Andrew Schrauben

All you need to go running is a pair of shoes, right? (OK, you'll need shorts and maybe a top to run in public!) Your local running specialty shop has experts who can find you the perfect shoe. But when it comes to putting something between that new shoe and your old foot, the expert don't say much about socks. So I will!

I've tried out ten different running socks from seven different brands, which can get expensive. Virtually all quality running socks cost $12-15 per pair, but I've managed to buy most of mine on sale for $7-10 a pair - not cheap, but worth it if you can find a good pair. Hopefully this review can help you do just that.

First a summary of the socks, listed with an overall "letter grade" in order of rank:
1. Brooks Adrenaline GTS Ped: A
2. Defeet Aireator: A
3. Smartwool Running Light Mini-Crew: A-
4. Smartwool Adrenaline Light Mini-Crew: B+
5. Bridgedale Active: B
6. Unknown Basic Liner: B
7. Smartwool Running Light Micro: B-
8. Wright Double Layer Coolmesh: C+
9. Injinji Tetratsok Mini: C-
10. Smartwool Hiking Medium Mini-Crew: D

A detailed review of each sock follows below...

Brooks - Adrenaline GTS Ped (left side, gray toe w/ blue stripe)
The Adrenalines feel different to the touch - the fabric is somehow stiff, yet soft. Some parts are thicker or more flexible than others. Niftiest of all, one pair consists of a right and a left sock! They're constructed specific to each foot; e.g. your big toe gets more room than your pinky toe. My feet stay cool in warm weather and quite warm in cold weather. The only improvement I could suggest would be a thinner mesh on the top of the foot for the hottest of weather. I have yet to see anyone else make a sock like this. An ideal all-around running sock!

DeFeet - Aireator (upper right, white "Striders" and blue/gray "Infiterra")
By far the coolest sock on the planet, both in terms of keeping your feet cool as well as offering the sweetest graphic designs! Aireaters are a thin sock with a ventilating mesh on the top of the foot. The fabric is smooth and thin, making these useful as either a liner sock or a second layer - perfect for long trail runs. You can also wear them solo. Your feet will feel great in hot weather, but you'll want a second layer in colder temps. The versatility and quality make them great gifts for a running friend, especially since there are so many nifty designs to add some flavor to your feet! The blue pair I won as SWAG at an adventure race - notice how the race organizers, Infiterra Sports, were able to customize the sock with their logo and web address. The white pair promotes Striders, the running store where I bought them.

Smartwool - Running Light Mini-Crew (right side, black/red)
Your feet have never felt anything more luxurious than wearing a brand new pair of Smartwool socks! Unfortunately that feeling only lasts a few weeks before the interior of the sock looses that silky texture and feels like any other sock. Smartwools tend to keep your feet warm, although the Running varieties have mesh uppers to vent some of the heat. Excellent in cooler weather (especially in wet conditions) but not so great in hot temps. Smartwools are rather trendy and almost live up to the hype.

Smartwool - Adrenaline Light Mini-Crew (bottom center, black)
Designed for multi-sport athletes, Adrenalines are good all-around socks. They don't ventilate as well as their Running cousins, making them poor for the summer but great for the winter. Very good when wet, however. Mine had a problem where the back section over the achilles wore out completely after a year; none of my other socks have worn out nearly as much.

Bridgedale - Active (bottom left, light gray)
Intended for all-around use, it's a good but not great sock. The Active is somewhat warm and overall very similar to the Smartwool Adrenaline; however, the fit isn't as snug and the cuff doesn't hold as well. I use it as a base layer under Defeet Aireators for long, cold, snowy trail runs. It would probably work well solo in cooler weather on short runs, too.

Unknown - Basic Liner (top, plain white)
I don't remember the brand, but it's a decent sock and the cheapest of them all - I bought them in a pack of three pairs. It's very thin and on hot days you can wear it solo for shorter runs. However, I like it best as a liner under the Defeet Aireators for longer trail runs. Useful, but not very versatile.

Smartwool - Running Light Micro (bottom left, dark gray)
This is the same as Smartwool's Running Light Mini-Crew, but with a shorter cuff. Unfortunately that cuff is too short and doesn't grip the ankle very well, which allows the sock to move around on your foot or even bunch up near the heel. Plus, trail/road debris can more easily get inside your sock rather than just inside your shoe!

Wright Sock - Double Layer Coolmesh (upper left, navy blue/gray)
My first running sock. It has two layers designed to prevent blisters, but the two layers occasionally bunch up, which can actually cause hot spots! Ouch. The fabric doesn't wick or dry as well as others, making them a poor choice for wet conditions. Oddly enough they don't insulate well either, so they only work best in mild, dry weather.

Injinji - Tetratsok Mini (top, black w/ red tab)
Some people swear by these unique socks, which are constructed with individual toes! Many of my blisters (on the rare occasions I get them) are between my toes, so I thought the Tetratsoks would help. However, they're designed only for feet where your big toe is your longest toe (my longest toe is my second one). Their pinky toe is also too big for my little guy. On top of that there are rather large seams inside the toes; as a result these socks cause more blisters for me! Adding insult to injury, the fabric doesn't wick or ventilate very well. If your feet are shaped exactly like the sock, you may want to consider them, otherwise don't bother.

Smartwool - Hiking Medium Mini-Crew (bottom right, gray/blue)
I won this sock as SWAG from an adventure race; I wouldn't have bought it otherwise and for good reason. It doesn't wick well and doesn't ventilate at all - I'm not even sure I'd like it for hiking, let alone running. At least it's better than running in cotton socks!