Why I love Injinji Toe Socks!

If you have been following my blog for a while, then you know that I am a huge fan of Injinji toe socks.  I have been running in them for a few years now.  It all started a when I was curious why runners would want to use toe socks.    I quickly discovered that they offer the benefit of letting your toes splay (spread) while you run.  These are great for people who wear wide toe box shoes made by companies like Altra and Topo Athletic, but are great with any shoes. These socks are funny looking and the first time you use them, they feel a little weird.  With that being said, the weird feeling went away after about 5 minutes and they are some of the most comfortable socks that I own.

There are several benefits of using the Injinji toe socks.  The socks are anatomically designed for your foot, covering each toe and allowing your toes to spread out as they naturally want to.  Normal socks restrict your feet and tend to push your toes together, which can lead to various foot injuries.  While you might not feel that this is a big deal, give the toe socks a try and you will realize what I am talking about.  You will gain stability and feel more comfortable as your feet learn to spread out.

They are great for people who get blisters.  By having no skin on skin contact between your toes, you eliminate that point of friction which can cause blistering.  Each sock is made of moisture wicking material and has seamless toes.  They have a mesh top for more breathability, an arch support band, and an enhanced cuff so your socks don’t slip down.  You can get them in light weight, original weight and midweight styles depending on the amount of cushion you prefer.

They have different materials, including the spectrum version, which has special and bold graphics that are made by using a printing process that will not distort or face over time.  Here are links to the reviews that I have done in the past. 

Injinji Toe Socks Spring Review – May 16, 2016

Injinji Toe Socks Review - September 23, 2015

Would you Rock the Injinji Toe Sock? - July 25, 2014

So let me tell you a little story.  I ran the American River 50 Mile Endurance Run on April 7^th.  It had been raining for a few days and even the morning of the race.  The trails were muddy and I was drenched before the race even started.  I was wearing another brand of socks, which I normally love.  They are designed to pull the moisture away from your feet, but are not toe-socks.  I figured with the extremely wet conditions, that they would be a good choice.  I never had any blistering issues with them, but I also hadn’t run that far in conditions like what we were experiencing. 

I started to have issues at mile 20 with debris in my socks and shoes.  It was creating a blister in between my 4^th and 5^th toes.  I had a fresh pair of shoes and socks at the 25 mile aid station, where my drop bag was waiting for me.  I put on a fresh pair of shoes and socks when I got there, but didn’t have anything to put over the blister.  I ran another 4.5 miles to where I was picking up my pacer.  I had texted him and asked him to find some mole skin or something similar to put over the blister.  It could have ended my day if I didn’t take care of it.  I was able to finish the race, but it was an issue that could have been avoided and would have saved me a lot of discomfort.

The reason why I like Injinji socks so much is, like I stated earlier, the toe splay helps with stability and allow your feet to work as they were meant to.  You don’t have to worry about your socks causing compression issues (which can lead to metatarsal and other pain).  The more important thing is that it does a great job of keeping debris out of the socks.  It even protects in between your toes if some debris does get inside your shoes.  If I chose to wear Injinji socks during the race, I may have been able to avoid the blister, which in turn slowed me down quite a bit. 

I got to test out four pairs of trail socks.  The first one were the crew length Spectrum Performance 2.0 Trail Socks.  I tested the No-Show version in the past, which is below the ankle and has a tab in the back to protect the back of your heel.  While I really like Injinji’s wool socks, they don’t even compare to how comfortable the Spectrum material is.    I tested the Gritty version of the sock which sells for $18.00.

Performance 2.0 Trail Midweight Crew Length (Spectrum)

I also tested the Trail Midweight Mini-Crew Sock, which has been one of my favorite trail socks over the years.  It has a decent amount of cushion that protects your feet and does a great job of keeping debris out.  I have always been into thicker socks because they provided more cushion and these mid weight socks were great for longer runs.  I tested the Pine version and it sells for $15.00.

Performance 2.0 Trail Midweight Mini-Crew

 I also tested two new socks that they just came out with.  Their Ultra Run series is made to provide comfort mile-after-mile.  It has a terry material throughout the entire foot and toes.  This helps reduce the impact of your foot strikes.  The terry material really does a great job of keeping your feet feel fresh.  They come in two sizes, the no-show and the crew length.  They have men’s and women’s specific designs.  I tested the Ultra Run Crew Socks (Color: Lime) which sells for $18.00 and the Ultra Run No-Show Socks (Color: Lime), which sells for $16.00

Ultra Run No-Show

Ultra Run No-Show (inside out) showing terry inside

Ultra Run Crew Length

Pros:

Let’s your toes spread out

Keeps your feet dry and blister free

Very durable

Look awesome

Feel great even after months of washing

Decent Prices

Injinji’s’s Social Media Links:

Facebook

Twitter

YouTube

Instagram

Pinterest

Linkedin

Blog

I love my Injinji socks.  After my race, I realize the importance of having each toe protected and my Injinji socks do just that.  Please learn from my misery and give them a try.  You can purchase yours at the Injinji website or at a store near you (click here for locations).  If you haven’t tried them, you definitely should.  Let me know what you think and please feel free to share a picture of your favorite Injinji socks with me.

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.