MudGear Trail Socks Review

I have been on the search for the best trail running socks in preparation for my first ultra-marathon that I am training for, the Salmon Falls 50k (Folsom, CA) on February 25^th.  I ran across a company called MudGear.  Their products are built in world-class manufacturing facilities and their gear has been designed by legends in the industry.  The idea began using the name F3, which was named after a group in Charlotte, NC that met to do outdoor, military-style boot camp workouts.  They started by making gear for that group.  The company grew into making apparel for people who did Obstacle Couse Racing (OCR).

They wanted to make strong gear that could hold up to the tremendous stress that OCR puts on clothing and other gear. Their first custom product was the MudGear Fitted Race Jersey.  It took several tries before getting the fit and feel right because they wanted a shirt that didn’t become saturated with water and mud.  They went into production in 2012 and their items started to hit the shelves in late 2013. 

Their socks were designed to stand up to the longer distances of OCR and adventure racing.  They are made to handle mud and full submersion into water but not slow you down.  All of their products are made to last, but still remain comfortable.  I just finished testing the MudGear Compression Obstacle Race Socks and ¼ Crew Trail Socks. 

I have tested several compression socks over the years and have yet to find a pair that doesn’t make my feet blister or feel overly compressed.  That is until I ran across the Compression Obstacle Race Socks from MudGear.  They are not only comfortable, but they don’t compress my feet too much, and I have never had a blister or hot spot in them, which is usually a problem when I trail run or run long distances on the road. 

I know they are made for the mud, but they work in normal conditions too.  The Compression Obstacle Race Socks are made with 168 needlepoint compression and use a tougher yarn for a superior sock that will help you perform at your best while being tough enough to handle whatever stands in your way.  There is a built in layer of padding on the lower leg and calf to protect OCR participants against rope burns and other injuries.  That could be beneficial for trail runners when a rock gets kicked in your direction, or in my case, when I get tired and kick my own leg.  You can get your pair of Compression Obstacle Race Socks for $35 at the MudGear website.

The ¼ Crew Trail Socks are sold in a pack of 2 pairs for $27 and you can get them in Black/Orange, Grey/Black, or Grey/Green.  They have a high, quarter ankle that keeps debris out of your socks.  They are awesome for running in wet conditions and even if they get wet, they tend to feel dry.  MudGear simply made an awesome sock in the ¼ Crew Trail socks at a great price.  I am a true fan.

A few weeks back, I went out on a trail run to test the Salomon XA Alpine Shoes and the MudGear Compression Obstacle Race Socks.  It was raining fairly hard and the trail was rather muddy.  I was about 3 miles into the run when I found a great creek.  I step into the creek to test out how waterproof the shoes were and I quickly felt water gushing into the shoes.  I guess they weren’t waterproof, oops.  While the Compression Obstacle Race Socks were soaked, I never felt that squishing feeling I get with most wet socks. Within a mile, the socks felt completely dry (even though they weren’t).  Now that’s an awesome trail sock!

Pros:

Awesome fit

Excellent breathability and moisture wicking

Compression works to help fight fatigue

Dries quickly

Great price (compression $35, 2 pair of trail socks $27)

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I love both the Compression Obstacle Race Socks and ¼ Crew Trail Socks from MudGear.  They not only are extremely durable, but comfortable as well.  They are one of my favorite socks and I have found myself grabbing them for every run lately.  It doesn’t matter if I am running 20 miles, hitting the trail, or a short tempo run, these socks are perfect for any occasion.  The price is decent and they should last for quite a while.  The ¼ Crew Trail socks are not only my go-to trail sock, but I will be using them for almost all of my runs.  Give them a try and let me know if you come to the same conclusion.

Note:  I received this product in exchange for a review.  The review is my personal opinion of the product and I was not required to give a particular opinion of it.  I am not a doctor, so please use all of the products that I review at your own risk.