Comparative review: This summer, looking for light socks perfect for fast packing 2019 [for trail runs]
written by Outdoor Gearzine Editorial Department
Very few people would wear mountain shoes barefoot. Wear shoes with socks on feet. Even though it's called feet, it must be protected from scratches and other damage to expose the skin.
In particular, speed hiking and fast packing can be used to match seasons, field conditions, time of action, speed of action, and shoes, but the factors that choose socks are breathability, grip, shock absorption, and arch support. We will focus on this point and send you a comparison review of the socks that will be attracting attention this summer. Of course, trail runners should also use this as a reference.
table of contents
Items and evaluation criteria compared and tested in this article.
We chose and compared candidates to find the best solution for socks that are suitable for activities that involve walking faster than normal climbing and longer than trail running, such as fast packing, speed hiking, and trail running. The expected seasons are generally spring, summer and autumn, but mostly in the hot summer, you can wear them for a long time from the start to the end of the activity. The shapes are the regular round, five-finger type, and tabi type, and we chose the socks that we would like to focus on.
- For fast packing (trail run)
- Suitable for three seasons: spring, summer, autumn
- Socks that can be worn for a long time
Here are the five models chosen in this way.
- injinji trail midweight mini crew
- Feetures ELITE LIGHT CUSHION MINI CREW
- YAMAtune Spider Arch 2toe Non Slip
- R×L WILDWOOL
- FITS ultra light runner no-show
Test environment
It's mid-July before the end of the rainy season. We tested not only on trails with large ups and downs, but also on soft grass and hard asphalt roads. I wear Sportiva's Bucido 2 shoes. The rating points are as follows.
- Breathability: Your feet get stuffy after wearing them for a long time. Determine whether the airflow is excellent.
- Grip power: Considering whether the foot can be gripped without slipping on the inside of the shoe when landing or kicking off.
- Shock-resistant abrasion-resistant...The judges mainly judge whether it protects your heels and feet from impact and wear when landing, reducing fatigue.
- Arch support: We determined the arch support, which has a major impact on performance and fatigue resistance.
Test results and spec comparison table
If you find it difficult to see the table because it is lightweight for smartphones, click here
| comprehensive evaluation | AAA | AAA | AA | AA | A |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| item | ![[Injinji] INJINJI Trail Midweight Mini Crew 213130](https://images-fe.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/71WTQBtLoQL._SS300_.jpg) injinji trail midweight mini crew |  Feetures ELITE LIGHT CUSHION MINI CREW |  YAMAtune Spider Arch 2toe Non Slip |  R×L WILDWOOL |  FITS ultra light runner no-show |
| This is ◎ |
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|
|
|
|
| This is △ |
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| Breathable | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ |
| Grip power | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★☆☆ |
| Shock-resistant wear resistance | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★☆☆ |
| Arch support | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Specs | |||||
| Actual measured weight (both left and right, g) | 57 | 33 | 46 | 52 | 31 |
| material | Coolmax, nylon, lycra | Nylon, polyurethane | Nylon, polyester, polyurethane | Merino wool, nylon, polyester, polyurethane | Wool, nylon, polyester, lycra bandex |
Impressions for each model
injinji Trail Midweight Mini Crew
This is ◎
- touch
- Breathable
- Shockproof
- Stretchable
This is △
- Because it has five fingers, it takes time to wear it
The world-renowned five-finger socks are "injinji". The gentle texture and accurate stretch are stunning!
Injinji is a specialized manufacturer of five-finger socks, founded in San Diego, California in 1999. First, I would like to mention the fabric material.
This luxurious pair of shoes is a blend of Coolmax, a quick-drying material that absorbs and keeps the sweat from your feet dry, Cordura, a fiber that is highly waterproof and wear-resistant, and is said to be seven times stronger than nylon, and Lycra, which is highly elastic and reproducible (the proportion is Coolmax 32%, nylon 58%, and Lycra 5%).
When I put them on, they were slightly thick, but very soft, and had a smooth, dry feel. Also, perhaps because of the elasticity of Lycra, it fits perfectly on your feet, and can be worn quite smoothly with five fingers. In particular, the ankle fit is comfortable, with the double cuffs (double folding collars) and mesh top locks (finely woven mesh panels) making it unlikely that dust, gravel, etc. will enter the socks or slip off. The arch support is also good.
The soles of the feet are made of pile knit (as fluffy as towel fabric), which helps to improve cushioning. Because it is five-fingered socks, it is easy to hold and does not slip easily inside the shoes. Even if the field is in hard condition, it is durable and has excellent water absorption and quick drying properties, making it a comfortable fit.
Feetures ELITE LIGHT CUSHION MINI CREW
This is ◎
- touch
- Cushioning
- Arch Support
- Prevent slippage
This is △
- I want another durability
Features include a variety of functions and are fully balanced. (Photo is a no-show type)
FEETURES is founded in 2002 and is based in North Carolina, USA. This is a sock manufacturer with a wide range of options, including length, coloring, and cushioning. By the way, there are three types of cushioning alone. ULTRA LIGHT (thinest cushion. Lightest), LIGHT CUSHION (high density cushioning is not bulky. Lightweight and comfortable to wear), MAX CUSHION (thickest cushion and maximum performance. Comfortable even in areas with strong impact). This time, I chose the intermediate LIGHT CUSHION.
After wearing it, it feels like it's just like an injinji, and is quite soft and comfortable. It is elastic overall and fits perfectly on the instep of the foot. The toes are seamless and comfortable. However, I am amazed at the detailed features. The materials are nylon and polyurethane, but they incorporate iWick® fiber, an original nylon-based material, to let sweat escape. This keeps it dry and odor-resistant. When you drive, you notice that you have arch support with the patented "Targeted Compression" pinpoint crimp. You can see that the arch part is supported from below, especially when landing or kicking.
In addition, to reduce beans and blisters, the design is designed to suit the different body structures of the left and right sides. The heel part has a Y-heel structure that prevents the socks from slipping off inside the shoe, making it easy to put on and take off. It can be said that these are extremely balanced sports socks.
YAMAtune Spider Arch 2toe Non Slip
This is ◎
- Arch Support
- Easy to kick grip
This is △
- Not very breathable
- It's not stretchy and a little tight
It is a tabi-style soles, and the silicone rubber on the soles of the feet did not provide grip on the right, but on the other hand, it is breathable.
This pair of shoes is from Yamatune, a long-established manufacturer based in Higashikawa Town, Hokkaido and was founded in 1959. The toes are made of tabi-type "2toe", so the thumb moves independently.
The thumb has a wide range of motion when kicking, making it easy to push your legs forward. The thickness is medium-thick. This product also shows the fiber content, so the manufacturer states that it is 71% nylon, 21% polyester, and 8% polyurethane. It also seems to contain the aforementioned elastic fiber "Lycra."
When you wear it, you can see that it has a slightly stronger elasticity. The soles of the feet are made of silicone rubber with excellent impact resistance to prevent slipping. In addition, the highly elastic "Spider Arch System" is placed on the arch part as an arch support system. The grip and elasticity are quite strong, making it easy to walk in.
However, I'm a little concerned about the breathability. Unlike the regular round round type, it is a tabi type, so I think it has a slightly better ventilation, but I feel that the silicone rubber placed on the soles of the feet interferes with ventilation. (I think it depends on the shoes and individual differences, but) it tended to get a little more likely to get stuffy.
R×L socks WILDWOOL
This is ◎
- touch
- Breathable
- Cushioning
This is △
- Arch support is weakly stretchable
- The sole grip is weak
R×L socks were excellent in breathability and durability. I think the challenge is to improve the grip of the soles of the feet.
R×L Socks is founded in 1982 and is based in Fujimi City, Saitama Prefecture. It is the world's first sock manufacturer to acquire patented manufacturing techniques for left and right three-dimensional shapes. From here, we have picked out the highly durable "WILD WOOL".
The materials are merino wool, nylon, polyester, and polyurethane, but the main selling point is that it is a blend of merino wool, which is resistant to rain, sweat, moisture, etc., and the highly durable material Cordura® nylon, which is said to be 7 times more durable than the previous model. In addition, the Achilles tendon and fingertips have been reinforced with nylon thread.
When I put them on, they generally look soft, but the soles of the feet give off a slight rough texture. Overall, it is slightly thicker than medium thickness, but it is breathable and doesn't seem to get stuffy. The toe part has a slightly thicker shape. It holds the ankle firmly to prevent gravel or other substances from entering the socks.
It is said that natural arch support has been achieved through the "Air Fit Process," a manufacturing method that pursues "thinness" that improves fit by using only the thread on the arch of the arch. Honestly, I want a little more support. Also, the grip is unreliable. (I think there will be individual differences in shoe selection, but I think further improvements are needed.
FITS ultra light runner no-show
This is ◎
- Thin and lightweight
- Breathable
This is △
- Because it's thin, it's not enough cushioning
Thin and lightweight Fitz. I would like as much arch support as the elasticity around the ankle.
FITS was founded in Tennessee, USA in 2010. This is the ultra light running socks made from merino wool, the ultra light running socks.
It is a thin and lightweight type, and the smoothness of Merino wool and the elasticity of Lycra Spandex create an exquisite fit. The materials are 66% wool, 27% nylon, 5% polyester, and 2% Lycra bandex. The elasticity around the ankle is particularly moderate and unlikely to slip off. Because it is thin, it feels like it's easy to move your fingers, and there's no problem with breathability.
However, it would be better to make a more effort to put a cushioning arrangement in place, even in parts such as just the heel and fingertips, to reduce the strain on your feet. It seems that the knitting method is designed with the arch in mind, but I think it would be better to have more arch support, and I feel that some people would want more grip. This time, we were evaluated using fast packing, which emphasizes cushioning and long-term use, so it is undeniable that the evaluation criteria were a little disadvantageous. It should be added that this is a very balanced option if you are using it for trail runs.
summary
During the activity, the condition of the socks is surprisingly interesting. Mountain socks require a variety of factors, including stuffiness in your feet, grip that directly affects performance, cushioning with arch support, impact resistance, and abrasion resistance. If the material becomes thicker or the placement of silicone rubber on the soles of the feet to prevent slipping, it may interfere with breathability.
It's hard to say for sure, but if you're talking about the materials alone, it's probably because they say merino wool for comfort, polyester for quick drying, Lycra for elasticity, and Cordura for durability. The weaving method makes it seem like cushioning and arch support are made into better socks. Although there are pros and cons in the details, the injinji Trail Midweight Mini Crew and the Feetures ELITE LIGHT CUSHION MINI CREW were models that are undoubtedly chosen by preference. In the end, I think the models with a balanced overall are the easiest and most highly valued socks.
