There are so many awesome products for runners, but you might not be giving your sock choice much attention. Just as the right shoe helps protect your feet from the harsh conditions you run in, the right pair of socks can keep you warm and cozy, allow your feet to breathe, and even prevent blisters. Enter Injinji’s one-of-a-kind running toe socks.

I have to admit that before I tried these socks, I was a bit of a skeptic. I tend to employ your run-of-the-mill ankle socks, easily found at a local Target or Walmart, and worry more about my shoes when buying running gear. Also, since toe sock popularity reached its peak in the 90s and has since dwindled, it’s been a while since I wore some. I was interested to see if I could even get these things on, let alone if they would enhance my running abilities.

It took me a second to get my little toe into the final hole, but once I did, I never wanted to take them off. The socks had great padding on the soles of the feet, and once on, felt as comfortable, if not more, than a regular sock. For added validation, I had a few friends try on a pair. Most had a little trouble getting them on, with the baby toe being the hang up. Everyone agreed, however, that the socks were extremely comfortable and warm.

What makes these socks a different breed is their billing as a running sock. This means that the material is specially designed to prevent sweating and blisters by allowing your feet to stretch and breathe. To truly test out the durability, I used the socks on varied outdoor terrain and conditions, as well as inside on a treadmill.

I am working my way up as a long distance runner, and embarrassingly enough, especially on inside treadmills or tracks, I sweat like crazy. So in a heated gym, the sock’s breathability was really put to the test. Not only did it remain in place and feel cushy and comfortable throughout my run, but I was surprised how my feet never overheated and the sock retained very little perspiration, making is easy to remove afterwards.

These socks really made a difference outdoors though. As I raced through grass and then gravel, on roads and off, I felt an improvement in balance and stability. Since my toes were spread slightly by the sock, I found that I had better traction and was able to maneuver a wide variety of trail situations with increased accuracy. Not enough can be said for the mid-weight padding that was provided by the sock, which provided cushioning as I jumped from one trail type to another.

My toes never felt crushed in my shoes, like I was concerned they might when I first laced up. Best of all, for those who choose this sock, blisters could be a thing of history because they did not rub at all. Prone to blisters around my ankles where my classic ankle socks would rub, the Injinji socks handled my 10-mile fun run easily, leaving my feet happily blister free.

For those fashionista’s out there, Injinji offers a wide range of sock heights, colors and padding weights. For me, the purple mid-weight trail sock was a great fit because it came just high enough to prevent blistering, but was low enough that it barely stuck out of my running shoes.

Image courtesy Lauren Montemurri