For all of you out there who think socks are just a piece of garment and play no part in running, you could not be more wrong. Getting the best custom running socks can provide amazing cushioning to you while you run.
Just like any other, seemingly useful running gear, socks are as useful too. Now if you’ve been here quite often, you might’ve noticed that it is the little things that we focus on. Hours exist only because seconds do. It is always the little thing that counts. The winners are always more focused on little things. See it for yourself.
Socks are no different. When their features are combined with the features of a good running shoe, the results will be no less than the best. Both the socks and the shoes complement each other.
You might think that a particular sock goes fine with all your shoes, but you’re wrong. You might not feel the difference, but your muscles, tendons, and ligaments do. There are so many things happening in our subconscious at once, and this might be one of them.
So, without further wasting your time, let’s get right into reviewing what we consider the best custom running socks.
1. Saucony Women’s Performance Heel Tab Athletic Socks
Amazon affiliate link.
Amazon affiliate link. BUY NOW
Features
Material
Material is the first thing you ought to look at when buying anything fabric-related. It tells you a lot about the product you’re about to buy. And you can guess a lot of features it promises just by analyzing the material it’s made of.
The material performance heel tab socks features are polyester and spandex. And if you didn’t already know, polyester is one of the best materials for footwear. Not only is it super lightweight and durable, but also quite wrinkle-resistant and dries quickly as well. Of course, there are many other features of polyester as well. These we will be discussing in later products when they feature polyester in their construction material.
Targeted zone cushioning
Remember, the best custom running socks will always provide some targeted zone cushioning. It’s the main thing a running sock must feature. Why else would someone wear a sock for a run if not a cushion, and protection?
The targeted zone cushioning of this sock makes sure the high-impact areas of your feet are well-cushioned, not only during the stride but also during the toe-off phase. Also, the cushioning technology makes sure your transition from heel to toe is as comfortable as possible.
AirmeshVenting Technology
Breathability is something not a lot of socks feature. Because socks are generally worn in winter to keep the feet warm and cushioned. Not all of them feature technology like AirmeshVenting; a technology to keep your feet cool.
The AirmeshVenting technology makes sure that your feet stay fresh all day long, despite being in socks and shoes. This feature is enhanced by the material of the sock as well, which dries quickly. Pair this sock with a nice pair of breathable shoes and your feet will be sweat-free 24hrs.
Pros
- Highly breathable
- Comes with a good amount of arch support
- Comfort toe seam reduces irritation by a lot for sensitive feet
Cons
- Make sure you figure out the sizing completely before ordering
- Slides around a bit sometimes.
2. Saucony Men’s Multi-pack Mesh Ventilating Comfort-Fit Performance No-show Socks
Amazon affiliate link.
Amazon affiliate link. BUY NOW
Features
Material
The material of this sock is a standard 98:2 combination of polyester and spandex. And again, you can guess the fewer talked-about features of this sock just by knowing its materials.
Being a combination of spandex and polyester, it’s not only lightweight and dries easily but also wrinkle-resistant and fits just nicely around the feet. Which is something important to make a sock comfortable to wear.
Also, spandex has this nice soft touch to it which means it will not irritate the feet. This is something great for sensitive skin. You need the best custom running socks featuring soft touch for sensitive skin because you’d want to reduce as much friction between the skin and sock as possible. Irritation can be a big demotivation for successful runs.
Moisture-wicking
Another great feature to look out for in the best custom running socks is their ability to absorb moisture. Moisture-wicking allows your feet to not only stay away from bad odor but also reduce irritation. As the sweat builds up on the feet, the soft touch of a sock is lost on the feet and the friction can produce some nasty irritations. That’s why you should always make sure that all the soft running socks feature some sort of moisture-wicking technology.
Although the polyester material in itself has great moisture-wicking abilities, Saucony wanted to take things further by incorporating ultra-moisture-wicking fibers in the sock’s build and that is something impressive.
Cushioned sole
The sole of these socks may not feel like the most cushioned of all, but they certainly do feel pretty cushioned and comfortable when put on. We like the feel of the sole when walking around in these. A baby-soft touch.
The cushioned soles are one of the best things a running sock offers. Combined with the cushioning of the shoes, the cushioning of the soles can make a big difference in comfort.
Pros
- Ultra-moisture wicking fibers
- No-show design for aesthetics
- Highly comfy to wear
Cons
- A little too thin
- A little too tight as well
3. Rocky Accelerate Anti-Blister Running Socks
Amazon affiliate link.
Amazon affiliate link. BUY NOW
Features
Material
So the materials in this sock are quite interesting. For all you people out there who want to use environmentally friendly products, which we appreciate, of course, this sock is for you. The materials are fully recycled; Econyl, a premium quality nylon yarn, and a polygiene coating.
Just for all the environmental geeks out there, a study showed that for every 10,000 tons of Econyl made, 70,000 barrels of crude oil were saved along with avoidance of 65,000 tons of carbon dioxide emission.
The econyl material in itself is quite elastic, so you should expect the socks to have a great fit overall and hug your feet like no other. It also means that not only will they reduce the friction between your socks and feet, but also help avoid the uncomfortable feeling of slipping socks.
Moisture-wicking
Now if you didn’t know, econyl is not the choice of material when companies want to make breathable products. Unless they want to compromise breathability will they only use econyl!
But not for Rockay. They want to be that environment-friendly company whilst also making customers happy. The socks feature literal ventilation zones. Also incorporated in the fabric are microscopic moisture-wicking fibers. Hence, even if the sock material is not breathable, the other features of the sock make it breathable.
More wear, less wash
Now, this feature is something that caught our eye. You can wear these socks as much as you like, and without washing them for quite some time. And they will not smell bad. Promise.
The reason is that the socks feature a polygiene coating. Now if you didn’t know already, polygiene is a fabric treatment done at the later stages of product making.
What makes this so special is its antimicrobial and antifungal properties. It does not allow bacteria and fungi (that cause the bad smell of the socks) to grow easily on the socks.
Pros
- A highly environment-friendly product
- Polygiene coating
- Nice elasticity
Cons
- A little less durable
- Could use some cushioning
4. Thirty48 Performance Compression Low Cut Running Socks
Amazon affiliate link.
Amazon affiliate link. BUY NOW
Features
Materials
The socks feature Nylon and Lycra as their main material. And as always, you can guess the properties of the socks just by this small information.
Nylon is one of the best fabric materials out there for abrasion resistance. It’s extremely lightweight compared to other materials. Its coefficient of friction is low which means no rashes for you this time. And most of all, it has high compressive strength. This brings us to our next point;
Compression
The socks are specifically designed to provide some compression around your feet. While most people will interpret this as a tight fit, it is not that. A tight fit can be highly uncomfortable since it compresses the feet in all the wrong places. A sock with a compression fit will embrace the feet in the proper places.
This compression is really useful if you’re recovering from edema and want to improve circulation around your feet. The compression also helps reduce the chances of joint and tendon injuries since it holds the muscles and joints nicely
Arch support
The socks, just like the first and second socks we reviewed, feature a good amount of natural arch support. The arch support feature is specially enhanced for plantar arch support which is something a lot of people need. Pair these socks with a nice pair of arch support shoes and expect a nice running session.
Pros
- Performance enhancement compression
- Arch support
- Optimal fit
Cons
- Breathability needs improvement
- Gets fuzzy sometimes, especially around the bottom area
5. CelerSport Men’s Running Ankle Socks
Amazon affiliate link.
Amazon affiliate link. BUY NOW
Features
Materials
The socks feature 50% cotton, 20% Nylon and 20% polyester along with some trace amounts of rubber and spandex.
This means that not only the socks are durable and lightweight but also quite breathable and wrinkle resistant. Also cotton is very hypoallergenic, hence if you have sensitive skin prone to irritation, just get yourself a pair of CelerSport socks
Shock protection
The seamless toe design of the socks along with a nice layer of cushion on the toes and the bottom make sure that your get as much shock absorption as a sock can give. Plus, the layer of cushioning and protection also makes sure you have a smooth transition from heel to toe.
Non-slip off
The suitable elastic in the arch makes sure that the socks are as slip-resistant as possible. Because let’s be honest, nothing is as frustrating and embarrassing as stopping mid-run to manage your socks that have somehow slipped out of your feet and are now giving you an uncomfortable feeling.
Pros
- Good ventilation
- Toe protection
- Durable
Cons
- A little toe snug
- A little too thick
Comparison Chart
| Product name | Amazon rating | Price | Material | Dimensions | Gender |
|
1. Saucony Women’s Performance Heel Tab Athletic Socks Amazon affiliate link. |
4.8 / 5 |
$13.89 – $25.57 |
Polyester 98% and Spandex 2% |
9.29 x 7.72 x 3.19 inches |
For women |
|
2. Saucony Men’s Multi-pack Mesh Ventilating Comfort-Fit Performance No-show Socks Amazon affiliate link. |
4.7 / 5 |
$13.74 – $31.18 |
Polyester 98% and spandex 2% |
10.08 x 4.45 x 3.39 inches |
For men |
|
3. Rockay Accelerate Anti-Blister Running Socks Amazon affiliate link. |
4.5 / | $16.95 – $45.76 | Econyl and polygiene | 6 x 4 x 1 inches | Unisex |
|
4. Thirty48 Performance Compression Low Cut Running Socks Amazon affiliate link. |
4.6 / 5 |
$13.98 – $26.98 |
Nylon and lycra |
8 x 3.3 x 0.7 inches |
Unisex |
|
5. CelerSport 6 Pack Men’s Running Ankle Socks Amazon affiliate link. |
4.6 / 5 |
$15.95 |
Cotton, nylon, and polyester | 10.75 x 10.25 x 1 inches | For men |
The Buying Guide On Best Custom Running Socks
Now that we have listed our list of best custom running socks, it’s time to give you an insight into what we look at when we are buying custom running socks
Material
If you haven’t guessed already, the first thing we look for in any fabric, socks or not is materials. And as we have been saying throughout this guide, you can guess a lot of properties of the best custom running socks just by analyzing their materials.
You can always keep the general properties of the most commonly used materials in the best custom running socks and recall the properties once you see the properties. We promise it makes shopping way easier and you can narrow your choice by your preferences in no time.
Breathability
Unless you’re buying socks to feel cozy in the cold grey winter in front of the fire as the snow sprinkles outside, make sure the socks are breathable enough.
The best custom running socks are always breathable. It’s because they are designed for running. And running equals exertions, which means more heat is produced per minute.
There’s no need to retain all the heat in your feet and have blisters. Make sure the socks are ventilated enough so your feet remain odor and blister-free.
Conclusion
And that’s it for our guide on the best custom running socks. We hope you liked it and found it useful.
Also, check out these amazing running watches that will add more style to your personality as you run.