Bridgedale "Fast & Light" Socks : Sweet on My Feet

Ah, the bittersweet joy of starting a relationship with new socks -- the luxurious fit is so viscerally satisfying, but the experience is tinged with the angst of wondering when the time will come (and it will) when one sock disappears.

Jerry Seinfeld ventured the theory that because socks are forced to surround smelly feet all day they take advantage of their time in the dryer to escape. My mother had a more macabre explanation: dryers eat socks. Either way (or neither way), after a pampered few weeks of wearing three styles of Bridgedale's "Fast & Light" ankle socks my feet are happy and I'm not letting my new favorite socks anywhere near a dryer.

The first time I slipped on a pair of the X-Hale Cool Lo ("low cut for summer sports") I was struck by how light and snug they were. Made of nylon, merino wool, lycra and polypropylene (a nice mix of natural and man-made fibers), the fabric is light and porous, which means: they breathe, and when I run my feet don't feel soggy.

These socks have cushioning in all the right places-- under the heel, ball of my feet, and toes. I've been wearing the Cool Lo for running (I like the below ankle cut for warm weather) and Bridgedale's X-Hale Multisport sock (an ankle sock made out of the same materials as the Cool Lo) for lifting weights.

I also love the Ventum Ultra Lo sock, an excellent ventilated multi-purpose sock, with just a bit more cushioning along the bottom of the foot than the Cool Lo or X-Hale Multisport. Also available in women's sizes. See Jill's review of the Women's Hale Multisport sock.

Bottom LIne: An ultra comfortable, cushioned, and snug-fitting sock made for running, biking, or hiking. I love mine so much that I hang them to dry in my shower--where I can keep an eye on them.

Price: $14.95

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Manufacturer's Site: www.bridgedale.com