The global market for socks is tremendous, valued at USD 42.68 billion. Experts believe it will continue to grow, with a CAGR of 5% from 2022 to 2030.
It is an important part of your wardrobe. Not only that, but it is a common piece of clothing that you must wash often. Yet, the dryer seems to enjoy stealing socks!
One estimate suggests everyone has 1.3 socks that go missing monthly.
When it is time to replace your socks, it is critically important that you choose high-quality socks. They protect your feet, maintain your comfort level, and make a fashion statement about who you are.
The more active your lifestyle, the more important it is to choose superb socks. It's the simplest way you can love yourself, by caring for your feet.
Keep reading to discover why investing in high-quality socks makes such a big impact on your daily life.
For the Health of Your Foot
The best reason for investing in high-quality socks is for health and wellness. The wrong socks, and no socks at all, can expose your precious feet to many ailments. This includes fungus, fissures, and blisters, to name a few.
Your feet could even be left exposed to infection with the wrong socks.
In fact, the American Academy of Podiatric Sports Medicine recently published several studies on the importance of the type and quality of socks to your foot health. This includes arthritic and diabetic patients. Also, high-quality socks affect both competitive and recreational athletes with their foot health too.
The studies determined acrylic fibers are better for protecting runners from friction that causes blisters over cotton material. The United States military also ran studies on socks. They were also looking for ways to reduce blisters on their recruits.
Military Grade Socks
The study for the U.S. military investigated multiple combinations of sock fabrics and types of socks and how they affected the feet of their recruits. They considered running and prolonged marching.
Altogether, these studies found that the kind of socks worn by an athlete affects multiple foot injuries. These include:
- Yeast, fungal, and bacterial infections
- Warts
- Thickened skin, calluses, and corns
- Bleeding or bruising underneath the toenail
- “Ram’s horn nails,” which is when one side of a toenail grows quicker than others
- Toenail fungus
- Atrophy on the bottom of the foot in the fatty pads
- Inflamed or weakened ligaments
Bone and connective tissue issues, which include bunions, bone bruises, shin splints, tendinitis in the foot, and heel spurs
The reason that athletes and the military are prone to such health issues is because the force of their feet, which hits the ground while running, creates pressure. The action they take can aggravate these ailments.
What athletes and the military need is high-quality socks that have the appropriate fabric for their activities. The socks should have the right cushioning in their design, protecting their feet from damage.
Wicking Is Important
The absorption of moisture is wicking. It is also transferring moisture away from the skin’s surface. Some kinds of socks are better at wicking and removing moisture than others.
Unfortunately, many people believe that cotton socks are beneficial for athletic activity. This is not the case. Cotton absorbs moisture, but it is not a suitable material for wicking it away from the skin.
Further, cotton could get soaked. When it does, it cannot hold its shape. This causes friction and blistering.
Natural socks, like cotton and wool socks that do not blend with acrylic fibers, can well up when it gets wet and will press against the shoe. This makes it challenging to let the moisture evaporate and makes it difficult to circulate air.
In fact, studies show that soldiers and marines use a double sock system. This includes a synthetic liner, which they cover with a wool and synthetic sock blend that has heavy padding. Such a combination is better for preventing friction and wicking away moisture.
The Right Fit
When you are buying new shoes, and especially if they are athletic ones, you must try the shoes with the kind of socks you will wear with them. While this may common sense, still, people forget. Remember this next time you shop for gym shoes.
This thickness of your sock will affect which shoe size you should go with. Your regular shoe size may not be a good fit for some sock types.
Why You Should Invest in High-Quality Socks Beyond Foot Health
There are many other advantages to wearing high-quality socks that involve performance, practicality, durability, and fashion. There is a growing market for colors, fabrics, styles, and even ways you could customize your socks.
High-quality for your socks must always be a top priority. Here is what to look for.
Fabric
Top of the line for wool socks is merino socks and cashmere socks. A big advantage of merino wool is that it possesses a natural odor-fighting characteristic. For better durability and wicking, cotton socks and wool socks blend well with many synthetic fibers.
Even if your foot is wet, wool socks maintain their capability to keep it warm. Synthetic fibers, such as rayon, spandex, polyester, nylon, and acrylic, can stretch more easily and maintain their shape. Most synthetic fibers have a better wicking ability than cotton or wool.
Weight
The type of socks you wear for hiking in cold weather should differ from what you wear for running. There are socks that can offer extra wicking and cooling ability.
Cushioning is important to consider. Some types of socks, depending on which sport the sock was designed for, provide special cushioning.
Length
A tennis player would need a short sock or crew sock. Soccer players, on the other hand, require socks that come over the knee.
For personal activities, like hiking or jogging, there is the same concept. Hiking with a tall boot would require a thicker, taller sock. When jogging with gym shoes, you would want a crew sock, like the tennis player.
Color and Design
There is a tremendous range today of fabrics and fibers that are available on the market. Sock manufacturers have expanded their colors and design offerings.
Essential For Your Wardrobe
Socks are important for other activities besides active wear, such as what you wear to work or school. Still, there are many days when you change your surroundings and your activities. You would go from an office to a playing field.
High-quality socks are great for warmth, cooling, protection, cushioning, and wicking active feet. The various surfaces that your foot touches throughout your day will play a role in the kind of socks you should wear.
Good Quality Socks Last Longer
Spending more on high-quality socks will mean that you can get something that will last you longer. A cheap pair of socks may look cute, but it will poke holes quickly. You would need to replace them a few times a year.
Besides the discomfort that you feel from wearing a sock that is thin and wearing out, it is a nuisance to replace it. You may have to pay more for cheap socks if you are ordering online because they include postage or shipping costs with the price.
When you pay a bit more, you can buy socks with better material. High-quality socks will also have a high level of craftsmanship. Therefore, you will get more from your socks, making them a better investment for the longer term.
High-quality socks can last you many years. They are unlikely to incur a hole, nor are they likely to fray.
Better For the Planet
Beyond comfort, health, and making an excellent investment, high-quality socks help save the Earth and green initiatives. Just think, when you must throw out low-quality socks many times during the year, that is adding to landfills. Creating waste is doing damage to the world around you.
While a high-quality sock will not wear out quickly, eventually it could tear or perhaps one of the pairs gets lost. There are a variety of ways you could use an old sock, especially high-quality socks, including for cleaning. Another option is recycling them.
It feels good to invest in your feet, but it also feels good to make an investment that helps the world around you.
Manufacturer’s Quality
Cheap socks have skimpy materials, but that is not all. Someone likely made them with a cheap production process. The manufacturer may have skipped the quality assurance and inspection altogether.
You never know what you are truly getting with a cheap sock. It is possible that as soon as you put your new low-quality socks on, they will be so uncomfortable, you will not wear them, anyway.
Making a Fashion Statement
Some people do not take the time to invest in high-quality socks simply because they believe no one sees them, anyway. Sometimes, that is true, but not all the time. People will notice your socks at some point.
If you take your shoes off while visiting a home, or you sit down, people will see your socks. People around you, by nature, look through a lens which they evaluate fashion. It is who we are as humans.
Humans notice aesthetics. Your eyes draw toward things they find pleasing to their vision.
If you like the idea of looking amazing “from head to toe,” and you want to make a statement about your sense of fashion, socks are important! It is a subtle accessory, but vital. If you enjoy color coordination with your fashion choices, you should always look for high-quality socks that match your clothing.
The right color of high-quality socks can make your outfit really pop into the eyes of others. Just think, too, that you have this fabulous ensemble ready to wear and you want to walk out of your home like a boss, but on your feet are old, torn, sad-looking socks. Your ensemble is ruined!
You Will Notice the Comfort of High-Quality Socks
Cheap socks feel cheap. A superb pair of well-made socks feel better on your feet. Good craftsmanship not only makes socks last longer, but it also affects how the socks feel, too.
When you put high-quality socks on your feet, they should feel soft and smooth against your skin. You should feel its cushion. There should be no bunching, rubbing, or friction that can cause your feet harm.
Further, the best socks should be so comfortable that you do not realize they are on your feet. They should wrap your feet snuggly.
A low-quality sock will only provide discomfort. It will scratch, slip down, or chafe your skin.
Don’t Replace Your Entire Sock Drawer
While you want to invest in high-quality socks, that doesn’t mean you need to re-invest in everything. To upgrade your socks, add a few important high-quality socks to help you start.
The best recommendation is to invest in a pair with a lighter color, a darker color, and a striped pair. This is a way to cover all your potential clothing styles.
Leading the Way in the Merino Wool Movement
Point6 is taking a new spin on high-quality socks! They have developed the traditional merino wool sock and created something even more superior, with more longevity too!
The name Point6 comes from 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit. This is the optimal body temperature for humans. Stabilizing your temperature gives you optimum performance.
Out with the old, and welcome to the new!
If you desire high-quality socks, look no further than Point6 merino wool socks. Shop Point6 right now for amazing merino socks.