Choosing the correct running sock for you is almost as important as choosing the correct running shoe, believe it or not but the wrong sort of sock can play havoc with your training schedule.

If you’re a non-runner or are thinking about getting in to running (which I’d highly recommend) you may think why is this person writing about running socks? Surely as socks a sock isn’t it? Well the answer to that question is no, and the sort of duties that a running sock has to perform is quite different that of an every day non-sport specific sock. I’ve done a lot of running so my feet are fairly hardy, but if all my running socks are in the laundry and I need to go out running in a normal sock, I’m guaranteed to come back with blisters.

A running sock need to keep your feet cool and dry, not that it is unpleasant to have hot feet it is more the knock on effect. If you’re feet get hot and sweaty and that layer of sweat is trapped in you regular cotton sock it has two effects.

1. The moisture softens your feet.
2. The moisture laden material becomes very chaffing.

These two items alone are the perfect recipe for creating some blisters. They are not the only cause of blisters though; the large chunky seams in everyday sock are great at causing blisters. The seem causes interference between the foot and the shoes and at the point of this interference is where the blisters occur.

You may be getting the picture by now, if you’re serious about running, get a decent pair of running socks. If your not serious about running but are about to start running get yourself a decent pair of socks. I can’t guarantee that if you’re a beginner you won’t get any blisters beacuae your feet are going to need to toughen up a bit, but by getting yourself a decent pair of socks at the same time as a pair of trainers your are at least setting yourself up to not get them.

• Material
  There are some great materials out there that will actually wick the moisture away from your foot quickly, keeping it cooler and drier. Look out for Coolmax® it distributes the sweat throughout the sock allowing it to evaporate quicker.
• Seams
  Look for socks that have ‘seamless technology’ of flat seams. Then you can remove another potential cause of blisters.
• Anti-Blister
  Although this is the aim of all running socks, some go that extra distance to achieve it and they will charge you accordingly. Most of these anti blister socks have two socks or two skins in them. The inner skin stay stuck fast to you skin and the second skin is the bit that does all of the moving. So the second skin is rubbing on the first skin and not your skin, which is a great way to avoid blisters full stop.
• Lycra
  The nature of lycra will make your skin sweater, so try to find some running socks with just a little bit of lycra in them, it will improve the fit of your sock massively.
  Are there any natural material socks available?
  

All of the socks I have mentioned so far have been made from man made materials, and perhaps that’s not your thing. There is a very well regarded brand called smartwool and the smartwool running socks are made from 77% wool 21% Nylon and 2% Elastine (Lycra) I’m afraid these are not totally natural but it’s the closest that you are likely to get.

From a personal point of view I have found that the coarser and rougher that the sock feels in your hand ironically it seem to give the best results. I have a super soft pair of running socks that you would think would give you a blister free run, but you’d be wrong, I invariable come back with blisters. The best running socks I have is an old pair of Coolmax® socks that feel like the sort of material that fishing nets are made from. They’re horrible to touch but fit like a glove and have never giving me a single blister. The only reason that I can think of that they don’t give me blisters is because they are so coarse that they stick to my skin. Because the sock it stuck to my skin it is the outer surface of the sock that takes all of the movement from the shoe and not my foot. Either way it works and I’d be interested to hear your views on the subject.