It seems Nike know no limit when it comes to developing football products to enhance performance. To many a humble sock is just part of the kit bag and bundled up with the rest of gear, but not to Nike, as they've engineered the most innovative sport sock to date!
You may have already seen in pre-season clubs like Manchester United and Barcelona training in short white ankle socks. But what many football gear fans might not realise is the socks are in fact the new Nike Elite football Practice sock, bolstered with no less than ten unique innovations.
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Granted, when a couple of pairs of socks arrived in the post from Nike, we were slightly dubious thinking surely a sock is just a sock. But with one glance Nike had opened our mind, and the extensive engineering and technology was apparent to see. It seems the guys at the Swoosh are just relentless when it comes to delivering performance.
The Nike Elite football Practice sock provides long-lasting comfort and support, as our SoccerBible play testers can testify to after a recent pre-season training session. As Nike appear to have considered every facet of the foot in terms of playing and training, and have configured the new training sock through various stitching and material thickness which is proving a hit with the likes of Paul Scholes and Lionel Messi.
The hexagonal cushioning pods help maintain airflow while relieving stud pressure across the sole of the foot, whilst the mesh upper atop the foot adds ventilation with less bulk under the laces. The entire Nike training sock is constructed using Dri-FIT fabric made of polyester, with a soft touch to reduce slipping and pulls perspiration away from the skin to help keep feet dry and comfortable.
A patented split-toe cushioning offers extra impact protection for the big toe when kicking the ball. For a natural fit around the toe-box and to help reduce bunching, the socks are anatomically designed for the left and right foot.
Dynamic arch support provides compression to help hold the sock in place, and reduce slippage. Combined with the stitching in the shape of a Y at the heel, which helps to prevent sliding inside the shoe and provide a more secure and snug fit. The stand-out cushioning around the ankle and Achilles helps to provide further comfort and support, whilst a thin ribbing from below the ankle to the midfoot helps provide a comfortable fit and great range of motion.
The Nike Elite football training sock has been designed to work in unison with the various Nike boot silo's. For example, the upper of the Vapor is quite thin so the addition of the split-toe cushioning will provide improved comfort over the course of a training session. But it's another step forward from the brand, who will seemingly not rest until every aspect of football performance has been addressed.
Let us know what you think of the new Nike Elite football Practice socks, they certainly appear to be a hit with the pro's spending endless hours on the training ground. Nike are certainly pioneers when it comes to pinnacle performance equipment, so we'd love to hear what you think of the socks and whether you'll be purchasing a pair priced around £9 GBP. Be part of the conversation online, on Twitter and on Facebook.