![]() The sock is still plenty cushioned, but its taller height options help keep chilly air from nipping at your ankles. (The heel tab ensures the sock doesn’t slip down your foot, but it doesn’t provide much by way of ankle coverage.) For that reason, we favor the Enduro during the cold winter months. However, the potential negative about the Hidden Comfort is that it’s, well, mostly “hidden” inside your shoe. The Hidden Comfort still reigns supreme as Balega’s plushest and most cushioned model- it’s one of our all-time favorites for both hammering miles on the roads and treadmill, and winding down with some postrun yoga. ![]() They’re everything you need for any long, pavement-pounding effort. (The company’s founder sources materials and personally gathers feedback from and garment makers and seasoned marathoners in Northern Italy.) All in all, we’re impressed by the craftsmanship and high quality of The Distance Running Socks. However, Near Earth promises its socks’ combo of sweat-wicking nylon yarn and spandex will keep your feet blister-free during the humid summer months, as well. So, even though the material is a bit slick, we didn’t experience any sliding inside our shoes.įor our testing, we ran mostly in chilly weather and indoors. It’s just padded enough that it doesn’t feel bulky inside a slim-fitting race shoe, and the compressive arch band feels snug and secure around the midfoot. We wore The Distance for several 10 milers during this winter’s RW Run Streak-both on the treadmill and outside in temps from 40 degrees to below freezing-and most liked the socks’ plush and airy cushioning. They’re simple and soft, but built to go fast with an extremely stretchy and lightweight construction that breathes well and hugs your Achilles without sagging. In our tester’s case, this made standing (and dancing) at the post-race party much more comfortable.ĭon’t worry about whether your socks will match your kit on race day slip on a pair of Near Earth’s all-black or all-white crews and go. “On my rainy race morning, these felt well-padded but not heavy, even after being in wet conditions for more than two hours.” We also liked that the those gel webs inside the socks’ lining seem to disperse pressure more evenly along the bottom of your foot-it’s a bit like a razor-thin orthotic or insole. “I prefer a lot of soft cushioning in my socks,” she said. One tester wore the socks throughout her training for a winter half marathon, and liked the socks enough to toe the start line in them. ![]() (We sliced our test pairs open for a closer look, and the material feels like a slightly squishy Dr. ![]() This design mimics the fat pads we all have on the bottom of our feet that act as natural shock absorbers, and it offers additional support that won’t pack down like plush cushion. Instead of super-thick underfoot padding-which can get heavy and soggy if you’re splashing through puddles-the brand uses flexible gel webbing in the heel and forefoot. In November 2022, Hurdle Apparel launched its small lineup of socks with a unique take on cushioning. We then measured the amount of time it took for the water to migrate roughly two inches up each fabric strip. To do it, we cut six-inch-long by one-inch-wide strips from the socks’ fabric and suspended them from a support stand with one end in blue-dyed water. In addition to gathering detailed on-foot impressions, we used a vertical moisture-wicking test to objectively assess how well each sock handled sweat and moisture. We also noted how well these running socks held up between multiple wears and washes. Our team of experienced testers spent many hours and miles running year-round to evaluate how these socks fared in a variety of conditions-from hot and humid track workouts to bitter cold runs through the snow to rainy slogs on the trail. Max cushion: Underfoot padding is thick, plush, and immediately apparent. ![]() Medium cushion: Additional padding underfoot is noticeable and takes up slightly more space inside of a shoe.Light cushion: Sock fabric feels thicker underfoot, but maintains a pronounced feel for the inside of a shoe.No cushion: No additional padding has been added to the sock fabric.Crew: Top of cuff sits just at (or slightly below) the middle of the calf.Quarter: Top of cuff fully covers the ankle bone.Ankle: Top of cuff sits right on (or slightly below) the ankle bone.No-show: Top of cuff sits below the ankle bone and is barely visible above the collar of a running shoe.Crew-length running socks have made a comeback in recent years, but the cut offers little performance value-although one could argue that the sock is unable to slide into your shoe like a no-show length sometimes can. Unless you’re hitting the trail (where a taller sock will help keep dirt away from your skin and fend off grass and brush scrapes), sock length is a matter of personal style. No-show and quarter-length socks can feel more breathable for the roads and track. ![]()
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