Comparative Review: What's the best place to run on tough terrain? I tried comparing the high-performance 5-finger socks

Complete comparison of five finger socks to support comfortable driving

Recently, running socks have a variety of colors, making them fashionable, and are becoming more sophisticated to achieve even higher performance. It's easy to choose based on your appearance, but when you run around the mountains freely, the burden on your feet is quite significant. Choosing socks is not a compromise for a comfortable trail running life.

Of these diverse running socks, five-finger running socks have been increasingly popular recently because they are less likely to get stuffy and easier to keep up. I know many friends who don't usually wear them, but wear five fingers when they run on trails, where they get wet and get very impactful. Of course, it will be useful for hiking and fast packing in terms of dealing with the same terrain.

So this time, we've picked out some of the models that interest you, including high-performance models that average around 2,000 yen per pair, and extremely cheap models that cost around 980 yen for three pairs, and compared them from a multi-faceted perspective as usual. Even though differences that you can't see from their appearance, when you actually wear them and run, you will find that the comfort and ease of running are very different depending on the material, how tight they are, and whether or not they have anti-slip. We will introduce each of the features, so we hope that this will be useful for you to discover the best buys.

table of contents

• About the items we compared and tested this time
• Test results and spec comparison table
• Overall Review: Recommended models by type
• Detailed reviews of each item (Page: 2)
• Summary (Page:2)

About the five-finger socks compared this time

The following six models of five finger socks compared this time are:

• Tabio Trail Run 5-Finger Short Socks
• R×L SOCKS TRR-35G Merino wool socks 5 fingers [Short length/non-slip]
• ITOITEX Running Socks 5 fingers short
• CW-X CW-X Parts 5-finger socks (short)
• C3fit Paper Fiber 5 Finger Socks
• Workman Arch Power Assist Short 5-Finger Socks

In this comparison, the selection is a wide variety of materials, including mainly synthetic fibers, a blend of cotton and synthetic fibers, merino wool, and, particularly, a blend of washi fibers. In addition, we have evaluated performance that differs depending on the structure and sewing, whether or not there is a slip (Tabio, R×L, and Workman models are non-slip), and deodorizing properties, focusing on the following seven points.

1. Barefoot feeling (comfort): Rather than the general "comfort," it emphasizes barefoot feeling (how much it makes you forget the feeling of "wearing socks")
2. Ease of drying (quick drying): Ability to quickly release large amounts of sweat
3. Not only does it not easily get stuffy (breathable): Just like quick-drying, it not only quickly releases sweat, but also makes you forget how stuffy it feels
4. Does not slip (hold feeling): Whether your feet are less likely to get rampant inside your shoes when braking or stepping on
5. Shock absorption: how much impact it absorbs, especially when braking?
6. Not easy to fatigue...Contribution to reducing fatigue and preventing injuries, such as the arch of the arch and ankles
7. Durability: How difficult it will not wear or sag after intense movement and long-term use

Test environment

June to July 2018. To maintain uniformity in the test, the course and shoes were adjusted to match the environment. We tested the 10km trail lap course with Altra shoes, running three rounds per pair. In addition, I continued to run through the river, through the bushes, and use a lot of side steps, and consciously overuse them.

Test results and spec comparison table

Overall Review: Recommended models by type

After repeated testing, Tabio trail running five finger short socks . There are no flaws such as comfort, quick drying and breathability, support for the arch and ankle, anti-slip on the soles of the feet, and reinforcement of the toes. Personally, I think the reinforcement of the sole arch is excellent. It can be used for practice, races, and summer to winter, regardless of the season, so you'll want to have one pair.

If it's just one-shot race, ITOITEX running socks with 5 fingers and short short is interesting. It dries quickly and breathable, and the skin remains dry even when wet, and it feels extremely strong in rainy weather or in laces with poor drainage. It's also surprisingly light and is the most comfortable pair to wear with bare feet (also available with Vibram Five Fingers). However, durability is especially weak in the fingertips, and if there is room inside the shoe, it can cause holes. Don't forget to wear a spare pair for long-distance races.

If you want a more comfortable and durable feel while also drying quickly, try C3fit Paper Fiber 5 Finger Socks . This model has a better balance of durability, quick drying and support than ITOITEX However, since there is no anti-slip function, plantar fatigue may occur depending on the compatibility with shoes.

If you use it hard during practice, you'll be the best value . This pair of shoes can be used up to 50km races. However, since it is a blended material mainly made from cotton, it feels natural to wear while it is dry, but when wet, the discomfort doubles, and breathability and quick drying are not expected. I would like to think of it as a practice method.

The CW-X CW-X parts 5-finger socks (short) are gentle on beginners and those who are not practicing . The brand is famous for its sports tights, but the compression that applies its functionality is stunning and supports the arches of the ankles and arches. In ultra-long distance races, I would like to use it as replacement socks for the second half.

Finally, if you want to imagine a comfortable running in mild weather than speed and harshness, the RxL SOCKS TRR-35G is . It fits well and has a gentle texture from the merino wool, making it a pair that can be worn in everyday life. Furthermore, soft, non-slip material will be more effective than long lace. However, since it is made of thick fabric, it cannot be expected to dry quickly, and you should avoid using lace in the event of rain.

Next page: Go to detailed reviews of each item

On the previous page, we introduced the evaluations and specs of each of the five-finger socks we compared, as well as recommended models based on them. From here, we will explain what criteria were used to evaluate the evaluation and why it was evaluated in that way.

Detailed reviews of each item

Barefoot feeling (comfort)

The key to comfort with socks when running, is to accurately and quickly transmit information from the soles of your feet to your brain, allowing you to safely take the next step. Therefore, the criteria for judging the socks in everyday life are slightly different from how comfortable they feel. thin C3fit and ITOITEX feel very barefoot, so even with shoes, they were fun to run, consolidating trail information from the eyes and soles. On the other hand, thick socks are safe and stable, so they have a high limit when driving, so they will actually be a handicap in races.

Easy to dry (quickly dry)

The test was hot, and it was the perfect season to test for quick drying, as it caused the river to get soaked in the river and sweaty shoes. If the product does not dry quickly, it can cause stuffiness and leans to the soles of your feet. In lace, shoes are not put on and take off frequently, and quick-drying is an essential feature for preventing accidents. Naturally, thin socks generally dry quickly. In C3fit and ITOITEX use a "washi" material to further improve quick drying. Even if it's thick, TABIO and CW-X will not be a problem unless it's summer. Quick-drying is an important feature in winter, so it is a feature that should be emphasized.

Difficult to stuffiness (breathable)

The function to release heat and sweat from the soles of the feet is a function that prevents accidents, just like quick drying. Trerunning in particular is a sport that makes full use of the plantar muscles. The temperature on the soles of your feet is higher than on road running, so socks that maintain a dry feel are best. thin C3fit and ITOITEX were comfortable and allowed me to concentrate on running without feeling the sweat from my feet. Even though it is thick, TABIO has mesh for breathability, so it is a good way to remove sweat. RxL and Workman 's fabric on the soles of the plantar caused creases due to sweat.

It's not easy to slip (hold)

Generally, non-slip types hold the feet in the shoes so that they do not slip and do not slip, increasing the stability and fatigue reduction. However, if the shape, thickness, and arrangement of the anti-slip rubber do not match your running style, the soles of the soles of the feet may separate and cause an accident, so it is not versatile in this regard. The bottom line is that your feet do not go wild inside your shoes, and the basic premise is that the size and shape of your shoes match your feet. With this in mind, TABIO is made of soft silicone rubber located on the forefoot and heel, providing a sense of stability and can be used safely even on long laces. The RxL is a well-thought-out anti-slip rubber with a weak anti-slip rubber located on the forefoot to prevent rubbing inside the socks, but the rubber material is hard so it slips more than you might think. Workman has soft elastic on the front and back and toes, but it is suitable for short lace because the thickness of the rubber is a concern.

Cushioning

Thrusts from the trail are prone to damage even when you're a beginner. This is an important selection criteria for socks used in practice. Thick socks are sure to be safe. The RxL is made of merino wool material and wraps around the entire foot and gives it a sense of security on irregular terrain. The TABIO and Workman were also thick, so they could reduce the pain even if they landed on a rocky area.

Support

The CW-X has a distinctive function that aids running, and it felt like wearing lightly tightened taping. You can see the ankle reinforcement in particular the moment you wear it. Many people tap on trail running to prevent injuries, but being able to reinforce with socks is a relief, which is a relief. When you actually drive, it's not as strong as taping, so you shouldn't expect too much, but if you don't normally use taping, you'll feel it will be effective. The TABIO was especially well supported by the arch, which gave me a comfortable feeling of tightness. This time we ran a trial run of about 30km, but since we definitely support the plantar muscles, you will be able to feel the effects in the second half of the long run.

Durability

Though it is thin, the C3fit is surprisingly easy to worry about. In the old model, even after three 100km races, there were no holes in the fingertips. The ITOITEX is lightweight, made from a lot of washi paper and is quick-drying, making it the best sharp model, so it is less durable, but it is a model that you would like to use especially in rainy lace. The thick TABIO is extremely durable. I used it repeatedly, but it has little pilling and can be used continuously. Other models can pilling, so if not removed, there is a risk of leans being formed more than rubbing. The RxL has reinforced fingertips and heels, but since it is made of merino wool, there was wear on the arches and other parts.

summary

I'll summarize my conclusions after wearing them all and running again. I want a pair of TABIO, . If you want to enjoy barefoot for a long time, try C3fit . If you want to use it hard during practice, try Workman . For a one-shot race, try ITOITEX . If you're worried about lack of practice, try CW-X . If you run slowly, it's RxL . This impression was a lot of unique models. Please use this as a useful option when choosing according to the situation you use.

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Tojo Kazuya

He grew up in Ibaraki Prefecture and worked mainly in swimming during his student days. He made his triathlon debut as a working adult. In his first year as a member of the company, he completed the first Japan Mountain Endurance Race (= Hasetsune). I am fascinated by the sense of accomplishment of mountain sports. In his 30s he moved to Saitama Prefecture and became independent. Mr. T guided Okumusashi to him and was fascinated by the training run and ultra marathon. He is currently active mainly in domestic trail races. He completed a series of long races from Shinetsu Five Mountains, Joshu Takeru, and KOUMI100. He also works with the NPO Koedo Oedo Trennic World and the NPO Sainokuni Ultra Project (SUP). They are also working hard to bring out the performance of the gear and raise awareness of ensuring the safety of trail running.

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