A portative manometer was used to measure pressure under different types of bandages in 10 healthy volunteers. The long-stretch (Lastodur), medium-stretch (Putterbinde), and short-stretch (Idealhaft) bandages were placed using the figure-eight application technique or as described by Putter with either the "medium" or "maximum" tension. The resting, orthostatic, and working pressure was measured at point B1; the stiffness index and compression intervals were calculated. It was shown that the pressure under the "medium"-tension figure-eight bandage and the Putter bandage was around 35 mm Hg and 50 mm Hg respectively regardless of bandage elasticity. The pressure under the maximum-tension Lastodur bandages was significantly higher reaching the dangerous values over 100 mm Hg. The stiffness of long-stretch bandages proved to be significantly lower in the case of "medium" tension using the two bandaging techniques. There were no difference in the stiffness and compression intervals between the short-stretch and medium-stretch bandages. It is concluded that long-stretch bandages characterized by a broad compression interval and low stiffness may create a critically high pressure in contrast to short-stretch and medium-stretch bandages having a narrow compression interval and high stiffness that do not produce a critically high pressure. Based on the relationship between pressure and stiffness characteristics, short-stretch and medium-stretch bandages are believed to have advantages over long-stretch dressing materials as far as the treatment of chronic venous insufficiency is concerned.