Compression bandage therapy may be poorly tolerated by patients and can be a frustration for both patients and practitioners. This article presents the view that practitioners need to increase their knowledge and assessment skills to enable patients to tolerate a rather difficult treatment. The use of compression bandages will be discussed in relation to their type, sub-bandage pressures, application technique and the role of the Ankle Brachial Pressure Index. It is hoped that some of the ideas presented will promote debate.