Every time I get asked for advice from runners who get blisters, I always recommend that they try out Injinji socks. There are other brands of toe socks on the market, but the quality of Injinji can’t be beat.
After one particularly brutal trail run, my 12 year-old son saw me pull my shoes off and he asked about those “weird looking socks” on my feet so I told him he could try a pair. He now refuses to wear anything else.
Injinji has many different colors and styles of socks available to purchase, but I’ve found that often their most distinctive patterns are from the Artist Designed series, which showcase collections from talented artists and feature nature-inspired designs.
We received two pairs of crew socks and one pair of the mini-crew and it’s going to be hard to keep my son from stealing them. They are so cool that I found myself feeling alternately conflicted about being excited to wear them and not wanting to get them dirty. There’s nothing like a fresh new pair of cute socks!!
Looks
The socks I received are from the Pacific Northwest collection and the Oregon-based artist that made the unique design possible is Kelley Wills. There are a few designs to choose from in her collection, and three lengths available from as well: no-show, mini-crew, and crew length. They are also available in both men’s and women’s sizes.
I received the crew socks in two patterns, one called “Wildwood” which features wildflowers, and one called “Cascades,” which depicts cute little birds flying over a forested lake. The Mini-Crew came to me with fun little snails and mushrooms on them, and those are the pattern “Slowpoke.” They are all whimsical and delightful.
Function & Construction
All of the Artist Designed socks showcase Injinji’s top three benefits which are: blister prevention, moisture management, and total foot utilization. These socks may look pretty, but they are also actually designed for running.
That means you can be hard on them out on the trails for a hike, for pounding pavement running a marathon, or for lounging on the couch or hanging out at a friend’s house. I guarantee you’ll get compliments on them too.
If you’ve ever wondered why toe socks are so great, the answer is really in the construction. Injinji incorporates the whole foot in the design of their socks because when your toes are separated and properly aligned, your weight is distributed evenly. This means your entire foot cooperates in the process of running or walking.
And let’s not forget the whole reason I recommend these socks to everyone in the first place: blister prevention. Many runners experience blisters from the skin-on-skin friction of their toes rubbing together, but toe socks eliminate this problem entirely. And because each toe is individually wrapped in the sweat-wicking material that Injinji is made from, your feet will stay drier too!
Fit
As mentioned, these socks are available in both women’s and men’s sizes. The women’s socks are built with a more narrow fit to accommodate a smaller foot. The men’s socks have the same fit as a unisex sock.
I wear a size 9 in a running shoe, (but a size 8 in a regular shoe) so I always get Injinji socks in a size XS/S which fits a women’s size 5 to 8.5 shoe. There is plenty of stretch and I think if I went up in size to the M/L (size 9 to 12 shoe,) there would be too much room in the tops of the toes.
The socks are stretchy and soft, and they won’t slide around on your feet. Though some people may take a little time to adjust to them, they feel exactly as they should as soon as I get my shoes on. I personally love the mid-crew length best because they are long enough to not slide down inside my shoe but perfect for any weather or trail condition.
Overall
The Artist Designed socks are limited edition socks, so don’t wait on these if you’re as in love with them as I am. If you want to know more about all the artists that Injinji features, you can read about them on the Injinji Blog. I’m circumnavigating Mt Hood in September and I know which socks I’m bringing. Cheers for happy feet in fun and functional socks!!
