Compression is a mandatory therapeutic measure in all stages of venous insufficiency. This treatment, recommended by the French Health Authority (HAS), is consistently included in the protocols of therapeutic studies involving venous ulcers. Given the great variety in materials available and in the approaches of individual doctors, it is essential to avoid a dogmatic approach and instead to adapt treatment to the therapeutic results based on the premise that well-controlled treatment should result in improvement in trophic disorders and in patient comfort, while poor treatment is badly tolerated, even potentially harmful, and rejected by patients. Manufacturers have made great progress in the design of compression hose and bandages; however, to assess this treatment using the evidence-based medical methods stipulated by learned societies, great rigour is demanded in clinical trials, and the active substances, mode of action and requisite "dosages" must be precisely defined.