Sock Joy – Summer Sock Review

Besides my running shoes, socks are my next most important piece of running equipment. I don’t think enough attention is paid to running socks. Earlier on in my running habit I never paid too much attention to my socks either. Sure, I went out and bought some technical socks because I knew the value of wicking fabric technology and comfort levels but beyond that, in my mind a sock was a sock was a sock.

These days I have become much more anal about my socks. In winter-time I prefer thicker socks to keep my feet warm but in summer, the less sock the better is my attitude. I have not yet braved going sock-less. Maybe some day I will.

I have tried several brands, currently I have 11 different brands of socks in my running closet and 20 different styles of socks ranging from thick to thin. I know what you’re thinking, I have a sock problem, maybe even a sock fetish. It wasn’t always like this, but as I became more serious about my training I began to notice how uncomfortable my feet would become in the summer heat. Those thick socks just weren’t cutting it. Neither were the medium thickness socks. And so my quest began to find the thinnest and most comfortable sock that I could.

I started off with Smartwool’s PhD Ultra Light Micro, a great sock overall and still one of my favorites, but in the mid-summer’s sweltering heat this one was still too warm with 72% wool. I then gave the Smartwool Athletic Ultra Light Micro a try. This one definitely felt cooler, it has 63% wool and despite wool being associated with cold weather, it is a great material for wicking purposes. The only problem was that at $11 a pair these were quite expensive considering the fact that they wear out pretty quickly.

I’ve also given the L.L.Bean Lightweight Coolmax All Sport Sock a try. I like these socks and go back each summer for another couple of pair to add to my sock wardrobe. They are a great lightweight sock and the price is much easier on my wallet at $8.95 a pair. (Currently selling for $6.99 a pair on the LL Bean website.) The only problem was I wanted to go thinner.

As luck would have it, I was part of a review panel a year ago for WrightSock. I was sent six different syles of socks to wear and review during the month of August. WrightSock sells two different categories of socks: single layer and double layer. Single layer socks are the ones we are all accustomed to wearing but double layer socks were a new idea for me. In fact, I was very doubtful right off the bat about whether I would even like them. I just couldn’t imagine how a double layer sock would be comfortable. I envisioned my foot slipping around inside my shoe with each stride. I couldn’t have been more wrong. I loved them.

The WrightSock socks which I tested were:

Single Layer
SLT Tab Seamless – Thinnest of all the socks I tested and least noticeable while running. Great for summer.
SLR Lo Quarter Seamless – Comparable to LL Bean Coolmax socks. Good, medium thickness sock.
SLX Lo Quarter Seamless – Thinner on top, medium thickness on bottom and hugs your arch beautifully.

Double Layer
Running II Lo Quarter – Medium thickness, comfortable and great wicking ability.
Coolmesh Quarter – A surprising favorite for summer running; thin, breathable and wicks great.
DLX Lo Quarter - Thickest of all the socks and best worn for winter running..

Oh, there are more!