Socks have long been the Rodney Dangerfield of athletic apparel. They get no respect.
This is not the case anymore. If you’ve been inside a sports store recently, you’ve seen seamless toeboxes, high-grade wool, mid-foot arch wraps, deep stitched heel gores, and other new fancy, foot-friendly, features. Athletic socks are the new athletic shoes.
So how do you decide which one to go with? I consulted with the Sock Geek, aka Steve Bernhardt of Appleton, owner of www.sockgeek.com. Here’s our conversation, which reveals everything you need to know about picking your next pair of socks:
Do you have a favorite sock fact?
Based on a study from Gore-Tex the average foot puts off up to 200ml of perspiration every hour, considering this you can understand why moisture management in a running or other athletic shoe is so critical to comfort and performance.
How can someone “ruin a great running shoe with a bad sock”?
Too many people do not maximize the comfort and performance of highly tuned shoes when they wear a cotton athletic sock. Keep the cotton out of the socks for optimum moisture management. A premium running sock provides several structural features that enhance the fit. These features are not typically offered by traditional cotton athletic socks. The materials most performance socks are made of are similar to the materials inside the shoe. The result of this synergy is a reduction in friction that often leads to calluses, blisters, and hot spots.
Does anyone ever come up to you and say something like, “We’re talking about socks — what’s the big deal?”
All of the time. I own and operate a specialty running store as well as the Sock Geek website, and this gives me the daily opportunity to talk one-on-one with customers explaining to them the “no cotton story,” and show them the other benefits of a good sock. Often when fitting a shoe we will have the customer put on a pair of high quality socks for the fitting. It usually doesn’t take long for the customer to feel the positive difference the sock makes in fit and comfort.
What’s the most important thing someone should look for in a good sock?
After understanding the make-up of the fabrics used and the socks specific features, I would have to say making sure the sock fits the foot properly. Sizing charts are all over the board — you maybe a small in one brand, but a medium in another, so always check the size charts. Fit to your shoe size and if you fit between sizes, I would suggest sizing up. Wearing too small of a sock will not allow your toes to move properly, resulting in discomfort and possibly black toe nails. Sizing too big will allow the sock to bunch or fold over causing abrasion.
Besides thickness, are there any other differences between winter running socks and summer running socks?
Density of the fabric really does play a key role in differentiating a sock that will perform best in cold or hot weather. There are certain fabrics that transfer moisture more efficiently even though they are more dense than others and these are utilized effectively in cold weather running socks. There are now several manufactures that are making socks specifically for colder and hotter weather conditions. One that comes to mind is Drymax, they offer both a cold weather and hot weather sock.
What’s some of the newest technology in socks?
Fabrics that contain anti-microbial properties to reduce foot odor and manage heat build-up, and more efforts to deliver great socks with less environmental impact. Manufacturers like Brooks in their Glycerin run sock and Feetures! in all of their offerings are using some type of fabric enhancements that kill bacteria and cool the foot to deliver a more comfortable sock. As far as environmental stewardship goes it’s tough to beat Teko. Teko is an American-made sock that uses 100% wind energy in manufacturing, the majority of their polyesters come from recycled materials, and all of their packaging is 100% recycled using soy-based inks. They are successfully experimenting with fabrics like Ingeo which is a corn based fabric that is highly durable, but will quickly biodegrade once discarded into a landfill.
You have 22 brands of socks on your site, and each brand has their own varieties. How can someone best narrow down what’s the best sock for their foot?
Honestly, the best results come from trial-and-error. I suggest people try several different socks and densities to see what feels best and delivers the best fit and performance. Most of the time people find they like one type of sock for an activity. For example, a more cushioned sock for longer runs, or a certain sock for a specific type of shoe like a thin liner type sock for racing flats. Just like there has never been a better time for running shoes than today, I would say the same about socks as there are more manufacturers than ever offering terrific high-performance socks that deliver outstanding results. It’s really up to the individual to find the sock or socks that dial in best for them by trying as many as they can.
