The Best Toe & Barefoot Socks for Small Feet | Pt. 2, Update & Review
Updated: Nov 12
I bet you've been waiting for a sock review and day-in-the-life vlog of a small-feet-toe-sock-wearer... Here it is! Just kidding about that last part. But indeed, after 10 months of testing, I am finally back with a little update and a review of four different sock models. Enjoy!
Table of Contents
Recap and Update
First, a short recap, this is where we left off: in my last post about toe socks, I told you about my TOETOE's Yoga & Pilates Toe Socks, and I quickly intoduced you to Vibram's Wool-blend Crew Toe Socks and Be Lenka's Crew Barefoot Socks, which I had just bought from ZaMi. Unfortunately, I had to shorten the toe sleeves of the TOETOE's and Vibram's socks. I don't think I can make it work on my sewing machine since everything is too tiny and stretchy, so I did it by hand and it takes way too much time and effort. This was the reason I wrote the original post. It seemed impossible to find a pair of toe socks in which my short toes would fit snuggly out of the box, so I was still on the search for a solution.
After that, I eventually took my commitment a step further and bought an expensive pair of Injinji's Run Light No-Show Toe Socks. These are the most comfortable toe socks I tried so far, I love the material and most importantly, the toe sleeves are the smallest I found, which means I didn't need to manually shorten them (!!!). This feels like nothing short of a miracle.
It has been ten months since I wrote the first article about toe and barefoot socks. I took my time to wear all these different models for a while, on normal days to work, short hikes, long hikes, runs or simply while chilling at home. I have done that and now I can share my well-founded opinion. Take a look at the sock reviews below.
TOETOE's Yoga & Pilates Toe Socks || home
TOETOE's Yoga & Pilates Toe Socks (EU 35-38 / UK 3-5.5)
I wear these all the time around the house. I do practice yoga and pilates, but I do it without socks all year long, I just prefer it that way. There is no ground contact like truly barefoot contact. Still, these are my go-to socks at home because the material is thick, warm and comfortable plus, they have anti-slip catspads and I love that. I can definitely recommend them. The toe sleeves are a bit too long for me so I had to shorten them, but that is the only downside for me and this obviously might not be an issue for you.
Vibram's Wool-blend Toe Socks || autumn & winter
Vibram's Wool-blend Crew Toe Socks (EU 34-37)
Vibram's toe socks fit my foot very well overall, they are medium-thick and very comfortable. Unfortunately, the four smaller toe sleeves are still too long for me. Shortening them works for me but, a word of caution if you do this too: the fabric on these is not the most stretchy so make sure you don't cut them too short. If it is done well, the seam feels like it isn't there, so if you are willing to spend the time and effort, I say go for it.
These are my go-to socks for autumn and winter. They are excellent for everyday use and any fitness activities! I have worn these socks on long autumn hikes (5-15º C) and felt warm and comfortable the entire day. I literally wore these socks on a crazy autumn adventure which took me up and down mountain tops, and an alpine trail down a cliff. They did not fail me and I lived to tell the tale. Regardless of how comfortable they are, if you get a chance to air your feet once during a hiking day (10+ km for example), you should still do it to avoid moistness. But these are excellent, I love them and can vouch for them for any type of activity.
Be Lenka's Barefoot Socks || everyday
Be Lenka's barefoot socks feel amazing in summer. They are mostly made of cotton, which makes them very soft, light and breathable. They are great to get out of the house fast and keep your feet breezy all day. I don't wear them on runs or hikes because they are thin and don't have the toe sleeves, so they don't have extra drying or sweat absorbing capabilities. But apart from more sporty days, I will choose these almost every time. They are a lot wider than common socks so they are my go-to for day-to-day life: going to the office, shopping or a short walk. I took these on a 5 km hike but because they are loose and forgiving, I would recommend them for everyday usage only. For sports, I recommend socks that hold on to your feet a bit more. :D
Injinji's Run Light Toe Socks || spring & summer
Injinji's Run Light No-Show Toe Socks (XS/S, EU 35-40)
I saved the best for last! Injinji's Run Light toe socks have been awesome to wear. The big plus is, despite my short toes, these are perfect for me out of the box! So that's a big win. Apart from that, they are very soft and comfortable, and they hold on nicely to the foot, so from day one, they easily became my absolute favorite for running and going on long hikes, especially in warmer weather.
I have not tried Injinji's thicker toe socks yet but I plan to, I want to test a few different models for autumn and winter. If you are looking for top quality toe socks for running or hiking in spring or hot summer days, I definitely recommend these. The only downside is their price tag, which can understandably be a no-go for some people. At the end of the day, I am willing to invest a bit more than I would like on one or two pairs of amazing socks to get me through some serious adventuring. Luckily, my go-to shop for barefoot/toe socks, ZaMi, has a variety of Injinji's models.
Conclusion
I had fun writing this update and it looks like it won't be the last. It was awesome to hear from a reader recently, asking for an update. It is nice to know me and my toe struggles are not alone in this world. :P
While I did find a model of toe socks that suit me perfectly out of the box, that doesn't mean no further search is needed. Now I am very curious to find out how Injinji's other models feel... Did they get it right just for the Run Light design? How is the fit of their Run and Trail Midweight models? I can't wait to find out. I hope they won't disappoint but either way, I will report back to you. Finally, my call for help from part 1 still stands:
Do you know any obscure toe sock brands that make toe socks with particularly short toe sleeves? Let me know because I would love to try them on, fall in love and run their stock to the ground. It would be really interesting to get your feedback on specific socks or your general struggles as well. I would love to hear from you if you have questions, suggestions, ideas or solutions of your own!
I hope you enjoyed this second instalment of the thrilling tale of my sock struggles and I hope it can help you in some way. Stay in touch, go out, conquer the outdoors with your toe socks and have fun!
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