Sport & Casual Wear

What is the best material for running socks?

Though cotton would seem like the typical go-to material for running, cotton socks can actually be the root cause of blisters, chafing, corns and other foot discomforts. Even many experienced athletes don't know this, but once you have the right socks, you'll feel a major difference. So what is the best material if not cotton? Surprisingly, synthetic material blends like polyester, acrylic, and CoolMax, because they have good wicking, or moisture removal properties.

How can you prevent blisters when running?

Anyone who is an avid runner has had to deal with blisters at least once. Once they develop, if you don't know how to treat them properly, they can ruin the entire day and make things very painful. Blisters are caused by the friction created when moving between the skin and sock in collusion with the moisture from sweaty feet. Wear shoes that are too small, too tight, or cotton socks can often cause blisters. So how do you treat them? Before you even start exercising, make sure that your shoes fit properly. Shoes should be 1/2 a size bigger for exercising to decrease the chance of chafing on the sock. It is also advisable to not wear someone else's shoes, especially for longer journeys because their shoes have molded to their foot shape, which can cause blisters for you. You can also pre-add vaseline on problem areas, but not too much or you'll be sliding around in your shoe. It is also helpful to use moleskin or athletic tape over common trouble areas as a preventative measure. Taping and moleskin can also help stave off the pain of a blister that's already developed during exercise when you don't have time to use medical supplies on it.