Injinji Low Cut "No Show" Lightweight Toe Socks for Toe Shoes Review

Injinji Toe Socks

The new No-Show Performance Lightweight Toesock from Injinji will be available starting in May. Similar socks, previously known as the “Micro Liner", came in a crew and mini-crew lengths.

The Test

Injinji sent me a pair and I decided to test them on the trails in my Vibram Five FingersBikilas. I haven't run that much on trails in my Bikilas because they get dirt in them and I develop hot spots around my toes after a few miles. So I was excited to see if these toe socks solved that problem.

See my review after the jump!

Liner or Sock?

I think the name change makes sense because it is more of a sock than a liner. They feel as thick as most of the regular wicking socks I run in. So, when I first saw them, I was worried they would be make my Bikilas too tight; mine are already pretty tight without socks.

The Fit

I couldn't have been more wrong. My Bikilas were MUCH easier to get on with the Injinjis. They slid right in! I tend to have sweaty feet (yuck!), so that may be part of it, but mostly it is the fit. These socks fit my feet snugly with what feels like a slight compression.

Ground Feel

So, impressed with the fit, I took off on my run. The trails around here aren't too rocky, but have plenty of roots, pebbly creek beds and some gravel trails. Mostly they are just dirt trails with some slight elevation changes and lots of turns. The Bikila's sole gives great feedback on these trails and I didn't notice much of a ground feel difference in the Ijinjis compared to being sockless.

No Blisters!

What I did notice is the absence of sweat, grit and dirt rubbing around my toes and feet. I didn't have even the slightest blister or hotspot after my 4 mile run. This was a pleasure, indeed!

No Bunching

Also, there was no bunching whatsoever. I attribute this to the excellent fit and high end combination of fabrics. The socks formed perfectly to my foot and stayed that way throughout my run.

Wickiness

Speaking of fabrics, the Injinjis are made mostly of CoolMax fabric. The socks have a nice natural texture, though I doubt there is anything natural in them. Just like the CoolMax site shows, the fabric did a great job of wicking and drying my feet; they felt dry throughout my run. At the end of my run I did notice an even layer of sweat on the outside of the socks.  Ah, the wonders of modern technology.

Comparison to Other Injinjis

Justin here.  Just want to note that I much prefer these thinner Injinjis to my other, older varieties (wool and cotton, low and high-cut).  A bit of a disclaimer: I'm not a huge fan of toe socks as the stuck-on feeling on my toes is a bit irritating to me (toe pockets, on the other hand, don't bother me at all).  I'd just prefer to be barefoot while wearing Vibram FiveFingers.  That said, I immediately noticed on putting these new Injinjis on that that the "choked toe" feeling I'd grown to expect was significantly reduced if not eliminated entirely.  I'd like to echo my surprise at just how easy it was to put on a pair of VFFs while wearing these — KomodoSports and Trek LSs (review to come!) while wearing these.  Mind, they aren't wool, so they might not provide as much warmth, but for general toe sock needs, these are really a great new product from Injinji — thinner means they work better for toe shoes.  Back to Britt!

Highly Recommended

There is really nothing bad to say about these socks, and at about $10 retail, every Vibram Five Fingers runner should own a couple of pair. These are some really well engineered socks and I can highly recommend them for Vibram Five Fingers wearers.