How to Pick a Pair of Socks That's Right for You?

The foot, known as the "second heart" of a person, is a "barometer" of physical health and can alert the body to various diseases, demonstrating its importance.

For the health of the feet, many people believe that choosing a suitable pair of shoes will not be a problem, but in fact, a small pair of socks also hides a bunch of health problems, such as socks fading, tight cuffs, worn socks... These small problems that we don't care about have been harming the health of our feet.

1. Common problems with socks

Formaldehyde and aromatic amines exceeding the standard:

During the production process of socks, a large amount of alkaline substances are used. Socks are thoroughly washed before leaving the factory. Poor quality socks not only have no cleaning process, but also have problems with the materials used. So there will be situations where formaldehyde and aromatic amines exceed the standard.

The sweat glands, blood vessels, and nervous system on the soles of the feet are very developed. When some liquid is discharged from the feet, it may cause the decomposition of dyes. Harmful substances in socks are not easy to spread, and constant friction with the feet can increase damage to the skin, leading to skin allergies.    

Severe color fading:

The color retention of socks is also an important indicator of whether a sock fits properly. The discoloration of socks is not only a problem of polluting other clothing, but also due to the addition of various dyes and other chemicals during the production process of textile products, these chemicals can more or less produce harmful substances to the human body.

Wear it a few times and it will burst:

Some socks wear out after a few days, indicating that the wear resistance of the socks is not qualified. Socks with poor wear resistance are mostly made of low-grade materials, which are not only easy to wear out, but may also abrade the feet.

Socks are too tight:

Some socks have tight cuffs, and after removing the socks, you can still see a pinch mark on the ankle. Tight cuffs can hinder blood flow in the lower limbs, which is not conducive to human health, especially for the elderly.  

2. What texture of socks are more comfortable and durable?

Cotton:

Sweat-absorbing, breathable, soft, easy to clean, and less prone to pilling, many consumers unconsciously believe that only "pure cotton" socks are the best. In fact, natural cotton yarn has poor elasticity, and 100% cotton socks have a particularly high shrinkage rate and are not durable. Therefore, in order to make socks comfortable to wear and not easily break, cotton socks will be blended with a certain proportion of other fibers. Spandex, nylon, acrylic, polyester, and other functional fibers are very common.

Combed cotton:

Combed cotton is a long and neat cotton fiber left behind by a combing machine after removing shorter fibers from ordinary fibers. It is delicate and has a smooth and comfortable feel, making it a high-end cotton product.

Mercerized cotton:

Mercerized cotton refers to cotton fibers that have undergone mercerization treatment in a concentrated alkaline solution.
Better glossiness, more shiny, and less prone to wrinkling. Usually found in thin socks during summer.

Nitrile cotton:

Nitrile cotton belongs to blended yarn, which is soft, bulky, not easy to dye, has bright colors, is light resistant, antibacterial, and not afraid of insects and moths. The commonly used nitrile cotton content ratio is 30% acrylic fiber and 70% cotton, which has the function of cotton sweat absorption and odor prevention.

Spandex:

Spandex is commonly known as elastic fiber. Adding spandex to socks can generate elasticity and retraction, making them easier to wear, making them more snug to the feet and preventing slipping.

Nylon:

Nylon, also known as nylon, is a synthetic fiber. Good dyeing performance, lightweight to wear, good waterproof and windproof performance, high wear resistance, good strength and elasticity, easy to wash and dry, sturdy and durable, good elasticity, diverse colors, but not sweat absorbing, poor breathability, ordinary socks other than silk stockings are prone to foot odor.

Polypropylene fiber:

Polypropylene fiber refers to polypropylene fiber. Lightweight, with weak moisture absorption, but strong sweat wicking function. Durable and stretchable, so it is often seen in sports socks.

Wool:

Good elasticity, full hand feel, strong moisture absorption ability, good warmth retention, not easy to stain, soft luster, and excellent dyeing properties. Due to its unique shrinkage property, it is generally necessary to undergo anti shrinkage treatment to ensure the size of the fabric. The disadvantage is that it is not easy to do.

Bamboo fiber:

It is a type of adhesive fiber, and the raw material of bamboo fiber comes from bamboo. The fabric of bamboo fiber also has the characteristics of soft and elegant, comfortable feel, and wear-resistant, non pilling, moisture absorption, quick drying, and breathability. It has good antibacterial properties and health effects. Bamboo fiber contains an antibacterial substance called "Zhukun", which has natural antibacterial, mite resistant, and odor resistant properties.

Modal:

It is a type of textile fiber that belongs to the viscose category. The fabric after processing and finishing with modal fibers, cotton, and polyester has a silky luster, good drapability, and a soft and smooth feel.

Hemp:

Hemp fibers are soft and strong, and high count and high density linen fabrics are glossy, wear-resistant, and have good heat dissipation properties, making them very suitable for wearing in summer. Hemp clothing is predominant, while socks are relatively rare.

Wood fiber:

Wood fiber products have the characteristics of antibacterial, antibacterial, completely eliminating foot odor, preventing beriberi, no static electricity, strong breathability, comfort, and long service life.

Silver fiber:

The silver ions released by silver fibers not only effectively kill bacteria, but also bind with ammonia and denatured proteins to eliminate odors. Silver fiber has excellent thermal conductivity, which can quickly disperse sweat from the feet to the external environment to keep the feet comfortable and dry, and effectively eliminate discomfort caused by static electricity.

3. Poor selection of socks can lead to foot odor?

People whose feet are prone to sweating may not choose socks well, and there is a problem that will definitely trouble you - foot odor.

After a day of work or after exercising, if one's feet are stuck in their shoes or takes off their shoes, their feet will directly turn into biochemical weapons, which not only smoke themselves but also others, and can be smelled through their shoes.

Foot odor is generally caused by the following three factors:

Insufficient breathability of the feet due to material reasons;

Some people's physique is prone to sweating;

Wearing socks for a long time can breed a large number of bacteria and fungi.

We have over 250000 sweat glands on our feet, and they secrete sweat every day. As we approach the end of the day, not only do we have sweat, Staphylococcus aureus, fungi, old keratin, etc. on our feet, but if we are people with foot odor, there may also be psoriasis and some odor metabolites. Most importantly, unlike other sweating parts of the body, the sweat secreted by the feet cannot easily evaporate into the air, and the dark and humid environment provides a good environment for the growth of bacteria, fungi, and so on.

What we can do to alleviate the problem of foot odor is to create a refreshing environment for our feet.

Whether socks are good or not, their warmth and aesthetics are secondary, and being able to absorb moisture and sweat is the ultimate principle. Not only can it reduce the frequency of foot odor, but it can also provide a dry environment for the feet, which will not be wet or sticky, and the wearing experience will also be better.

So, how do you choose a pair of socks that have good moisture absorption and sweat wicking properties and won't be awkward?

Mainly based on the material

Cotton is a very versatile textile material with good moisture absorption and comfortable wearing. It is also cheap as a raw material. But cotton has no elasticity, and its strength and wear resistance are average, making it not very comfortable to wear.

So whether it's cotton or other socks, it's recommended to choose a blend of synthetic fibers such as spandex and polyester, which can greatly improve durability and comfort.

In addition, although cotton absorbs moisture, its sweat wicking ability is not so outstanding. If there is excessive foot sweat, socks may become damp. A better choice is hemp fiber, bamboo fiber, viscose or modal fiber.

Hemp and bamboo fibers also have natural antibacterial and deodorizing effects, which to some extent help reduce odors, while viscose and modal fibers have good skin affinity and are comfortable to wear.

4. There is a particular emphasis on choosing socks

Light color priority:

When buying socks, prioritize choosing light colored socks because the brighter the color, the more chemicals will be added to the socks.

Mainly made of pure cotton:

Buying socks not only depends on the appearance, but also on the material. Pure cotton material is a good choice. Socks made of pure cotton fabric have good water absorption and breathability, making them not only comfortable to wear on the feet, but also timely absorb sweat from the feet to keep them dry.

Choose socks with good elasticity:

Socks with good elasticity are more comfortable to wear on the feet, and will not experience foot loss or slipping. Poor quality socks with poor elasticity are prone to deformation after washing, and the fibers are prone to knots. When walking, the socks may cause friction with the feet, which can damage the feet and affect normal walking.

Choose socks based on your feet:

Although socks are all used to wear on your feet, the functions of different materials of socks are completely different. Choosing which material of socks depends on what material your feet need.

A.Cotton socks absorb sweat
If your feet are prone to sweating, it is advisable to wear more pure cotton socks. Pure cotton socks have good moisture absorption, which can absorb most of the sweat from the feet, keep the shoes dry at all times, and enhance the comfort of wearing socks.

B.Bamboo fiber socks for odor prevention
In addition to carefully washing your feet to prevent foot odor, choosing the right socks can also prevent foot odor. Bamboo fiber socks have natural antibacterial and antibacterial effects, and bamboo fiber can effectively remove odors from your feet, keeping them dry and comfortable.

C.Wool socks for warmth
When it's cold, many people's feet are cold from morning to night, so they need a pair of warm socks to resist the cold weather. The best insulation effect is wool socks or rabbit hair socks.

5. How to wash socks correctly?

After taking off the socks, it is best to immediately clean them. Even if not, it is best to soak them in soapy water or laundry detergent. This way, the dirty things on the socks are easier to clean and will not easily stick to the socks and cannot be washed off.

Take a basin of clean water, mix well with laundry detergent or laundry detergent, then put socks in and soak for about 5 minutes.

Rub both sides of the sock, remember to rub both sides of the sock. This way, it can be thoroughly cleaned.

The top and bottom of the socks need to be carefully rubbed.

Remember to rinse twice after washing.

It is best to clean socks separately, especially not with underwear and underwear, as fungi on socks can easily transfer to underwear and underwear. Therefore, socks must be cleaned separately to avoid cross infection.

You can choose specialized shoe and sock cleaning and sterilization products to make socks more comfortable and healthy.

Precautions:

A. Normal feet need to change socks no more than one day at most.
B. It is best to replace feet that have athlete's foot and are prone to sweating every half day, and to wash them separately from the socks of the family.
C. Socks must be replaced promptly after exercise.