I have always been on the hunt for the perfect sock. Not necessarily for running, but I needed a good running sock too. Socks are often underestimated. A good sock can make a lot of difference in the comfort of a shoe, how your foot feels, and how your foot reacts to a specific run. Through my search I tried a lot of different brands that boasted they were dry fit, said they prevented blisters, lightweight and durable, but none ever did the trick. I tried Nike, Underarmour, Oakley, Hanes, Asics, and Brooks. Many of these had commonalities. They were a blend of different materials between cotton, polyester, nylon, and spandex. Great materials, needless to say, but not doing it for my feet. I would still walk away from long runs with blisters, I could feel hot spots, and my socks were always soaked when I returned. Not to mention I had to wash them over and over again which tears the socks down so durability was low.
I started to believe the perfect sock didn't exist. That is until I stumbled upon SmartWool. I had worn Smartwool before, but only in the winter when I was shoveling or snowmobiling. I was reluctant at first, because I always assumed wool meant hot. I didn't want my feet to be hot when I ran. I decided to drop the 18 dollars on a pair, went for a run, and immediately fell in love. I returned from a 10 mile run in the summer and my socks and feet were dry, no indication or signs of blisters, no hot spots, the socks didn't even smell bad. I did some research and found that these socks didn't need to be washed every time you wore them (crazy, but it's true). Smartwool makes running socks with varying degrees of cushion. I prefer the light elite, ultra light, and light cushioned. One thing still bugged me, though, the fit. I felt like the socks were loose or too tight, I wear a 9-9.5 size shoe and my feet seem to be close to that cutoff. The mediums socks are supposed to be men's 6-8.5 and larges are supposed to be men's 9-11.5. The mediums were a tad too small, and the larges seemed to be a tad too big. Not a huge issue considering the upgrade in comfort I had made from running in those other brands of socks, but still not perfect.
I work at a shoe store, so I get a little spoiled when it comes to running gear. I was given a free pair of Fits socks. These socks are made from the same fine grade of merino wool that Smartwool socks are made from, but there is one change. They hold up to there name, Fits. These socks fit incredibly well. The larges fit a men's size 8.5-10 and the socks overall come in 5 different sizes as opposed to the typical 4, to ensure the best fit out there. I started running in these and fell in love. I can honestly say they are the perfect running sock. No other brand prevents blisters, eliminates hot spots, keeps your feet dry, and fits properly like Fits socks do. I still run in other socks from time to time, but it only serves as a reminder to how great Fits are. I have about 5 pairs, and that's plenty. I can usually get about 3 runs from each pair before I have to wash them. They don't smell, they stay dry, they keep my feet dry, and I have been blister free for a long time now. No need to spend any more time searching for the perfect running sock, because it does exist. They run about the same price (if not cheaper) than most Smartwool socks, so they are kind of expensive. They will last a long time though and the comfort is unmatched.
I started to believe the perfect sock didn't exist. That is until I stumbled upon SmartWool. I had worn Smartwool before, but only in the winter when I was shoveling or snowmobiling. I was reluctant at first, because I always assumed wool meant hot. I didn't want my feet to be hot when I ran. I decided to drop the 18 dollars on a pair, went for a run, and immediately fell in love. I returned from a 10 mile run in the summer and my socks and feet were dry, no indication or signs of blisters, no hot spots, the socks didn't even smell bad. I did some research and found that these socks didn't need to be washed every time you wore them (crazy, but it's true). Smartwool makes running socks with varying degrees of cushion. I prefer the light elite, ultra light, and light cushioned. One thing still bugged me, though, the fit. I felt like the socks were loose or too tight, I wear a 9-9.5 size shoe and my feet seem to be close to that cutoff. The mediums socks are supposed to be men's 6-8.5 and larges are supposed to be men's 9-11.5. The mediums were a tad too small, and the larges seemed to be a tad too big. Not a huge issue considering the upgrade in comfort I had made from running in those other brands of socks, but still not perfect.
I work at a shoe store, so I get a little spoiled when it comes to running gear. I was given a free pair of Fits socks. These socks are made from the same fine grade of merino wool that Smartwool socks are made from, but there is one change. They hold up to there name, Fits. These socks fit incredibly well. The larges fit a men's size 8.5-10 and the socks overall come in 5 different sizes as opposed to the typical 4, to ensure the best fit out there. I started running in these and fell in love. I can honestly say they are the perfect running sock. No other brand prevents blisters, eliminates hot spots, keeps your feet dry, and fits properly like Fits socks do. I still run in other socks from time to time, but it only serves as a reminder to how great Fits are. I have about 5 pairs, and that's plenty. I can usually get about 3 runs from each pair before I have to wash them. They don't smell, they stay dry, they keep my feet dry, and I have been blister free for a long time now. No need to spend any more time searching for the perfect running sock, because it does exist. They run about the same price (if not cheaper) than most Smartwool socks, so they are kind of expensive. They will last a long time though and the comfort is unmatched.