28 replies to this topic

[imperfectlylou]

What do you all think about running socks such as thorlo etc? Worth the expense? I've found Nike/Asics etc socks to wear out too quickly and have found Target cushioned sports socks to be really good but not sure if there is something better? Are specialist socks too thick to wear with some shoes? I have the Asics 2130s in a A fitting (very narrow feet)

[Jogger]

stuff from target etc is fine. although you can get packs of 3 from rebel for a decent price also.
I find thorlos too thick, but will vary from runner to runner.
no substitute for buying one pair to try.

[predator]

hi,
I've bought all sorts of socks over the past few months... i also find the thurlos very bulky but they helped with a blistrer issue i was hving.

at the moment I"ve got Wrightsock (i think that's the brand) and they are double-layered, thin ankle socks. designed so the fricton is between the outer layer of the sock and shoe and not your foot. I really really like these socks, they are about $25 from memory.

I think its just a trial and error thing for everyone. good luck!

ps. just realised i didnt answer your question... yes for me its worth it. but each to their own.

Edited by predator, 14 February 2009 - 12:20 PM.

[nando]

I find Thorlos to be most uncomfortable. Much prefer the Target coolmax socks which are around $5 a pair.

[AlunDavies]

Horses for courses. Yes is the answer but it's down to the individual.

I wear injinji's a lot on trail but as long as they're clean and relatively new I'm not too fussy. I never wear old socks (injinji's aside) other than for everyday use. Once they're more than a couple of months old they rarely see the inside of my running shoes again.

On the road, K-Mart Coolmax at about $8 for two pairs have been brilliant - I tend to take a half size bigger in my road shoes so there's plenty of room for thicker socks.

[Darpy]

not sure of the exact model, but i got a pair of nike ankle socks for $25 and i think they are great. I have all different brands and they are by far the best because they seem to fit my foot perfectly in all the right places. thye have funny stitching on the bottom so they dont really move around at all.

that said, my mum got them for me for my birthday. they are undoubtedly better, but if i had to pay out my own pocket i may just go for the cheaper ones.

[Don Juan]

Target coolmax have been a good buy for the past few years.

Target keep changing the coolmax 'model', and I found them in a 3 pack just after Christmas.

[sook54]

DJ do tell - I need to replace my 2-yr-old set (ankle elastic gone floppy) and I looked last time and couldn't spot them. A pic perchance?

[flyingemu]

I've tried thorlos, and coolmax and they're both ok. Thorlos I find a bit hot, so better in cold weather. My favourite at the moment are these ... http://www.runningwa...ge-SSMANTF.html sof anti-friction socks. They don't budge, and very cool and light but still comfy.

[wozzam]

i swear by thorlos, they are dear to buy but last a long time and as for the thickness of the sock i think you will find they vary!

[Ponkey]

Injinji all the way for me. I rotate 4 pairs and they have lasted over 12 months and feel like new everytime I put them on. Use on long runs and great on trails as they seem to stop the grit and mud getting in. They take a hammering on a hot wash and still hold their shape. Work well with trail shoes that have a wider toe box and a firm ride.

All up the cost has been about $100 in socks for the year and they show no signs of wearing out so anticipate them lasting another 12 months. Considering what blisters and hotspot can do to a long run they are worth every penny.

[Don Juan]

sook54, on Feb 14 2009, 06:23 PM, said:

DJ do tell - I need to replace my 2-yr-old set (ankle elastic gone floppy) and I looked last time and couldn't spot them. A pic perchance?

Sorry Sook no camera handy, and no images on the net I could find.

The Target coolmax socks were the low-cut anklet style, purchased at Target Bondi Junction in a cardboard-wrapped 3 pack: one pair of white socks with black heel and toe, one pair of white socks with grey heel and toe, and my favourites: the Black Socks with grey heel and toe, which reminded me of the CR thread on black socks.

Some topics on CR are timeless.

[southy]

It really is horses for courses. I hate Thorlos, bought a couple of pairs and tried them but found them too thick and they didn't help the blister issue at all. Friends of mine swear they are wonderful and will wear nothing else. So there you go.
I prefer thinner socks, with a good dose of baby powder in them. I can wear just about any thinner socks for training in (even el cheapo Rios) but buy really good cool max socks for racing in (where I get the worse blisters). I always put a good dose of baby powder in my socks and that usually keeps the blisters away (except when racing). I keep a couple of pairs of nice very light cool max socks (not cheap but very effective) just for racing.
I think everyone has to experiment a bit and find out what works for them.

[wombatoutofhell]

Target coolmax for me-but I also like all day socks (also from Target). They make a running sock, but I prefer the slightly thicker cross training sock.
Thorlos are comfy but usually too thick-although sometimes this can be good. I hate my ininjis and I think I'm the only one ever to say that. Mrs Wombat loves hers. I've worn mine twice (Marathon and 34km) and blistered both times. I don't normally blister with any other sock I've tried.

[axe69]

I'm a fan of WrightSocks. Not many places in Oz have them, but I find them definately worth the price. Double layered, thin, man-made fibers (no cotton). Ran in them during the recent floods here in NQ, and no blisters even when soaked. But, horses for courses...

[Solace]

I have recently found the Nike Drifit (??) socks and I love them. I went out for a run yesterday in some older socks and suspect I am going to end up with ym first blackened toenail. I won't run in anything but the Nikes now. About $25 a pair from Rebel. Very happy customer.

[maryclaire]

this will sound gimicky but when in the US in December, I found some running socks in Niketown and they are the best thing for me (high arches; chronic PF for over 1 year now). They have an extra band along the arch and believe it or not, they provide superb arch support - to the point that they took some getting used to, as in the beginning after a run in them, the PF foot felt fine, but the other foot was slightly tender in the facsia region.

I can't find these socks anywhere here now, which is a shame. They are heavenly. And given that my washing machine likes to eat only one of every paid of socks in this house, it's only a matter of time before I lose one of the set.

[1409th]

Thorlos for me all the way. I like the extra cushioning and they never seem to give me (really bad) blisters. I get them online from the US where they are a bit cheaper (as is bodyglide and shoes) at least when the AUD is stronger!

[southy]

I'm with you MaryClaire. The ones I like best for racing are some very light cool max Nike socks I bought last year in the USA, at a Nike outlet shop. Costs a bit but I got two pairs in the pack (for about 10$ US) - a pink pair and a white pair. I love'em. Maybe I should hand wash them as our washer likes to eat socks too.
WE have a good sized box of 'lonely socks'.

Edited by southy, 16 February 2009 - 01:03 PM.

[Spectre]

Another vote for the Coolmax from Target. They've never let me down.

[sook54]

Aha, I found coolmax socks in both Kmart and Coles - you have to keep an eye out for the little coolmax label. They were both in weird house brands, 2-packs costing $7.99. I also found some Slazenger coolmax socks for Mr Sook in Coles, discontinued line on special for about the same price, he says they are good.

[Colsy]

I love my Thorlos for long runs, but cheapies will do for short ones.

Thorlos are worth the money if you buy them off Ebay like I did. They worked out to about $9 a pair, compared with $30 a pair at local stores.

[adventurechick]

Injinji socks rock! I used to wear thorlos but they are just to hot and sweaty. The worst part is when the Thorlos get wet and water logged. I find the Injinji's dont retain any water and I can run through creeks etc without having to worry about my socks sloshing around as the water drains straight out. They feel quite different when you first start wearing them but after one run it is hard to go back.

[langswm]

Another big Injinji fan here. I do find that they wear out a bit faster than the other brands, so I only wear them for long runs (greater than 25k). I've found that they negate the need to wear the gel toe socks that I used to wear on the long runs.

Cant go past the Coolmax for the rest of my training runs and shorter races.

[Luko]

I can't wear Coolmax socks at all - they always make my feet really hot!

On the weekend I thought I would treat myself and splash out on some Nike socks called Dri-FIT Elite Quarter that cost $25. Never spent that much on 1 pair of running socks before so was hoping they would be good!

Went for my first run with them the next day and at first I thought my feet were going to get quite hot, but in the end they were really good and had relatively dry feet at the end. Only complaint I have is that they didn't come in black, so now they are a dusty brown!

[PhilN]

I am also a fan of the injinji socks, since wearing them I have stopped losing my toenails

Edited by PhilN, 23 February 2009 - 10:06 PM.

[ThunderThighs]

Can't go past Coolmax socks

I tried Thorlos and a few other brands and to be totally honest I can't see the value in Thorlos. Coolmax are a great sock that wears well and is cheap. I tend to do a bit of a sock run each time I'm at Target (three or four times a year) as sometimes they are not in stock.

Edited by ThunderThighs, 26 February 2009 - 04:24 PM.

[Rivz]

I'm a thorlos fan and never run in anything else now.

I use the Lites which are the shorter and slightly less cushioed vesion, but I find the cushioning to be a big plus and especially now I am really getting into the longer distances.

The key seems to be that the cushioning is in specific areas ie under the heal, under the ball of the foot and around the toes but not under the arch or over the top of the foot.

cheers
Rivz

[Blue Dog]

Just yesterday I visited three of my run-buddies who live in the same cabin.

They were just layin' round chillin' out with some chai tea lattes and listening to Air Supply, amongst a few duck-egg blue scatter-cushions and aubergine throw rugs, wearing these divine little numbers. Apparently they have a sponsorship deal with the manufacturer ...... dare I say it ? .... 'God bless their little cotton socks!"

Edited by Blue Dog, 26 February 2009 - 06:04 PM.