Decent Socks

Hi,

I am hoping that somebody can help me out with two minor things:

Firstly: I currently wear "hilly" off-road socks around £7.00 a pair and wondered if there was anything better out there for long days in the hills?

Secondly: I have no big toe nail on one foot and this sometimes causes discomfort on the back of the toe and leading to the ball of the foot, just under the big toe. On the top where the nail should be, I tend to end up with very wet skin, which I suppose could casue a blister after many hours running.
Does anyone have any preventiona advice?
Just on 4-6hours run I can deal with this, however I am thinking that for 24hours this may become more of a problem.

Thanks in advance...

I really like Groundhog off-road socks and they've stood me in good stead in all conditions (snow, bog, hard dry surface etc) and have never ever rubbed blisters even after 8 hours of being out but they do have a seam on the toe so I am not sure if that might cause you a problem with not having a toenail?

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Originally Posted by ashstroller

Hi,

I am hoping that somebody can help me out with two minor things:

Firstly: I currently wear "hilly" off-road socks around £7.00 a pair and wondered if there was anything better out there for long days in the hills?

Secondly: I have no big toe nail on one foot and this sometimes causes discomfort on the back of the toe and leading to the ball of the foot, just under the big toe. On the top where the nail should be, I tend to end up with very wet skin, which I suppose could casue a blister after many hours running.
Does anyone have any preventiona advice?
Just on 4-6hours run I can deal with this, however I am thinking that for 24hours this may become more of a problem.

Thanks in advance...

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My 10p worth might not be the best... However. I stopped using specialist socks, (Except SealSkinz in snow), when I forgot my bridgedales one 3 peaks jog. My feet were just the same in my asda thin black socks. I use everyday socks for runs (Up to 12 hours). Tomorrow I am off on a 48 mile jaunt and will be in george thin socks.

For excellent value for money, comfort when wet and in my experience all around usefulness you could do a lot worse than Running Bear wool socks at £10 for 3 pairs (assorted colours) but for absolute foot luxury then Icebreaker are the way forward. 24hrs of running, however, means that even the best socks will be wet and contaminated with mud and grit so might still upset your toe.

Try Running Bear socks, they are made of wool. I find them good for long runs. Yiannis

The black Running Bear socks wear well but the colours don't seem to last as well as Pete Bland's

You can get 2 pairs of Karrimor-branded running socklets for £3.99 from Sports Direct - I've used these on a few long (20 mile+) runs and they're at least as good as the pricier ones I've used. Got about 10 pairs now!

Thanks for the replies so far, very helpful.
I will no doubt change my socks and probably shoes on my 24hour run, as it's my BGR attempt..:o

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Originally Posted by ashstroller

Thanks for the replies so far, very helpful.
I will no doubt change my socks and probably shoes on my 24hour run, as it's my BGR attempt..:o

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You wont have time to change :sneaky:

Only kidding, I changed quite often but my shoes were crap.

If your Speedcross are ok, you could keep them on but change to dry sox at Threlkeld and maybe again later on round if feet are suffering.
Jon K is foot doctor and Karen is great at changing socks :thumbup:

Forgot to say...running bear have been good for me but not had any for a while, (its my birthday soon :p )

Another vote for Running Bear. I used allsorts of technical socks before getting a pair free at the Christmas Cracker. Never use anything else now
I am not in the 24hr league though!
(and I do live within shopping distance of Running Bear, but they do internet orders)

Hmmm...think I might try running bear as they are cheaper than groundhog and so many people seem to like them. I always wear mine to death and am currently running with odd socks to avoid the holes. They do last for hundreds and hundreds of miles though!

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Originally Posted by Derby Tup

The black Running Bear socks wear well but the colours don't seem to last as well as Pete Bland's

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I prefer the Pete Bland ones (all terrain £5 a pair) which I find comfortable and hard wearing and dont shrink as badly as other makes including Running Bear. They have sales offers on them from time to time. I picked up a 4 pairs for the price of 3 at their van at Black Combe fell race using an old £15 prize voucher from last year. They will last me a couple of years at least :thumbup:

Oi "nee bother" I do find that my shoes are good and will have a spare pair of speedcross 3 to chnage in to if I need.

Looks like I will be purchasing some running bear, however not as your birthday present...:D

I always suffered from between the toes rubbing and blistering on long runs so discovering Injinji socks was a revelation

http://www.betaclimbingdesigns.com/p...c-303_373.html

The Outdoor NuWool are superb for boggy slogs.

I have found that running bear socks give me really bad blisters if I use them over 45mins. Basic thin cotton socks seem to always be fine for longer runs and the sealskin socks for wet/snowy conditions.

Another vote for the legendary Running Bear socks - I've had no trouble with shrinking (washed at 40 degrees, as they're mainly wool). They give me no blisters up to 14 hours at a stretch, so I can't vouch for your last 10 hours...yet. And I've never been able to face changing socks in the middle of a run - it's bad enough getting the old ones off after I've finished.

I should try running bear socks. I rather like the bear on them, but no doubt I will get ridiculed by the road cycling community ;)

A vote for woollen socks here, of whatever make. They keep your feet warm when wet and cool on a hot summers day. I have had different makes and thicknesses over the years but find the Smartwool short, thin ones are my preferred...

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Originally Posted by rdb77uk

I have found that running bear socks give me really bad blisters if I use them over 45mins. Basic thin cotton socks seem to always be fine for longer runs and the sealskin socks for wet/snowy conditions.

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Amen Brother!

Another fan of Injinji toe socks here. I use their thinnest coolmax toe sock as a liner to prevent blisters between my toes, then I use a light smartwool sock with a slight cushion over the top. If it's a shorter run, I'll just use a normal wicking liner sock.

I avoid normal cotton, as it soaks up sweat and causes blisters.

If it's very wet, I'll use Sealskinz instead of the smartwool to stop my feet getting drenched.

Best thing I did regarding my feet was to read Fixing your Feet by John Vonhof. I learnt a lot about socks and getting shoes that fit well. I've not had a blister or black toenail since.

Pete Bland socks for me, tried all sorts of foot gloves, them injinji toesocks cripple me, sealskinz socks gave me blisters, nee bother with PB's, trial and error really and what works for yourself, everyone's different.

Two pairs of coolmax liners does me! I used to swear by 1000 mile, but have seriously gone off them for various reasons...the wear quick, they go stiff and last time I wore them I got a bit of a hot spot, tho not quite a blister. I'll use them up as road run socks. I might check those RunBear yins mind.

Hi Ash,,

Had some Running Bear socks a few years ago, the seams ran over the tops of my toes and were very uncomfortable. Wear Hillys now, or for a bit more luxury Thorlo running socks.

Ray.

As an aside! Did you try vaselining you're toes? I use some stuff for, I think ahem...nappy rash, which is great for all sorts of bits and bobs that require protection from rubbing!

Thanks everyone, yea I have always used the hilly socks and just not 100% sure on them, so thought I would see what other people tend to wear.
Yea mine is more of a hot spot not blister around the toe without any nail, this is part of reason I thought a change of socks maybe in order... :confused:

As for vaseline no I have not, but may give that a try as I have heard that mentioned before.

Thousand Mile Fusion socks for anything over a couple of hours works well for me and blisters, which used to give me much grief, are largely a thing of the past. Have been through Running Bear, Pete Bland, Inov8 and Hilly off road in past and got on OKish but needed additional vaseline for long days out which I don't need with the 1000 mile and I still used to get bad blisters on MMs and similar. Didn't get on with Sealskinz at all - gave me almost instant blisters. Hilly twin skins and mono skin marathons do me fine for shorter training runs. Seems like everyone's different and you need to suck it and see (although the expression conjures up some unpleasant images :w00t:)

P