Wear the Right Socks While Running
You’ve probably thought about running shoes a lot, but what about socks? They cover as many miles and steps as their more visible single (ha) mates, and they can create or disrupt your running comfort.
Some people never think of their running socks, while others probably do. Here are some tips to help you find the right socks.
If your current socks work, stick with them.
Do your feet feel great during and after every run? If so, don’t change anything, even if the guy at the store insists on cutting edge sock tech you’re missing out on.
Just be aware that your needs may change. If you’re buying cheap cotton socks in packs of six and they’re great for short runs in fine weather in your favorite shoes, that’s great – for now. But maybe someday you will start training for a marathon and you will develop blisters on long runs. Reevaluate when this happens.
Running socks usually fit better
Regular socks are just a bag that you can put your foot in. Running socks, on the other hand, should fit snugly around your feet. Sometimes they come in pairs, one goes to the left leg, and the other to the right.
They are often thinner than regular socks and fit around your feet, so they are less likely to bunch up or not move as you run.
Running socks reduce chafing
The snug running socks are paired with thinner fabric and flatter seams to help prevent blistering. The fabric is often more slippery than a standard cotton sock, which means any friction can occur between the toe and the shoe than between the toe and your foot. The fabric often helps wick away sweat, further reducing the likelihood of blistering.
Winter running socks are warm and thin at the same time
In cold weather, woolen or insulated socks will warm your feet. The thick warm socks you wear in winter boots usually don’t go well with your running shoes, but winter running socks can keep you warm by being thin enough to fit.
This is important because thick socks exacerbate all of the sock problems we discussed. Running socks designed for winter can be thin or thick, but they will always fit snugly and are less prone to blistering than similar standard socks.
Once you find your perfect running socks, buy multiple pairs. If you opt for wool socks, the great thing about them is that they can be worn several times without causing an unpleasant smell .
If you think of wool as uncomfortable and scratchy, be sure to check out socks like the Smartwool PhD line. I ran in these socks for many years, but then I became allergic to wool and had to switch to synthetic fabrics. Woolen running socks are some of the best socks out there, so if you haven’t used one yet, give it a try. And if you want to recommend non-wool socks, my favorite is Asics sneakers like these .