Polyester or Cotton Socks?
With any type of clothing, you will have to find a material that’s going to suit your preferences for shape, form, function and material. Getting a good quality design is just one aspect of an excellent sock. You may be wondering what types of sock blends will fit you most comfortably and if you should be choosing between synthetic fibers or natural fibers. In this article, we’re going to detail some of the types of fibers that you should be considering for each type of activity level and some considerations you may not have made about polyester or cotton socks.
Polyester
Many people are apprehensive with the idea of using synthetic materials with their clothing but there’s actually some benefits to using polyester as a choice for your socks. Polyester is somewhat of a unique solution for your socks and it can be lightweight and moisture wicking. The fiber in polyester dries out quickly and this makes it very beneficial when it comes to being included with any type of performance sock. Rather than having to walk around in wet socks or use a fabric that feels damp, this is a fabric that is going to keep you dry all the time. It’s often less expensive than many of the natural fibers which can make it a popular choice for stock companies as well as the sportswear industry.
Polyester has often gotten a bad reputation and just a few decades ago, this type of material that would have been used in clothing as a commonplace item. Polyester socks have come a long way in the way that polyester fibers don’t feel as fragile as they once did.
Cotton
Cotton is a natural fiber that’s known for its moisture wicking properties. It has a breathable fiber that can include many different varieties of cotton for clothing. There’s organic, combed and recycled cotton and all of them are lightweight and absorbent. This option is extremely soft to the touch and has a natural material that is biodegradable. The advantage to using cotton is that it’s extremely safe for the environment and because it’s biodegradable materials will break down over time if you need to discard them.
It’s not easy to find socks that are 100% cotton unless you are going with the hand knitted variety of socks. Organic cotton socks are often much more expensive in a retail environment and because it’s a natural material it’s easy to get the shape and size distorted ever so slightly with regular wear. Washing also changes the condition of socks and making sure that cotton socks stay at their best will often take a bit more maintenance and care than with polyester.
Blends
One of the best ways that you can get access to the benefits of both comes through a cotton blend. One of the greatest advancements in the fashion industry throughout the 21st century was the idea of blending these two materials into custom fiber blends and socks that can combine different materials together. It shows the best properties of both and when choosing an ideal blend you can work at managing the weave and the percentage of each material blend. It will help you to see the best properties in the blend and decide on which one can offer you the greatest benefits!
Consider the blend that works best for you and the main properties of each type of sock material. Contact us today if you need help securing a quality supply of socks, our monthly sock subscription is the perfect option for the busy professional!