Injinji Toe Socks

Anything this quirky is worth trying at least once. But the true virtue of Injinji Toe Socks ($12-$14 MSRP) will be determined by whether or not you want to try them a second time. Better still, should you even incorporate them permanently into your arsenal of performance gear? For many the answer is an unmitigated yes.

“I'm an Injinji sock liner (and running sock) convert,” chimed in Sara Lingafelter an adventure blogger from Seattle (aka Rockclimber Girl). “No more between the toe blisters for me.”

And Kathleen Braun, a Madison-area triathlete says, “They seem to really keep the moisture away from my skin, and don’t seem to have the friction problems that many of the other socks. My friends call them the “creepy toe socks.” But I have to say they are comfortable.”

After a lifetime of socks that wad your toes inside a solitary tube most will likely resist the notion of individual compartments for each little piggy. In fact for many Injinji Toe Socks are a pain in the ass to get on your feet. It takes a bit of effort to coax your toes into each little slot and if you’re in a hurry some find it a waist of crucial moments .

“I don't use them in tris because they take a bit longer to put on,” said Ironman triathlete and ultra-distance runner Darren Fortney. “And quite honestly, for a marathon or less in a tri, it is simply not worth the time.”
But if you take a couple of extra minutes toe socks can make a big difference. “The only time I have ever had a blister when wearing these socks is after my 2nd ironman - a tiny one on the tip of my toe, and after my first 50-mile endurance run,” said Misty Pilgrim a multi-sport athlete, blogger and author of  The Athena Diaries, “I've done 12 or 13 marathons now, always wearing these socks, and have never had a blister in any.”

Injinji Toe Socks seem to do what regular socks do and then some. By articulating each toe separately they allow the tiniest muscles of the feet to stretch and flex. That helps with circulation and improves over all comfort up through the chins and calves. They don’t have the extra padding common to many sock brands that emphasize cushioning support. The idea is to improve over all performance by increasing foot strength and muscle tone through freedom of movement

“The only downfall is that they are not as durable as other socks,” said Darren Fortney. “In order to be effective, they have to be thin as to NOT put extra thickness between the toes (which would create more friction) so they tend to wear out faster.”

All in all though, Injinji offers a really nice alternative to traditional socks. And if you’re looking to mix things up in your running, cycling, climbing, skiing or whatever sport you enjoy they’re certainly worth a try. You might like them, a lot.