15 replies to this topic

[CootaGC]

Does wearing good quality socks make a difference? I run anywhere from 8k to 35k in a session and until now have ran in any socks I can get my hands on eg. 3 packs for $10 etc. When I see the price of some socks for running I wonder if they are worth the expense. Any advice?

[buzzlightyear]

Hi CootaGC

There are three things that ensures you have a good run, or perhpas in your case, a good race

* Good training/ training plan
* Good nutrition beofre/during/after race
* Proper food care

The socks covers the third item.

There are many expensive types of socks on the market but just look at it this way, cheap k-mart socks may do the job but if over time blisters does develop during a race, they not only ruin your time, but possibly your race. Infection may lead to nasty stuff too.

I wear the same pair of socks for my 230km run - Didn't change the socks once. NO BLISTERS at all. Even though this pair of socks cost me $25 to buy, i cannot be more thankful

A few brands to consider

* X-socks (a few models but i choose the 'cheapest' ones - )
* Thorlo 9Awesome socks but can be thickish (great for winter)
* My favorite and have two pairs which I have ran over 2800km between them!) - DEFEETs
*Injinji - Some love it, some hate it - For me, i find them great for races thats invovles 'sand'

Enjoy

p/s: I don't work in a shoe shop or invovles in any socks distribution. Just hopefully we can drill some sense that they do make a difference

[Colin]

Some guy might come here and say he doesn't run in socks at all , not since 1977 and doesn't get blisters either.
Put it due to fact that there is less movement between foot and shoe, and some shoes are better than other at that.......and I think that would be the key when choosing socks too.

[Wida]

buzzlightyear, on Dec 24 2009, 11:36 AM, said:

*Injinji - Some love it, some hate it - For me, i find them great for races thats invovles 'sand'

I love the Injinis and I run all of my long trail training runs and ultras in them. They are a pain to put on but they fit so well, don't move at all on my feet and when they get wet they dry very quickly.

The only other fancy socks that I've tried are the Drymax socks (not to be confused with the cheapo coolmax socks) and I really didn't like them at all, especially when they got wet as water just seemed to slosh around in my shoes. There is no question that from a technologoy standpoint they are quite an interesting sock, but for me I just can't go past the Injinji's.

[Don Juan]

Bonds ankle-height running socks are durable and comfortable. They even have Black Socks

Target coolmax socks used to be good until they became hard to find.

[aDrain]

I like Thorlos, both the thicker black/white originals and the newer coloured ones (which have the padding at toe & heels and elasticised in the middle to stop slipping around).

[Easy Tiger]

none, waste of money

[Bellthorpe]

My expectations have been dashed.

As this is posted in 'Electronic Hardware and Software' I thought there must be some varieties of electronic socks (iSocks?) for the nerds.

Alas, it's just about regular socks. I've asked the moderators to re-name this thread 'Electronic Hardware and Sockware'.

Quote

Does wearing good quality socks make a difference?

No.

Quote

* Proper food care

The socks covers the third item.

Only if you're on a high-fibre diet.

Quote

Target coolmax socks used to be good until they became hard to find

Have you tried Target? That's where I buy my Coolmax socks in 6-packs ... about one each year.

[Wida]

Easy Tiger, on Dec 24 2009, 05:16 PM, said:

none, waste of money

Of course a good quality sock will make a difference. However, the question of whether or not a good quality sock has to be expensive then the answer is no. 99% of my running is actually done in cheapo coolmax socks and as long as they are still holding their shape then I don't have a problem running marathons in them.

It really depends on what you are planning on doing. For example, if you are going to be looking at an event where you might be running in wet conditions for 12 plus hours then it starts to get very important to have a very good sock. Likewise, buzzlightyear talked about running in sandy conditions for prolonged periods...once again, when running in extreme conditions your socks become so much more important. For me I turn to the expensive Injinjis and given the amount of time spent training for events and the money spent on entering them, then $35 on a pair of socks is money well spent. You just need to experiment and try out a few socks to see what works the best for you...a $5 pair of socks may be prefect for your situation.

Edited by Wida, 24 December 2009 - 07:08 PM.

[CootaGC]

Thanks for you advice
I ran the 50k Kurrawa to Duranbah and return recently and ended up with a very small blister so what I am wearing seem to be doing the job. My 11 year old son has trouble with toes rubbing against each other and we bought him a pair of Injinis and the problem was solved instantly.

[swaggerer]

Quote

Does wearing good quality socks make a difference? I run anywhere from 8k to 35k in a session and until now have ran in any socks I can get my hands on eg. 3 packs for $10 etc. When I see the price of some socks for running I wonder if they are worth the expense. Any advice?

I didn't worry too much about socks until my heel became sore. I now wear Thorlos and top of the range Nike or Asics socks. I would recommend anyone with Haglund's heel, or any achille's insertion or bursa troubles find a good, quality thick sock to prevent the heel bursa, tendon and Haglund protusion getting irritated.

I also find that wearing no socks can be good too. Some socks don't have enough cotton in them and the artificial stuff tends to retain heat or something. I don't know. But when I race I often go sockless and just tape my heel with Fixomull Stretch or whack on a few Blister Pads from Band -Aid (available at all leading chemists).

Just my opinion.

Cheers,
Ronnie.

Edited by swaggerer, 27 December 2009 - 12:10 PM.

[Leofisio]

My feet is pretty dodgy, it blisters all the time, thorlo socks works pretty well for me... I bought a pair of new balance runners socks (3 bucks a pair) and they are excellent!

I think this is a really case-by-case sort of advice.

Leo

[McKnickers]

hi - where do you get the Injinis?

cheers

[Andrew(ajh)]

Thorlos - that's all I wear - I luv 'em.

[Lynda]

Hi, My feet are prone to blistering (and not always in the same spot). I find that wearing better quality socks makes a difference (ie. less or no blisters). For short runs I just use kathmandu coolmax socks. For longer runs I have tried lots of different socks:

- Injinjis - dont suit me as I find they make me blister around the toes (which I dont do otherwise)
- Socks that I have found really good: Smartwool, Wigwam, Bridgedale, Drymax etc. (All bought from camping stores except the Drymax ones which I bought on-line from the US)
- I have also tried coolmax sock liners under another pair of socks - I used this for Trailwalker (30 hours walking only).

[littleblackpug]

Lynda, on Dec 28 2009, 08:09 AM, said:

Hi, My feet are prone to blistering (and not always in the same spot).

Lynda have you tried BlisterShield or Striderm powder in your socks?

I LOVE BlisterShield, I got Striderm last time but it's not as good, it does the job OK, you just have the use more of it.

I also love Bridgedale socks for anything trail or wet, and X-Socks are good for up to marathon distance on road in the dry.

Edited by littleblackpug, 28 December 2009 - 07:24 AM.