Socks for running, you never thought about it, right? Yet it’s not just a question of fashion, and if we spend a lot of time (and money) on running shoes, maybe it’s worth spending some on running socks too. Yes, because in the end when it comes to running the feet do the dirty work, in the sense that they are the ones who touch the ground with every step, and if technical clothing is important then so are the technical running socks. So throw away the cotton socks or, even worse, the terry socks and let’s find out how good running socks should be made.
Socks for running: how to choose them
So what are the characteristics to look at to choose a good pair of socks for running? The first, absolutely, the fabric: no cotton and only and only technical synthetic fabric. The reason is easily explained: cotton is hydrophilic, any synthetic technical yarn – polyester, nylon, lycra, polypropylene – is instead hydrophobic, i.e. it wicks away moisture. This means that a technical sock doesn’t stay soaked of sweat nor, reasonably, of water in case of rain, and this simply means protecting the feet from blisters, sores, redness, rubbing.
The second feature to check in a pair of running socks is the workmanship of the fabric. A good pair of socks for running definitely has reinforced heel and toe. The reason is very simple: they are the areas in which the support of the foot is most stressed and which are most subjected to friction and tension. The heel in the case of supporting the foot with the same, the toe every time the push phase is completed and then also during the downhill running phases (hence the advice to cut the nails often so as not to end up losing them).
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With the reinforced heel and toe we begin to get into the subtleties and details: sometimes it involves different pieces of fabric sewn with the central part, and then you have to be careful that the stitching is not so coarse that it irritates the skin of the foot; other times it involves different fabric processes, without seams, and then we talk about calze seamless and it is necessary to carefully evaluate the elasticity of the fabric (which is normally given by the use of Lycra).
When we start talking about quality running socks then there is also one elasticized workmanship that goes around the instep and arch of the foot. It serves to keep the sock in place during the run, preventing it from rolling up or sliding forward, also in this case causing redness and annoying rubbing.
Since the feet also sweat, and a lot, and unfortunately for them they are closed inside the shoe during the run, it is useful that the technical fabric also has some antifungal and anti-odor treatment: normally this is well specified on the label and normally means paying a few euros more. Or make do with these always valid tips.
Finally, what really distinguishes a high-quality pair of running socks is that they always have a right and a leftsince a straight cut could create irritation in the fifth toe area.
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Socks for running: short or long?
Then there is the whole question of length of socks for running, that is, whether they should be very low, low or high. Net of any considerations related to fashion, there are functional evaluations to be made. The very low running socks (“ghost” type like these, so to speak) are very used, especially in summer, but they have two potential problems: the first is that they may not protect the skin from irritation due to rubbing with the heel shell or the tongue of the shoe; the second is that if you run on paths, not even the ankle is protected. It won’t be a tragedy, but it’s something to consider.
The vast majority use calze da running mid-cut like these, that is, which reach just above the ankle bone. They are undoubtedly comfortable to wear, protective enough, they allow you to play with colours, they protect the skin around the ankle from stinging weeds, pebbles, dust, debris and they are also great in winter with long tights, both for him and for her .
Finally there are the high socks, tubular typewhich sometimes they could also be compression socks like these (but more often compression stockings only have a sleeve, as we have explained here), which however, if well made, can play a role in containing the vibrations of the calf muscles and promoting the flow of blood, preventing cramps, which in In winter they are great if you don’t like running with full-leg leggings and in short, in certain situations, they can have their advantages.
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