Valentine’s day. A holiday that celebrates love and passion. The week of cupid having arrived, we felt it appropriate to begin our latest review with a short poem of new found devotion.
An Ode to Sockwell….
Life without you was fine, was okay.
It was spent aimlessly, roughing it through each new training day.
Now that you’re here, comfort and relief I foresee,
Each blissful moment filled with sweet recovery.
Originally designed to help with a number of different health conditions where blood flow to the extremities was impaired, compression socks have been readily adopted by athletes and desk jockeys alike in an effort to help minimize tired feet and legs while maximizing circulation.
Enter Sockwell, a Goodhew solution offering therapeutic sock solutions combining natural high performance yarns with cutting edge knitting technology and modern stylish aesthetics. Whether a teacher on your feet for long eight hour days, or a runner suffering from aching calves after that long 12 mile training session, these socks are intended to help maximize circulation thereby bringing much needed relief to weary feet and legs.
Lest this review begin to take on the tone of an infomercial, it should be noted that our crew members were compression skeptics. While the athletic world has become an enthusiastic adopter of compression wear for both performance and recovery, our team – like cavemen awaiting fire – held out. After all, there still remains a great deal of mixed research on compression apparel. This is likely due, in part, to the wide variety of materials and types of apparel used in the research. And, as with any particular item or piece of gear, there is a large individual component to the results or lack thereof attained.
Almost by chance, we were afforded an opportunity to review the Sockwell Circulator compression socks as one of our team members was making the transition to zero drop running shoes. As anyone making this transition knows, sore calves and tired feet are part of the process, so it was a fitting time to utilize the compression socks as an aid in post run recovery sessions. Unlike a mixed bag of research in scientific journals, our end results were stellar.
From day one of trying the Sockwell Circulator socks, after every run, the shoes came off and the Circulator socks went on. First and foremost, it’s always nice to reward your hard working feet with a sock that offers a gentle fit, ultra smooth toe closure and a soft cushion. The bamboo (31%) / merino wool (32%) blend promotes softness against the skin while keeping feet dry and in that ‘just right’ temperature zone. Meanwhile the stretch nylon (32%) and spandex (6%) provide a snug fit that stays in place.
While not specifically a sports compression sock, our team found that the Circulator socks were an exceptional component of the recovery process. Why? Because through compression therapy, circulation is boosted which brings much-needed nutrients and oxygenated blood into the legs and feet. This in turn helps reduce the swelling of muscles and general overall soreness. Even when your feet are at rest for extended periods, these socks provide a welcome circulation boost and help eliminate pain, swelling and fatigue. Plus you’ll get the added bonus of warm fuzzies knowing that these were produced right here in the U.S.A.
As much as anything, socks are prone to personal preference. What works for one individual, may not work for another. Yet for our review team, the Sockwell Circulator socks were a tremendous asset for tired, achy feet and aided greatly in the reduction of muscle fatigue after long training runs. Coupled with Sockwell’s modern design and color selection and they are perfect for all day use.
Room for Improvement…
After an extended review period, our field team came away with only two minor critiques. First was that the sock tended to get a little itchy at the top after extended periods of use. Second is the price. There is little doubt that the $24.99 price point will cause some consumers to hesitate before clicking that “add to shopping cart” option. However, our reviewer noted that neither of these issues would prevent them from purchasing this product in the future. Besides, who wouldn’t pay $25 for an extra shot of energy to their feet and legs?
Bottom Line…
Whether you’re a competitor on the field or simply the game of life, one of the largest obstacles standing in the way of your peak performance is muscle soreness from training and a slow recovery. As such, it behooves us all to have an extra arrow in the quiver when it comes to helping the body recover quickly. Comfortable and stylish enough to wear all day, but techy enough to help fend off tired, achy feet and legs, the Sockwell Circulator socks deserve a home in your sock drawer.
MSRP: $24.99
Where: Available from various online retailers
Style: Women’s available in Bark Solid Black Solid Black Stripe Natural Teal Plum
Men’s available in Bark Black Solid Black Stripe Charcoal Navy
