Drymax Socks Sent for Christmas

Last week I posted a piece offering readers a Christmas gift of a pair of Drymax socks in exchange for their 50-word entry. I said I would give away at least four pair. There were stories of desire, selfishness :-), cuteness, and just plain “I’d like to try Drymax socks.” In the end, I sent Drymax socks to all 10 people who entered - 11 pairs total.

Candice Mancini (Missoula, Montana) wrote, “I'm a sock hoarder. To my family's horror, as a teen, I sewed socks (running shoes, too). I run, hike, and hit the gym in socks with holes, socks so thin you can see through them. Post-frost-bitten toes, I splurge on winter wools, but can't ditch those old cottons. My size-9 feet are reluctant runners, happy hikers, & happy-when-not-too-cold cross-country skiers.”
  
Pam Walter (Phoenix, Arizona) wrote, “I would love to try these socks because I seem to be forever searching for socks that won’t shrink after the first washing and will still fit my size 11 feet. Most I have tried fit fine but after washing seem to be 2 sizes smaller. These also look very comfortable.”           

Howard Patch (Pembroke Pine, Florida) submitted the following, “My wonderful wife Mary should earn a free pair of socks because she needs them!  Since these socks promise the end of blisters, they would be just what the doctor ordered for her. The last ultra she ran she had so many blisters, causing her to waddle funny for days, and that's not very attractive. In the FL heat and humidity she could really use something that will not make her feet squish and squeak in sweat while out running. To make matters worse, most or her Injinji either have holes or have lost their partners in a sad an unfortunate head-on-collision accident with the sock-eating washer.”

Chris Mills (Los Angeles, California) wrote, “I have a few pair of the Drymax socks (after seeing the recommendation on one of your previous emails), and I love them! So I am entering my essay below to try to get a pair for my wife Meryl.  We do long-distance backpacking (I've done the Pacific Crest Trail, and we're doing the Appalachian Trail together in 2010), and some trail running. Here is my essay: I decided to take my girlfriend on a backpacking trip. I packed. At the trailhead I discovered I had her left boot, but the right boot was mine!  She was mad. Somehow, I still convinced her to marry me, and to thru-hike the Appalachian Trail in 2010. I owe her. “

Beth Claycomb (Colorado Springs, Colorado) sent in the following, “In a word, I'm just too cheap to buy nice socks.  As a walker I literally walk through dozens of pairs of Hanes socks every year.  In the past year I think they've changes something about their weaving process because I'm getting holes in all of my socks at an alarming rate.  It's gotten so bad my 2-year-old checks the bottom of my feet daily to look for "hole-ies". I've heard that nice socks would really be worth the money, but I get buyer's remorse just putting them in my cart. Help!”

David Chan (Santa Monica, California) wrote, “Thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail I went through countless smelly pairs of socks seeking the perfect fit. Trail running has become my new passion, and the need to have a good sock/shoe combination remains critical to success. I would love to see if Drymax is my holy grail of socks.”

Tish Murphy (Phoenix, Arizona) wrote, “On search for the "perfect" sock, looking through my crowded sock drawers hoping that my feet have changed since the last wearing, browse through sports store bins and always intrigued by descriptions such as "world's most comfortable", "breathable" or you'll "never need another pair after you've worn these". Drymax? Thanks for the chance to win!”
  
Robert McAllaster wrote, "I am running the H.U.R.T. 100 in January and would love to test them out in  those conditions. I spent one training day out on the course recently where the water ranged from ankle to thigh deep on the trails during one downpour."

Gail Snyder (Portland, Oregon) wrote: “My husband and I spent the month of September  trekking in Nepal. Our two porters, Pasang and Wangda, (18 year old cousins) were a highlight of our trip. After carrying 60lbs for miles every morning (from their foreheads), they spent the afternoons exploring with us. They were filled with enthusiasm, tireless, and always happy. They are also poor. Their shoes were worn and filled with holes, and each had only one pair of socks. I have been gathering items to send them. Footwear is a high priority, and new Drymax socks would be a wonderful addition to my care package for them. I have enclosed photos of Pasang and Wangda. We fell in love them and feel so fortunate to have met them. They are both still high school students and hope to attend university in Kathmandu.In the evenings, after trekking all day, they pulled out their books and studied; without a college education, their options for the future are very limited. We hope to do more for them in the future, including raising money toward their college education. It is about $2,000 a year (each), an exorbitant amount of money for them."

Lori Jensen (Hillsboro, Oregon) wrote, “I really need a pair of Drymax socks to give to my husband because I am selfish with mine and won't give any of them to him. I feel a little sorry for him that he does not know what he is missing. Unfortunately, he may never know... “

Thanks Drymax for sending me socks I could give away. Who says Santa Claus doesn’t like socks? If you need last minute Christmas gifts, try Drymax socks. You can get them at Zombierunner.com. 

Comments

[The Foot Guy]

Any lanced blister should be watched for signs of infection - redness, swelling, heat, pus, pain, and streaks up the leg. Good washing, and a bit of ointment, and you should be fine. If it is small and not bothering you, you don't have to lance it.

[Eileen M. Smith, M.Arch. Founder & Director KS Solar Electric Co~operatives, Inc.]

To lance or not to lance blisters . . . I have some sort of infection in my toes. It was getting pretty bad and finally I took some colloidal silver that has reduced the heat and swelling. However, I still have a blister just at the base of the second and third toe on my left foot. I have been reading about serious infection from lancing blisters. What do you think . . . Does it hurt to just leave it without lancing?