Falke Ergonomic Sport System Socks : Designed for Comfort and Performance

Falke's ESS socks are probably some of the most highly evolved and feature-rich sports and running socks I've ever used. I've spent the last few days helping a friend of mine plan out the route of an adventure race in the mountains of Central California, and the Falke socks have been on my feet the entire time.

After the first long day I noticed that my feet emerged quite happy from my shoes. They weren't sore or smelly, and they didn't have any blisters on them. Great success! I think it has a lot to do with how the socks are constructed, as well as the material Falke uses.

I should address the astonishing lack of blisters first because that's what impressed me most. The ESS socks are made out of a of a high-performance blend of cotton, polypropylene, nylon, and wool, and they seem to have inherited the best traits from each material. I think the lack of blisters has a lot to do with the polypropylene and nylon, both of which are smooth and slick. When I'm running in these socks, I feel much the same as I do when I'm hiking in heavy wool socks with a liner sock beneath to ward off blisters. The only difference is the Falke running socks are thin and smooth.

I also like how dry my feet stay when I'm wearing these socks. The fabric wicks moisture really well thanks to the waffle print and proprietary blend of materials. Because my feet don't get wet, they also don't smell that bad at the end of a long day. Awesome!

Best of all is how the socks are designed for specific tasks. I tried out both the standard running sock, which is fantastic, as well as the pronation support sock, which, for me, was even better. I tend to pronate, but I can't always find sport-specific shoes that offer appropriate support. This is true for hiking shoes, approach shoes, and even trail runners (though it's fairly easy to find motion-control road running shoes).

The Falke ESS pronation support socks actually have a tighter weave around parts of the foot so that when I wear them my foot feels supported and I also benefit from the strategically placed cushioned areas. The socks won't replace an supportive insole for people who need one, but because the sock fits so well it stays in place. . At the end of the day, my feet are quite happy.

Available in men's and women's sizes.

Bottom Line: Technical, well-designed athletic socks that keep my feet dry, comfortable, and supported.--N.W. (May '10)

BUY ONLINE : $14-15, click to shop at sportperfect.

Manufacturer's Site:  www.falke.com

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