Gear Review: Sof Sole Socks for Running

Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Gear Review: Sof Sole Socks for Running

A few months ago the people at Sof Sole sent me a few pairs of socks (Sof Sole Anti-Friction and Sof Sole Coolmax Runner) and a pair of moldable insoles (Sof Sole Custom) to try out and review. I suggested to them when they contacted me that I tend toward more minimalist shoes, and insoles probably wouldn't suit my style very well, but they sent them along anyway, and some day I'll give them a try just for kicks. On the other hand, I've now been using the socks for several months, and it's long past time that I share my thoughts. In the interest of full disclosure, I'd like to emphasize that I received no compensation for this review short of being able to keep the socks (and I don't think they'd want them back after 2-3 months of use anyway).

Here's how Sof Sole describes these two pairs of socks:

Sof Sole Anti-Friction

"The Anti-Friction sock is designed to inherently limit motion of the sock on the foot. Selective bottom cushioning feels like a cushion sock with the low profile design of a sock liner. Integrated arch support and seamless toes make the Anti-Friction the most comfortable sock ever."

Sof Sole Coolmax Runner

"Fine-knit, medium weight sock with Coolmax to wick away moisture to keep feet dry.

Deep heel pocket

Seamless toe

Banded instep

Mesh venting for breathability"

My Thoughts: When it comes to running socks, I subscribe first to the philosophy of "do no harm." If a pair of socks survives a run without causing any blisters, it has passed my first major test. I'm happy to report that both pairs of Sof Sole socks passed this test, and both are now part of my regular running sock rotation. Entry into my regular rotation is about as high a form of praise for socks as I can give. Both are lightweight (the Anti-Friction's moreso than the Coolmax Runner's), wicking, and highly breathable, and the Sof-Sole Anti-Frictions are among the lightest and most breathable socks that I own. Are they comfortable? Definitely. Do the Anti-Friction's live up to the claim of being the most comfortable sock ever? No, that title for me would have to go to my Injinji Coolmax Micro Toesocks, but again, I wear the Sof Sole's regularly and they're both perfectly comfortable as regular running socks. Furthermore, after numerous washings, both remain comfortable, though the fabric on the Coolmax Runner's has lost some of its initial softness (typical of many of my running socks). Finally, does the Anti-Friction sock fullfill the promise of it's name? Hard to tell, but they haven't caused any friction blisters which is good enough for me.

Compared to some of the other socks in my rotation, the Sof Sole's are pretty reasonably priced at $9.95 for two pairs, and they can be purchased at retailers like Running Warehouse. Given a choice between the two, I would probably opt for the Anti-Friction socks simply because they are so light-weight and are perfect for summer running. While I would not rank them up there with my Injinji Coolmax Micro Toesocks or Smartwool Adrenaline Light Micro running socks in terms of quality or comfort, they are more than adequate for the price (you can get two pairs of Sof Soles for the price of one of the others I mentioned), and compare favorably with other running socks I wear from Asics and Nike. If you're looking for a reasonably priced wicking sock for your runs, these would suit that purpose perfectly.

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Runblogger is edited and authored by Peter Larson. Pete is an anatomy professor, writer, and a fanatical runner with a bit of a shoe obsession. He is co-author of the book Tread Lightly. Follow Pete on Twitter, Facebook, Google+, and via email.