Are running socks worth buying?

Runners sure do love their kit. Socks might be one of the last things people think about when it comes to their running clothing, but it can be a very worthwhile investment.

What’s so special about them?

Generally nothing. Sometimes they’ll be a fancy material to “better ventilate your feet” or reduce friction, but for the most part the design is where the benefits are created.

How are they different from normal socks?

Running socks come in a few styles and several brands.

Some people prefer a thick single layer sock, more for comfort than anything and perhaps a little extra warmth in the cold winter months.

Other people prefer twin layered socks where the outer layer rubs on the shoe and the inner layer rubs the outer layer. The idea of this is to stop the material rubbing on your foot to avoid blisters.

In terms of brands the big names to go for are “Hilly”, “Ron Hill” and “1000 mile socks” in my opinion. I have several different pairs of twinskins and monoskins by Hilly as these are my preference.

Different uses.

As I mentioned, the thick socks can be great for winter running or if you have bad circulation, but over longer runs can cause a lot of excess heat and no friction protection. I’ll tend to use single layer socks for 5k-10k. On longer training runs and races I always go for dual layered socks so there’s one thing I never have to worry about.

It’s all a matter of personal preference and it’s worth trying out some different styles and brands, but if you don’t currently own running socks, they’re worth the investment.

Written by Kyle Brooks, Running Coach based in Norwich, Norfolk.