For the past several months, we’ve been searching for the perfect pair of running socks: socks that wick sweat, don’t stink or cause blisters, and feel good on the road and trail. To find these unicorn socks, a group of six experienced runners tested 59 pairs of socks from 16 top running brands in locations around the world. Ten pairs of socks stood out, and one pair emerged as a unanimous favorite:, a merino-polyester blend that was tough, comfortable, quick-drying, and nonstinky. Our Favorite Running Socks( Photo: Cory Smith ) Smartwool PhD Run Light Elite ($18)The is the only sock that made the top end of every tester’s list.
The best running socks for men and women help with cushioning, prevent blisters, and provide compression so that you can run longer and with more comfort. They are by Feetures and Bering and not. A good pair of running socks can bring you a whole lot of benefits for all of your running experiences. The trick is of course to find the best running socks that money can buy. To find the best socks for you, there are a few things that you need to consider before making your purchase.
The Run Light Elite, which comes in both mid-crew and no-show cuts, is a weave of merino wool, nylon, and a touch of elastane. It wicked better and dried faster than most of the 58 other socks we tested, seemingly regardless of weather or trail conditions. In A/B testing, when I’d wear a different sock on each foot to vet wicking ability more carefully, the Run Light Elite almost always felt drier. And once off my feet, it dried within minutes in direct sunlight, a perk for ultrarunners or anyone planning to take these socks on very long runs.Smartwool gave the Run Light Elite a snug fit through the midfoot, which didn’t lose elasticity over the course of the test, and provided more material on the ball and heel, which I felt added a welcome amount of softness and protection underfoot and should increase durability in high-abrasion areas.
Like all merino socks, the Run Light Elite also resisted odor better than fully synthetic options.On the subject of durability: wool socks are notorious for wearing out fast, but I’m confident in the Run Light Elite. I didn’t find any holes during this test, and a pair of Run Light Elites I’ve been wearing since last year is still holding strong. That said, I did find signs of external pilling after a few washes, though it didn’t affect the socks’ functionality. I am further encouraged by Smartwool’s a two-year, although it’s not quite as good as merino-sock rival Darn Tough’s lifetime guarantee.Given a choice, these are the socks I reach for. They’re soft, fast-wicking, quick-drying, durable, and comfortable for a long time regardless of conditions. Of the 59 models of socks we tested, Smartwool’s was the cream of the crop.
Material: 52 percent merino wool, 45 percent nylon, 3 percent elastaneBest Cushioned Running Socks( Photo: Cory Smith ) Balega Silver ($15)Cushioned socks may not provide cushioning in the same way that your shoes do, but many runners like how they feel. And felt great. They’re plush, roomy, and comfortable—as one tester put it, they’re “the Cadillac of running socks.”We liked that these socks were super stretchy, never bunching up or sliding down during runs. And for very thick socks, the Silver’s polyester-nylon blend did an excellent job of wicking moisture, keeping our feet feeling cool and relatively dry even on warm days.
The Silver’s antimicrobial silver treatment did seem to help fight odor, although it was even better at keeping the socks feeling fresh, allowing us to wear them a few times between washes if needed. Given how thick these socks are, I recommend trying them on first to be sure your shoes can handle the extra mass comfortably. Material: 75 percent Drynamix polyester, 23 percent nylon, 2 percent elastaneMost Comfortable Running Socks( Photo: Cory Smith ) Feetures Merino+ Cushion ($17)socks are smooth and, as one tester put it, “soft as a newborn kitten.” The Merino+ Cushion is a thick sock suited for running in cooler temperatures and comes in crew, quarter, and no-show cuts.
You may need to go through a few types of socks before you find the perfect pair for you, but it’s a great help if you know what to look out for when you start your search. Below we look at the key considerations you should keep in mind when trying to find the best running socks to meet your needs.Comfort and FitComfort is obviously a huge factor when choosing running socks. How the sock shapes around the foot is a big part of this, and like shoes, not every sock is a good match for every foot.Also key to comfort is the material and construction.
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We want to avoid socks that are made from abrasive materials, or have poorly located seams.CushioningCushioning isn’t necessary in all running socks and really comes down to personal preference. Runners more likely to opt for cushioning are those who need the extra padding to help with blisters or bruises, or those who run long distances or over rocky terrain.MaterialThe material a running sock is made from plays a key role in both comfort and performance.High quality running socks are generally made from some combination of polyester, wool, nylon, spandex, elastic, and lycra. These materials are used as they are the best at wicking sweat and other moisture away from your skin, reducing the likelihood of blisters.Cotton has poor wicking properties and you should therefore aim to avoid this material in your running socks.Wool is a natural material that performs better than cotton in terms of wicking. It also provides added warmth so is a good option for winter runners.LengthLength is really personal preference but a couple of things to keep in mind are:1. If you are generally running in warmer temperatures you may prefer lower cut socks to reduce the amount of skin covered on the ankle and calf and improve heat regulation.2. If you often you may want higher socks to prevent small stones getting in.
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