Write about what constitutes a good pair of sports socks from several aspects.
Part 1: Differences between sports socks and regular socks
To be honest, there is no essential difference between sports socks and regular socks.
The most practical function of wearing socks is to prevent shoes from rubbing our feet (we elevate clothing matching to an aesthetic level, not a practical level at the moment)
So fundamentally, the difference between sports socks and regular socks lies in the degree of each detail and the degree of adaptation to different sports characteristics.
Taking badminton (basketball, tennis, etc.) as an example here——
There are many sudden turns and stops under the feet of badminton, so the protection of the feet (anti wear) becomes particularly important, and the most important thing to meet this attribute is to be thick, which is basically why all badminton enthusiasts love thick socks.
So, is it enough if it’s thick? If so. So three pairs of ordinary sock covers have the same effect.
This involves the second attribute, wrapping power
Wearing a few pairs of socks is enough thickness (in fact, the structure of loop socks and the feeling of wearing three pairs of flat socks are still different. The structure of loops determines that it can accommodate more air and space for cushioning, so the foot feel is much more comfortable than wearing a few pairs of flat socks).
If the tightness of several pairs of socks is not the same, it is easy to have various wrinkles and the risk of rubbing the feet when playing basketball. However, if the socks are too loose, they are likely to slip off directly.
So professional badminton socks should have better wrapping power, that is, wearing them on the feet has a clear sense of coverage and contraction, so that the shoes and socks are more snug and less prone to wrinkles that affect the foot feel. It can even provide some support for the ankles, and studies have shown that giving more pressure to the feet can promote blood flow and enhance athletic performance (this is the principle of compression socks)
Next, the third attribute of an excellent pair of sports socks, durability or functional lifespan, is derived from the wrapping force.
In fact, the lifespan of sports socks is generally longer than that of regular socks.
Because it’s thick
Some people wear regular socks, which can be short for three to five days and long for three to five weeks, and will wear out their big toes or heels
But if you wear looped sports socks, they won’t wear out in three to five months.
The most significant impact on the lifespan of a pair of sports socks may be the wrapping force. Once the wrapping force is lost, the socks become uncomfortable, even like a burlap bag worn on the feet.
This situation occurs most often in low-quality socks and various original orders and foreign trade factory goods that have been in stock for a long time. In short, many sports socks that appear to be of good quality but are priced so low are usually in this situation. Wearing them for weeks or months (the lifespan of good spandex is at least in years) will change without elasticity, feeling like they are not broken anywhere, but they cannot wrap their feet at all.
Alright, let’s summarize the three biggest attributes of professional sports socks compared to regular socks that we introduced in the first part, which are thickness, wrapping strength, and durability.