Last Updated on September 27, 2019 by Heather Hart, ACSM EP, CSCS
I feel as though the term “unless you are living under a rock” should be replaced with “unless you don’t have a Facebook account”. Let me demonstrate:
Unless you don’t have a Facebook account*, you have noticed that knee high socks are all the rage these days. (*Your Facebook results may vary, dependent upon number of crazy athlete friends). Be it ultra runners wearing life saving (literally) compression socks, CrossFit fanatics protecting their shins from deadlift and rope climbing battle wounds, obstacle course racers protecting themselves from the hazards of the trail (poison ivy anyone?), or gym goers who just want to look cute: knee high socks are incredibly popular right now.
In our house, these socks have become a necessity. Often referred to over here as “shiggy” socks (an H3 term for super thick brush, thorns, poison ivy, etc) they are lifesavers against the ruthless Vermont terrain that we so often train in. And what’s better than knee high socks that protect you from raspberry thorns, deadlift scrapes, and rocks tearing at your shins while you crawl under barbed wire? Knee high socks that have WORDS on them. It’s the little things in life…
- The Sox Box was founded by husband and wife team Athena and Vincent Suich. The story (which can be read here) goes a little something like this: Athena was searching for knee high socks that would fit around her muscular CrossFit calves, and thought it would be great if the socks had sayings that represented the strength of her CrossFit community. Bam, The Sox Box was born.
- The socks are made in the USA, of 68% Cotton, 25% Nylon, 4% Spandex and 3% Polypropylene. The designs come in various colors, and feature a wide variety of sayings such as “Strong Mama”, “WOD Killa”, and even “Yay Burpees” (one of my favorites). There are many gender neutral socks, so gentlemen, there are Sox Box options for you too.
- The company has pledged a lifetime donation of 20% of all Sox Box profits to the Independence Fund, a non-profit group that directly supports the wounded ill and injured service members.
THE REVIEW:
I will admit, when Athena contacted me about doing a review, I was already a huge fan of the socks. Introduced to me a while back by my CrossFit bada$$ pal Hope at Sportymom.me, I had already put a few pairs of Sox Box socks though rigorous testing. But I wasn’t going to turn down the opportunity to do a review AND give one of my readers a chance to win a pair of these awesome socks for themselves, so I chose a pair of “Left, Not Left” socks, then proceed to put them on the wrong legs. You know, just to see if anyone was paying attention (they weren’t).
Now, as I said, I’ve put these socks through rigorous workouts. For example, here I am at the Citi Field Spartan Sprint this spring, burpeeing in “Train Insanse” socks (not standing on the wall, the picture is deceiving)
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photo credit: New England Spahtens |
What I love about the socks:
They are thick. There really is no point in wearing knee high socks for protection against the elements (or ropes or Olympic bars) if they are so thin you get scratched through them anyway.
They stay put. Even when soaking wet (see above photo), running, or knocking out a few hundred burpees, the socks stay up. The LAST thing you want to worry about when working (or playing) hard is having to constantly readjust your clothing.
Comfortably snug. These are NOT compression socks, however, they are snug enough that they provide that same supportive feeling that you get from compression gear.
They are cushioned. There is an extra layer of cushion on the sole of the sock. Everyone has varying preferences in this department, but I run in these, blister free.
They are HILARIOUS. I’m outspoken as it is. But a pair of socks speaking for me is just icing on the cake. My bootcampers know they are in trouble when I show up in my “yay burpees” socks
They are affordable. At $9.99 a pair for durable, stay put, great looking socks, you really can’t go wrong.
Athena and The Sox Box were aweosme enough to offer up a pair of socks to one of my readers. There are a few ways to enter, follow the RaffleCopter below. But for the most points, be sure to visit The Sox Box on Facebook, like their page, and let them know I sent you! Tell them which style is your favorite, or suggest a new saying! Winner will be chosen on Friday August 16th. Good luck!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
One pair of Sox Box socks were provided to me at no charge, however all opinions expressed in this review are my own.
Heather Hart is an ACSM certified Exercise Physiologist, NSCA Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS), UESCA certified Ultrarunning Coach, RRCA certified Running Coach, co-founder of Hart Strength and Endurance Coaching, and creator of this site, Relentless Forward Commotion. She is a mom of two teen boys, and has been running and racing distances of 5K to 100+ miles for over a decade. Heather has been writing and encouraging others to find a love for fitness and movement since 2009.
Hannah Hawley
I would LOVE a pair of socks and fingers crossed they fit my HUGE calves! I bought a pair of socks in tie dye at Olympia Sports that didn’t even fit halfway up my calf.
Cheryl
Would love to try a pair.
kerri h.
I’d love to win a pair of these socks because I’m still wearing my 100% cotton ankle socks circa 2006 for all my workouts – bike or run. Old habits die hard.
As for a saying, I like “Did I finish?” in case I am found on the side of the road, trail or mountain, passed out from exhaustion.
Amy Z
I love socks! What a fun giveaway!
sabopesk
Obsessed with these sox. LOVE the yay burpees ones. Hope they make a BAD. ASS. pair – I’ll buy 20!
Sheena
I generally hate socks, but LOVE knee high socks (I’m weird, I know). I’ll wear them everywhere, especially with fun sayings on them!
Libromancer's Apprentice
I’ve been coveting your “Left/Not Left” socks, happy to know where they’re from.
Wonder what it would cost to do a custom run…
Mom on the Run
I’m a newbie to the knee sock wearing craze. I typically wear them on trail runs too to protect my legs. I’m still trying to find the right pair to wear for my upcoming OCRs.
Mom on the Run
I’m a newbie to the knee sock wearing craze, but I usually sport mine during trail runs to protect my legs too. I’m still trying to find the right pair for my upcoming OCRs.
Rebecca
I LOVE Sox Box, I CrossFit and I run in them. 🙂
Megan
I <3 sox box socks!! I could ALWAYS use another pair!
Anonymous
They are hilarious!
Betsy
I always need new, bad-assed socks for crossfit and OCR! love these 🙂
Teresa Millstone
I’ve never really worn knee high socks, I want to try them. I’d wear them while working out.
Jenny Hart
These are sweet socks, and I could use a new pair to highlight my crooked knees.
AmyL
I’ve seen posts about Sox Box everywhere on Facebook. I’m not sure why I don’t own a pair yet.
Liz
Love them for rope climbs!
RenoRugger
Hooray for Shiggy Sox! Especially thick ones, like you say these are. On-On!
Geoff Hart
I like your Hot Mess ones the best.
JennT
Love high socks, and the “Love Burpees” ones would be perfect!
Christy
I love knee socks!!! I would love some that actually stay up!
Mindi Fried
Would love some shiggy socks, because I’ll be out in the shiggy eventually again soon, right? 🙂
Kirsten
I LOVE the birthday socks!! Sadly I have tiny feet and they aren’t offered in the smaller size so I would go with the play hard ones. I’m planning to start crossfit next month after I get a chance to check out some boxes.
Amie
I love wearing knee highs and I usually wear them on the trails
Ann-Marie
Love them! I would definitely wear them on summer hikes 😀
Ann-Marie
Love them! I would definitely wear them on summer hikes 😀
Becca
I hope they fit over my 17″ calves..
Christy
Love the look of these socks, look uber comfy!
Seth
I’m a fan of knee highs for road races, and that’s where I mostly wear ’em.
Kristin Hayden
I love the knee highs, they would be perfect for my fall softball league
Tonya Schroeder
I want my first pair of knee highs!
rdezarn
I <3 my knee high socks! I have 2 pair of Sox Box and run, walk and ride my bike in them!
Tonya Schroeder
I want my first pair of knee highs!!
Anonymous
Would love to win my first pair of sox box socks.
Melissa Running It
They are awesome! Hot Mess is definitely calling me!!!
Marianda Marshall
I love knee high socks. I have one pair and I just love how they look. I really think the hot mess ones are my favorite — I am a hot mess! lol. It motivates me! I wear them always while I work out. I have a 5k coming up and I need to get some socks for it! 🙂
Ana Vega
I have recently been introduced to The Sox Box on Facebook, and look forward to wearing their socks in upcoming events (running and my first CrossFit event).
I have a Diva Run on my birthday, those are definitely calling me.
Would love more.
Anonymous
I love these socks, so far I only have one pair, strong momma. I would like the barbell babe ones 🙂
Tiffiny Duke
I love knee high socks and feel naked without them. I really need some tight ones! I will wear them during my typical day, during races and training!
Cheridene Boucher
I am a knee high sock fan!! I want to win a pair because show off my huge calves, and I will wear them everywhere?
Karen Sinesi
So far I’ve only given the Sox as gifts, I haven’t bought any for myself. Having them given to me might be the only way I’ll get my own pair! 🙂 But they make such a great gift! 🙂
AmandaVanD
I’ve tried some other socks and a friend recommended these. I’d love to have the ‘YAY BURPEES’ or ‘HOT MESS’. What about a saying on the back of the socks “NOTE MY TIME”… you know, they passed out b/c they worked so hard 😉
StrongMamaK
I just love the entire line of socks. They’re so cute most most importantly, they’re comfy! Def wanting the pink Strong Momma or Hot Mess;)
Anonymous
I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE these socks!
bdulin12
I love them! I have a pair of strong mama socks and wear them all of the time.
Jill
I love these Sox! I would wear them for all my workouts – HIIT, Crossfit, and Running. Thank you.
Anonymous
I love the Birthday socks!!
Nichole Zemaitis
I am a knee high sock fan!! I like to wear them during colder races. I don’t own any pairs with words yet!!