What Material Are Your Running Socks? Here's Why You Should Care.

I didn’t think much about socks either.

Not at first.

When I started running more seriously almost a decade ago, socks were just… there. Something you owned in bulk. Something you’d accidentally wear to work if you forgot to change after a run. As long as they weren’t visibly falling apart, they passed the test.

The only thing I did back then subsconsciously, was keep a brand new pair in the drawer for races. 

In hindsight, I did that because I liked the plush feeling of a new pair, and many of the generic sport socks I used for running were worn down.

Then I started running longer, faster and more seriously.

Then hotter.

Then more often.

Then more on trails and mixed terrain.

And slowly, without realising it, socks started becoming a big thing that would decide whether a run felt smooth or annoying. Not catastrophic. Just enough friction, movement, or heat to chip away at the experience.

That’s when I started paying attention.

When You Actually Start Developing Socks, You Learn Fast

Once we decided to develop our own running socks, I assumed the answer would be obvious.

It wasn’t.

Developing the perfect pair of running socks wasn't in our original plan. We started by developing a singular product - a minimal vest that allowed you carry a few things on your run.

It evolved quickly to a brand that has become known a fully-blown running vest brand.

But inbetween that, has been our sock range, which are now being worn by tens of thousands of runners.

On paper, everyone agrees on what should work. In reality, what works on your feet over hundreds of runs is a bit of a different story.

I’ve tested wool, polyester-heavy blends, bamboo, and everything in between. Not in a lab. On foot. In summer. On long runs. At events where you’re standing all day and then running the next morning.

Here’s what I learned.

Wool: Nice in Theory

Wool gets a lot of love in running circles. And I understand why.

It’s soft. It’s natural. It sounds like the kind of thing a “serious” runner should wear. Merino wool is big in the hiking space - and I can definitely see why.

It's super soft under foot, it can have a bit of thickness to it and it's great for wearing with your hiking boots.

But running is a little different. Your foot has more chance of moving within your shoe - which can be a problem.

Every time I tried wool socks over longer distances, I noticed the same thing: they felt too soft underfoot.

That softness becomes a problem once you add sweat. There’s a slight slip that creeps in. Nothing dramatic, just enough movement to feel unstable, especially through the forefoot.

I kept thinking, Why does this feel like my foot isn’t quite connected to the ground?

For some runners, that won’t bother them. For me, it did.

Wool also lacks grip. You can engineer around it with construction tricks, but now you’re compensating for the material instead of letting it do the job.

I’m not anti-wool. I just don’t think it’s the holy grail some people claim it is.

Bamboo: Feels Amazing, Works 'Okay'

Bamboo socks feel incredible when you pick them up.

They’re soft. Smooth. Premium. You put them on and think, Yep, these are nice.

Then you run.

Again, the issue wasn’t dramatic failure. It was subtle. Bamboo compresses quickly. It doesn’t rebound well. After a few runs, it starts feeling a bit flat and a bit loose.

Almost like you're trying to run in a pair of business socks.

Like wool, it’s almost too forgiving. Too soft. Too willing to move with the foot instead of holding its own structure.

For casual wear or recovery days, bamboo makes sense. For consistent running performance, it didn’t hold up the way I wanted.

Bamboo is amazing for compression, and that's a category of sock we are currently working on for runners - to be able to have a sock that compresses the calf.

Polyester: Reliable, But Can't Be Overused

Polyester shows up in almost every technical sock for a reason. It’s durable. It holds its shape. It dries quickly.

From a manufacturing point of view, it’s incredibly dependable.

From a running point of view, I found it a bit… dead.

High-polyester socks tend to feel flat and plasticky. Breathability isn’t as good as people assume, especially in heat. They do the job, but they don’t disappear on the foot.

Here's the thing. If I gave someone two socks, exactly the same design, but one was polyester and one was cotton, they probably wouldn't tell the difference. I mean, there wouldn't be enough difference between them for them to say, hmmm 'are these the same socks?'

Polyester is a great support act. It has incredible properties, I just don’t think it should be the headline.

So Why Did We Land on a Cotton-Led Blend?

This is where opinions usually split.

Our regular running socks are made from:

82% cotton
5% polyester
8% elastane
5% spandex

If you’ve been told “never wear cotton”, that probably sounds wrong.

Here’s why it isn’t.

Cotton Is Extremely Adaptable

Cotton on its own is a bad idea for running. It absorbs moisture, stretches out, and loses shape.

But cotton used intentionally, supported properly, behaves very differently.

What cotton does incredibly well is grip.

Not sticky grip. Natural grip. It sits against the foot and stays there. It doesn’t slide around once things get sweaty. It doesn’t feel slick or artificial.

It also breathes. Properly. Not “moisture-wicking” marketing words. Actual airflow.

That matters more than people realise, especially for runners who overheat easily or spend long periods on their feet.

The Blend Is What Makes It Work

Cotton alone wouldn’t cut it. That’s where the rest of the composition comes in.

The small amount of polyester adds durability. It quietly reinforces the structure without changing how the sock feels on foot.

The elastane and spandex are doing the heavy lifting. That combined stretch content is what keeps the sock locked in place, run after run, wash after wash.

This is the part most people overlook. Without enough stretch fibres, cotton becomes sloppy. With too much, the sock feels tight and unnatural.

Getting that balance right took time, and we've landed on a brilliant formula, and manufacturing process that creates just enough softness, just enough stretch while balancing durability.

Stability > Softness 

After fitting thousands of runners at events, one thing has become very clear to me.

Most sock issues aren’t about cushioning.
They’re about movement.

Sliding. Bunching. That feeling that something under your foot isn’t quite where it should be.

A sock that feels stable underfoot reduces friction before it even starts. That stability is harder to achieve with ultra-soft materials.

It’s not about feeling plush. It’s about feeling grounded.

It's something I really learnt about when I set out to create the best running socks available. My initialy thought was okay, let's make these ultra soft.

But that is sub-optimal.

These are performance running socks, not everyday lounging socks.

We Didn’t Set Out to Make a “Technical” Sock

We weren’t trying to win a spec sheet comparison. To be honest, that sounds very intimidating for a new brand and I wouldn't try to do that.

I just wanted a really good, optimal performance running sock.

We were trying to make a sock that works across real life:

• Training runs

• Race days

• Travel
  

• Back-to-back sessions

A sock you don’t think about once it’s on. One that is reliable.

If that means challenging some staunch running theories, so be it.

P.S you can grab any 5 pairs of our running socks for $85 for a limited time. Tap here.