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A case for toe socks
- MrDresden 3y agoHave been using my Vibram Five-Finger's for going on 13 years now, and along with them using toe socks. Not exclusively, but still rather frequently. Toe socks are a pain to get on. Never had any of the issues the author mentiones with normal socks, but have long since realized that not all socks are created equally. For a few years now all my sock purchases have been done exclusively from Pantherella in the UK, even though it burns a hole in my wallet. It is worth it for the feeling of waking on clouds.
- paradox242 3y agoAfter reading this I feel like I need to call the police.
- throwaway22032 3y agoAren't your toes jammed together when you're wearing shoes anyway? Around my own house I don't usually wear socks unless it's cold.
- mint2 3y agoToes are jammed together because shoe toe boxes are not foot shaped, on most shoes they are shaped purely for vanity. In other words we still do foot binding, just milder. Hello bunions and foot issues! And the width is set at average, so it fits very few people. Also the non-foot shape makes it so the few shoes that do offer different widths still fail to fit.
- jnwatson 3y agoEven with width, the ratio between the width of the front of the foot and the width of your heel varies. I need a normal width heel and a wider toe box. Only took me 20 years, but I finally found a decent brand of running shoes that matches my slightly duck-like feet.
- rtownsend5 3y agoWhat running shoe brand do you wear? I also have duck-like feet and struggle to find athletic shoes that fit properly.
- finnh 3y agoNot OP, but Altra King MT trail shoes have a great wide toe box with a pretty normal ankle width. I think the whole Altra line aims for a wide toe box - they call it "Footshape" in their marketing materials[0]. Not related to the company, just a satisfied customer. I actually wear toe socks inside my Altras whenever I'm doing a long hike, like (say) the Enchantments in WA state. [0] https://www.altrarunning.com/shop/mens-king-mt-2-alm1952g https://www.altrarunning.com/shop/mens-king-mt-2-alm1952g
- deleted 3y ago[deleted]
- mikestew 3y agoAltra King MT trail shoes have a great wide toe box Too bad they don't make them anymore. The Altra Superior is probably the closest one, similar shape and low stack height. And if nothing else, there's the venerable Lone Peak with which it is hard to go too far wrong.
- EricE 3y agoLook into diabetic shoes; they tend to have wide toeboxes. Luckily here in Las Vegas we still have an old fashioned, competent shoe store where they actually measure your foot (pressure pad and all), understand foot anatomy and how different manufacturers make their products. They recommended a few different brands. I prefer New Balance so they produced the 1540. The v2 fit me better but alas, all you can find now is the 1540v3. It wasn't the cheapest shoe, however it is leaps and bounds better than any other tennis shoe I have ever worn. Worth every penny. FYI Vegas store for those interested: https://www.yelp.com/biz/cesars-shoe-world-las-vegas-3 https://www.yelp.com/biz/cesars-shoe-world-las-vegas-3
- 3y ago
- TacticalCoder 3y ago> Toes are jammed together because shoe toe boxes are not foot shaped, on most shoes they are shaped purely for vanity. I highly disagree with the notion that things that look pleasing to the eyes are "vanity". I also disagree that taste is vanity. Wearing Crocs is one thing. Wearing Crocs and calling those who don't vanitous is something else altogether.
- mint2 3y agoWhen function is sacrificed in the name of looks, it’s pure vanity. When something goes beyond that and actively causes harm in the name of looks, it’s vanity at the worst. I agree Crocs are ugly. Shoes don’t have to look like crocs to be anatomically functional.
- LesZedCB 3y agofoot binding is alive and well in the rock climbing community. i am 'recovering' from fit issues from the last 7 years. since covid i gave up on rock shoe fitting style (which bled into my regular shoe fitting as well) and my feet are much happier now, though still not great.
- klondike_klive 3y agoLocking cycling shoes are also preposterously narrow too. I guess they're all about aerodynamics.
- LesZedCB 3y agoyeah my first pair were a specialized shoe and my foot went numb from the bridge being squished. i have some crankbros and fiveten which are both much wider, though for road i hear shimano have pretty comfy toeboxes.
- dan-robertson 3y agoI think it’s not so much a problem with the shape for plenty of men’s shoes (though I don’t love the big toe poking slightly inward) and more that people get shoes that don’t fit very well.
- mint2 3y agoBig toes poking inwards is a huge issue. It’s a awful terrible design that makes no sense. Also people don’t get shoes that fit well because they don’t know shoes that fit well exist because they barely exist. Altra and Topo make some shoes that fit okay but still are only going to fit certain small segments of the population. Altra’s size wide also is the common wide = more volume but not actually wider ridiculousness. People don’t buy shoes that fit because they don’t know they exist nor do they realize their shoes don’t actually fit. But even if they did realize both things, most people would not have access to the few modes that fit better.
- abecedarius 3y agoI was a bit shocked when I first saw photos of adults with unmodified human feet, that hadn't been molded by Western standard shoes as they grew up.
- deleted 3y ago[deleted]
- masklinn 3y ago> Aren't your toes jammed together when you're wearing shoes anyway? They're not supposed to be, but most shoes are terribly fit if you have any sort of less than ideal feet. It took me years to realise, but (alongside a whole host of other issues) I turn out to have pretty "wide" feet at the front. After decades of wearing shoes the toes literally overlap, if I walk middle distances unless I add some sort of separator (e.g. toe socks, which is not comfortable as it forces toes apart when they got misshapen to bunch up) even in open-toed shoes my toes are so deformed they'll stab one another: the nail of the 5th and 4th toes will scrape against the previous toe until they break the skin and fill my socks with blood.
- scotty79 3y agoIt's good to use these socks with "barefoot" shoes that have plenty of room for toes and thin sole that helps them spread while walking.
- strict9 3y ago>Every now and again (say I enter a house which has a no-shoe rule), someone will spot them and find the concept strange, I find it more strange that people wear outside shoes inside. The same shoes that go on dirt, mud, who knows what else are used to walk on your floors and carpets. Taking your shoes off at the door prevents a lot of dirt/who-knows-what from entering the house.
- surfsvammel 3y agoShoes at left at the door, you wash your hands whenever you come in from being outside, or somewhere else, and no clothes that have been outside, in or on the beds. That’s what I teach my kids.
- zeeshanmh215 3y agothen imagine people using toilet papers to clean their ass after poops. so disgusting and culture-less people.
- wry_discontent 3y agoI don't like taking my shoes off unless I'm relaxing. It's a physical reminder to do stuff. If I'm watching a show and I need to get up to do something, I'll put my shoes back on.
- jhbadger 3y agoDo you take your shoes off at work? (assuming you still have a non-virtual workplace) Any argument about how shoes are unsanitary (not that we live in a time where the streets are covered in horseshit anymore) should apply equally to the workplace as in the home, no?
- dmm 3y agoShoes carry large amounts of fecal bateria into homes, including E. coli: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/shoes-carry-poop-bacteria-into-nyc-buildings-study-finds-180981680/ https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/shoes-carry-poop-b... > should apply equally to the workplace as in the home, no? Probably. You should bring it up with your boss.
- simple10 3y agoThis is a bit unusual post to see on HN front page. But interesting! Anyone have a recommendation for toe sock brands? I've been wanting to get some for running but haven't got around to doing any research.
- lkurtz 3y agoInjinji is the best I've tried so far
- ctom96 3y agoI can also vouch for injinji
- TRiG_Ireland 3y agoThe Awesome Socks Club is currently open for registration. It opens once or twice a year. They post you a pair a month, each designed by a different independent artist, and all the profits go to charity (maternal health care in Sierra Leone).
- mikestew 3y agoI see no mention of toes socks on their website, just a choice of "crew" or "ankle".
- Supermancho 3y ago> You don't get blisters between your toes. Yes, you can. Wear different ones, you'll find out right-quick.
- iambateman 3y agoSuper glad for the fellow enjoying some toe socks. Also, I experience none of his problems.
- swah 3y agoIn the same spirit of toe socks, I wonder if there are also penis pants?
- rngname22 3y agoThere are certainly a wide variety of undergarments that have pouches or tubes or even the short-lived boxerkilt that I'm hoping makes a comeback.
- masklinn 3y agoSackpants seem more interesting, to avoid them rubbing against the thigh.
- aidenn0 3y agoBriefs? Or Jockstraps?
- jasonpeacock 3y agoYes: https://www.saxxunderwear.com/pages/saxx-underwear-features https://www.saxxunderwear.com/pages/saxx-underwear-features
- tmnvix 3y agoThere certainly were. Eldridge Cleaver (former Black Panther and Presidential candidate) invented the 'Cleavers'. https://www.messynessychic.com/2013/08/01/the-1970s-political-activist-who-invented-penis-pants/ https://www.messynessychic.com/2013/08/01/the-1970s-politica...
- jmclnx 3y agoNever heard of them, but I can see me buying them. I wonder what local shops sell them. (I try and avoid amazon)
- sargun 3y agoREI has been my goto for toe socks in the past. I buy the Injinji brand of socks.
- tristor 3y agoI love toe socks. I used to wear toe socks of "liner" thickness inside of regular hiking socks to help maintain toe separation and reduce chafing/blistering when hiking, and it works wonders. I recommend Injinji for toe socks and Darn Tough for hiking/walking/everyday socks. They're also great if you do take your shoes off indoors (we do in my house), because you can leave your toe socks/liners on to keep your feet more even in temperature without negatively impacting sensation/touch, and leave your heavier socks by your shoes.
- deleted 3y ago[deleted]
- jcpst 3y ago2nd on Darn Tough. I got them for hiking, but now they are the only sock I wear.
- constantly 3y agoThe “toe socks inside regular socks” is the secret to me never getting blisters on marathons (once I started doing that)!
- potamic 3y agoWhy not just toe socks then? Why do you need two layers?
- constantly 3y agoStill get blisters on the outside of feet/toes with one layer, though not between toes. The second layer gives an additional protection and then no blisters. It’s like the double layer method Wright Socks use.
- nickstinemates 3y agoI think OP is wearing socks that are not properly fit. Literally never have had any of these problems with traditional wool black socks.
- driverdan 3y agoI used to wear toe shoes so I have a bunch of toe socks. When I first wore them it took some getting used to but after that I noticed no difference. Regular socks are stretchy and expand to fit the position of your toes.
- throw7 3y agoA negative is they're a pain to put on. I do like the feel of toe socks though... they do feel more "free" comparatively.
- markstos 3y agoYes, toe socks take longer to put on. Also, not normal socks squeeze your toes, give blisters or cause other problems for most uses. I always wear toe socks for very long runs or hikes, like > 2 hours, but don’t find the extra time to put on toe socks is worth it most of the time.
- singleshot_ 3y agoI have long envisioned something that I describe as a reverse-stripper clip for toe socks. Maybe it's a little like a shoehorn, too. You stick it into the sock and it puffs out all the toes and holds the top open, and you just jam your foot in. Tiny TAM? No MRR? Not a unicorn, to be sure. I still really want one.
- programmarchy 3y agoProblematic if you have webbed toes.
- LesZedCB 3y agowouldn't a regular sock be a toe sock then..? :)
- basch 3y agowebbed toe being like the 2nd and 3rd toe being partially fused. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Webbed_toes https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Webbed_toes
- baylessj 3y agoI missed this comment before replying at the top level elsewhere, but yeah I would need some socks with 4 toe holes :)
- EricE 3y agoOMG - thank you for posting this! I have sensitive feet and need a wide toe box with shoes. I'm rarely comfortable with socks on, let alone shoes. We have gloves for our hands; why not for our feet too? It's so obvious - at least now!
- TacticalCoder 3y agoMy brother in Japan also got socks where only the big toe is separate and I kinda like those. The ones with five separate toes are kinda hard to put on. The one with just the big toe separated can be put on as fast a regular socks.
- 5555624 3y agoTabi socks are a traditional sock in Japan, worn with zori (thonged sandals). They date back hundreds of years. You an also get Jika-Tabi, which have a durable, rubber sole, for outdoor wear.
- deleted 3y ago[deleted]
- plorkyeran 3y ago> Inexplicably, they don't slide down. Regular socks slowly work themselves down into your shoe over a day (depending on the build quality), but toe socks break sock physics and just...don't. I think the author went from wearing very low quality socks to decent socks due to cheap low-quality toe socks not existing and has discovered that good socks actually do make a difference, but then misattributed some of that to them being toe socks.
- RavingGoat 3y agoI was thinking the same thing. Maybe the author should be comparing his $15 toe socks to a $15 pair of non toe socks because his post definitely sounds like he was wearing super low quality socks before.
- paiute 3y agoI have toe socks that slide down. Just one pair of the dozens I have.
- scotty79 3y agoAuthor was just unlucky. I encountered maybe a handful of socks that slid down. 99.5% percent of socks had unlimited uptime. And I always buy the cheapest, basic stuff so it's not about the quality.
- cush 3y agoClearly not wearing Bombas
- paxys 3y agoI immediately thought the same thing. I have been wearing regular socks my entire life and have never had a single one of the problems they mention.
- ReleaseCandidat 3y agoThat doesn't depend on the socks, but the shoes (well, boots). I only have this problem with big boots with a fur liner and socks that are shorter than the boots.
- danck 3y agoThe obvious solution to narrow socks is wider socks. Ideally also with an asymmetrical shape that follows the feets anatomy. Surprisingly there seems to be only one company that makes them: Plus12Socks Their story is quite interesting. The company is a spin-off of an Austrian research group on children's foot health
- moralestapia 3y agoFlip-flop master race reporting in! (Although I don't do it anymore bc I work in a lab.)
- cyberpunk 3y agodont you find the constant "grip" position your feet make while walking in flip-flops fatiguing?
- williamdclt 3y agoThat doesn’t happen with flip flops that fit you well (usually means having to go for better quality)
- moralestapia 3y agoI know what you mean. Just force yourself to stop doing it, eventually your mind will realize it will not fall and that reflex will disappear.
- OkayPhysicist 3y agoThat's a sign your flip flops are either poorly made, or don't fit your feet well. Personally, all my former water polo buddies swear by Rainbows, but I've been told Reef makes some good ones, too. The important thing is that your feet need to be able to sink into the sandals a bit (Rainbows have a pretty brutal break-in period until the leather compresses to match your feet), and the strap that goes between your toes needs to be soft enough to be comfortable, but wide enough that it snuggles into the slightly flared base of the gap between your toes.
- zikduruqe 3y agoThe Rainbow break in period is a form of torture. But once you get through it, they surely are comfortable.
- WorldPeas 3y agoGoing a step further, I am the oft-ridiculed "foot shoe guy". Other than how hard they are to clean, they're probably the best purchase I've made in years. Goodbye planar fasciitis
- scotty79 3y agoI can recommend barefoot shoes. I really feel like they save my knees and everything else in my legs works more smoothly and I feel more stable walking. They take a bit of adjustment though. They'll train your calves, you'll walk slower because you'll have shorter step length, you'll initially get blisters in new places.
- gregschlom 3y agoI also wear toe socks, and while I agree with the author's points, here are some other downsides that they fail to mention: 1. Flipping them right side out after laundry takes more work than regular socks, because you need to flip each toe individually 2. Also when doing laundry, you need to match the left and right foot, which takes more time. Be sure to buy packs with different colors, and don't be like me and buy 2 times the same pack. 3. They take more time to put on. So basically, these 3 all boil down to: they require a little more work. But they're worth it.
- darrenkopp 3y ago#3 lessons with time I think. I can slip them on basically as fast unless my foot is damp after the shower. #1 and #2 were on my list of cons too, it's a universal problem. For laundry, I try to pull mine off toes first before I put them into the hamper to minimize flipping, but I still forget a lot.
- ragazzina 3y agoRegarding point 1, can you blow in them like with latex gloves?
- klondike_klive 3y agoI tried toe socks but found they really made my toes cold! I find that gloves make my fingers cold, too. I'm much more comfortable jamming my hands into my pockets. It's a shame about the toe socks because I've been wearing barefoot shoes for over a decade and am still dealing with a bunion on my left foot. I've been working on strengthening my hallucis abductor muscle so I can splay my big toe away from the others.
- JohnFen 3y agoI found I just can't stand having my toes constricted like that. I also can't stand to wear hats. I think those two things are related.
- markx2 3y agoI do not wear toe socks because my Vibram Five Fingers would be too tight. Some 8 years ago I bought a pair of Vibram 5F and ever since they are my footwear of choice. Walking the dogs, going on a flight, going _anywhere_. You know that feeling at the end of the day when you walk in the door and kick your shoes off? And your feet go "AAAAAAHHHHH"? Doesn't happen with the vibrams. On/off your feet don't notice. Oh - and when they get a bit whiffy - chuck them in the laundry. Good as new. Not connected to the company at all, just a very satisfied customer.
- deepspace 3y agoI could never see the appeal of VFF. Just drop the shoes and go barefoot. Your soles will get used to it very soon. And when the weather gets too cold for that, it is likely too cold for VFF too.
- justusthane 3y agoThere are plenty of places where you wouldn’t want to, or just can’t, go barefoot.
- xahrepap 3y agoI have weird feet. I've had foot drs gasp when they first see my feet. I love my Vibrams. They're the best shoes I've ever owned. And I'm pretty sure mine are a half-size too small :P But they're still better than other shoes.
- jimnotgym 3y agoAre Vibrams a shoe brand? I see lots of vibram rubber soles on other brands boots.
- grzm 3y agoYes. https://www.vibram.com/us https://www.vibram.com/us
- seniorsassycat 3y ago
- dan-robertson 3y agoHow do they compare to the alternatives? - normal socks in normal shoes - toe socks in normal shoes (the OP?) - bare feet in normal shoes - {bare feet,toe socks} in toe shoes - bare feet in flip flops or something else pretty minimal - bare feet everywhere I feel like most arguments were between the first two options.
- zidad 3y agoI've bought a pair of toe socks some time ago and will definitely buy more. I've also started to wear barefoot shoes with widened toes some years ago, and I can't go back to my 'normal' business shoes anymore, my feet start hurting within an hour because my toes positions started to be more parted. Running with them is quite challenging though, the technique to land on the front of your feet required to minimize shocks on the knees and hips but a lot more strain on the calves.
- vram22 3y agoInteresting article. We call them split-toe socks in India. Only read a few of the HN comments here so far, and then the first two paragraphs of the article, but immediately thought of a point, so putting it here, although I'll surely read the rest of the article and more comments here a bit later: >They're plain better for your toes. Toes want to spread out and be free. Having your toes cramped together by a sleeve all day will fundamentally change the way the foot is shaped and how you walk. Spot on, IMO, and this is why I never buy shoes that become narrower towards the front, and pinch your toes together. Sometimes I have to search more, because that kind seems to be a bit of a fashion in India, where I am, from quite a while, but the idea seems really dumb to me. Whenever I buy shoes, I still search until I can find and buy the right kind for me, which don't narrow towards the front. The kind that don't narrow used to be called naughty-boy shoes in India, when I was in primary school, for some reason :) Probably people can guess why ... If that is the case, I wanna be a naughty boy all my life ;-)
- checkyoursudo 3y ago> The kind that don't narrow used to be called naughty-boy shoes in India, when I was in primary school, for some reason :) Probably people can guess why ... I have been sitting here for a few minutes trying to come up with a guess, and I have not even a bad guess as to why. Any hints?
- mardifoufs 3y agoMaybe it's because they are better at uhh.. hitting kids who are naughty? From experience, flatter shoes hurt more lol. Not sure though, I'm puzzled myself!
- pkd 3y agoNaughty Boy is a name brand product of black leather school shoes made by the shoe company Bata. Although it is a Czech company, it is probably the biggest shoe brand in India - at least in recognition. I would say that most people in India think that Bata is an Indian brand. As to why they decided to call their line of school shoes "Naughty Boy", I would guess that it's a reverse psychology marketing thing.
- tivert 3y ago> They're plain better for your toes. Toes want to spread out and be free. Having your toes cramped together by a sleeve all day will fundamentally change the way the foot is shaped and how you walk. So the solution is to put more material in your toe area, taking up more space inside the shoe? That doesn't make any sense. Socks don't really push your toes together, your shoe does, and more sock just means pushing your toes harder against the shoe (and each other).
- noam_compsci 3y ago1, 3, 4, 5 and 6 suggest he doesn’t use socks like I do.
- hosh 3y agoI love toe socks! I will say though, just wearing them or going barefoot does not naturally encourage the toes to spread out. There's a specific way of training that comes from the martial art world, where the connective tissues among the toes grow more thicker and more robust. The downside is that you start having to look for footwear that are wider than the standard sizes.
- ndr 3y agoI love toe socks but it's hard to find good quality ones that I can wear in non-sport scenarios. For instance injinji does great toe socks but they are overly branded, is there anything that doesn't stand so much out?
- friend_and_foe 3y agoYou can order cheap clones of them on Amazon, Ebay and Alibaba.
- mrlatinos 3y agoI switched to barefoot shoes and have tried toe socks. Unfortunately I have webbed toes, and no one caters to my small community I've been meaning to try cutting and sewing them where my toes are joined.
- friend_and_foe 3y agoWow I found one like me. You don't usually see men wearing them, or really anyone besides teenage girls. Once you try them and get used to them, you'll feel like youre slushing around soup in your shoes if you try to go back. They're fantastic. These days though I mostly just forego shoes. I probably wear closed toe shoes 4 or 5 days out of the year outside of winter. But when I do have to wear them, toe socks are the only way to go.
- ssnistfajen 3y ago>Having your toes cramped together by a sleeve all day will fundamentally change the way the foot is shaped and how you walk. Shoes are far more damaging for foot shape than socks. If this is a concern, get some toe spacers.
- aaron695 3y ago[dead]
- clarkevans 3y agoI like split socks where the toe is separate. They help prevent the sock from shifting on you. These are especially lovely for use with sandals. Since I have neuropathy, I especially like the ones with tread on the bottom, but that makes them chiral... and it always seems like my drawer has 3 left socks. Expensive ones with treads are sold by "V-Toe Socks, Inc".
- ics 3y agoI've been buying split toe socks for years now, when they weren't so readily available. A tip to anyone else curious: you can find many different styles/colors in varying quality on Amazon, Temu, Aliexpress, etc. from no-name brands. In general the quality is quite good, at least on par with major brand socks and if you're less confident then just pay attention to the return policy. The main thing to look for is 100% cotton (or natural fiber of your choice). Edit: I posted this primarily because they're a niche product which translates to niche-consumer prices sometimes. However you don't need to pay more than $2-3/pair to have pretty nice, durable socks of this kind.
- deleted 3y ago[deleted]
- darrenkopp 3y agoHaving worn toe socks for 5+ years now, it's one of the greatest decisions I've made. I mostly only wear Injinji now, but I have tried other brands in the past. Here's my pro's and cons list from my experience. 1. Pro: they are much more durable. normally socks start to get rough and developing those little hard fiber balls all over them after a while, haven't had those with injinji. 2. Con: they used to be a bit cheaper in the past, but they are pretty pricey now. I'd say I'm normally paying ~$12 - $15 for a pair, but thanks to #1 now that I have a good supply, I'm not having to buy them very often. 3. Con: if you lose one sock, you've lost two. Having dedicated right and left socks is a liability. I've attempted to address this in the past by just buying lots of the same style, but that is much worse, you suddenly find yourself with 6 plain white left socks and no right socks and realize you need to do laundry to have socks. Now I buy only one of a given style and it's much easier to match up pairs. Injinji is constantly putting out new styles, likely for this reason. 4. Con: Laundry is more difficult. It's become easier now that I've changed how I take off my socks, but there's still some effort. Now there are a lot more cons in that list, but honestly they are all worth it.
- seltzered_ 3y agoRe 4 on laundry, a tip I followed early on is to buy different color/stripe patterns to help match em up. I miss using toe socks, love using them but have been so much involved in outdoor work these days where socks, jeans, etc. wear out quickly.
- el_nahual 3y agoMy grandpa (a consummate tinkerer, mechanic, and life hacker) taught me the best trick for laundering socks. Keep a small box of big safety pins by your hamper. When you take your socks off, pin the pair together then toss them in the hamper. Always keeps pairs together!
- taberiand 3y agoCan you turn one sock inside out to make a pair?
- toxik 3y ago
- Groxx 3y agoMy main difficulty with toe socks is finding ones for my toe length/width combination. There are relatively standard foot sizes listed, but toes vary a lot and most are uncomfortably tight on my toes :/ My middle ground has been wearing very thin socks, e.g. some athletic ones and many dress socks. They're weak enough that they don't compact my toes. Combine that with wide toe box shoes and my feet feel great every day - they went from mild ache after a full day to nothing for two decades now.
- Emerald_dreamer 3y agoI, too, am a toe-sock hoe. Thank you for these points! I'll be sure to refer to them next time I'm asked about my foot-fitting choices.
- 1970-01-01 3y agoI reject this case on the KISS principle. Statistically, a drawer full of toe socks will require 3 to be sampled whenever (every damn day) 2 non-matching (L+R) are required, until I'm down to my last pair on laundry day. Also, they seem to cost 4x the price of "normal" socks. No thank you. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KISS_principle https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KISS_principle
- deleted 3y ago[deleted]
- ArlenBales 3y agoRegarding blisters, you absolutely can get blisters with toe socks, it just takes longer. I hike exclusively with Injiji Nuwool. On my JMT thru-hike I developed large blisters on one toe on the side, and on another toe on the top. Also coincidentally areas where I wasn't wearing leukotape. In future hikes I made sure to leukotape top and sides and subsequently never had a blister again. I swear by pre-taping leukotape on long hikes to prevent blisters, more than the type of sock, but I do enjoy toe socks for the toe splaying thing since I wear Altra Lone Peaks (wide toe box shoes).
- jojobas 3y ago>They're plain better for your toes. Toes want to spread out and be free. Having your toes cramped together by a sleeve all day will fundamentally change the way the foot is shaped and how you walk. This guy better walk barefoot, as shoes are way more restrictive in how your toes can move. In fact, I just checked and my socks stretch another 2-3 cm with very little resistance, should my toes "want to spread and be free". >You have better balance. The more surface area your foot has, the better your stability. And even inside a pair of regular gym shoes, with my toe socks on I find I am more firmly planted on the ground. As per above, this doesn't make any sense. >Inexplicably, they don't slide down. Regular socks slowly work themselves down into your shoe over a day (depending on the build quality), but toe socks break sock physics and just...don't. I only ever had this problem in wildly oversized felt boots, never in any pair of shoes of my size. >You don't get blisters between your toes. If you are a distance runner or hiker, you'll know how annoying those specific blisters are. This is due to toe-on-toe friction. Since this is now sock-on-sock friction, your toes remain unharmed. Never heard about between-toe blisters, asked a few people and neither have they. I have a pair of toe socks and I hate the feeling of pressure and intrusion between toes, so I only ever wear them if I've somehow wildly stuffed up my laundry cadence.
- swader999 3y agoToo late for father's day.
- __mharrison__ 3y agoI have gone through many pairs of toe socks. For whatever reason they seem to get holes more frequently.
- h0ek 3y agoSame thoughts about socks. I also wear one described in article and can confirm all pros.
- invalidusernam3 3y agoThe points raised are valid and it makes me want to try toe socks. I have chronic ankle instability from an injury which impacts my balance at times, I wonder if toe socks would help with that? But where I live (Czech Republic) we don't wear shoes inside at all so I will inevitably lose some "street cred". But for at home during winter I might give them a try
- n2dasun 3y agoI started wearing Injinji toe socks about 13 years ago when I started using vibrams. I rarely wear the vibrams anymore after having a motorcycle accident that left me with less range of motion in one ankle, but I still wear toe socks (of a few different costs and brands now) almost exclusively all these years later. They just feel more natural to me.
- miramba 3y agoNever heard of that before, would like to try. Does someone have any specific brand or shop recommendations for toe socks? EDIT: It’s nice from the author to specifically say that he won’t support big toe sock. However, this is maybe the first time that I would have appreciated Amazon referrals :)
- mcdonje 3y agoSweat and blisters are the only compelling arguments they listed. My toes have no trouble spreading out in normal socks. I don't know what kind of boa constrictor socks they've been wearing.
- crossroadsguy 3y agoI keep some to wear in bed during winters. Looks like I should put them to general use.
- baylessj 3y agoA good case for toe socks here -- unfortunately I don't have the separated toes needed to wear them! I'm not entirely sure how common it is (I'm only aware of myself and my grandfather having this), but the webbing between some of my toes extends far up the toes, kind of like a duck's foot. Toe socks and those toe shoes are out, I'm afraid.