Best Workout Socks for CrossFit and Life!
Today we are going to look at the best socks for Crossfit and active people. Really for anybody alive.
Your feet are the foundation for feeling good when you’re active as far as what you're wearing is concerned.
I think this is very, very important. Many people care about having good shoes on, but very few think about what they put between their foot and their shoe.
So let's dive right in. The important part is what your socks are made of. Most "athletic" socks use the catch word "wicking" meaning that they act as a wick and transfer moisture away from your foot where it evaporates. The problem is that most socks don't do that at all, so they leave your foot feeling wet, or they have so much nylon and polyester in them that they smell like something died. I used to wear athletic socks that smelled so bad after I wore them I couldn't take my shoes off around people, and it would ruin my athletic shoes. And I'm not exaggerating!
Then I found merino wool.
Merino wool is the wool from merino sheep and it is thinner and softer than other wool, which gives it specific benefits.
If you're an outdoor enthusiast, you already know this! They've been using this for stuff like climbing, hiking, and mountaineering for a long time, which is how I started using it.
The first benefit is it naturally regulates temperature.
This is one of the most amazing parts of natural insulation like Merino Wool.
If you own a real down jacket, then you already know what I'm talking about. I can wear my down jacket or use my down sleeping bag in temperatures ranging from 10° to 60°. We're talking about the ability to keep you comfortable in a temperature range of 50°. And Merino Wool acts the same way. Merino Sheep live in places like New Zealand where environments range from 0° to almost 100°
That's incredible! The fibers actively adapt to the temperature, so when the temperature is cold, the fibers bend to trap air. I wear the same socks in winter and summer.
Another thing is its ability to take moisture and transfer it away from your foot so it can dissipate as vapor, but it is naturally anti-bacterial, which keeps them from smelling bad.
And the last thing is Merino Wool it super soft. It's 1/3 of the diameter of a hair and can’t stay up under its weight, so it's not itchy and uncomfortable like other types of wool.
Several brands make merino wool socks, but I mainly buy from one brand, and that's Smartwool. I have socks from other brands like Icebreaker, but most of mine are Smartwool. The reason being I have been so happy with the durability of them, and they are easier to find for sale here in the US.
Speaking of durability, the amount of time and use I get from a pair of these is incredible. I have about 6 pairs that I rotate through every day, and they will last a few years before they wear through. Am I going to guess I had to retire my last couple pairs after 5 years?
Smartwool has lots and lots of different socks, some thicker, thinner, shorter, taller, but this is my curated list for the absolute best athletic sock. They are also a great company and are so confident in their product that they offer a 2 year guarantee on all their products. If you’re not completely happy you can send it back to them within two years of purchasing!
The Ph.D. Run Light. There will be more to the name for the hight and color of the sock, but you can pick which you like best the important part is that it is the Ph.D. Run Light
The Light is referring to the thickness of the sock. You can get the Ultra Light, but I find the Light's to be more comfortable and durable because of the added thickness. They have an extra thickness at the back and front of the foot to make it the best sock ever.
Merino Wool can be somewhat pricy, but not when you consider what you’re getting. Between the durability of their socks and the guarantee that they come with, it’s definitely worth it! Not to mention their performance! One option that I’ve done is getting them when they’re on sales. So what I do is go to REI.com or another outdoor store like that online and get a couple of pairs when they go on sale ever so often when they get new colors in or something like that. but its worth it
I've added the links to the Smartwool website and links to the Ph.D. Running Light socks at a couple of stores in the description below.
In summary, I can't stress enough how important it is to have proper footwear for your comfort and health! and socks are an essential part of footwear, so get something that feels good, perform well and last a long time and Smartwool and other Merino wool socks will do that!
Smartwool Website
www.smartwool.com
Smartwool PHD Run Light Sock
https://www.smartwool.com/shop/mens-r...
Smartwool PHD Run Light - REI
https://www.rei.com/product/879239/sm...