I was recently sent some products to review by a company called Sof Sole who makes insoles, performance socks, and various shoe care products.
I received:
Airr: Women’s performance insole
According to the package:
~1 pair retails for $24.99
~Maximum Air Cushioning for High-Impact Activities
~Heel & arch encapsulated air chamber
~Cool Max Fabric Cover (Fabric wicks away moisture keeping your feet drier and more comfortable)
The Claim:
The Sof Sole Airr insole is the first insol to combine an air cushioning system with moisture control technology. The Airr features an encapsulated air chamber for maximum cushioning & Coolmax top cover to provide climate control for the surface of your foot. Simply put, the Sof Sole Airr is the best performance insole available.
Sof Sole Airr insoles help reduce foot pain with:
~Encapsulated air chamber cushioning in the heel & arch
~Coolmax technology for climate control
~Polymer
Their Promise: Better performance through increased comfort. With So Sole you will run, jump, play and perform with greater comfort. If not we want to hear from you. We will refund your money or replace your product.
They come with a one year warranty.
I was also sent:
Coolmax Trainer: Women’s Low Cut Sock
Semless toe and moisture management for comfort
Sock Contents: 35% Polyester, 30% Coolmax
1 package = 3 pairs which retail for $9.99
First Impressions: These products look awesome and make bold claims. Maybe they will cure my knee problems! I was very excited to try them out. I started by putting the inserts into my current running sneaker, The Mizuno Wave Inspire 6. Conveniently, the products Sofsole sent matched my shoes nicely 
As I am injured, and not doing much running lately, I started by wearing the socks and inserts on my walk with Cooper. It took some adjusting of the laces to get comfortable because once I put the inserts in, the shoes felt tight. After a couple of tries I got the laces loose enough and it felt comfortable. The increased support was immediately noticeable and I can see why these inserts are named “Airr.” I used to wear inserts but have since traded them in for a more supportive shoe because the previous inserts I have used made my shoes heavy and bulky. The Airr inserts did not feel this way at all. They gave support without adding any significant extra weight. I would even wear these during a race, when I usually try to run with a shoe that is as light as possible.
The next day, I wore the socks (a new pair, thank you!) to the gym and started on the stair climber. In the past, using the stair climber irritated my knee and I needed to stop after 15 or 20 minutes. This particular day, with the combination of the socks, inserts, and my knee strap I was able to complete 30 minutes at up to level 15. Yay! I have been wearing my running sneakers with the inserts everyday to support my knee and it seems to be making progress. This weekend I was able to complete a 60 minute spin class with hardly any pain.
As great as the inserts are, I really love the socks. About a year ago, my dad and I began to invest in performance socks for running after we received some nasty blisters from cotton socks. The investment proved to be worth the price however, technical socks are expensive. At about $8 per pair, we only bought a few pairs. Unfortunately, Cooper has taken a liking to my technical socks and has swallowed (whole) 5 individual socks…that is $4 a sock! Fortunately, these Sof Sole socks are much more affordable at 3 pairs for $10.
When I first looked at the socks, they looked a little thick to me. Good for winter running I automatically assumed because my toes always take the longest to warm up when the temps drop into the thirties. When I put them on, though, they were not as thick as I originally thought. The bottom is thicker for comfort and they are supportive without squeezing the foot. Unfortunately, I am unable to take them on a long grueling run to test out if they are blister resistant, but I did wear them to a sweaty spin class and they proved to be effective. Another test would be to wear them in the rain, which I have been unable to do.
The website even has an Ask the Experts section in which you can describe your needs and they will prescribe the proper product for you. They even have a section on Runner’s Knee:
Runner’s knee, or patellofemoral pain syndrome, is a common name for pain that occurs underneath or around the knee cap. Runner’s knee rarely exhibits swelling, locking, or giving way, but pain usually increases when walking or running up or down stairs or hills. Runner’s knee frequently occurs in adolescent females. It often results from excessive shock or overpronation.
Treatment of runner’s knee starts with a stretching and strengthening regimen. Control of excessive pronation has been shown to improve this condition. The Sof Sole Motion Control or Sof Sole Graphite Orthotic helps with overpronation.
If symptoms persist, a medical professional should be consulted.
I probably should have been running with inserts in my shoes to begin with. These are great products that I have been using everyday since I received them. Dan even tried on my socks because they looked comfortable and asked me to get him a package. I told him he was not eligible for the giveaway
Sof Sole is sending one lucky winner a package of products!
The Rules:
Mandatory: You must like Sof Sole on Facebook or follow them on Twitter. Please leave a comment telling me you have done so. If you do both, you get two entries.
Extra Entries: Be or become a follower.
~Tweet about the giveaway.
~Blog about the giveaway (2 extra entries!)
*Leave me a comment telling me how you are entering. They don’t have to be separate comments but they can be. I will announce a winner one week from today.
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