Sock Talk

Ethanol Information Green Fuel Fun

2006-11-12T12:37:00.000-08:00

Corn is good for eating and driving. I am a mega corn man. Corn dogs, corn chips, corn on the cob, corn flakes, corn fed veal, corn fritters, corn bread, corn chowder, cornucopia, and the list goes on and on. Now Ethanol is powering our cars. From the time that the pilgrims enjoyed the first husks of maze corn and America have shared an intertwined destiny. Now corn must be respected and yes even feared. For the children of the corn shall be powerful once again.

Simplicity is the key to Wii...

2006-10-08T13:49:00.000-07:00

How about 3 quarters easier game controller play with the Wii oh'naturale instinctive video game paddle of the ages. It is going to bring you further into the gaming experience than you ever dreamed possible. You thought the dance pad was good, C'mon guys this is the next level. Game on video game fiends, game on.

Resumption of Video Game Career...

2006-10-08T13:41:00.000-07:00

After a long walk on the sock side of life I have decided to redirect my sockdom towards a more video game centric point of view. HDTV has awoken my gaming interest. Now that Mario an be that highly defined cartoon plumber we always dreamed of it seems appropriate I rededicate my life to his image. Here we go.

Return of the sock...

2006-10-08T13:32:00.000-07:00

I am back and sokier thatn ever. I've been mixing it up in the sock underworld and have some great TV sock tales to tell.

Which Color is Your Favorite

2006-07-18T11:24:00.000-07:00

Socks come in all different colors. White, black, blue, you name it. The question is which color is best for you? It's a personal choice, there is no right or wrong (unless we're talking candy stripes, then you're wrong). Socks let you express your individuality while keeping you're feet healthy and comfortable. You can't knock healthy fashion. Take a moment to think about a sock with some crazy design on it. I'll bet you it's out there somewhere. There are more socks out there than you have time to try on in your whole life. That doesn't mean you shouldn't try though. Get out there and start looking for the socks of your dreams.

Reversible Socks

2006-07-01T05:56:00.000-07:00

I think it's time the world saw its first reversible sock. We have reversible jackets, hats and all kinds of other things. How hard could it be to get a reversible sock going? Think about it, you would be getting two pairs of socks in one. I call upon all of the world's major sock manufacturers to push ahead and release the world's first reversible socks.

Smartwool or Coolmax

2006-06-06T20:22:00.000-07:00

Smartwool or Coolmax?

Which one makes for a better sock? Coolmax is at the forefront of scientifically engineered fabrics. Smartwool however, is an incredibly capable natural material. It's not an easy decision to make. Both seem to make excellent materials for socks. Coolmax was engineered to be an efficient transferrer of moisture. It superbly wicks moisture away from your feet and leaves them dryer and healthier. Smartwool is the best nature has to offer when it comes to wicking moisture away and then evaporating it. They say the key is their specially bred merino sheep, whose wool is especially soft and contains air pockets to keep the heat or cold out.

Check out their websites and decide for yourself.

Coolmax
Smartwool

Find The Seam

2006-05-23T16:23:00.000-07:00

The most annoying thing about socks is when they irritate your feet. Constantly rubbing back and forth; it's enough to drive you crazy. The most likely cause of this irritation is the unassuming seam. Sure, it looks innocent enough holding the sock together, pretending it's not about to rub your foot raw. But you should not be fooled. This evil seam is about to put you through painful hell somewhat reminiscent of Dante's Inferno.

What's the solution you ask? Well maybe the seam isn't so important afterall. Maybe we could have a seamless sock. Maybe, it already exists. In fact, I know it does and it's wonderful.

And now so do you.

What's So Great About Thorlo

2006-05-12T13:56:00.000-07:00

Well for starters, they take the sock business as seriously as NASA takes space exploration. Thorlo has invested a great deal of time and money into researching different types of fibers, as well as how they fare when used during different activities. Thorlo has proprietary blends of natural occuring fibers such as wool, mixed with synthetics such as special acrylic fibers. These specialty fiber blends cannot be purchased anywhere else. They are available exclusively from Thorlo.

The people at Thorlo firmly believe that you should be wearing different socks for different activities, and that one size fits all doesn't cut it when it comes to your feet. For instance, we have discussed how wool is an excellent insulator in previous posts. We have also mentioned that it absorbs water to almost no end, and offers ineffective foot protection once it has been saturated. Thorlo realizes this, and has performed many tests to develop what they believe is the best solution depending on your activity. If you want to go skiing they have the right sock for you. The same goes if you want to hike, play basketball, and so on. Different activities present unique stresses to your feet, and one sock simply cannot protect in all scenarios.

If you're serious about taking care of your feet, consider the benefits of some high tech Thorlo socks. You'll be wondering how you ever lived without them.

Maintain

2006-05-03T20:35:00.001-07:00

Ok, so you've bought a pair of socks that you like. You should probably try to take care of them now right? Here are some helpful maintainance tips for your socks:

Wash your socks inside out. This will help your washing machine get at the sweat buildup, which is on the inside of the sock. You can also use liquid fabric softenerto make them feel even softer. Too much however, will leave your socks feeling a bit slimy.

Don't dry your socks in a commerical dryer. They will shrink and possibly damage the fibers of your sock. Commericial dryers are too hot for your socks.

When you do dry your socks in your home, remember to take them out before they are entirely dry. Hang them up and let air dry.

Follow these tips and you and your socks will have a long productive life together

I said Choose Your Socks Wisely

2006-04-27T18:53:00.000-07:00

In the last post I began to explain what to look for in your next pair of socks. We covered some important ground and hopefully imparted a bit of sock knowledge upon you. Let's continue where we left off and finish up this lesson.

It's worth noting that the guidelines you've been reading apply more to athletic and hiking socks than they do to dress socks. Did you note it? Excellent, let's continue.

In addition to the thickness of the toe of the sock (as mentioned in the previous post), you should check out the thickness of the sock in it's entirety. If you have smaller feet, a thicker sock may benefit you by filling the empty space between your foot and the containing shoe. This will result in less sliding around inside the shoe, possibly preventing blisters as well as more serious injuries. Also, the sock will be more comfortable as it will provide you with more cushioning. You may want to look into different socks for different pairs of shoes or boots, using thicker socks in conjunction with looser fitting footwear and vice versa.

The seams in your socks are also extremely important. Most people would never think to examine a sock's seams, and they end up paying the price as a result. The problem that arises is when socks have thick obtrusive seams. These will end up aggravating your feet as they constantly rub against them inside the shoe. The longer you wear the shoe, the more severe the discomfort. What you want to look for is a flat seam that doesn't appear to
protrude too much. This should ensure comfort even after many hours.

Make sure that your sock also has a decent amount of elastic. This is so that it will fit snugly and not become baggy after a relatively small amount of use.

We're almost done! Stop by soon and learn a few more tips to maintain your socks once you've bought them. Till next time.... .

Choose Your Sock Wisely

2006-04-17T05:43:00.000-07:00

When looking to purchase socks there are a number of factors to consider. Most importantly there is the choice of material. Should it be cotton, wool, or some sort of synthetic material (e.g. Thermax, Coolmax, acrylic)? Conventional wisdom says that if you have sweaty feet you should go with a synthetic, as their superior wicking ability will keep your feet dryer. If on the other hand you have feet that easily get cold, you would do well to buy yourself some wool socks. Wool socks are better insulators yet still retain respectable wicking ability.

After choosing the kind of material for your socks, you should look at the quality of the item. What you should specifically be looking for is density as well as stitching. The higher the density of the toe the better. If you turn the socks inside out you will see the small loops of which it is comprised. Ideally these should be as small and tightly packed as possible. This ensures the sock's cushioning as well as its ability to retain its cushion over long term use.

Check in next time for the conclusion of what to look for in a sock.

So You Wanna Be a Pro?

2006-04-11T12:48:00.000-07:00

You've seen all the commercials. Some guy who can't play a sport, puts on a pair of shoes and suddenly he's the man. He can dunk, bicycle kick, burn the defense and put all the others to shame. The shoes made him a superstar. While we might have become a bit jaded and view such advertisements with a chuckle, you shouldn't assume that the right gear wouldn't improve your game. As mentioned in past posts, the right kind of sock can make all the difference in the comfort of your feet and in turn be the competitive advantage you need to come out on top.

The American Podiatric Medical Association echoes this thought by stating that an individual's choice of athletic sock is an important one. Many sports podiatrists recommend acrylic socks as the fibers are excellent at wicking away moisture and keeping feet comfortable. The average foot has 250,000 sweat glands and they will do just that, sweat. While specialty socks generally cost a bit more than your average cotton socks, they also tend to last much longer. Their unique fibers give you the benefit of extreme foot comfort and coolness. So when its 4th and goal with ten seconds left (and with the way you throw it probably will be), you'll know that the one thing you can count on is your precious sock.

Dogs Don't Like Socks

2006-03-31T13:43:00.000-08:00

I don't care what Paris Hilton says. Dogs do not like socks. Maybe they would if someone took the time to explain to our canine friends the benefits of regular sock use. Until that day, don't expect much gratitude while you wrestle with your pet to get socks on each of its four legs, just to have it act like its having a seizure trying to get them off.

So next time you think it would be cute to dress up your dog, remember this post. They don't like socks, and if you do it anyways they won't like you.

Sock Busters

2006-03-24T22:12:00.000-08:00

If their's a sock stealing thief in your neighborhood who you gonna call?

Sock Busters.

Don't laugh, it's true. Sock Busters are a valuable group to have in any community that is plagued by sock stealing of the single or paired nature. Socks in a group are more prone to ill advised behavior than a lone sock. Watch out for large sock gatherings in dark places or unsecured sock stops.

Sloby Milosy

2006-03-15T19:06:00.000-08:00

I'm not a fan of old Slobo, but I have seen him sport some very nice pairs of socks. I do not beleive he is a thorlo or wigwam man, but he is no slouch when it comes to sock selection. Ofcourse was would be the proper tense when talking about old Slob. RIP Sloby and thanks for the sock memories.

Wake up and smell the Socks...

2006-03-14T21:59:00.000-08:00

A good foot and shoe deoderizer can work wonders for a funky foot. I recomend Dr. Scholls for fast results. Socks, HDTV and sleeping pills can combine to make one hell of an anti foot odor combo.

Socks Sock and more Socks

2006-03-09T13:19:00.000-08:00

I recently had a discussion with a gentleman in a sportsman's store. He kept insisting that his socks were not doing an adequate job keeping his feet dry. He told me that he thought he should just stop wearing socks altogether when he went hiking. I promptly explained to this confused individual that forgoing socks would be a lamentable mistake. While it may seem counter-intuitive that adding another layer would keep you cooler, that is in fact the truth. You just have to wear the right kind of socks. You see socks are not all alike. Beyond the fact that some socks are of a higher quality than others, certain socks are for certain purposes or situations. You wouldn't wear a raincoat to combat a freezing day with heavy snowfall would you? Of course not, you would wear a thick jacket that protected you from the cold weather. Similiarly, you should wear the appropriate sock to match your chosen activity. By abiding this common sense rule, you will find that there are socks tailored for these specific activities and that they do a better job than a one size fits all approach.

As for our confused friend in the store, I pointed him in the direction of some excellent hiking socks that wick away moisture and keep your feet dry. He thanked me and was on his way eager to try out his new socks.

You may be asking yourself "how can I figure out which socks are right for me and all my different activities"? Not to worry! Just keep coming back to Sock Talk and in no time you'll have it all figured out.

The sock knowledge is strong within you... .

Representing for the Sock

2006-02-26T13:06:00.000-08:00

I just wanted to do a quick post reiterating that socks aren't just some meaningless accessory. This is important people! All you birkenstock wearing sockless hippies would do well to heed my call. WEAR SOCKS! You only help yourself when you protect your feet from all the bad things out there. While antibacterial socks would be a good step, you should at least wear some traditional socks. Afford your feet some protection and you will be thanking yourself down the road.

Remember, socks are a multi-use item. Whether it's putting on your own rendition of Hamlet with some sock puppets, or putting a bar of soap in a sock to inspire discipline in an unruly cadet, a sock's utility is only limited by your imagination.

Did you see that superbowl commercial where McGyver used a sock to ride down that powerline? Now, that's what I'm talking about.

Till next time... .

Great Moments in Sock History

2006-02-14T14:50:00.000-08:00

We often take our socks for granted. They were around since before we were born and we just assume that they always were. However this is not actually the case. Did you know that socks experienced an evolution much in the same way life on this planet has. What you put on your feet everyday is just the latest incarnation of what has been a massive sock evolution starting in ancient times. This so called "sock darwinism" is responsible for the fine state of socks today.

It is generally accepted that the word "sock" is derived from the latin "soccus". A brief yet concise history of the sock can be found here at sock history.

In addition, we here at Sock Talk would like to highlight a site dedicated to theories about the truth behind missing socks. Though we have recently put alternate theories to rest with our hard hitting sock expose "Missing Socks Found", we do encourage readers to check out this interesting sock site.

Missing Socks Found!

2006-02-05T19:00:00.000-08:00

Do you ever wonder what happens to those socks you can never find? It happens to all of us. One minute we have a pair of socks, and the next minute we only have one sock. Where did that sock go? There seems to be no logical explanation. Is it alien abduction? Perhaps, an international sock kidnapping conspiracy. No, it is none of those things. I'm here today to tell you good people out there what really happens to those missing socks. After careful "studying" of the situation, our scientists have confirmed an alternate sock universe. Yes that's right, a universe where all the lost socks now reside. While details of the sock universe remain scarce, we can say that it seems that all the socks that have disappeared eventually reappear in this other dimension. What we still don't understand is why only one sock. We don't know who or what is responsible for this massive sock heist, but we will get to the bottom of it. While tests are still being administered, we felt that it was of the utmost importance to share this breaking sock news with you concerned citizens.

In addition, I'd like to congratulate the Pittsburgh Steelers on their recent Super Bowl victory. I think we all know what everyone on that team had in common. That's right, they were all wearing socks! Proof positive that regular sock use makes you a champion.

You Can't Handle the Socks

2006-01-28T20:05:00.000-08:00

I'm tired of these anti sock groups with their anti sock agenda. Just because you don't want to wear socks doesn't mean I have to agree with you. As an American I retain the ability to choose my own destiny with relation to footwear and/or foot accessories. You don't like socks, I get it. Move on. Stop trying to impose your anti sock mania on good hardworking people. They don't deserve to be harassed, and frankly they don't deserve to misinformed about the many benefits of regular sock use. It's fine if you don't want to wear socks; you do so at your own peril. But trying to enforce a no socks in school rule is completely unacceptable. Trying to put a statue of barefeet in our courtrooms is going too far. Why can't you understand that socks are a useful and helpful item. Without socks many of our most arduous journeys would have been that much more difficult, if not impossible.

In conclusion, state sponsored religion.. ..err I mean SOCKLESSNESS is a serious mistake.

Antibacterial Socks Abound!

2006-01-26T17:39:00.000-08:00

As I mentioned earlier, socks are an important part of keeping your feet healthy. While this can be said of many socks, it applies to one type in particular. You may not be aware but there does exist a pair of socks that actively fight for your feet. They are antibacterial socks. That's right, I said antibacterial socks. An innovative man named Bill McNally is responsible for making this wonderous achievment available to all of us. Mr. McNally realized that antibacterial socks could be fashioned by combining certain materials with silver. Silver is widely regarded for it's powerful infection fighting abilities. This vision of an infection fighting cloth led him to bring into production a sock unlike any sock before it. Beyond the sock's traditional benefits it now was also capable of preventing infections. Antibacterial socks are not just a novelty, and you should not neglect to appreciate these incredible socks and their abilities to protect us. Those of us with certain ailments that increase susceptibility to foot injury are blessed to have these antibacterial socks. These socks don't wait passively for infections to come to you. The silver woven into them actively prevents the bacteria from causing the infection to begin with. So heed my call and take an active interest in your feet by grabbing a pair of these incredible antibacterial socks.

Socks in HDTV, oh the viewing pleasure...

2006-01-24T19:18:00.000-08:00

If you love socks like I do, which is almost impossible, get yourself a HDTV plasma television. I saw a PBS high definition program on antibacterial socks that was just awesome. It knocked my socks off. HD television really is amazing. At first I thought it was just a fad or marketing ploy. Now I realize HDTV is here to stay. High definition television made every stich of those socks so clear. I could not believe my eyes. Even if you don't watch sock specials, you can enjoy HDTV. In my experience sporting events are great in HD. TV will never be the same, and anybody who is waiting to by an HD television is just delaying the inevitable.

2006-01-15T14:45:00.000-08:00

Socks are an integral part of us. We don't often notice the humble sock, instead paying attention to everything from hats to sunglasses, shirts to shoes. In doing so we overlook a very important article of clothing. Socks keep our feet warm and dry. They are an important item keeping our feet healthy. Without the aid of our unassuming ally, our precious feet would surely be in jeopardy.

Contrary to popular opinion, not all socks are created equal. In the time ahead, I will show just how one can identify a quality sock from a cheap imposter. Knowing what to look for can be the difference between healthy happy feet and painful regret.

Check in next time for the sake of your sock drawer.