Top

Mommy Runs It

Life After Spinal Fusion Surgery [ Run | Travel | Joy ]

You are here: Home / Giveaways / My Favorite Running Gear: Thorlos Review

My Favorite Running Gear: Thorlos Review

By 80 Comments

Thorlos provided me with a complimentary pair of padded socks for the purpose of the review, and they are providing the giveaway prize at no cost to me. All opinions are 100% mine. This post contains affiliate links. 

Spring Into Fitness

I’ve teamed up with an amazing group of fitness bloggers to bring you the Spring Into Fitness Giveaway Blog Hop. After you read my post (and enter the giveaway!) scroll down to the bottom of the page, where you’ll find of list of other blogs, all with amazing fitness-related giveaways. Check them out and enter to win some fantastic prizes! 

Once upon a time, there was a girl who wanted to be a runner.

Thorlos 84N Runner Review | Mommy Runs It

So she bought a pair of running shoes from Kohl’s and a pair of running shorts from the clearance rack at Old Navy.

Then she ran a 15K.

And the 15K was so much fun, she decided to train for a half marathon. And then a full marathon.

Thorlos 84N Runner Review | Mommy Runs It

Unfortunately, the girl didn’t know that runners, especially long distance runners, need to take extra precautions to keep their feet healthy and safe…and that her regular old cotton socks weren’t going to do the trick.

Over time, a combination of bad socks and ill-fitting shoes left her feet looking like this:

Thorlos 84N Runner Review | Mommy Runs It

And this was not the happy ending that she’d hoped for.

Thorlos Experia

In case the pictures didn’t clue you in, the girl in the story is me. Shocking, I know. Try to remain calm.

It’s a true story, though. I simply had no idea that running socks existed. I’d always thought of socks in terms of color, style, comfort – but never as a factor in athletic performance. After all, it was really the first time in my life that I considered myself to be an athlete.

So I went to Sports Authority and asked a salesperson for help finding socks for running. He led me to a display of Thorlos Experia Multi-Sport Padded Socks. I tried them on – they felt different than regular socks, but in a good way. I liked the padding in the ball and heel. I liked the way they fit. And I liked that they were pink. Sold.

Thorlos Giveaway + Review | Mommy Runs It
photo courtesy of Thorlo.com

 

Thorlos Experia changed my running life. For real. Once I started running in my Experia, my feet stopped sliding forward in my shoes. I stopped getting blisters in between my toes and on the balls of my feet. I didn’t have to tape up my feet before runs. And my feet just felt better in general. I’d made a great choice.

“Thorlos are socks…like the Ritz Carlton is a hotel…like BMW is a car…and Disney is a park.” – Thorlo.com

What makes Thorlos a unique company is their passion for foot health. Check out Thorlo.com and you’ll see what I mean. This isn’t a sporting goods company that has a line of socks. At Thorlos, it’s all foot protection, all the time.

The Experia is a lightly padded sock, but most Thorlos are made with their “clinically-tested padding.” In a nutshell, these are padded socks that are designed to actually reduce foot pain and pressure. And they can help prevent icky stuff like black toenails and blisters, and more serious stuff like plantar fasciitis. They’ve spent years developing and testing the padding to get it just right.

84N Runner

Since I had such a great experience with my Experia, I was excited to try out a Thorlos running style that uses the brand’s core technology, their “clinically tested padding” (CTP) — and I selected the 84N Runner. My first first impression? They’re not kidding about the padding! These babies are thick and soft. There is a noticeable difference in the padding on the Experia vs. the 84N Runner.

Thorlos 84N Runner Review | Mommy Runs It

When I first put on my Experia before a run, it takes a couple of minutes to get used to the seam of the padding on the heel and ball of my foot. It’s the same with the 84N Runners – I can feel the seam on my foot for the first minute or two. But once my foot gets adjusted to it, I can run for miles without noticing it.

84N Runners are thicker overall, too – not just the padding. They’re very cozy and comfortable. I was a little concerned that my feet would get too warm (i.e., sweaty) in such a thick sock, especially in the Florida heat, but that isn’t the case at all. No moisture at all. My feet felt great both during and after my runs…and we’re talking long runs (20+ miles). Very little pain, if any. No blisters whatsoever. And I haven’t lost any more toenails.

thorlos2

Thorlos Experia vs. Thorlos 84N Runner

I love both kinds of padded socks. What I don’t love is sore feet, black or missing toenails, and painful blisters. And since the 84N Runner is specifically designed with to prevent those things, it’s become my sock of choice.

Now for the cool part. I’ve got two ways to help you test out the 84N Runner for yourself. First, Thorlos is giving one lucky reader two pairs of 84N Runners – one white, one black. Everything you need to enter is on the Rafflecopter below. Second, Thorlos has a special limited-time deal going on right now. They will actually send you a FREE pair of 84N Runners! All you have to do is pay shipping & handling, which is less than $5. It’s hard to beat that deal. You can find out more about the offer on Thorlo.com.

84N Runner – Women

Thorlos 84N Runner Review | Mommy Runs ItThorlos 84N Runner Review | Mommy Runs It

84N Runner – Men

Thorlos 84N Runner Review | Mommy Runs ItThorlos 84N Runner Review | Mommy Runs It

{giveaway is now closed}

Stuff you should know before you enter the giveaway —> * This giveaway is open to US residents only. You must be 18+ to enter. Winners will be notified via email and given 48 hours to respond. If the winner does not respond within 48 hours, a new winner may be selected. Mommy Runs It is not responsible for prize fulfillment. Giveaway ends 3/30/14 at 11:59 p.m. EST.*

a Rafflecopter giveaway
Good luck and thanks for entering! Your feet will thank you too. And after you enter, keep scrolling to check out some more awesome fitness blog giveaways!

Mommy Runs It

p.s. Check out my other current giveaways too!

My Dad's Two Cents: Then and Now
Miami Spartan Race - Race Entry Discount

Reader Interactions

Comments

  9. I only have 1 pair so far and they are Asics I got in a 10K race. I love them but I really need more pairs.

    Reply

  14. I’ve actually got a few different brands I like. Right now I am using Balega and I do like them! I used to love addias but I seem to wear holes in the backs of the ankles on those too fast:)

    Reply

  19. I’ve started running more now that I got a puppy. So I would like to try some socks designed for running, like Thorlos, instead other generic $2 socks.

    Reply

  24. So glad I stumbled upon this! I had some serious issues with blisters during the Glass Slipper Challenge in February. I’ve never heard of Thorlos, but you’ve convinced me to look into it!

    Reply

    • Oooh…I can so relate. I had horrible blisters. As you can see in my photo above, I even resorted to taping up every single toe before a long run. Helpful but inconvenient. Socks are a much more pleasant fix. 🙂

      Reply

  27. I don’t even know what brand my socks are! eek! They’re white. :/ I do know that I need to get some good socks. I’ve just gotten into running so I could totally use these!! 🙂

    Reply

  28. My favorite socks are my cheap Layer 8 socks I got at TJ Maxx. They’re great running socks and I got them at a good price!

    Reply

  29. I wear Thorlos but haven’t tried these new kinds!

    (Side note: I liked your facebook page from my running page, Once Upon a Run, not from my personal page which you have to use to log into rafflecopter)

    Reply

  30. I actually love SmartWool socks. They have very good traction and although are ankle socks, stay up. I’m always in for trying new products though, so will be checking Thorlo out!

    Reply

  31. I love the Thorlos! Granted, I only have one pair, but they are my favorite to run in! I’d love to win this giveaway!

    Reply

  34. I’m a new runner (last summer I first started with C25K) so I’m just figuring out what works for me. I just got some Feetures socks and can’t wait to run in them! They feel so great on my feet! I’m really looking forward to trying different products and finding my faves.

    Reply

  38. I would love to try the socks! I got Feetures socks at a Zooma race and I am hooked- socks do make a difference! Cute post!

    Reply

  44. I have an ultra in two weeks and have been searching for good socks! I’d love to try these!

    Reply

  45. My favorite probably has to be Injinji but I also wear Balega. Swiftwick makes great compression socks.

    Reply

  48. My favorite socks are ProCompression, but I haven’t run in them. I’ve just used them for recovery so far.

    Reply

    • I started out with some socks from Walmart that were dry-fit-ish. Having real running socks – whatever brand you choose – makes such a huge difference – I can’t even explain it. I still wear the Walmart ones in a pinch, and the difference is very noticeable.

      Reply

  57. Sadly-I run in whatever socks I have — I really like the features on these Thorlos and will be checking them out for sure.

    Reply

  58. I’m new to distance running. I have been running in cotton socks. UHOH.
    I do have a pair of feetures that I like, but I’d like to try these Thorlos.

    Reply

I'd love to hear your thoughts...