I’ve already picked out my racing shoes for the Shamrock Marathon – the 8.4oz Brooks ST3, but my next dilemma is what socks should I wear. Okay, so it might seem a trivial concern to most of my readers – it’s just a sock after all – but it could be the difference on the day between happy feet and not so happy feet. Naturally I would much rather have happy feet for the 26.2 miles…
Recently I’ve been wearing the excellent Balega X-Athlete Hidden Comfort which sports the following features:
- Hand-linked seamless toe for seamfree comfort
- Specially constructed mesh ventilation panel to keep your feet cool and dry
- High tab heel ensures that your liner stays in place, providing for a comfortable fit
- Extra-deep heel pocket
- Cushioning for impact resistance
They perform really well and although I’ve never had a blister problem, I’ve often wished they were less bulky.
Enter the Balega X-Athlete Hidden Dry – a similar sock to the Hidden Dry with the extra-deep heel pocket and hand-linked seamless toe, but without the cushioning. Sounds just like what I was looking for doesn’t it?
Well, I’ve tried them out on several practice runs and although I think they’d be perfect for distances up to a half-marathon, I’m not going to risk them in Sunday’s marathon. The cushioning could be a great feature in the latter miles, when my legs are tired and I’m feeling every footstep.
As a final test, I even ran a couple of miles on the treadmill tonight. The Hidden Comfort definitely came out on top and I’ll feel better knowing I have that extra protection as I take my place on the start line. Think I’ll save the Hidden Drys for a fast 5k or 10k in the Spring….
All the nicer, more padded socks tend to burn the heck out of my feet. My feet get really hot in them unless it’s really cold outside. Maybe I’m not getting breathable ones..?
Yeah, possibly. The Balega’s are definitely breathable and have a nice mesh feel to them.
I usually experience some kind of hot spot with new shoes. Socks are usually pretty good for me..
Steve – bad socks will ruin a day – i’m with Eric – I look for the thinnest socks i can find – i just dont find the more cushioned socks to make a difference.