Socks upgrade your outfit and showcase your style. True, but many people forget socks are more than just an accessory. They are important for keeping your feet warm and safe and provide comfort.
Moreover:
Socks matter for healthy feet and overall body health. They protect your feet against moisture, bacteria, heat, itching, and blisters. The material of socks equally matters in comforting and cushioning the feet and providing arch- and ankle support.
Interesting, right? The following guide covers more about why socks matter, common sock materials, and what you should look for in comfortable, breathable socks!
How do Socks Benefit Your Overall Health?
Socks deserve a proper place in your wardrobe not because they are aesthetic but because their benefits are never-ending. They keep the feet warm, protect against moisture and bacteria, and provide adequate cushioning and comfort.
Wearing poor-quality, unclean, beaten up, torn socks means your feet are being neglected of the following health benefits:
Socks Protect Against External Factors
Socks are vital for your feet’ physical well-being because they significantly impact how we walk and how comfortable our feet are. A terrible pair of socks that itch, scrape, and rub in the wrong places can be intensely painful. On the other hand, a good-quality sock will absorb moisture and prevent painful aches and pains, itchiness, and friction.
Socks Keep Your Feet Odorless
Sweaty feet are a common problem among those who wear socks for the day. You have thousands of sweat glands in your feet, so your shoes will stink unless you invest in a good pair of socks. Poor old socks can worsen the situation as they do not absorb moisture.
Further, excessive sweating in shoes can also result in fungal skin infections like athlete’s foot. The infection is common in people whose feet remain excessively sweaty or who wear tight-fitting shoes.
The right pair of socks are the ultimate solution to all these problems. They will reduce bad odor, absorb all the moisture, and protect your feet from fungal infections.
Socks Help Blood Circulation & Avoid Blood Clotting
People who spend the day in extended sitting sessions (for studying, office work, etc.) are at risk of blood clotting. Because feet do not move much while sitting, the blood circulating through veins can form gels. These blood clots are extremely dangerous for the body and can result in heart attack, strokes, organ failure, or even death.
Socks apply constant, gentle pressure to the feet, improving blood circulation from the heart to other body parts. This pressure compresses the veins in the feet, which aids in preventing blood from pooling.
Socks Help With Sleep
It might surprise you but wearing socks benefits sleep and sleep quality. People with cold feet experience more heat loss through the skin. It imbalances the body’s temperature, resulting in poor sleep.
However, as mentioned above, socks increase blood flow to the feet, promoting better control of body temperature. They keep your feet warm, and thus, you can fall asleep quickly by promoting blood circulation in your feet.
Protects Feet Health
The best thing socks do for us is to protect our feet from all sources of trouble and illness. We know that many germs are lurking on the ground or floor. When they get in touch with our feet, they can lead to skin irritation and allergies. But if you have socks on, they will not reach the feet’s skin, keeping the illness away.
In addition, socks also help your feet to stay healthy by acting as a barrier against moisture and fungus. Athlete foot and other fungi foot diseases are getting common nowadays, and the leading cause of these diseases is moisture. The reason is that Fungi like moisture as it thrives in it.
So, if you make a habit of wearing socks every day, the chances of you getting Athlete’s foot or any skin diseases go way down.
Many water-resistant socks in the market don’t allow water to penetrate inside, even in the rain.
Thus, wear socks and keep your feet healthy.
But that’s not the only thing a sock does.
Keep Your Feet Warm
When you wear a jacket, but your feet are cold, you will still feel uncomfortable. You may also shiver if your feet are chilly, which can cause a fever and running nose. So, you must do something to keep them warm.
Luckily, we have socks!
Socks are a blessing in the winter and for those areas where the cold season is longer. It is because they are made up of top fabric (mainly wool) that protects the feet from cold surroundings. Just wear them, and your feet will feel the warmth within a few minutes (like you feel in a blanket).
Prevents Feets from Being Smelly
One big benefit of socks is that they stop the feet from becoming smelly. Let’s face it. Your social and private life will be affected if the foul odor comes from your feet.
Fortunately, socks free you from this problem as well. How?
The foul smell from your feet is actually caused by sweat. Socks absorb the sweat around the feet, not letting the smell go out.
In addition, socks are breathable, meaning there are little pores to pass through some air that do not let the smell build up.
Moreover, Odor repellent socks are now available online that repel bad smells and fill the air with fragrance.
Perfect Shoe Pair
One more reason why socks matter is that they pair perfectly with shoes. It just feels incomplete when you wear a shoe and don’t have socks on.
Moreover, if you have bought cheap shoes, their inner sole is not as smooth and comfortable as you like. But if you wear the socks, you won’t feel the sole’s stiffness. Furthermore, if the shoes are a little loose, then wearing socks will help with the fitting.
Ideal For Running
If you are an athlete or like to jog daily to stay fit, socks will help you do it. How? They make the feet comfortable and help them stay put, which is critical to running smoothly. Plus, they also reduce the stress around the feet, which is critical for walking and sprinting.
That’s not it.
We now have running socks that are specifically designed for those who are athletes. These socks are made with top-notch merino wool that provides comfort and support to every part of the feet. Plus, they support ventilation, which means that our feet can also breathe when we wear them.
Completes Your Outfit
Socks also matter in our life because they complete our outfits. Just like our formal look is incomplete without shoes, it is also crucial you wear socks too to look good.
Generally, it is preferred to choose those socks that complement shoes. If the shoes are black, then black socks will look the best. If they are red, then go for the red socks. These little things make the outfit impressive, and you look breathtaking at the end.
So, no matter who you are, never forget to wear socks with your shoes. That’s all about why socks matter.
Do Sock Material Matter?
The material of your socks directly impacts your feet’s health. Socks offer all the benefits mentioned above but only when made of synthetic, breathable material.
Further, a good pair of socks can do wonders for you. But by “good,” we mean a sock that isn’t torn, worn out, old, dirty, tight, or loose. Quality socks are also made of good material that is soft and gentle on your skin and feet.
Common Sock Materials
Socks are mostly made of the following materials:
- Cashmere
- Wool
- Cotton
- Polyester
- Nylon
Each of these materials has its pros and cons. While cashmere socks are light, luxurious, and soft, they lack strength and aren’t durable. Wool socks provide warmth but tend to fray and don’t work for exercise/work requiring lots of movement.
Similarly, cotton is soft and breathable, but it gets loose with time and doesn’t retain its shape. Polyester socks are popular for providing stability and compression but are less breathable than cotton.
Lastly, nylon is flexible and compact, with great stretching. However, it is too light and doesn’t provide enough room for the skin to breathe.
So, Which Material is the Best?
Each material has benefits and demerits, so what counts as ideal socks is the blend of one or more materials. It combines the pros and subtracts the cons to give your feet the comfort and cushioning it needs.
When buying socks, the best material is a blend of cotton or wool, nylon, and polyester. Another great blend is cotton with wool; it is sometimes combined with polyester to make the sock strong and durable.
Further, sports socks are made of a blend of nylon and polyester (also known as synthetic yarn). They double the moisture- and sweat absorption, eliminating itches, burns, and skin irritation.
Other Factors to Look for in Socks
Look for seamless socks with no nub of socks left on the side of the big toe. Seams in socks make feet extremely uncomfortable because the little nub keeps rubbing. This friction results in itches, rashes, and redness.
Good quality socks also add adequate compression to feet. They are highly shock-absorbant, provide excellent arch support, and are extra-padded across the foot’s toes, heel, and ball.
Ankle support is also important as it means additional support for your feet. Waterproofing layers are optional but worth it if you live in rainy terrain/cold areas.
Summary
Socks have numerous pros; they protect your feet, keep them warm, and remove odor. They also benefit your health by preventing blood clotting, regulating the body’s temperature, and helping with better sleep. A good pair of socks will also save you from constant itching, rubbing, and skin-related diseases.
To ensure you enjoy all these benefits, invest in socks with the right material and features. A blend of cotton or wool, nylon, and polyester works great, or you can also go with the classic combination of wool and cotton. You are good to go if the socks are seamless and have enough padding, cushioning, and arch- and ankle support!