73 replies to this topic

[Rhino]

Had some time up my sleeve last night, so thought I would do a quick two laps of the TAN. Searched through my car to see what clothing I had, could only find a pair of black cycling socks. While running I had two people say "nice socks" (sarcastically).

Is wearing black socks such a taboo? or should I make a stand and only wear black socks from now on?

[Rhino]

Maybe if I had my Coolrunning hat on they wouldn't have said anything!

[Sarge]

Rhino,

If you really want to get up their noses, wear odd coloured socks. My teenage daughters do it and at first it made washing day interesting ( all those odd socks ) but now it's the norm.

My kids bought me black Nike socks for fathers day and I love 'em. :)

[nikolay]

I always ware black socks.

[undercover brother]

saw a pair of bright coloured 'toe' socks (like the ones injinji make) for kids in kmart the other day.
stripes of neon yellow, green, orange and pink.
think they go up to almost the knee.
didn't have my size.
was most disappointed.

[Horrie]

Some people have a fetish that you should only wear white sport socks and that is usually the norm.

But I say, wear whatever turns you on.

No Boof, that doesn't mean you can wear that red G Banger you were talking about a while ago.

[Stu Mac]

Horrie said: [indent]quote:

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Some people have a fetish that you should only wear white sport socks and that is usually the norm.

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[/indent]Why, I have never understood this! Three years ago my son was lining up at the start of the Little A's State Cross Country Championship and some 'fool' of an official told him he couldn't run with black socks, (cross country dirt & mud, would only make sense), he had to take his socks off & luckily I was close by and wearing white socks and we swapped???????????? I must admit I haven't read anything at the senior level if we can, but both myself & son wear red or blue socks to match our club uniform.

But I do tend to wear white, only because coloured socks are either hard to find or more expensive :) !

[Mister G]

Stuff 'em. I've worn red, green, blue, beige socks in races. (By now they probably say, "oh yeah, that's just him...")

[undercover brother]

CR socks??

[guboy]

Aha! another black sock supporter! We need to unite. Look as I may, I have never found the rule book that stipulates white is the only colour socks you can wear! One of the things I value about runners over cyclists is that we aren't fussy or snobbish or petty when it comes to what we wear. We are generally free of the consensus terrorism that affects other sports, and we need to stay that way.

[Colin]

Too technical for me ;)

I need to start a following of runners wearing no socks.

I they can put up with the smelly shoes that is. :)

[PodRunner]

Rhino,
The only time you should EVER wear black socks is if you have really pale white legs with thick black hair. Like Mr G.

[RunDave]

Thanks black sock wearers. On the odd occasion that I have worn black socks, I have felt a bit guilty and a bit like something is not quite right. Now I can run in black socks carefree, knowing that there are others out there. Also, I can experiment with running in Explorers now - which you can't get in white - because they have been recommended as a good long distance sock and an alternative to Thorlos.

RunDave

PS. Forget the CR visor, bring on the socks (black or white with a solid blue, green and gold band at the top).

[Obi-Wan]

What's the problem with black socks? They'll keep you feet warmer in winter and are a great accessory to wear for night running.

[jegster]

Hi guys

I will unashamedly admit that I wear nothing under my running shoes but black socks, whether fun running or athletics

these after work joggers are an arrogant lot, it would seem. who cares what you wear as long as you are out there? wonder what they would think of the guy who wears thongs at AV races?

anyway, our club uniform is black shorts so black socks colour coordinates pretty well, i reckon

so people, wear black socks and be proud! :P

[Fire Horse]

Gotta say, black is my colour of choice, but Target Coolmax socks don't come in black at the mo., so I have to diversify...

Stu Mac, you can wear whatever socks take your fancy at senior level, or no socks, or even one or no shoes, if you choose. IAAF rule. Re- the Little Aths sock-swapping incident, if you are part of a state team, you may be required to wear the uniform socks. If you are only representing your club, then the incident would only arise if you encountered attilla-the-official, which it sounds like you did.

[omni]

I always run in Explorers it's my little way of protesting this norm. That and they are the only socks I own.

As for the black socks thing could these people be inheritly racist???

[plu]

Undercover Brother said:

[indent]quote:

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CR socks??

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[/indent]I already brought up that topic as a thread on Cool Running Socks and ended up with a yellow and green pair for the Blackmore Half from work socks.

In relation to socks if I run when I come home from work I take everything off except my socks and jocks and I run in them. So the colour varies each day but I mainly run in thin worn black work socks.

PS. I do put running gear on as well.

Cheers

Plu

[Chris B.]

For some reason most running socks are white.
Have no idea why when it comes to cross country season. Most of my winter socks are now far from gleaming white. <_<

Black socks with Black shorts would have to match better than white but who really cares.

During a masters comp there was a guy wearing black socks. One of the runners commented that there was an Olympian many moons back that wore Black socks and won his running event.(Don't remember his name or event). As a result it bacame the in thing to wear for the next few years.

Any one shed any more light on this one ?

[cjr]

I used to get some very disapproving looks when I always used to wear black socks at the posh tennis club I used to be a member of...

[flat feet]

Is there any othe kind? Socks that is?

[G.T.]

Rhino
I have ben converted to the excelence of red socks (does that sound like any body ) :D
Mate enjoy it and dont give a damm ,as always the minority can be the rudest :rolleyes:
To all who wear explorer socks i am in awe ,,they are wat i wear riding in middle of winter to keep warm but cood not imagine wearing them when running ,,my training socks are usually whit wat ever i grab out first from under my bed

[PEEKIE]

Add me to the black sock wearer list, at least in winter they dont get as dirty as white socks from the mud.

[rabbit]

I always thought that the black sock thing was a UK fad. I flicked through a english runners magazine years ago and a lot of pics of races showed people in black socks.

To the poms out there - is this what they do back in the mother country ol' chap? :P

[Ralph Wiggum]

Damn, I hate to be such a stick in the mud but frankly WHO CARES!

Nobody will be enriched by reading or replying to this thread, but like a fool, I reply.

[martinb]

I think the reason some people don't like them is they look really ugly.

[lorrents]

Various 'alternative' films that've crossed my path also feature gentlemen in black socks exclusively.
Can't be sure whether they were Target Cool Max of Thorlos but it seemed to me that their sweat absorption characteristics were of secondary importance.
ps: Target Cool Max sox get my vote - and yes I have several black pairs.

[RunDave]

[indent]quote:

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Originally posted by martinb:
I think the reason some people don't like them is they look really ugly.

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[/indent]Since when has looking ugly ever stopped runners from wearing ugly gear :P

[lebusqp]

Black socks are definately more practical for us trail/xc types. All my white socks have brown stains on them - that WAS socks not jocks :D
A few years back I used to race in a pair of flouro green socks, then I found a pair of flouro pink ones and raced in them a few times, but decided all the verbal abuse wasn't worth it.

[Kelvin]

One on those frustrating things that the majority of running socks come in white as they rapidly become grubby no matter how much you wash them. Favouring the ones that only reach my ankle probably doesn't make much difference to be honest, but i admit that for running in warmer weather they do absorb that little more heat and personally find that uncomfortable (though would be more worried by black shorts or top in those conditions).

[wombatface]

RunDave said: 'Now I can run in black socks carefree, knowing that there are others out there.'

The 'others' include Gerard Barrett who was a black sock wearer - didn't stop him from being one of Australia's best distance runners. I used to wear thin black socks for racing - didn't stop me from being one of Australia's worst distance runners.

Regarding 'Explorer' socks - I wear them sometimes in winter - pretty comfortable although some would find them too thick.

[El Torro]

Richard Gleisner managed a 2.17 marathon and plenty of other top runs - and I can only remember him ever wearing black socks.

[RunDave]

Maybe we could start a black socked hall of fame. Better still, how about another category in the CR awards, "best performance in black socks" (or worst dressed runner). Now that would be an award to be proud of.

[lorrents]

My undisputed hero in the black sox stakes is Spaniard Reyes Estevez. He's been running in 1500m Championship Finals for years now in what look like your '3pair for$5.99' thin black work socks. Converted me alright. Champion ...

[Fire Horse]

[indent]quote:

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Originally posted by RunDave -
Maybe we could start a black socked hall of fame.

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[/indent]Here's one for you, RunDave.
CoolRunner Ourimbar has confirmed suspicions that he was indeed wearing short black Reebok socks for this year's 6 Foot Track victory. Expecting to get grubby - probably. Cool - definitely. B) Go the black socks...

[RunDave]

Is that a black sock outing?

[Fire Horse]

Absolutely. ;)

[astro]

Wow, I'm impressed that most of you even wear matching socks! I have a multitude of single socks whose partners have left them to disappear into that black hole where socks and car keys disappear into, never to be found again, so it's rare that I ever even have matching socks on let alone a specific colour! :D

[Obi-Wan]

[indent]quote:

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Richard Gleisner managed a 2.17 marathon and plenty of other top runs - and I can only remember him ever wearing black socks.

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[/indent]El Torro, do you know what he's up to these days, I haven't seen him since school days. Tommy G's done well for himself, though.

[gromit]

I notice that black socks are making their way into the pro cycling peleton. Lance Armstrong and some of his US Postal team mates have started wearing them. Maybe it's an American thing.

Personally, I think they're wrong.

[Rhino]

Just a follow-up to the "Tan" incident, I will be purchasing more black socks today. I seem to like the break-away trend.

[flat feet]

Of course you all know that clothes washing machines are directly linked to a black hole and that is where the missing half of a pair of socks goes in return coater hangers turn up in your wardrobe.

[miss_skarmel]

[indent]quote:

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Originally posted by Rhino:
While running I had two people say "nice socks" (sarcastically).

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[/indent]I'm amazed that people even care what socks we all wear, let alone make the effort to look down in that direction and comment on them!!!

I have never thought twice about what sock colour I wear. Most of my socks are pink and/or black and I've never had a comment about them....kinda feel left out now... <_< hehe

[Consistent1]

Short of advocating a "black sock" uprising, which is well on the cards after this subject, I think the comments passed onto Rhino are reminiscent of the conformist world we live in.

Who cares if someone chooses to run wearing black socks, their favourite 15 year old running shorts with the crotch hanging out of them, their 1985 Dunlop KT26s or whatever deviates from the latest and greatest trend?

Not me, because the beauty of the sport is getting out there and having a go. And if people what to sarcastically comment on your attire, tell them "thanks very much" and keep on going because they probably image-conscious prats who aren't worth knowing.

[kt]

I remember being really excited in Yr 3, because I'd just gotten a new pair of KT26s, and they had my initials on them! :D

[rosie]

i reckon black socks are the way forward-but only footie ones! - saves precious aussie water. white never stay white. don't think it's so much the colour as how far up the leg they go....mmmmm but then there's paula radcliffe -whom could be mistaken at times for pippy longstockings.. :D

[ironross]

I don't think there are too many rules when it comes to running fashions. But I think that the use of black socks is a serious matter. It looks terrible and does nothing to lift the profile of the sport. It just looks too much like you are wearing your work socks to run in. I say no to black socks!

[Speedy Girl]

I agree - black socks - a big NO NO

[run4it]

A year ago I would have said a big NO to black socks - but then I started going to yoga, where I was always the only girl wearing running shorts and a t-shirt. I finally succumbed (sp?) to peer pressure and bought "yoga clothes", even though I don't think they are nearly as comfortable as my shorts and t-shirt ensemble....so wear whatever color of socks you want, and don't give into annoying people!

[knight60]

can't believe this thread is as long as it is...or that I'm reading it!!