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.
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.
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.
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:
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 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.
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.
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
84N Runner – Men
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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!
p.s. Check out my other current giveaways too!