TrueEnergy Sock Review

Back in the spring, TrueEnergy sent me a pair of their low cut socks to test out. With the pandemic in full force and my fitness studio shut down by the state, my mind was a bit distracted. The other day, I realized I had not posted my experience with the socks. I've been wearing them on just about all of my runs since I received them in early May. 

At first it was for the sole purpose of testing them out for a review, but then I realized they were becoming my go-to socks for my runs, everyday wear too.

Why? Well, bottom line they are comfortable. I like the way they contour my foot. They are snug and don't move around, but without feeling like the circulation's being cut off. The snug fit actually helps with circulation and keeping blisters at bay.

Now, the "special" thing about these socks is that they are "powered" by infrared nano-particles blended into the yarn. Your body's heat is captured by the nano-particles to produce infrared energy. Infrared energy expands your capillaries which improves circulation, stimulates cellular recovery and accelerates metabolism." This is suppose to help with recovery, reduce swelling, relax tight muscles, etc. 

Now I'm no scientist. I really can't tell you if all that techie stuff is working, but I can tell you they wear good, feel good, and I'm wearing them because I want too, not because I got them for free.

The other great thing is that they are affordable. I've often paid $15 or more a pair for running socks. The TrueEnergy low cut socks I tested are $19.99 for 3 pair! Three pair! The TreeEnergy socks come in low cut, crew, and over-the-calf. The low cut and crew are 3 pair for $19.99 and over-the-calf are 2 pair for $19.99. That's AWESOME!

Check them out and order a pack at https://trueenergysocks.com/

RunnerDude's Favorite Socks: FEETURES!

Socks are a lot like shoes, everyone has their favorites. Mine happen to be a brand called Feetures! I had my first experience with Feetures! when an online sports clothing company, MyFavortieStyles.com sent me a few pairs to try. Try I did and I was hooked. There are a couple of rules of thumb when it comes to socks.

1. Avoid 100% cotton
2. Choose technical man-made fabrics such as polyester, Lycra, nylon, Coolmax, Dry-Fit and/or a blend of the fabrics. There are also several good natural-fiber fabrics that make good socks such as Smartwool and bamboo.
3. Wear socks that are close fitting to avoid chafing.

I was immediately impressed with the snugness of the Feetures! socks I had been sent. They were very supportive as well as very effective in keeping my feet dry (and that's no small task). That was about 3 years ago and I've been wearing Feetures! ever since, picking up a new pair here and there.

Just recently I discovered that Feetures! (the company) is literally right in my back yard! Feetures! is a family owned and operated company located in Conover, North Carolina, a community of 7,500 in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains about 1.5hrs west of me. Hugh Gaither founded Feetures! in 2002 after spending 25+ years with a leading manufacturer of athletic socks. He believed that there was an opportunity to create a better performance sock that took advantage of the latest in sock technology. That same spirit of innovation drives Feetures! today. Feetures! continues to harness new technology with the goal of producing the best performance socks in the world.

So why do I like them so much? First, it's the fit. Power bands of Lycra are strategically placed throughout each sock so that they contour to the shape of each person’s foot. This individualized fit delivers the perfect amount of compression so that each sock hugs the foot in a comfortable, supportive way. The result is that the socks stay firmly in place and eliminate movement between the foot and sock that often results in blisters.

Second, Feetures! socks have something called “Perfect Toe” technology that's a trade-marked seam-free toe closure. The “Perfect Toe” is hand-linked so both the inside and outside surface of the sock are completely smooth, eliminating the irritation and discomfort caused by traditional toe seams. As a result, the socks provide protective comfort on those long runs.

Finally, Feetures! are great at wicking moisture from your feet. Feetures! use a variety of technical fibers such as iWick and Durasoft, to create a comfortable moisture-free environment for your feet. These technical fibers constantly work to move moisture away from the skin process, in order to keep feet cool, dry, and odor-free.

I've tried several of the models and really like them all, but my favorites are the original no-show with a tab and the new Elite low cut. The Elite has something called a Sock-Lock support system that works so well, it almost feels like you have no sock on at all!  

So, if you're looking for sock or you're ready for a change, be sure to check out my favorite socks--Feetures!

Note: While Feetures! did provide socks for me to sample I was in no way encouraged or paid to write a positive review. This review reflects my personal experience using the product over the past couple of years.

And the Winner Is....

Congratulations to Elizabeth Fuller, the winner of the free pair of CEP Running Progressive Compression Socks! I'd like to thank CEP Socks and AlevaStores.com for providing such an awesome prize! Also, be sure to check out the new website SocksAddict.com as well as looking them up on Twitter and Facebook. Stay tuned tomorrow win the winner of the Saucony Peregrine trail shoes will be announced.

Make Your Feet Happy. Don't Skimp on the Socks.

Socks for running sure have come a long way since I started running in the mid 80s. Actually when I started running, I don't even recall there being any socks specifically made for running. In the mid 90s I began noticing brands like Thorlos and The Wright Sock . The original Thorlos were designed with extra thick padding in the heel and ball areas of the socks for increased cushioning. You often had to buy a size up in your shoe to accommodate the extra-thickness. The Wright Sock company produced a double-layer anti-blister sock. These socks were designed with two thin layers of material. The interaction of the two layers absorbs the friction instead of it being transferred to the feet where it would normally cause blisters. Both sock companies still exist and have made numerous improvements to their products including using lighter-weight, moisture-wicking, high-tech materials and adding more styles (no-show, anklet, crew, etc.) to their lines. Thorlos still makes their original thick sock as well as lines with moderate-cushion and thin-cushion. The Wright Sock has even added a cushioned version to its line.

Today, there are several running sock companies—Balega, Injinji, Wigwam, DeFeet, Bridgedale, Feetures, Drymax, etc. Not to be left out, most of the major running shoe companies produce their own lines of high-tech running socks—Nike, Adidas, Pearl Izumi, Asics, Brooks, Puma, New Balance, etc.

So, what are the best running socks? There's probably no one sock perfect for every runner, so take some time to evaluate your needs and select the sock that's best suited to you. The main thing is to avoid socks made of cotton. Cotton absorbs moisture, keeping your feet wet, making perfect conditions for blisters. All this moisture also makes the perfect home for bacteria causing stinky feet and shoes. Look for socks made of synthetic materials that wisk the moisture away from your feet. Also, look for socks with few or no seams, especially around the toe. Double-layer or snug-fitting socks tend to help decrease blisters. The price of running socks can vary widely. Before you buy 5 packs of those expensive cool-looking socks, it's probably not a bad idea to buy one pack, try them out on a few runs and see how they work before investing in more. Happy feet make for happy run.