“Wigwam? Isn’t that a shelter indiginous Americans live in?” That’s what I thought when Tomas Torstensson handed me a pair of running socks to look at.
First, I’d never heard of them before. As a keen runner for a number of years I’ve used products from Nike, More Mile, Puma and many other brands. But Wigwam???
Hosiery Heritage
However, it turns out Wigwam has been around for quite a while, since 1905. Based in Wisconsin, USA, they’ve been making socks and other knitted garments for a long time.
They have a range that covers outdoor pursuits and workwear But, of course, my focus is the sports and fitness wear.
In my youth I spent a lot of time around horses, and one of the things I learnt was that rubbing causes sores – that might be saddles, boots, straps etc.
What most people did to alleviate the sores was to add padding as protection. But this would often make things worse. What I discovered is that padding a sore leads to more pressure on the affected area, and so a minor friction sore transforms into a more debilitatiing injury.
Catalyst Socks
In talking to Tomas I mentioned my belief that reducing the amount of fabric in running socks would decrease the pressure on the feet when inside a running shoe.
In response he showed me a pair of Wigwam’s latest technology, SynchroKnit Catalyst running socks.
These are low cut, ultra-lightweight, and really conform to what I’d been talking about. They include the usual elastisised arch that you’d expect from serious running socks, but also feature a breathable instep, patented moisture control, and “inside-out” style toe seam.
They’re made of polyester, stretch nylon, Tencel®, and Spandex in a single layer – part of their new SynchroKnit technology series.
Less Is More in Running Socks
Just as I’ve done for many years Wigwam’s boffins have had a good hard think about this. They’ve removed the bulk from running socks by minimising a lot of fabric, while still providing the protection required for overworked runners’ feet.
That minimising of thickness is a reduction of up to 75% in some areas. The resulting thinner sock thereby reduces the pressure on the feet from your shoes in addition to making it lighter.
SynchroKnit® is “unique among socks”, and is Wigwam’s third in-house developed technology.
That’s the techy stuff, what you really want to know is how they perform.
Running Socks Fit For Purpose
The purpose of running socks is to provide a snug fit that creates a layer to reduce the friction between foot and shoe. The socks shouldn’t be too tight, but too loose and they’ll crease and rub. The fit over the contours of the foot is what is critical here.
In this picture you can see these running socks look small but really cover my feet well to provide nice protection.
However, be warned, the “inside-out” seams can be a bit confusing. It’s very easy to get the seam on the inside by mistake – so take your time when pulling them on.
I’m currently running in Brooks Pureflow 5 shoes. They’re a bit out of date but still a good shoe; I’ve run in some interesting places in them. The Catalysts fit inside these nicely, they provide the barrier I need without being too small.
How’d It Go?
I guess I’ve covered approximately 250 km (155 miles) in the Catalysts over a number of different surfaces. I’ve done a few 5k Parkruns, hill intervals, and trail runs all without any trouble. The longest distance will be around 10km (6 miles).
Importantly, they’ve been good at speed where I’ve really pushed myself, as well as just out for slow recovery runs.
It has often felt like the socks weren’t there at all, I was comfortable enough to forget about them, unlike some running socks I’ve run in.
The Verdict
Good
- Small
- Lightweight
- Cool
- Inside-out toe seam
Great
- I got no blisters, chafing, or callouses
Could be better
- No shaping for Left/Right
- May feel tight for some people
Overall I give Wigwam’s Catalyst running socks a 5 out of 5 score. These are great socks that are worth anyone giving a try. Some people may not like them for personal rather than technical reasons.
Options & Availability
The Catalyst comes in a variety of colours for men and women and is part of the Synchroknit range. That gives a few more options including a mid length for those who aren’t keen on low cut running socks.
Start looking out for these when they’re released in March 2020.
Bottom Line
In conclusion, the real test is would I buy these for myself? Definitely, I really liked them – the best low cust socks I’ve ever worn.
