Getting the right pair of socks is important to not only keep you comfortable during a round, but also meeting AFGL requirements for official tournaments. I recently got a hold of a pair of socks made by company JQuintos that are specifically made for footgolf. I've had the socks for some time now and it's time to give my review after being tested in the field.
I reviewed each feature of the sock that JQuintos lists on their website to see if they back up their claims.
"CALF SIZE"
Unlike traditional argyle socks that you may wear formally, there is more room in the tube of the sock for beefy calves. A lot of footgolfers were former soccer players and are still rocking those massive calves, so the extra room makes the socks more comfortable.
I have noticed a difference in calf size compared to the argyle socks that I had been wearing previously, and not only do they fit more comfortably without falling off, but they’re also easier to put on and take off.
"KEEP COOL, KEEP WARM"
This feature refers to the breathability of the socks with the mesh on top of the sock as well as on the back of the calf. Why it’s on the back of the calf and not everywhere is a mystery to me, but it works. When I first got these, I thought they looked way too warm to wear in 90 degree weather, but I was pleasantly surprised with how my legs felt after a round in mid summer.
"BE COMFORTABLE"
JQuintos says the thread count of the socks is higher than that of other argyle socks. They don’t list a specific number for the thread count, but you can absolutely feel that special attention has been given to different parts of the sock for functionality, and it has a high quality feel. I will say that I’ve only worn these socks for about four or five rounds, and I’m already seeing loose threads around the diamonds, but nothing has come unravelled just yet and it still feels strong. When asked about this, JQuintos said that they've had better luck with air drying the socks after washing, which I have not done. To be fair, there is no tumble dry symbol on the packaging.
"SILVERDRY SOLE TECHNOLOGY"
That brings me to the Silverdry Sole technology, which was developed by JQuintos specifically for this sock. What this technology does is provide the support that your foot needs without causing excessive sweat. My old socks soles don’t come close to the amount of support that these offer, and my feet stay dry enough not to be a distraction during a round. I didn't think support in a sock made much of a difference, but after using these socks I have less strain on my feet after walking and kicking through a round.
"RIGHT AND LEFT FITTED SOCKS"
One way you can tell that these are true athletic socks is that there is a correct left and right sock, which is pretty cool and I'm sure a first for a footgolf specific sock.
"PADDED DRIVE ZONE"
They’ve also sewn in four stripes of reinforced padding in what they call the padded drive zone. The goal here is to provide a cushion for striking the ball hard for a longer drives without limiting breathability. I think the concept is nice, however I think the cushioned area is a bit high. The padded drive zone on the sock isn’t the same spot I strike the ball. I try to hit the ball with the top of my foot where the bone feels the hardest. The padded drive zone on the sock is on top of the ankle and is softer than the top of my foot.
"COMFORT TOP"
JQuintos says they did a lot of homework to develop a top that wouldn’t fall down and also wouldn’t feel like it was cutting off the circulation. I’ve never had an issue with the socks falling down and I don’t feel like they’re choking out my legs either, so they definitely back that up with their product.
The price point of these socks is $24.99 a pair or $20 per pair if you buy two. Because it is a specialty product with a lot of different features put into it, the price point is going to higher than your average athletic sock.
With five different color combinations, there’s definitely more variety to be found elsewhere, but you’ll be compromising function for style.
Overall, I believe this is the most effort put into a footgolf specific sock, and it shows. Sure it’s not perfect, but like the game of footgolf, JQuintos is new and will probably have advancements in their products as time goes on. For now, this sock is the best a footgolfer can get and I would recommend to any competitive player. In fact, I got few more pairs for myself to use this upcoming season.
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