Socks are, well… socks. What is there really to say?  Well, for those of us who are active, you know that socks have the power to enable or ruin your fun. Striving to create a sock that responds to all sock complaints (they itch, they fall down, they bunch, etc.), Fits researched what it is that bothers us most about the part of our wardrobe we all used to think least about. When socks do their job, you don’t notice them – the people at Fits took on the job of noticing the unnoticed, and produced some great “fitting” socks.

Fits calls their system F3 tech – meaning Fit, Feel and Function – I’ll take you briefly through all three. In terms of fit, the heel and toe are snug, and stay firmly in place without constricting. I liked them on hikes and wearing to work because they don’t slide around in your shoe. In terms of feel, Fits constructed them out of a wool (73%) and nylon/spandex/polyester blend. This means that they feel ultra soft, even after multiple wears. As for function, the sock does admirably well not only on hikes, but also for running and everyday wear. I wore them in everything from hiking boots to clogs, and liked them in every shoe.

Fits Sock Co. offers their F3 tech in products for both casual and active (e.g. hiking, running, skiing) use.  They have multiple heights, densities, colors, and sizing options.  Fits socks tend to run true to size.

In addition to the fit, the fabrics did a great job of wicking away moisture as the temperatures have risen.  We also appreciated the comfort paired with lightweight construction.  The toesocks showed versatility being worn with traditional sneakers, running shoes, and barefoot sportswear.  The Injinji Performance Lightweight Toesocks provide one less worry during your next athletic venture.  Find the socks at Injinji.com.

Great socks are one of those things that you don’t always appreciate until you have them.  Darn Tough Vermont has been making premium socks for over 30 years and the 1/4 Sock Mesh Run Bike sock is one of the latest incarnations of their years of experience. Darn Tough offers two versions of this sock in two different fabrics; Coolmax and merino wool.  The version tested in this review was the Coolmax fabric.  While they are marketed as a running and biking sock, they make an excellent daily sock as well.  Over the review period, I have worn these on distance bike rides in the mountains, a couple of 5k runs, on a 7 mile hike with my Merrel Trail Glove shoes, and as a daily sock.  They performed exceptionally in all of these circumstances.

Loved it:

• Ultra light weight makes them fit well in all footwear
• Mesh venting along the top of the sock allows increased airflow in between the toes
• Fine gauge knitting creates a secure fit that hugs the foot and offers less bulk than other socks
• A basically seamless design eliminates the abrasion you often get at the front of the foot
• The heel pocket is designed in a way that minimizes friction and helps prevent blisters
• Coolmax yarn wicks moisture away from the foot and dries quicker
• The mid foot is made tighter in order to avoid bunching in that section; Darn Tough refers to this as “mid foot support” but I wouldn’t say it actually offers much actual support
• LIFETIME GUARANTEE on the socks! Right from the packaging: “If our socks aren’t the most comfortable and durable socks you’ve ever owned, return them for your money back.”  Can’t beat a company that stands behind its products like that!

• Very little to complain about with these great socks
• The only element I would suggest looking at is deciding between the Coolmax and merino wool version; I found the Coolmax to dry well but not offer the smell-resistance you get with merino wool

Darn Tough Vermont makes all their socks right here in the US and really stands behind their product.  The 1/4 Sock Mesh Run/Bike sock is an excellent choice for runners, bikers, and anyone looking for a comfortable, durable sock.  They offer a wide range of socks for everything from hiking to casual.  Find out more at: http://darntough.com/

I have had a pair of Goodhew Sport Footies and Sedona Micros since early last spring. I have worn them in the heat of the summer, on high altitude runs & hikes, and around town. They have probably undergone at least 25 washings because I like to do laundry! Both pairs of Goodhews have stood up to my new 6 month challenge and continue to be a sock I look for in the drawer.

The Sedona Micro, featured in the photo above, has been a top performer. First off, I really like that the Sedona socks are available in crew, quarter, and micro styles. I am a big fan of being able to get the same great quailties in a variety of differet ways. The Sedona is made of a 47% Lambswool, 31% Stretch Nylon, 18% Alpaca, 4% Spandex. These socks are rated as medium volume, but to me they feel super soft and plush when you first put them on thanks to the fine weaving of the fabric. These socks have paneling to aid with ventilation and also feature mild arch support. I have worn these socks for runs of up to 4 hrs and have had no complaints.

The Sport Footie is a medium weight sock from Goodhews’ athletic line. They are composed of 36% merino wool, 36% Coolmax, 23% stretch nylon, and 5% spandex. This sock has an instep vent panel, reinforced heel, and flat toe seam, which are all great features for high intensity exercises such as running. I have the Sport Footie in black and also in white and have to admit that on a sunny day the medium weight black sock is a bit much and my toes are really toasty. However, the fabric combo does provide good moisture management.  After 25 plus washings they still look like new.

Goodhew has a mission to produce wonderful products while remaining environmentally responsible. Please check out these socks, their story, and socks from their other lines: health series, lifestyle basics-designs-outdoor, and neve collection Goodhew.us.com

Outside of hiking socks, Wigwam also makes socks for running, skiing and snowboarding, casual, and work.

Overall, we have been very happy with the Wigwam socks we have been testing and proudly recommend Wigwam socks with Outlast.  For more information, please visit Wigwam.com

No, that’s not a typo– Smartwool is in on the compression game too! Compression may not be new, but combining graduated compression with natural merino wool is a step in a new direction.

My first run in these socks was destined to suck. I’d been playing desk jockey all day, it was hours later than I like to run and heavy, wet snow was falling—did I mention it was May?! But I pulled on my PhD, over-the-calf, Graduated Compression socks and head out the door. I could tell these were special socks when I noticed an invigorating, tingling sensation in my calves, while warming-up. A brisk walk turned into a run, which turned into a longer run and eventually became a downright awesome run. What made the difference? I think it was the socks.

I also put them to the test at an all-day, stand and watch sporting event, book ended by two four hour car rides. After 16 hours of potential blood pooling, ankle swelling anti-activity, my feet and ankles felt great and didn’t look bad either.

The 20 – 30 mmHg-graduated compression rating is touted to improve circulation (check), reduce muscle damage, fatigue and swelling (check) and promote faster recovery (check).

I’ll grab these for a run, bike or hike, and, for guys, the PhD Graduated Compression socks are thin enough to wear with dress shoes at the office. They’ll definitely put a spring in your step while the foot top mesh vent zone keeps you cool.

I’m wearing a medium and they fit perfectly, which means most people might want to size up for absolute comfort. I had no gaping at the toe seam, my heel actually fit in the heel pocket and my chicken legs felt supported! I’ve washed and dried them three times and they’ve stayed true to size.

The hard part was what to do when I finally came home from my run. The rest of me was wet and cold, but I was comfortable from my knees down. I changed clothes, but not my socks. Remember, PhD Graduated Compression socks are wool, meaning they are odor-free and still keep you warm if they get damp.

www.smartwool.com

$37.95 for Ultra Light

$39.98 for Light

The Sport Footie model features Merino Wool with COOLMAX fibers for unparalleled softness, durability and fast moisture wicking. We tested these socks for runs up to 12 miles and found the padding in them to be just the right amount- the Sport Footie won’t leave you wanting more protection at mile 10 or have so much padding that it causes blisters, it hits that perfect middle ground. We found its fit to be very comfortable and moisture wicking properties to be exceptional. Several testers did comment that the super low crew design of this sock doesn’t come up high enough to protect from the heel of your shoe rubbing your achilles raw, so we would advise wearers to make sure this won’t be a factor before setting out on a long effort. After 5 or 6 decent-length runs, we found the Goodhew socks to show virtually no wear, so we think the Goodhew Sport Footie sock would be a great durable workhorse sock for the high-mileage runner.

The Montrose hiking model is a standard, mid-calf length sock that sports all the aforementioned Goodhew standard features as well as a waffle-stitch breather panel for super ventilation for those sweltering days on the trail. We tested the Montrose sock on short urban treks up to aggressive hike/trail runs of several hours, and they performed as well as some of the better outdoor socks we’ve tested. Their comfort didn’t suffer as the mercury rose and again, they showed such little sign of wear that we think these socks could become a family heirloom! Overall, we were very impressed with the solid construction, super comfort, and overall durability of the Goodhew socks we tested and highly recommend them for your next outdoor adventure. For more information, visit www.goodhew.us.com

MERINO WOOL / COOLMAX®

Features:
• Spandex throughout the Sock
• Turn Welt Top
• Arch Support
• Instep vent panel
• Flat toe seam
• Reinforced Hi-heel |

Content:
• 36% Merino Wool
• 36% Coolmax®
• 23% Stretch Nylon
• 5% Spandex

Injinji is known for their unique socks that provide separate sock sleeves for each toe on your feet. While it feels odd at first and can take some getting used to, this tech is great for those prone to blisters around the toes. The toe sleeves eliminate much of the blister-causing friction of skin-to-skin contact. The compression in these socks is provided by AIS: technology™ – graduated compression that is greater at the ankle and less pronounced closer to the knee, which encourages blood flow from the foot back to the heart. The Ex-Celerator socks work quite well and testers commented that they felt the same compression benefits realized when wearing other top compression models. Some testers commented that the socks might have been a bit long, leaving some extra length even when pulled up to the knee joint.

Overall, we ranked these among the best compression socks we’ve tested and were excited that runners devoted to Injini’s toe-sock design now have an option for compression socks! For more information, visit www.injinji.com.

From Injinji:

Race & Recovery Toesock
• Pumps Up Circulation
• Guards Against Blistering
• Allows Proper Alignment Of Toes
• Accelerates Recovery Of Muscle Force Capacity
• Reduces Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness (Doms)

The Injinji EX-CELERATOR™ Compression Toesock incorporates Injinji’s AIS: technology™ in its graduated lower leg compression system with our unique and patented 5 toe design. The benefits include enhanced circulation, muscle recovery, superior moisture management and no skin on skin friction eliminating blisters. Feel the difference for yourself.

With so many sock companies entering the sock market, it has made buying a pair of socks almost as bad as shopping for a car. We’ve tested a number of different sock brands and a few have stood out, one of them being Swiftwick. One of the features that sets Swiftwick apart from many other sock brands is its quality stitching. While many socks are made with a 100 needle count, Swiftwick decided to use a 200 needle count that helps with durability and gives your foot an extremely snug, yet comfortable fit.  One of the socks we tested from Swiftwick included the Zero Merino, which is a sock that sits just below the ankle and is made of 60% merino wool, 30% nylon, and 10% lycra.  We liked this sock best for cooler weather while pounding the road or trail with our running shoes. This Zero Merino retails for $12.95/pair and can be purchased at Swiftwick.com or check the third party dealers here.

We also tested out the Zero OLE which is like the Zero Merino, but without the wool, making it thinner and lighter! The OLE of  is made of 80% nylon, 15% olefin, and 5% lycra. With the combination of these fabrics, the Zero OLE is super breathable and has excellent moisture management.  The OLE is a compression sock, but it is important to not mix this up with the term gradient compression. Overall, we were very pleased with the Swiftwick brand of socks and recommend you give them a try next time you’re in the market for a pair of socks.  They have a full line of socks to meet your specific activity needs.

We tested Thorlo’s Experia socks with CoolMax last year and we were excited to try out Thorlo’s latest addition, the Experia with merino and silk, which will be released next month. The Experia is a line of thin padding socks that are geared towards athletes that want light padding in the high pressure areas, but do not want to sacrifice breathability and moisture management during high intensity exercise. Merino wool is a natural-sustainable fiber that provides wicking while remaining extremely comfortable. We tested the Experia with merino wool on 2-plus -hour long runs and were amazed at the comfort of the sock and we didn’t find ourselves thinking about our feet while on the move (a good sign when you have been working hard and your mind starts to wander!) The Experia is easy to care for and can be washed and worn again and again without any residual stink. We look forward to wearing the merino/silk Experia during a spring marathon and countless other endeavors! For more information, please visit Thorlo.com