I won three pairs of Feetures socks in the team lottery. Choosing from an entire wall of socks was rather overwhelming, but eventually I decided to try Feetures Elite light cushion quarter, Feetures Elite Ultra Light No show tab, and Feetures Merino 10 ultra light tab.
Feetures Elite Light Cushion Quarter – https://www.runningfree.com/products/All-Womens-66508/Clothing-113/Socks-506/Feetures-47226/Feetures-Elite-LC-Quarter-p64065/?pstart=1
Feetures Elite Ultra Light No Show Tab https://www.runningfree.com/products/All-Womens-66508/Clothing-113/Socks-506/Feetures-47226/Feetures-Elite-ULC-No-Show-Tab-p68639/?pstart=49
Feetures Merino 10 Ultra Light Tab
https://www.runningfree.com/products/All-Womens-66508/Clothing-113/Socks-506/Feetures-47226/Feetures-Merino-10-UL-Tab-p68182/?pstart=1
As a marathon runner, I put in many miles. Combined with some annoying toe nails that do their best to escape from any sock, this usually leads to a very short sock lifespan (sometimes only 1-2 runs!). So I was very curious how these socks would stand up to the task.
I tested out all socks on a long run (over 20km), plus a speed session, and in rainy conditions.
All 3 pairs of Feetures felt comfortable, fit well, and produced no blisters. And even more surprisingly, after 7-8 runs in each pair my toes have thus far been unsuccessful at escaping! I even wore my Feetures Elite light cushion quarter socks for the Toronto Marathon, and shockingly this was the first marathon I’ve ever run where I didn’t get a new blister – not even a pre-blister sore spot!
All 3 pairs of my selected Feetures advertised arch support. This was very noticeable when I first put the socks on, and felt nice, but to be honest I didn’t notice it during the run. But maybe that’s a good thing and they were quietly doing what they are designed to do, without being noticeable.
Perhaps the most surprising thing I noticed is these socks completely stopped my black toenails. Upon further investigation I’m pretty sure it’s due to their lack of slipping inside my shoe (the socks I’d been using previously were very durable but very slippery inside my shoes). This even held true for the Feetures Elite Ultra Light No show tab which seem to have a more snug toe fit compared to the other two. After 2 months of running in Feetures socks I can say my toes are finally mending and no new black toes or blisters have occurred.
Traditionally I have not been a fan of running in short socks as they tend to slide down and the resulting heel chaffing for 20-30 km is not very enjoyable. However I am happy to report with all of my Feetures I have had zero sock slippage or heel chaffing.
One last note about cleaning – I noticed previous reviews mentioned they may shrink if put through the dryer. I initially planned on air drying my Feetures, but after 1 wash the inevitable happened and they went through the dryer. Luckily there was no noticeable change! Since then they have gone through the dryer every time and so far they still fit great. Hopefully that holds true in the long run!
In summary, I have found my new favourite running socks! They are durable, comfortable, and do everything a running sock should. I look forward to testing out more styles (particularly the Merino socks during the slushy winter months), and, dare I say it … enjoying the beach next summer without any black toenails!!!
