Socks. We don’t usually think too much about them. We grab a 6 pack on sale when the ones we have get some holes in them and keep rotating them in and out of our drawers. Well, all of that changed for me this year when I was diagnosed with a vascular issue in my right leg and I needed to start wearing compression socks. The first pair of socks that I purchased were rated at 30-40 mmHg and cost me about $75 for the pair. This was to help my leg heal and prepare me for surgery in the following weeks. Post surgery, I was dropped to a 20-30 mmHg rated sock. Fortunately, these are available for far less cost, but the selection was still rather rancid. Beige and Black were the colors of choice at the sub $20 price point and they were made of a nylon/rayon blend that breathed about as well as plastic wrap. During the heat of summer, my feet felt ok, but my legs were about 400 degrees every day. I spent the next 3 months searching for an athletic sock that had an actual fitting chart and was continually striking out. Most companies only offered “shoe size” fitting, not ankle and calf fitting sizes – which are key to compression socks fitting and compressing correctly. About 3 weeks ago, everything changed when I somehow stumbled on the site Go2Socks.com.
At under $20 a pair, Go2’s offerings were tempting. The fact that they actually have a full fitting chart online made them even more tempting. I kicked the idea of getting them around for about a week or so before I decided to pull the trigger. I placed the order and began the wait for them to arrive. The next day, I was shocked to see that the socks with the “free shipping” option would be at my door within 3 days. I was fully prepared for the new socks to arrive and to be completely disappointed in them, but when the envelope arrived, I was downright shocked. The packaging was stunning, though I do question the thought of passing the “tag” though the sock instead of just using a plastic hook, but more on that later. When I opened the socks, not only was I completely impressed with the quality of the sock, but also the weighting of them. They weren’t the “pantyhose” feeling that many of the brands that I have seen/tried over the last 6 months. They were a softer, heavier weight, fabric that felt much more like a normal athletic style sock. I think these would not only benefit golfers at this point, but also runners, soccer players and anyone that spends a significant amount of time on their feet all day long. They just feel softer and more natural than most of the compression brands that I have felt.
Putting the sock on, I worried that it wasn’t going to fit. It looked small, but as it expanded and began working, it fit like a glove and I could almost feel it energizing my feet. As my feet adjusted to them, which is a normal occurrence after not wearing them overnight, I noticed my feet weren’t getting warm, but they still felt absolutely wonderful. The fabric was actually breathing, not just sealing my legs into a sauna like wrap and drying them out. It was the best feeling I have had in months. The compression is definitely there, but they just feel much more like normal socks. Go2 Socks nailed this one and again, with the price of each pair being under $20, this is one that will start replacing all of my compression socks as they wear out.
Now, for my one gripe… This little beast. I understand why they did this, but it really bugs me. The image above shows where they put a tag through the cardboard wrapper, through the socks and out the back side of the packaging to hold the socks securely for retail sales. Personally, I would rather have paid the extra $.50 to have them use a plastic hook at the top that the socks would loop through to hold them in place instead of risking the compression rating of the sock by pushing the tab through it. That said, there’s no evidence that the tab did anything to the socks, so I’m going to be ok with this move. Still, if that’s the biggest issue that I have with these socks, I think Go2 Socks is more than nailing this game.
On the back of the packaging, Go 2 Socks also includes the color pallet that the socks are available in. From the basic white (which is what I’ve been dreaming about having for months now) to rainbow stripes, there’s a color that will go with just about anything you have in your wardrobe. If you look at their “deals” section, you may even find some even more amazing prices on some of the styles and colors. To continue down the path of selection, depending on what you want to wear, Ankle supports for Plantar Fasciitis, Calf Sleeves for faster recovery and extra support, or full socks for circulation issues, Go 2 Socks has a stellar selection of colors and styles. They also offer one of the best K-Tapes that I have ever seen, so if you are in recovery mode and need that style of support, make sure to give a roll a try.
To wrap this up, if you haven’t experienced a round of golf in compression socks, you probably should try it. At under $20 for a pair that could literally last you an entire season, these socks may not save you much in the way of strokes, but they will keep your legs feeling fresher throughout the round and also help you not feel nearly as fatigued after the round as well. While I never knew about them before this year, runners, soccer players and even health care workers have kept these guys as their secret to performing better day in and day out for many years. If you haven’t had the chance to check out a pair yet, grab a tape measure, measure your calf and order a pair as quickly as you can. They may even be there in time for your next weekend round. Let me know in the comments below if you get a pair or if you already wear compression items on the course and how they work for you.
Visit www.go2socks.com to check out their full selection.
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