Gear Review: Sock Disapointment

Let’s file this review under “Bad Gear To Avoid.” I am here to help you avoid spending your hard-earned money on failed items.

Every year, I usually pick up seven pairs of new Injini-toed socks, which are not inexpensive. I saw another brand when I looked at Amazon to see what they carried (some of the Injini line is sold there). Now, I have bought other toed socks on Amazon before, and while they were not perfect, they were functional. I prefer toed socks for everyday wear, not just for hiking. Once you get used to it, it’s hard to wear “normal” socks again, and I’ve been wearing toed socks for almost 20 years now.

The brand was “BySock,” and part of their line is a full-on rip-off of Injini socks, such as these. I was hoping that their knee-high socks would be a standout. They had a nice look and, at $13.99, were more affordable than similar ones.

I picked up a pair of knee-high compression socks, and according to the size chart, a Medium was right for me.

I am a size 10 woman’s shoe, and my calves are normal size (this is an important detail).

However…

When they showed up, the size chart was different. Now, it was a Medium, which was women’s 7.5 to 10.5. That is a full size smaller than what it said online.

It was also a different brand called OrrinSports.

When I bought them at the end of December, they had three color choices: black, white, and, I think, grey. I had chosen the white ones, the color difference being the heel, toe area, and upper band. Well, except while the socks were white, the other parts were baby blue. OK, that was fine. The photo above is what was promised.

What came? Not quite what was promised. So, you know, a bit like Temu and Shein.

Here’s where it gets wonky. If you have worn quality toed socks, such as Injini, you know the toes are probably the most important part. These toes are massive! There is no real shape, just a bag for each toe, which means they will shift and cause issues if your toes are normal-sized.You would need thick toes to fill the bags in.

That is…if you could even get these socks on your feet. As I tried them on, my foot started cramping. They were THAT tight. I finally got it over my foot and realized these socks were not going up my lower legs. I wear compression socks often, and tightness can be expected, but this was weird. It was like they were built for bones, not for actual legs. I called it a day and took it off. And pulling it off hurt.

My advice here is to avoid these socks. They are not a good choice. Stick with the brand names, even if they do cost more.

~Sarah