How do you wash and care for support tights for the knee?

The answer in detail

Support tights contain technical elements, cables or reinforcements, that need a more careful wash than ordinary sportswear. Our product pages give precise instructions, which vary from one brand to another: there is therefore no single rule.

For the Imbrace Gen 2, the page states delicate care: a cold wash at 30 °C at most, without detergent or softener, and air drying. For the Stoko K1, it describes a 3D-knitted, breathable, machine-washable fabric, with a wash bag supplied. These are manufacturer data that we have not tested ourselves.

What the manufacturers say

• Imbrace Gen 2: cold wash, 30 °C at most; no detergent or softener; air drying. The fabric is made of recycled nylon and elastane.
• Stoko K1: 3D-knitted, breathable, machine-washable fabric; a wash bag is included.
• Stoko system: the manufacturer describes 30 meters of cables built into the fabric, with two adjustment dials at the waist.
• Warranties: 1 year for the Imbrace with a lifetime extension optional; 12 months for the Stoko, with a free one-month trial.

As instructions differ, the label sewn into the garment and the manufacturer's manual remain the reference.

Step-by-step instructions

1. Read the care label and the manual before the first wash.
2. For a Stoko K1, place the tights in the supplied wash bag before putting them in the machine.
3. For an Imbrace Gen 2, wash cold, at 30 °C at most, without detergent or softener.
4. Air-dry the Imbrace; follow the manual for the Stoko.
5. Store the garment dry, and regularly check the condition of the reinforcements, cables and dials.

Common mistakes

Unsuitable care can damage the technical fibers and shorten the product's life.

• Washing the Imbrace above 30 °C or with softener, although the product page excludes them.
• Putting a cable garment in the machine without its wash bag when the manufacturer supplies one.
• Using a tumble dryer for a garment whose page asks for air drying.
• Not checking the settings after washing, especially the cable tension on the Stoko.

Key takeaways

To wash support tights, the rule is to follow the brand's instructions: the Imbrace Gen 2 asks for a cold wash, at 30 °C at most, without detergent or softener, and air drying; the Stoko K1 is machine washed in its supplied bag. This information comes from manufacturers. If in doubt, contact the seller before the first wash. To choose between these products and a knee brace, read our question on the difference between a knee brace and support tights.

See the pages of the Stoko K1 and the Imbrace Gen 2 for their full specifications.