When compared with shoes, socks are generally an afterthought – your shoes cover them, after all.
But socks play a very important role in the overall health of your feet and your shoes. In this post, you’ll know exactly how they do that.
Consider this my love letter to the world of socks
(hope I don’t get friendzoned 😉)
(or should it be foot-zoned? *wonders*)
So, why are socks important? Here’s why:
1) Socks are a fashion statement
Well said, Captain obvious *claps*
It’s true though, isn’t it?
From checks and stripes to polka dots and pizza slices, socks these days come in a wide wild variety of patterns and are a unique way to express your style.
They also make great statement pieces because hey, they’re hidden under your pants most of the time so you can get away with bold colours and patterns!
Sure, you can never go wrong with the classics – neutral, solid colours.
But then, classic is a statement too 😎
2) They provide comfort
Can you imagine the feeling of your foot just rubbing across the material of your shoes?
Sounds pretty uncomfortable to me!
Socks to the rescue!
Cotton, wool, silk, performance fabrics – there are quite a few options for sock materials.
Out of these, cashmere and Egyptian cotton are the favourites for absolute comfort. A good pair of cashmere socks can make you feel like a royal prince walking on a lush velvet carpet in his bedroom. In other words, comfort-max!
Note: Cashmere is expensive. If cashmere socks don’t fit your budget, go for Egyptian cotton ones instead. They’re nothing short of amazing!
3) They protect the feet from blisters
This point expands on the previous one – wearing shoes without socks is never a good idea (more on that here) because the tough material of the shoes (especially when they’re new) can rub against your feet and cause friction
The result – blisters, and shoe bites!
Socks minimize the friction between your shoes and the feet, thus dealing with the problem of blisters
They aren’t the one-stop solution for all foot issues though. If your shoe doesn’t fit well, you can still get shoe-bites even while wearing socks. But it’ll be twice as bad if you weren’t wearing any
4) They improve the fit of your shoes
For shoes that are just slightly loose, socks can be a great way to fill that extra space, thus improving the overall fit of your shoes
If you’re using this tactic, the thickness of your socks will depend on how loose the shoes currently are.
Generally, I’ve found that up to a half-size difference in shoe sizes can be bridged by wearing a pair of socks of appropriate thickness
The inverse of this tip holds true as well. For new leather shoes that are slightly tight in the beginning, thin socks can help ease the break-in period by not taking up extra space inside the shoe.
5) Socks prevent smelly feet
The two biggest weapons against smelly shoes and feet are
a) Proper foot care
b) (yes) Socks!
Thanks to the 2,50,000 sweat glands that they have, your feet produce about 250ml of sweat on an average day. That’s like a full glass of Thums-Up, you guys!
And what does all that sweat do? If unchecked, it’s a buffet for bacteria, which in turn causes that bad bad smell
But socks absorb that sweat – to a great extent, thereby cutting down the bacteria’s food supply!
Moral of the story: A pair of fresh socks a day, keeps the smell monster away
6) They regulate temperature
Have you reached out for a pair of socks when your feet are cold?
If you have, then you already know that socks can keep your feet warm, and thus regulate your body temperature
But winter socks aren’t ideal for the summers. Instead, no-show socks work better – they give you all the other benefits of the socks, while still keeping your ankles free and cool
If you prefer regular crew length socks instead of no-show ones but are worried about feeling hot during the summer, make sure that the socks you buy aren’t too thick.
With local brands, this will hardly be a problem because they would manufacture their socks keeping the weather in mind #VocalForLocal!
7) They protect the shoes
Socks not only protect your feet from your shoes, they also protect your shoes from your feet!
Confused? Think long, uncut toenails scraping the inside of the shoe in the absence of socks.
Let’s be real – a LOT of us often don’t bother to keep our toenails groomed. After all, most men’s shoes are closed-toed i.e. we don’t have to show our feet in the open.. so what’s the point, right?
Wrong 😛
I’m a big advocate of keeping your toenails in check, simply because it’s what any well-groomed gentleman would do.
But for the times you do forget to cut them (and we all do), your socks can act (somewhat) like a barrier and protect your shoes
8) Specialty socks like compression socks improve circulation and prevent leg fatigue
Compression socks are knee length socks that are specially designed to apply pressure on your ankles and lower portion of the leg. This pressure, in turn, helps to maintain blood flow and reduce swelling
These socks are generally advised to people with conditions which cause swelling of the leg or the foot, such as varicose veins
Lately, some athletes have also started using compression socks, claiming an increase in their athletic performance.
Since these socks started off as a medical treatment, though, you should always consult your doctor before using them (self-diagnosis, and self-treatment is never a good idea )
Here are some helpful articles, in case you’d like to read more about compression socks:
- How long should I wear compression stockings to improve my circulation?
- What You Need to Know About Compression Socks Before You Buy
- What to Know About Compression Socks and Stockings
- What You Should Know About Compression Socks
9) They make it easy to slip into shoes
It’s difficult to slip into brand new shoes.
A shoehorn helps, but unless your heels are as smooth as a newborn baby’s skin, there is bound to be some friction between the material of the shoehorn and the feet
Socks reduce this friction, thereby making your feet slide in easily.
Less struggle for your thumbs and feet, more happiness for your shoes
10) They can help heal cracked heels
Cracked heels are caused by dry and thickened skin.
In most cases, it causes discomfort and pain while standing or walking, but in severe cases, the cracks or fissures can also become infected.
If you already suffer from cracked heels then not wearing any socks with your shoes can often worsen the situation, due to constant contact of the skin with the back of the shoe.
Socks are also a good supplement to the usual over the top applications. Using vaseline (or any petroleum jelly) on your heels, and then covering them up with socks while you sleep is a great way to seal in the moisture and help heal the cracks
(Plus, your bed won’t get stained as well. Double win!)
11) Socks can increase orgasms (what!)
If you’re amused, I’m with you. I had the same reaction when I first read about it, but it’s true!
A study at the University of Groningen used a brain scanner to look into the human brain during sexual activity. They found that both men and women
found it easier to have an orgasm with their socks on..
In the study, 50 per cent of the 24 men and women analyzed managed to achieve an orgasm without wearing socks, but 80 per cent were only successful when they kept their socks on!
In case you’re intrigued about this, check out ABC’s interview with Professor Gert Holstege, who led this study at the university
I’m no scientist, but I’d say that this could have something to do with points 2 and 6: If you comfortable, and warm – and thus relaxed, it would be easier to have an orgasm, no?
12) They are great gifts!
A multipack set of nice, comfy, colourful (or classic) socks can be a great gift for your buddies! With so many benefits, it shows you care for them, which is the entire point of gift-giving 🙂
And if they don’t understand, you can always pass them a link to this article 😉 Surely they *have* to appreciate socks after reading it
