Tag: gifts for runners

Enertor Running Insoles

Fitness, Gifts for Her, Gifts for Him, hiking, National Walking Month, Sport

Disclaimer – We have received this item for free or on a loan basis for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.

Attention all runners! If you run more than a few kilometres a week or have been plagued by injuries, you might find that the cushioning of your shoes is not enough, even for top quality shoes. I have recently been afflicted with plantar fasciitis thanks to cross-country running over the summer on parched ground and tough roads. Extra cushioning sounded like a possibility but when I saw that Usain Bolt uses them, I was in!

Enertor Running Insoles are shock absorbers which absorb up to 89% of the impact on your feet, and by association, your knees too. They work by transmitting the impact horizontally through the insoles and to your shoes, rather than through the muscle and bones of your legs.  They’re 2x thinner than competitor’s so they fit into most shoes.  

I found that they were easy to fit straight into my running shoes (it helps if you’ve got the right size insoles as well!) and they don’t need adhesive.  As soon as you walk in them you can feel the cushioning.  I tried them out on the running machine first and there were no problems.  I could feel that they were ‘spongier’ than just my shoes, and my running shoes are cross-country and built for impact.  I can’t say that they will cure my plantar fasciitis but in the 2 runs I’ve undertaken with them, it doesn’t feel like my joints and calves have got any worse.  I’m looking forward to using them long term to see if they take enough impact for my calves and feet to be able to recover enough for me to be painless, but in the meantime, they’re a great addition to my kit and make difficult runs more enjoyable. 

Available from £40.00 at: https://enertor.com/products/px1-running-insoles?srsltid=AfmBOoo2H5kuFt9voXg51OALk7K6IRw7iszTmiy5n2-8CtgvppgQESpI

Darn Tough Women’s Running Socks

Birthday Gifts, Family Life, Fashion, Fitness, Gifts for children, Gifts for Her, Gifts for Him, Home, National Walking Month, Sport, Women

Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.

Yes, it helps to be Darn Tough when running, and these merino wool ¼ socks from Darn Tough stood up to my Park Run test today.

Socks are a nightmare to get right when you’re running. You can’t change them half way through a run and stopping to adjust them is a no-no when you’re on the clock and surrounded by people who would need to edge around you.  So Darn Tough have brought out their running socks (and new versions come out every year) which are comfortable as well as functional.

Darn Tough Socks

From Vermont, Darn Tough manufacture walking, hiking, sports and running socks for men, women and children based on quality. Their socks are made from merino wool and a high quality Lycra for the best fit, no blisters and best of all, they have a lifetime warranty. Their socks may be expensive (these ¼ socks for running are priced at £20) but if you ever get a hole, or any kind of defect, they will replace them for you with a whole new pair. 

If you look at their whole range online, you’ll see the socks aren’t boring either. There’s a whole range of colours, and each design comes in multiple colours too. Great for distinguishing in a household who the socks belong to if you have multiple runners or walkers!  They’re pretty enough to not feel stagnant either with the range of colours that fit the running and workout outfits that are available today. I liked these blue socks which have a quirky yet not overstated design. It makes them easier to distinguish when you peer into the drawer and decide which pair to put on.

These socks are called Women’s Run No Show Tab Ultra-Lightweight Running Socks. It means that they are designed for running because of the extra Lycra across the bridge of the foot (where the laces would be) and are lightweight for running. The Lycra is also a high quality to allow for more give and cushion and to compensate for the fact that these socks have less merino wool as they were making the socks and therefore the running shoes too bulky and uncomfortable. 

Park Run this morning was hot and uncomfortable by the Darn Tough socks were no problem. There’s plenty of stretch in them, they’re durable and don’t pinch with the extra Lycra and there’s absolutely no slippage when running and no blisters.  The lifetime warranty means I can wear these every week without having to worry about them every wearing out. I can’t guarantee that won’t happen to me though…

Available online at £20:

Women's Run No Show Tab Ultra-Lightweight Running Sock