Swiftwick Aspire Socks Review

So I ran across an add on Facebook for Swiftwick socks.  It said, “We make the best socks you will ever wear…GUARANTEED!”  I thought to myself, that is a very bold statement.  I have been running in Injiji toe socks for over a year now and they have been my go to socks.  They let my toes splay (or spread out) allowing for greater stability, especially in my wide toe box shoes.  I contacted Swiftwick and they sent me a few pairs of their Aspire series socks to try.  I have given them a thorough testing and here are my thoughts.

When I opened the packaging, I could tell from the start that these socks were very well put together.  Swiftwick prides itself on using the best technology to make the best socks in the industry.  They utilize a 200 needle knitting process, which is the highest thread count in the sock business, resulting in a sock that has a tighter knit.  This prevents dirt and debris from coming through your socks, causing irritation.  The socks fit so well that it felt like they were a part of my foot.  There is no bunching or movement of the socks, even when running on trails where your feet slide around a little. 

Swiftwick produces every single sock in the United States.  They feel that it allows them to have better control on the quality of the materials that they use and the product that they produce.  They want to not only create a great product, but do so using environmentally friendly means.  Swiftwick also wants to make sure the customer is always happy.  They offer a guarantee that is better than most companies offer.  “We unconditionally guarantee every Swiftwick product to be the best performance product you have ever worn, or we invite you to mail us the laundered socks and a request for a competitor’s replacement pair of equal value.”  I like that they do ask for you to clean it and not send your smelly socks.

I received the Aspire Zero in black, which is a light weight, thin sock that stops below the ankle.  It uses managed compression to support all three arches (I only thought we had one arch, who knew) and their Linked-Toe design to eliminate bunching, which can cause hot spots and blisters.  They wick moisture better than any sock I have tried and even after months of testing, they look just as good as the day I first put them on.

I also received the Aspire Four in Razzle Red.  The Four stands for four inches of ankle support, where the Zero has no ankle support.  The Aspire Four utilizes Swiftwick’s double cuff rises, which prevent the sock from slipping down, ever.  It also has all of the same features as the Aspire Zero.  

Pros:

Very comfortable

Hot spot and blister free

Extremely durable

Made in the USA

Best guarantee in the business

Cons:

I only have 2 pairs.

They start at $12.99, so they are a little pricey.

Do Swiftwick socks live up to their claims of being the best socks I will ever wear?  Much to my surprise, they do.  I love these socks!  While they might be a little pricey, they are extremely durable and will last for quite a while (longer than cheaper socks).  They are made in the USA and use the best materials and technologies available to create a superior product.  I have no problem spending a few extra dollars to get such a great product.  I will definitely be buying me a few more pairs to add to my collection. 

Give them a try and let me know what you think.  What do you have to lose?  If you don’t like them, Swiftwick will buy you a pair of your favorite socks as a replacement.  You can buy them starting at $12.99 for the Aspire Zero and $16.99 for the Aspire Four.  They also have various other sizes and several colors to choose from.  Go to Swiftwick or Amazon to get yours today.

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Note:  I received this product in exchange for a review.  The review is my personal opinion of the product and I was not required to give a particular opinion of it.  I am not a doctor, so please use all of the products that I review at your own risk.

WIN Sport Detergent Review

If you are a new runner or have been around the block a few times, you probably know that running brings out some smells that you never thought would come out of your body.  I have been cycling and working out at the gym for over a decade and my clothes have never smelled like they do after a run.  My wife and I call it the homeless smell.  

The smell doesn’t actually come from the sweat itself but from the bacterium that breaks down the sweat (a process called bromhidrosis).  Performance or technical running gear is made to wick moisture and dry quickly, but those same properties trap the oils and bacteria that smell so bad.  Cotton tends to not trap those oils as easily, but is terrible at moisture wicking and breathability.  

I used to just wash my running gear with my normal laundry.  The problem is that most detergents don’t remove the oils and bacteria that care causing the smells.  These oils reduce the effectiveness of your expensive running clothes.  There are a few

sport washes out there that can help.  Nathan Sport Wash and WIN detergent are two of those washes.  Today I will review the WIN detergent.

WIN detergent is formulated to break the bond between the oils and the fabric so they come out smelling great.  Not only will your clothes smell fresh, but by removing that residue from your clothing, your clothes will breathe and wick moisture better.  They recommend washing in warm water and tumble drying on low.  I always wash my gear in cold water because I don’t want them to shrink but had no issues.

I received two bottles from WIN.  The blue bottle is their original high-performance sport wash and the green is the fragrance-free dye-free version.  Both versions worked great and what I really liked about the original version is that my clothes smelled good and weren’t overly fragrant like after I washed my clothes with Nathan’s Sport Wash.  I feel that the WIN detergents are a superior product.  

The bottles each have enough for 21 loads.  If you like to run in clothes that don’t smell like death, than pick up your bottle of WIN detergent at Amazon or your local running store.  The 32 ounce (21 wash) bottle sells for about $10.95 on Amazon.  Not a bad price for great smelling clothes. To find out more information go to www.windetergent.com.  

Note:  I received this product in exchange for a review.  The review is my personal opinion of the product and I was not required to give a particular opinion of it.  I am not a doctor, so please use all of the products that I review at your own risk.

About Me

My name is Brian Goldman and I am 38 years old.  I have been cycling since I was 15 years off an on.  I became more serious about riding about 15 years ago, always challenging myself to get faster and stronger.

I few years back, I was looking for a change of pace that would fit into my lifestyle.  I am married with three young children and have found it difficult to find time to go on long bike rides.  In April of 2013 some friends from work started running and I decided to tag along.  I never really enjoyed running, but had only run on treadmills in the past.  My first run was as 3 mile struggle and I averaged around 12:30 minutes/mile, having to stop several times to catch my breath.  Over the next few months I progressed and was running at an average pace of 9:30 minutes/mile.  Unfortunately I started developing shin splints.  Over the next year I dealt with one injury after another from IT Band issues, to tendonitis, to hip pain.  I spent countless hours researching injury prevention and even went to a running coach to change my form.  I ran my first half marathon on April 26, 2014 (the American River Parkway Half Marathon) with an average pace of 9:12 minutes/mile.

In the last two years, I have found that passion for cycling again and use it to supplement my running.  It is great cross training and has helped me to become stronger and less prone to injuries.  As with my other blogs, Running Without Injuries and Real Runner Reviews, I want to help people in their pursuit of staying healthy.  The Cross Training Cyclist will provide advice on how to become a better cyclist as well as product reviews that might make the time on the road more enjoyable.  I hope you like my posts and always welcome your feedback.