This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2012, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
I'm not into gimmicks and I don't have a lot of time to dawdle before I head out the door in the morning.
Those are two reasons I hesitated to try the latest footwear phenomenon: those funky socks that have a cute little compartment for each toe.
The athletic socks are said to help the foot perform naturally because they let each toe move separately to help with balance, posture, stability and grip. These "toesocks" also are gaining in popularity as the minimal footwear trend continues to grow.
The injinji company has been making the product for several years, but other companies such as Smartwool, Urban Boundaries, Vibram Fivefingers and others have come on the market recently.
Basically, funky toes are everywhere. So much so that I finally broke down and tried them.
Barefoot substitute • I'm a huge fan of working out with as little cushion as possible between your feet and the ground. Our bodies can't account for all the padding in shoes so that cushion, while comfy, can throw your body off balance.
While working out barefoot is best, it obviously is not ideal in many public areas, so minimalist shoes are a good choice.
Therefore, taking the time to jam each toe into its own little home seemed like an effort worth attempting.
I tried out a couple of different styles made by injinji including the compression socks and the performance series. Here's my impressions in case you want to walk around like Shrek, too.
Compression socks • These were the ones that finally convinced me to give the socks a try. Touted to help speed recovery, injinji's recovery socks come in calf length as opposed to the full length compression tights I frequently use.
I wear gloves, so how hard could it be to get toes into each little home? Harder than I thought. According to the company's website, putting on the socks should only take about 10 to 20 seconds longer than regular tube socks. The first time, it seemed more like 10 to 20 minutes. It takes more skill than you'd think, or maybe just more coffee before attempting it.
Once on, though, I liked the feel of the socks and it is nice to have a compression option that doesn't go all the way to the waist when it's hot outside.
My toes did move around more, but I can't say that I noticed much difference in stability or balance. But the socks did seem to aid in recovery almost as much as the tights.
Performance socks • The performance line is lighter and cooler than the compression socks, but the design is basically the same. Getting the socks on was a test of patience, just as with the compression style, but once on I have to say my feet did feel happy.
I did not notice a huge difference when running or working out, but for those who run long distances the socks would help prevent blisters.
After wearing them several times, I found myself reaching for them more often than regular socks.
My feet might look funky but I can say I'm a convert.
So if you are curious, get a pair. Your toes might wiggle a "thank you" in happiness.
Lya Wodraska is a certified CHEK Practitioner and Holistic Lifestyle Coach. E-mail her at Lwodraska@sltrib.com
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