Socks have been around for a very long time. In fact, there's evidence that the Romans wore socks with their sandals and certainly socks existed well before then, in one form or another.

Toe socks are a relatively new invention - initialy conceived by an American, Ethel Russel, in the late 1960s. They were popular throughout the 1970s. A few years later and toe socks have made a comeback, mostly as a novelty, but now as a functional and important piece of clothing for those exercising with yoga and pilates.

There are several benefits to wearing toe socks whilst exercising. We've outlined a few below, and would love to hear your comments and feedback at the bottom of the page.

Balance

Whenever you move using your feet - walking, running, dancing, jumping - your feet are working hard to keep you upright. When wearing toe socks your toes are free to move individually, making tiny changes as your weight shifts and you move from one foot to another. This increase in movement helps improve your balance.

Grip

Our grippy Pilates and yoga socks aid grip. Each toe has a number of silicon grip pads on the bottom, keeping your feet from sliding and slipping about as you move. Because of this you can spend more time focussing on your exercise and less time worrying about staying upright!

Warmth

No-one likes having cold feet, and this can often be the case if you're exercising in bare feet on a cold floor. Wearing toe socks keeps your feet warm, including your toes, which helps with your circulation and a general feeling of well-being.

Hygiene

Your feet work really hard, all day long. And keeping your feet healthy is vital. Toe socks help your feet manage moisture and dirt more effectively than traditional socks. There's nowhere for fluff and sweat to build up, and the increased air-flow around each individual toe helps keep your feet fresh all day long.

Blister Protection

Blisters can make life miserable! Because your toes are kept warm and dry you can avoid getting blisters. Your toes can't rub directly on one another, reducing friction and avoiding 'hot spots'.

Toe Exercise

Your toes need exercise too! Wearing toe socks reminds us that we have 10 individual toes, not 2 groups of toes. Because we can see each toe move independently we exercise them more efficiently, and increased toe strength continues to benefit your balance and movement.

Free Movement

Just in the same way as properly fitting trousers and tops help our limbs move properly, wearing toe socks helps our feet move more naturally. You're free to move naturally - focussing on effective and efficient movement and not being distracted by ill-fitting clothing.

Here are PilatesSocks.co.uk we stock a range of comfortable and breathable Pilates and yoga socks. Choose from a variety of colours to suit your personality and exercise with confidence.

We'd love to hear your experience of wearing toe socks for exercise. What other benefits do you see whilst wearing toe socks? Let us know in the comments below.

Comments or Questions?