Custom socks have become popular; people use them for various purposes, from gifts to giveaways and promotions to fundraisers. Unfortunately, few people pay attention to the socks materials and think every material is the same. But, the materials determine the comfort and whether people will like them. It is especially true for summers when the temperatures are high, and we need breathable socks. As a business, it would be foolish to give socks that do not wick moisture and keep the feet cool; it can create a negative impression in receivers’ minds, and they would avoid your socks and business.
Socks with the property to dissipate perspiration will keep the feet comfortable for a long time. Adequate ventilation and moisture wicking reduce foot perspiration. We compare the most popular socks materials based on breathability, moisture-wicking, and evaporation. We would provide them a score from 1 to 5, one being the lowest and five the highest. These scores are not universal; you should take them as a general guideline and choose the materials per your needs. Without further ado, let’s get started:
Natural fiber for custom socks:
These fibers occur naturally and come from animals or plants.
Cotton: is the oldest and the most common fiber humans have used for various purposes, including socks. It is excellent for regular use, and you can combine it with other fabrics to make a blend for your particular requirements.
Breathability: Custom socks made of cotton provide medium breathability that is suitable for most conditions. The breathability depends upon the thickness; the higher the thickness, the less breathable your socks are, and vice versa.
Moisture-wicking: Cotton is average for moisture-wicking; it becomes soggy and uncomfortable when you sweat a lot. It is not suitable for making custom athletic socks.
Evaporation: They are average at moisture evaporation; it can cause foot and shoe issues when you wear them for a long time in hot weather.
Breathability
|
4
|
Moisture-wicking
|
4
|
Evaporation
|
4
|
Overall
|
4
|
Bamboo: is another natural material produced by pulling fiber. It grows fast and requires less water and land, which makes it environmentally friendly. The fabric is durable and makes them an excellent choice for promotional socks.
Breathability: Bamboo fabrics are excellent for breathability and suitable for summer.
Moisture-wicking: They can wick a lot of moisture from the skin and hold water thrice its weight.
Evaporation: they are average to let go of moisture and do not cause any foot issues because of being hypoallergenic.
Breathability
|
4
|
Moisture-wicking
|
5
|
Evaporation
|
4
|
Overall
|
4.3
|
Angora: we derive wool from the coats of rabbits of the same name. It is a luxurious fiber. If you want to create gift socks for high-value clients, it is your choice. It is silky, fluffy, and keeps heat. But, do not discard the material because of its heat retention properties. They are not much durable and can break the deal for many.
Breathability: It has excellent breathability; your feet will be comfortable despite the temperature.
Moisture-wicking: They can wick a lot of moisture away from the skin. You can combine them with other fabrics to improve their moisture-wicking properties.
Evaporation: They are marvelous for liberating moisture.
Breathability
|
5
|
Moisture-wicking
|
5
|
Evaporation
|
5
|
Overall
|
5
|
Wool is one of the most common natural fibers for custom socks production. The material feels comfortable, and the quality varies according to the sheep. They are delicate and can be uncomfortable for some because of itchiness.
Breathability: Woolen socks are breathable and comfortable for a long time.
Moisture-wicking: They can wick a lot of moisture away from the skin.
Evaporation: they are good at letting go of moisture.
Breathability
|
4
|
Moisture-wicking
|
5
|
Evaporation
|
5
|
Overall
|
4.67
|
Linen or flax is a natural fabric that is becoming famous fast for
custom socks because of being strong, comfortable, print-friendly, etc. They are also environmentally friendly and hypoallergenic, making them an ideal choice for many feet, including sensitive ones.
Breathability: The fabrics are exceptionally breathable and provide comfort for a long time and in all weather.
Moisture-wicking: they absorb a lot of moisture but are not so good at wicking it away from the skin.
Evaporation: They are good at letting the moisture dry faster than cotton.
Breathability
|
4
|
Moisture-wicking
|
3
|
Evaporation
|
4
|
Overall
|
3.67
|
Mohair: comes from angora goats and is long, resilient, and strong. They are premium fabrics with a good affinity for dyestuffs, making them suitable for promotional socks. Like angora wool, it is soft and hypoallergenic - ideal for sensitive feet. Since it is natural, it is environmentally friendly.
Breathability: Mohair is notably breathable and comfortable for long hours.
Moisture-wicking: They are magnificent for wicking away moisture from the skin.
Evaporation: they are excellent at letting go of moisture.
Breathability
|
4
|
Moisture-wicking
|
5
|
Evaporation
|
4
|
Overall
|
4.67
|
Semi-natural materials for custom socks:
They made these fibers with natural fibers as the starting material. We combine different natural and synthetic fibers to get a fabric that incorporates the best of both worlds.
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Modal is a soft and hypoallergenic fabric that is durable and made from beechwood trees. Since it is chemically processed, it is not 100% sustainable.
Breathability: They provide a good amount of breathability.
Moisture-wicking: Modal is marvelous for wicking moisture away from the skin.
Evaporation: It is excellent at letting go of water, more than cotton.
Breathability
|
4
|
Moisture-wicking
|
5
|
Evaporation
|
4
|
Overall
|
4.67
|
Rayon: is a popular semi-synthetic fiber made from viscose and imitates natural fibers like cotton, wool, etc. It feels like silk and has a sheen. The fabric is biodegradable and environmentally friendly and holds colors well.
Breathability: It has good breathability because of thinner threads but not as much cotton.
Moisture-wicking: With long and more intact fibers, it has good wicking properties.
Evaporation: It has good moisture evaporation, more than cotton.
Breathability
|
4
|
Moisture-wicking
|
4
|
Evaporation
|
4
|
Overall
|
4
|
Synthetic fabrics:
Polyester is the most popular synthetic fiber because of its durability, ability to hold colors and dyes, and versatility. We make the fabric with a chemical reaction between alcohol and acid and use it for athletic socks and apparel manufacturing.
Breathability: they have a good amount of breathability. We mix it with other natural fabrics.
Moisture-wicking: It provides high moisture wicking away from the skin.
Evaporation: They are excellent at letting the moisture go and dries rapidly.
Breathability
|
3
|
Moisture-wicking
|
4
|
Evaporation
|
4
|
Overall
|
3.67
|
Nylon: is soft and has a silky feeling. The fabric is suitable for every type of foot because they are hypoallergenic. Since it is artificial, it is not environmentally friendly. They are very enduring, more than polyester.
Breathability: As 100% synthetic material, they are not breathable, and it is tough to wear a higher percentage of nylon blend fabric for a long time.
Moisture-wicking: It is hydrophobic - excellent at moisture-wicking.
Evaporation: the fabric dries within no time.
Breathability
|
2
|
Moisture-wicking
|
5
|
Evaporation
|
5
|
Overall
|
4
|
Olefin is a fabric softer than polyester and has a soft feel. It is stain and abrasion-resistant. The material is suitable for sensitive feet because it is hypoallergenic. Since it is a synthetic fiber, it is not environmentally friendly. It is popular because it keeps colors and fades more slowly than polyester.
Breathability: The material is breathable and not comfortable to wear for a long time. It is blended with natural fiber to enhance its properties.
Moisture-wicking: It is superb for moisture wicking away from the skin. We use a higher percentage of olefin for manufacturing outdoor products.
Evaporation: It dries fast because water sits on the material.
Breathability
|
2
|
Moisture-wicking
|
5
|
Evaporation
|
5
|
Overall
|
4
|
Coolmax: is a trademarked fiber made from polyester, designed to improve performance. It is print-friendly, durable, and resists shrinking. The material is soft and hypoallergenic.
Breathability: the fabric improves breathability when blended with other materials.
Moisture-wicking: It is water-phobic but wicks using capillary action.
Evaporation: The material is excellent at letting the moisture go and dries rapidly.
Breathability
|
4
|
Moisture-wicking
|
4
|
Evaporation
|
4
|
Overall
|
4
|
Conclusion:
Cotton is still the go-to material for custom socks for most people. We hope the article has given you in-depth information about other materials; choose according to your requirements. All you need is to partner with an experienced and expert manufacturer. EverLighten has helped startups, large organizations, nonprofits, hospitals, universities, sports teams, celebrities, and individuals for eighteen years.
Don - a professional rugby player and founder of the Gaming Athlete - was looking to bring wellness into video game play. People sit for a long time during gaming sessions and become uncomfortable. Their team contacted us to create custom socks and apparel for gamers. After product discussions, we understood their requirements and helped them choose the best materials for their custom compression socks. After sample and testing, we satisfied them with the quality, comfort, breathability, moisture-wicking, and evaporation. We went ahead with the production and delivered on time. They are successfully running their gaming apparel company, and our partnership is growing.
The EverLighten difference:
Best pricing: they are a dedicated factory for producing custom socks and not intermediaries; customers always get the best price.
Quality without a compromise: they use premium-quality materials and the latest processes.
Fast turnaround time: they provide the quickest delivery for every order.
24*7 support: you can contact us anytime; they provide round-the-clock support.
Real people, phenomenal service: EverLighten loves helping; they offer various options for every sock.
Free design help and unlimited customization: the custom socks will look as you imagined; they also provide endless customization.
No MOQ requirement: you can order as many socks as you need; they accept orders without a minimum limit.
Worldwide shipping: they deliver worldwide; customers can track their orders anytime with an order tracking tool.