This no-show styled sock still has a well-cushioned tab and offers substantial padding under the toes and the outer edge of the foot with different thicknesses of looped polyester. The Feetures Elite Max Cushion sock toe cap comes nearly straight across the toes, covering the entire big toe but not the pinky toe of most testers’ feet (whose pinky toes extend far less than other toes). A mix of iWick polyester and nylon create a snug fit in the toe with targeted compression in the arch. These transfer moisture well despite the extra materials. Some runners noted that the toe fit could get too tight on longer runs. 

Fit/Comfort
The Feetures Elite Max Cushion scored highest thanks to a snug fit without complaints of tightness. The slightly padded Achilles tab was a nice tough, and there was no sagging or stretching during testing. The reinforced cushioning under the heels and toes was praised by most testers, while the tighter midfoot offered support.

Wicking
The different densities in the top of the Feetures Elite Max Cushion, and lighter channels under the arch provided more airflow while the materials provided more breathability than other synthetic socks.

Durability
The Feetures Elite Max Cushion retained their shape after heavy mileage and repeated washings. The cushioned areas showed no signs of wear.

An inside-out Feetures Elite Max Cushion shows the intricate needling and different densities in the sock.

We called in 10 pairs of socks from established brands as well as newer entries to the market. We tested a mix of socks that will either debut in spring 2018, or are 2017 sock styles that will carry over into 2018 with new colors or patterns. Samples of variant styles were sent to our testers, who as road shoe testers, tended to prefer low-cut, thinner socks. Some ran in taller, more cushioned socks, though testers judged each pair based on the design’s intended use. We focused on the performance features in the foot of the sock, and our testers reported differences in the low-cut socks tied to the shape of their feet and the types of shoes they wore. 

Our testers ran in these throughout the fall in different climates, including Colorado, California and British Columbia. Most of the testing coincided with our road shoe testing, though several runners took these on trail and training runs, too.