Are cheap multipack compression socks as good as premium brands?

For travel use, the verified-purchase consensus is that budget multipacks (CHARMKING, Iseasoo, FITRELL) deliver most of the benefit at a fraction of premium prices, and The New York Times even rated one budget firm-compression sock as outperforming pricier options. The trade-offs reviewers note are less precise sizing, thinner cushioning, and shorter lifespan than premium knit socks.