How do you choose the right socks for swimrun?
Swimrun is a growing sport that is becoming increasingly popular. What exactly is swimrun, and what swimrun equipment should you get for a race? An important part of choosing equipment is what you have on your feet, as swimrun is running and swimming in tough conditions.
As you probably all know, Gococo, together with our material partner 37.5® Technology, are proud sponsors of ÖTILLÖ – The Swimrun World Championship and World Swimrun Series! Equipment is an important part of your success as an athlete in your swimrun, and we receive questions every day about which socks are best for swimrun. There are many aspects to consider, so we will try to guide you to the right decision!
Tip – keep this in mind when choosing socks for swimrun
- Thin and quick-drying. Make sure you have a thin swim run sock with a quick-drying material that doesn't absorb too much moisture and thus become heavy on the foot.
- Good fit. Most materials stretch when they get wet. A good swimrun sock should have a good fit that stays put even when it gets wet. You don't want the sock to bunch up in your shoe or flap around in the water!
- High or low shaft? This is a highly personal question as some prefer low shafts while others prefer high ones, such as high compression socks for swimrun. The choice of sock height can also be influenced by where the competition will take place, as high socks, for example, protect against jellyfish on the west coast. A higher shaft also protects against sand and mud getting down between the sock and the foot. A swimrun sock with a lower shaft on the other hand, creates less water resistance during swimming. If you use buoyancy aids for your calves, a compression stocking or compression sleeves can help keep these in place.
- Wool or synthetic? A wool sock for swimrun is preferable early in the season when the water is cooler, as wool retains heat even when wet. However, wool takes a long time to dry and absorbs a lot of water, making these socks heavier on the foot. Try to use a more quick-drying synthetic material as soon as the temperature allows!
- Compression or no compression. If you are going to run longer distances during the race, compression will help you postpone fatigue in your legs for a longer period of time. In cooler conditions and on tight swims, compression also serves as a warming and protective garment.
- Running without socks? NO, that's not an option! A swimrun sock made of good material protects your foot from chafing, mud and pebbles that can get into your shoe during ascents and descents.
Swimrun socks will keep you chafing-free!
When you practice such a tough sport as swimrun, it is a must that you keep your feet free of chafing. Here it is important to avoid chafing and blisters at all costs as you will be doing both the run and the swim in the same socks and shoes throughout the race. Gococo's socks for swimrun keep you free of chafing and the secret lies in our functional material 37.5® Technology, which is a quick-drying material perfect for all demanding sports such as trail running and swimrun. In addition, our socks are colorful and visible, which is an advantage when you are in the water. Your teammate sees you more easily, and the colors become a cool detail in your outfit! Read more in our guide: The magic of Gococo's socks!
Other swimrun equipment
Apart from socks for swimrun - what other swimrun equipment do I need to consider? A pair of trail shoes, or special swimrun shoes, that you can run long distances in and that drain water is preferable. You also need a tight-fitting wetsuit with short legs to make running easier. A silicone swimming cap is needed for swimming, and if it is cold outside you can wear a neoprene cap underneath. Other equipment for your swimrun race is swimming goggles, a swimline between you and your teammate, possibly swimrun paddles and calf floats.
7 facts about swimrun
- Swimrun has been around since 2006 and is therefore a relatively new sport.
- The sport was invented in Sweden by some Swedish guys who bet on whether they could compete in swimming and running around the islands in the Stockholm archipelago. From Utö to Sandhamn, that is, Ö to Ö.
- In a swimrun race, you wear the same equipment from start to finish. The requirement is usually to wear a special wetsuit that ends at the knees.
- The athletes alternate between swimming and running for different distances, without stopping.
- You usually compete in pairs or teams. The members of a team must not be more than 10 meters apart from each other, either on land or in the water.
- Today there are swimrun competitions all over the world. In Sweden there are several swimrun races from north to south and the calendar can be found at ÖTILLÖ's website .
- ÖTILLÖ – The Swimrun World championship is considered one of the toughest endurance races in the world!
Good luck with your swimrun!
Do you have any questions about your choice of socks for swimrun? Contact us and we will help you!
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