Injinji Toe Socks

I’ve seen the Injinji Toe Socks at trail running events and all sorts of other places for some time now, but have never gotten the opportunity to give them a whirl. And give them a whirl is exactly what I did.

I’ve ran, hiked, and biked with the Injinji Toe Socks (or Tsocks, if you prefer), and love ‘em.  No complaints.  Think of them like a glove for your foot, a really comfy glove that wicks moisture. They are made with CoolMax, so you know your tootsies will breathe well. The Toe Socks are seamless; don’t worry about developing a hotspot because of stitching.  In fact, these babies eliminated a blister problem that I’ve had between a couple of my toes while on long hikes.

The Injinji Toe Socks are thin, and fit well in lightweight trail runners.  If you have shoes that don’t have much interior volume to spare, then these are the socks for you. Injinji offers toe socks for a wide array of outdoor activies, yoga, and travel – they even have a CoolMax EcoMade performance version as well.

These are some serious technical socks – leaps and bounds above the nasty ‘ol cotton tube that you might still be sliding your foot into now. Put them on like you would a glove, pulling it on and fitting it around each toe.

How much does it cost to wrap your feet in some Injinji toesocks? Twelve bucks will get you the performance series sock in micro, mini-crew, or crew – a small price to pay for a whole lotta comfort and additional blister protection, if you ask me.

Get yourself a dozen or so pairs (and send me some too) from Injinji.com.

Flojos Primo Sandals

Here in Florida, it’s acceptable to wear sandals and flips pretty much anywhere. Business casual means Dockers and flip-flops in a lot of places. You can sport the same footwear to the beach and then hit up a nice semi-fancy meal in the evening – all in a comfy pair of sandals. Ain’t life great?

That’s where the Flojos Primo sandals step into the picture. With a textured footbed and arch support, these definitely are Primo! You know that annoying flip-flop slap on the bottom of your foot? Forget about it. It just doesn’t happen.  The Flojos Primo sandals also feature a really good feelin’ fabric on the underside of the strap, and I’ve hoofed it around enough places in them to know that you probably won’t develop a hotspot or blister on your foot.  They are built right.

Let’s talk about the sole of the Flojos Primo for a sec.  It’s kind of like an all-terrain tire for your foot.  It provides good traction, but isn’t so gnarly that it doesn’t work on the street.  Great grip where you need it.

All in all, I’m diggin’ the Flojos Primo sandals, and they look great with boardshorts and jeans.

The Good Scoop

• Great sandals that won’t break the bank
• Look great with a wide range of clothing
• Ultra Comfy footbed and arch support

Oh, and listen up, gringos. Don’t say Flow-Joes. It’s Flo-hose. Woah, that looks weird as I’m writing this, but let’s just let that one go. Say it with me. Flo-hose. Yea, you’ve got it. Now go visit www.flojos.com and get yourself a pair!

See you on the flipside!

UV Buff Headwear with Insect Shield

It’s a beanie.  It’s a balaclava.  It’s a headband. It’s sheer genius.

At first glance, Buff headwear looks like nothing more than a tube of fabric, but once you figure out the many ways to configure the headwear, you’ll find a setup that works for you.

In fact, I was hesitant to test the Buff because I didn’t think it was a product that I could review properly.  Honestly, I don’t think I look good as a pirate, and using it as a headband didn’t seem to be my cup of tea, so I was pleasantly suprised when I discovered that it works perfectly for me around the neck and as a balaclava.  I was so impressed with it that now the Buff comes along on all my hikes, trail runs, bike rides, paddles, etc.

Buff Headwear will save your skin.  Literally.

On a recent trip out to Fort Pickens in Pensacola, the Buff with UV protection pretty much saved my face, ears, and neck from melting off.

With both UV and Insect Shield protection, the Buff is my go-to bald head covering. Oh, it even works well as a pillowcase for the FlexAir Dual Compartment Ultralight Pillow (what a mouthful!) that Backpacking Light sells.

I’ve got no complaints.  Works perfectly for me, and I went absolutely nuts when it accidentally got sucked up in the vac at the car wash.  Luckily, an attendant was on duty and opened the machine.  Lucky for the vac, that is.

For more information, go to http://www.buffwear.com/.