In terms of fabric, are pure cotton socks the best?

When choosing socks,  we usually pay attention to the fabric of the product, and in the eyes of most people, pure cotton socks have become the best choice. In fact, various textures have their own characteristics and cannot be generalized. Although pure cotton is the mainstream material for socks, such as "wool, polyester fiber", each has its own advantages and disadvantages.

Let's take a look at several common sock fabrics on the market.

I. Common Materials of Socks

1. Pure cotton: very comfortable
For socks, cotton is the most mainstream fabric, and generally speaking, the better the cotton yarn used, the more comfortable the socks will be. But here we need to dispel a common misconception that 'pure cotton' is not necessarily really good!
Natural cotton yarn has poor elasticity, and it is necessary to blend a certain proportion of polyester fiber (such as spandex) in order to make socks comfortable and fit without being easily worn out. If a merchant sells socks that claim to be "100% cotton", it will be extremely unsuitable.

2. Wool: warm enough
Wool is another common material, characterized by excellent warmth retention but relatively expensive. Although not commonly used at work, it is a good choice to use as home socks indoors without heating.

3. Polyester fiber: good elasticity
Polyester fiber is a general term for a type of material, such as nylon, spandex, polyester, acrylic, and so on. Its characteristics are good elasticity, poor sweat absorption performance, and relatively easy to produce odors.
So it is not recommended to choose socks made of high proportion polyester fibers (excluding stockings as there is no better way), but a certain proportion (usually around 5% -10%) of polyester fibers mixed in cotton or wool is necessary.
Generally speaking, socks blended with spandex and lycra have better quality.

4. Other common materials
A. Silk and bamboo fibers are smooth and glossy, but have poor wear resistance.
B. Modal (essentially a cellulose regenerated fiber) has good luster, but poor sweat absorption ability.
C. Hollow fibers of high-tech fabrics developed specifically for sports scenes may have better sweat conductivity.
D. There are also various unheard of fibers advocated by some businesses, which may not necessarily be useless, but often the marketing component outweighs the product itself, so people need to be cautious when choosing.

II. How to choose socks that are suitable for oneself

The selection of socks should be seasonal. It is now summer, and when wearing socks in summer, you should choose comfortable and breathable materials.
1. Choose less wool socks in summer. Socks made of this material have poor sweat-absorbing effect, which can easily leave your feet in a damp state and cause blisters. In general, it is best to choose cotton socks, but if you are going to exercise, it is recommended to purchase socks made of corduroy material for better sweat absorption.

2. When selecting socks, it is important to distinguish between synthetic fibers that have a smoother feel and cotton that is relatively rough. We can open the socks and observe the surface. There are no small brown dots or relatively few, just combed cotton.
Generally, cotton socks are added with an appropriate amount of acrylic to increase their elasticity. Socks with more cotton and less acrylic have a soft feel, good moisture absorption, and will also be more comfortable to wear.

3. Socks have better elasticity. Socks with good elasticity are snug and not prone to slipping. Poor quality socks will deform and clump fibers after washing, resulting in uneven distribution of various parts. People may feel their feet rubbing during exercise. So when choosing socks, it is important to check if the elastic fibers at the collar of the socks are broken. If so, you must not buy them.

4. In fact, among all natural materials, hemp has the best breathability. Hemp has natural antibacterial and antibacterial functions, and its moisture absorption and sweat wicking properties are superior to those of cotton and chemical fibers, giving people a feeling of "dry" and "cool". However, socks containing more than 55% of hemp are still rare in China.

5. Fit and size are very important. The socks should fit perfectly and should not be too tight or loose. If the socks are too large, additional fibers will increase friction and damage the skin of the feet. When buying socks, attention should be paid to the fiber density of the socks. It is not recommended to buy socks that are too loose.
For friends who experience symptoms of athlete's foot, it is recommended to choose five fingered socks that can separate their toes. This can reduce the risk of fungal infections and also help keep their toes dry and breathable.

III. Socks should be replaced if these situations occur

1. Socks lose elasticity, do not follow your feet when walking or exercising, and if you sweat, you may feel slippery and easily get injured.

2. Thinning the heel, with holes, and thinning socks can cause heel injury or blistering.

3. When wearing uncomfortable socks and experiencing discomfort such as tightness, itching, or obvious pinch marks on both feet, it indicates that the socks are not suitable.

Precautions for cleaning socks
1. When washing socks, do not rub them forcefully to prevent the socks from slipping out or breaking after strong friction.
2. The water temperature for washing socks should not exceed 40 ℃, otherwise it will cause the socks to shrink after being heated, the soles of the socks will become smaller, and even cause the socks to harden and deteriorate.
3. To maintain the original luster of socks, it is best not to use soap that contains too much alkali. Simply rub it with your hands, rinse it with clean water, and place it in a cool and ventilated place to dry in the shade.

After reading so much, have you gained some understanding of the materials and purchasing methods of socks? Socks are essential items in daily life, but they are often overlooked by us. If we choose socks randomly, it is easy to damage our feet. Therefore, it's better to master these basic strategies as soon as possible!