When you’re a kid, receiving socks is perhaps not the most exciting gift. When you’re a runner? It’s truly like Christmas has come early. And that’s definitely how it felt when I found out I had not only won the Team Running Free lottery, I’d hit the jackpot and won three pairs of Feetures socks.
I’ve owned a few pairs of Feetures socks in the past, and they’re great. I had previously purchased two pairs of no-show socks and a pair of ankle socks. Notably, since buying the no-show socks I’ve realized I’m more of a crew sock person, but that’s not the socks’ fault. I’ve never had any issues with blisters or hot spots in either style and I also haven’t had issues with them ripping. The only issue I’ve ever had with years of use is that I find the socks start to shrink an uncomfortable amount after a while.
For this purchase, I decided to experiment with two things:
- I was going to buy the Feetures crew socks
- I was going to refrain from putting them in the dryer
I bought three pairs of the Elite LC mini-crew sock (see images for the patterns I chose; all images courtesy of runningfree.com). After months of thorough testing, I can share my results.
First, I love the crew socks. The height of the tube part of the sock is perfect (even though I am decidedly not gifted in the shinbone length department), and they fit true to the sizing on the packaging. I love the colours and patterns, and honestly, that matters when you’re into week 6 of a 100km ultra build and more and more of your life is seemingly on hold for the purposes of maximizing your training and recovery time.
I should also address that yes, I did have the opportunity to pick out whichever Feetures socks I wanted and I picked three of exactly the same type of sock. I don’t have any defence for that other than the fact that I’m an ultrarunner and very much a creature of habit. If something (a pair of shorts, a fuel strategy, a sock tube height) works, there’s no need to go changing it. I am a devout crew sock person, and even into November I have the tan lines to prove it.
I bought these socks in July, and have worn them extensively on the roads, track, and trails since then, including for a very soggy 12-hour event. They’re breathable and don’t make my feet overly sweaty, and I love the little arch support contours. They don’t slip down (an egregious sock crime) even after hours of wear, and not to beat around the bush, but the anti-stink technology they’ve got going on works quite well.
The big question of course is: was air drying the socks worth it? My months of testing have allowed me to conclude that yes, these socks simply need a bit more TLC and should be air-dried rather than just going in the machine.
In short, I can’t recommend Feetures socks enough. These higher crew socks put the fun in functional with the great colour and pattern options, and they’re a durable, versatile sock that will support you no matter where your training takes you.
