Technology
A sock isn't an accessory. It's the interface between a foot that moves and a shoe that doesn't. Everything that goes wrong between the two — blisters, hot spots, toes hitting the front — happens in that two-millimetre layer. Here's how ours is built, and why each choice was made.
01 — Five chambers instead of one tube
The ordinary sock is a bag. Five toes sit bundled inside it, in permanent contact with one another, for the whole duration of the effort. That is where most inter-toe blisters begin.
We knit five independent chambers. Each toe gets its own pocket, sized on real foot measurements rather than a proportional shrink of one pattern — a little toe is not a big toe made smaller, its chamber is proportionally shorter and narrower.
What this changes in practice: skin-on-skin contact disappears. It isn't reduced and it isn't cushioned — the shearing mechanism between two neighbouring toes no longer takes place, because a knitted wall sits between them. The toes also recover their natural spread, which widens the contact area at push-off.
The trade-off, which we accept: putting them on takes about fifteen seconds longer, toe by toe. And the added thickness between the toes calls for a shoe that doesn't crush the forefoot.
02 — An arch compression band, knitted continuously
The arch collapses on every landing and reloads on every push-off. A support band reduces that flexing and delays fascia fatigue.
Ours is knitted into the sock, not stitched on. A sewn band creates a ridge, therefore a friction point, therefore exactly what we are trying to eliminate. The compression comes from a change in knit density and yarn tension, with no added seam.
Compression level: [TO BE COMPLETED — mmHg value to be confirmed by the manufacturer, standardised measurement]
03 — Two knit zones, two jobs
A single-knit sock makes a permanent compromise between breathability and durability. We separate the two.
- Top of the foot — open mesh. No pressure, no abrasion. Its only job is to let moisture out. The knit is as airy as it can be.
- Underfoot and heel — dense knit. Load and wear zone. Reinforced density for durability and light cushioning.
Moisture is the second blister factor after shearing: macerated skin loses much of its mechanical strength. Cotton holds water against the skin; technical yarns move it towards the outside of the fabric, where it evaporates.
Drying time: [TO BE COMPLETED — protocol and duration to be validated in a comparative test]
04 — A Y-heel
If the sock rotates inside the shoe, the toe seam shifts and starts rubbing where it shouldn't. The Y-heel locks the sock onto the rearfoot, which matters most on technical descents, when the foot slides forward on every step.
The materials
| Component | Role |
|---|---|
| High-tenacity nylon | Structure and abrasion resistance. This is what lasts. |
| Technical wicking yarn | Moves moisture from the skin to the outside of the fabric. |
| Elastane | Elastic recovery. Without it, the sock stretches out and slips. |
| Merino wool (winter models) | Thermoregulation and odour control, including when damp. |
Exact composition: [TO BE COMPLETED — percentages and supplier certificates]
Care
Wash at 30 °C / 86 °F, air dry. No fabric softener: it leaves a film on the fibres that blocks moisture transfer. It is the first reason a technical sock "stops working" after a few months — it isn't the sock, it's the detergent.
What the sock does not do
We would rather say it. A toe sock reduces friction between toes. It does not fix a shoe that is too small, a badly cut nail, a bone deformity, or a stride that drives the foot into the front of the shoe. If your blisters are under the heel or on the metatarsal heads, the problem is elsewhere — shoe, insole, or running form. If pain persists, see a podiatrist.