic and sensitive feet |
| UlcerCare | Liner plus outer stocking | Two layers, optional zipper | 40 (system) | Knee-high, sizes S to 3XL | Venous leg ulcers, worn over a dressing |
UltraSheer: the stocking that looks like nylons
UltraSheer is JOBST’s premium hosiery line. A fine, breathable satin-touch yarn gives it a sheer, slightly shimmering finish that reads as ordinary hosiery, which is why it is the top choice for office wear, dresses and events. It is available from 15-20 up to 30-40 mmHg, in knee-high, thigh-high and waist-high, with the widest colour range in the family (Natural, Suntan, Honey, Espresso, Sun Bronze and Black). Thigh-highs stay up with a lace band, a silicone dot band, or the Sensitive band for fragile or irritable skin, and SoftFit knee-highs use a stretchier top band that does not dig in. The trade-off is durability: sheer yarn snags more easily than Opaque or Relief, so treat it like good hosiery and rotate two pairs. Shop UltraSheer.
Opaque: everyday comfort that hides the veins
Opaque uses a denser, matte knit that conceals spider veins, bruising and skin discolouration while feeling soft against the skin. It is the line most people wear day to day in the colder months, it tolerates boots and trousers well, and it lasts longer than UltraSheer. Levels run 15-20, 20-30 and 30-40 mmHg in knee-high, thigh-high (dot or Sensitive band) and waist-high. If you want the same concealing look in summer, UltraSheer in a darker shade is the usual compromise. Shop Opaque.
Relief: the workhorse medical stocking
Relief is JOBST’s unisex clinical line: a straightforward circular-knit stocking with a reinforced heel and toe that stands up to daily wear and washing. It is the most affordable JOBST line, it comes in the most configurations (knee, thigh, waist, single-leg and two-leg chaps, open or closed toe, Beige or Black, Full Calf sizes), and it is what hospitals and clinics reach for after vein procedures or for long-term venous insufficiency. If a physician prescribed “compression stockings 20-30 mmHg” with no brand or style in mind, Relief knee-high is the sensible default. Shop Relief.
forMen: a dress sock that happens to be medical
forMen is cut like a ribbed men’s dress sock, in Black or Khaki, with a cushioned sole, an anatomically shaped toe and a SoftFit top band. It is the line to choose if the main obstacle to wearing compression is that it looks like compression. Levels run 15-20 (SoftFit), 20-30 (SoftFit) and 30-40 mmHg, in Regular and Long with Full Calf sizes. Shop men’s compression socks.
ActiveWear and Sport: for people on their feet
Both are athletic socks with a padded foot, but they are tuned differently. ActiveWear uses Dri-release yarn that feels like cotton, wicks moisture, and is easy to put on; it is the better choice for walking, standing jobs, hiking and work boots, and it goes up to 30-40 mmHg. Sport is lighter and more breathable with activated-carbon odour control, a two-tone look and a seamless toe; it is built for running, cycling and the gym and is offered in 15-20 and 20-30 mmHg. Shop ActiveWear or Shop Sport.
Style: argyle that hides the therapy
Style is a cotton-blend knee-high with an argyle pattern knitted so that it does not create pressure marks. It is unisex, available in 15-20, 20-30 and 30-40 mmHg, and comes in Petite, Regular and Long plus Full Calf, which makes it one of the easiest lines to fit. Think of it as the fashion-sock alternative to forMen. Shop Style.
SensiFoot: for diabetic and sensitive feet
SensiFoot is the one line that is not primarily about veins. Its light 8-15 mmHg support comes with extra padding at the heel, toe and sole, a non-binding top, and a seam-free toe, to protect feet with neuropathy or fragile skin. It is sold as knee-high, crew and mini-crew in white, black and navy. Shop SensiFoot.
UlcerCare: a system for venous leg ulcers
UlcerCare is a two-part system: a soft liner worn 24 hours a day to hold the dressing in place, and an outer stocking (with or without a zipper) worn during the day to deliver about 40 mmHg at the ankle. Together they replace bulky compression bandages, fit in normal shoes and let patients manage an ulcer at home. Sizes run from Small to 3X-Large. This line should be used under the supervision of the clinician treating the ulcer.
How to choose in thirty seconds
- Want it to look like hosiery? UltraSheer (summer, occasions) or Opaque (every day, conceals).
- Want it to look like a sock? forMen (dress), Style (argyle), ActiveWear (athletic, work), Sport (exercise).
- Want the most durable, lowest-cost medical stocking? Relief.
- Diabetic or sensitive feet? SensiFoot.
- Venous ulcer? UlcerCare, with your clinician.
- Need 30-40 mmHg? UltraSheer, Opaque, Relief, forMen, ActiveWear or Style; Sport and SensiFoot do not go that high.
- Larger calves? Full Calf sizes in Relief, forMen, ActiveWear, Sport and Style.
Then pick your level with the compression levels guide and your size with the JOBST size chart. Every line above ships from Canada, free on orders over $140, with receipts that list the compression level for insurance; see insurance coverage. Browse the full range at JOBST compression stockings and socks.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between JOBST UltraSheer and Opaque?
UltraSheer is a sheer, shimmering hosiery knit that looks like regular nylons and comes in the most colours; Opaque is a denser matte knit that conceals veins and lasts longer. Both deliver the same graduated compression at a given mmHg level.
Which JOBST line is the most durable?
Relief, with its reinforced heel and toe, is the most durable and the lowest priced. Opaque, forMen, ActiveWear and Style are next; UltraSheer is the most delicate because of its sheer yarn.
Which JOBST stockings are best for men?
JOBST forMen is designed for men, with a ribbed dress-sock look and a cushioned sole. ActiveWear, Sport, Style and Relief are unisex and also fit men well, including Full Calf sizes.
Is JOBST Relief the same compression as UltraSheer?
Yes. At the same mmHg level, Relief and UltraSheer apply the same graduated pressure. Relief is thicker, more durable and less expensive; UltraSheer is sheer and dressier.
Which JOBST line goes up to 30-40 mmHg?
UltraSheer, Opaque, Relief, forMen, ActiveWear and Style are all available in 30-40 mmHg. Sport stops at 20-30 mmHg and SensiFoot is 8-15 mmHg only.
Are JOBST compression stockings worth the price?
JOBST garments are medically tested to deliver their rated graduated pressure, use higher-quality yarns, and last about six months of daily wear. For a prescribed level, most private insurers in Canada reimburse them, which brings the real cost in line with cheaper brands that are not covered.