What are the benefits of Thorlos?

If you were able to walk barefooted on grass or gentle terrain all the time, you would not need Thorlos. But since most of us walk on man-made surfaces -- concrete, asphalt, hard floors [and let's not forget that man-made surface called the shoe or boot] -- we need protection from those surfaces. Inside the shoe or boot, the foot must move dynamically within a limited range in order for you to walk or run effectively. During all moving activities the foot is subjected to three main forces: Pressure, impact and shearing force. These three forces are responsible for virtually all the damage your foot incurs during standing, walking, running, and other sports and activities that involve bodily movement. In addition, the movement of the feet in moderate and strenuous activities generates perspiration. In fact, during strenuous activities, the feet can produce about 2 pints of sweat in a day . Too much moisture inside the shoe is not healthy for the feet. Moisture that is not evacuated from the shoe provides an environment in which bacteria and fungus can grow, and compounds the effect of the three damaging forces on the feet - pressure, impact and shearing force. Thus, it is critical to control moisture inside the shoe.

Pressure is simply direct force applied to the surface of the feet when you place your weight on them. When standing still, this pressure is static, with about ½ your body weight placed on each foot.

Impact is the sudden and forceful contact between the foot and the surface during walking, running and other sports and activities. It is, in effect, 'dynamic pressure,' and it increases the potential for damage to your feet: When you walk, each foot absorbs an impact of approximately 1-1/2 times your body weight. When you run, each foot absorbs approximately 3 to 4 times your body weight. This means that a person weighing 150 pounds would put an impact force of 225 pounds on his or her feet with each walking step, and 450 to 600 pounds on his or her feet with each running step. You can imagine the toll that takes on your feet over the course of a lifetime!

Shearing Force is the movement of different layers of tissue in opposite directions. It occurs when your foot moves inside the shoe or boot, and it causes blistering and breakdown of the tissues in the foot if not controlled or diminished in some way.

The Thorlos anatomically designed, patented terry padding protects your feet from these forces. The padding reduces static pressure and impact, and diminishes shearing forces through what we call the 'Control·Slide®' phenomenon . This means that instead of the tissues on your feet moving in opposite directions, the terry padding moves under your feet, transferring the movement from the tissues of the foot to the terry padding itself. And to ensure that your feet are protected from the adverse effects of accumulated perspiration inside the shoe, s urface moisture and water vapor are effectively channeled to the outside of the foot where they can be evacuated through the shoes. This is accomplished with the Thorlos proprietary yarn combinations that include THOR·LON® Acrylic, CoolMax® and other high tech fibers that 'wick' moisture away from the foot.

This combination of moisture management and the reduction of pressure, impact and shearing forces reduces fatigue, and helps you to enjoy your sport or activity longer, with the confidence that your feet are protected by the best foot gear available today.

ONLY Thorlos have peer-reviewed, published medical studies that confirm these benefits of pressure, impact and shearing reduction , as well as a study that shows the benefit of enhanced circulation in the lower extremities from wearing Thorlos.

The knowledge gained from these and other medical studies , as well as anecdotal evidence collected over more than 20 years , has been combined in THOR·LO Comfort·Science®. Our experiences have led us to identify 7 elements of comfort: Moisture, Pressure, Shear, Circulation, Temperature, Posture and Stimulus. The understanding of how these 7 elements combine and interact is incorporated into our design and development processes, and it allows us to produce the ultimate in foot protection and comfort for you.

Do Thorlos come in natural fibers - like cotton or wool?

Let's deal with one at time. Cotton is a great fiber for outer apparel. It is cool and breathable; and it feels good next to the skin. Unfortunately, in the closed environment of a shoe, it becomes the enemy of the foot. During activities both mild and vigorous, the foot perspires. Cotton is what is called a hydrophilic fiber - it attracts and absorbs moisture. As the cotton fiber gets wet, the fabric collapses and loses all of its protective capabilities. This of course can lead to blisters and other foot issues, and it's why you will NOT find cotton in Thorlos, except in the tops of a few of our styles (but never in the foot). We put it in the tops to help absorb perspiration that may run down the leg before it gets into the shoe or boot.

Wool is also a great fiber. It has excellent insulating capabilities, and it retains those capabilities when it gets wet. Unfortunately, wool is easily abraded - it is not particularly durable. Like cotton, it too tends to absorb water. It will dry fairly quickly when exposed to the air; but again, in the closed environment of a shoe, like cotton, wool tends to absorb water, the fabric collapses, and it loses its protective capabilities. Many of the Thorlos outdoor products have some wool content; but we blend wool with other high performance fibers that retain their protective resilience to provide insulating capabilities without sacrificing protection and durability.

Will the thickness of Thorlos require an increase in my shoe size?

In about 80% of the cases, yes. Studies have shown that most people tend to wear shoes that are too small for them. Thorlos offer various levels of protection for sports and activities based on the intensity of the activity specific demands placed on your feet. Thorlos offer lightweight, mid-weight and heavy weight padding in activity specific and sport specific designs. The various padding weights and the location of the padding provide appropriate levels of protection for the sports and activities in which you participate (for example, golf is not as demanding on the feet as tennis, so Golf Thorlos have mid-weight padding, while Tennis Thorlos have heavy weight padding). It is important that the shoes you wear are large enough to accommodate the extra thickness of Thorlos. For the best outcome and to achieve full benefit from Thorlos, activity and sport specific footwear should be fitted with Thorlos activity and sport specific sock products on your feet. No one wants to feel that their shoes are too tight - that leads to discomfort and less than optimal performance. Follow our fitting tips to get your best Thorlos fit.

Acrylic Protection vs Natural Protection

Fat pads protect our feet but we destroy them by walking and running on hard surfaces
• This loss of fat pads is due primarily to damage from shearing forces from walking and running on smooth, unyielding man-made surfaces (concrete, asphalt, hard floors).
• The damage is compounded by poorly designed and poorly fitted socks and shoes.
• Thorlos protect the fat pads from shearing forces by transferring these forces from the fat pads to the cushion fabric of the Thorlos; and where fat pad degradation has already occurred, Thorlos' engineered cushion fabric helps replace the function of the natural pads.
• Protection is the "root cause" of comfort.

Why Fabrics that work well on our bodies work poorly in our shoes
• Cotton, wool and silk (all natural fabrics) absorb moisture ["Absorption" is defined as retention]. Wool claims to "wick," which is not true.
• Inside the shoes, natural cushion sock fabrics become ineffective and even harmful to the feet: They absorb moisture, become saturated and collapse. Result: no protection.
• Acrylic "wicks" moisture ["Wicking" is defined as transmission or movement of moisture by capillary action], moving it to the outer materials of the shoe where it is released into the outside environment.
• Acrylic cushion sock fabric maintains resiliency and provides a more natural yielding, forgiving, dynamic environment for the foot (like walking barefoot in grass or sand).
• Result: More protection, more comfort.

Net Effect: Acrylic cushion fabric creates a more "NATURAL" environment inside a shoe or boot
• The irony is that it requires a man-made (or natural blended with acrylic) cushion fabric to create a more natural surface inside a shoe; but remember that shoes and boots themselves are man-made surfaces.
• Therefore, the only effective protective measure is to help counteract the negative aspects of one "man-made" surface with another "man-made" surface.
Thorlos' exclusive acrylic cushion fabric is more "natural" inside a shoe.

How should I launder and care for my Thorlos?

Perspiration and unsaturated body acids can cause deterioration of the elastic. Launder your Thorlos as soon as possible after every use.
Thorlos should be laundered and dried inside out to 'fluff' the terry padding and achieve maximum cushioning after each wearing.
Wash Thorlos with like colors: Whites should be washed with white clothes only! Use the warm or cold water setting on your washing machine, and use permanent press or gentle cycle.
Do not use chlorinated bleach, or laundry detergents containing chlorinated bleaching agents, on Thorlos. Use of these agents results in fiber deterioration as well as breakdown of the spandex (elastic) and loss of elasticity.
To receive full benefit of the Thorlos product design, we strongly recommend using liquid fabric softener in the rinse cycle. This is vital to extend product wear. Fabric softener lubricates both the fibers and the elastic, keeping them flexible and allowing them to stretch as designed. It also helps to maintain correct sizing, stretch and durability. Fabric softener sheets in the dryer are NOT a substitute for using liquid fabric softener, although they do help to reduce static in the dryer.
Line drying is not recommended, as it can contribute to the premature breakdown of the elastic core. We advise that Thorlos be tumble dried on permanent press or low heat dryer settings. High dryer temperatures can cause shrinkage and spandex breakdown. The tumbling process in the dryer helps restore the fiber loft and 'reinvigorates' the terry padding for maximum protection.
Be certain your Thorlos have been thoroughly dried after laundering. If they are put away damp, spandex breakdown can result due to excess moisture still present in the elastic.
Put your Thorlos on with care: Place hands on either side of the sock and gather fabric up to the toe area, pulling the sock on around the toes. Then gently pull the socks over the foot and up the leg. Do not grasp socks at the top and insert the foot as this can cause the spandex to weaken and break.
Periodically a loose end of spandex may work itself to the outside of the sock. This is not a product defect. If this occurs, do not pull the elastic because it can cause unraveling. Clip it with scissors before you put the socks into the washing machine to prevent premature pulling, breaking or unraveling.
Treat your Thorlos like what they are - - high priced, high quality protective gear for your feet!

If for any reason you're unhappy with the items you receive, they can be returned for an exchange or refund. However, note items must be unworn, unused and in their original condition and returned within a reasonable time frame (14-21 days) to:

Socks for Living - Returns

PO Box 1031

Williamstown VIC 3016

AUSTRALIA 

We reserve the right to refuse a product that does not meet these requirements.

If you would like to obtain a refund or exchange a product for a different size, colour or something completely different we will do our best to make the process simple and easy for you.  Simply follow the steps below to make this happen:

1. Contact us to arrange the return/exchange at returns@socksforliving.com

2. For exchange of products due to wrong size/colour or simply change of mind on an order, Socks for Living will not be responsible for any additional postage charges.  Simply post the item/s back to us at the above address and we will do our best to fulfill your request.  You will be responsible for postage, both to Socks For Living and then from us back out to you. 

3. Once we have received the returned/exchanged goods we will process and refund any monies owed or send out your further items.

4. Despite rigorous quality control processes, on the very odd occasion a faulty product slips our eagle eye.  If you are one of the unlucky few to recieve an item that is less than par, please contact us at returns@socksforliving.com within 5-7 days of receiving your product and we will gladly refund your money or exchange your item for a fabulous new one.  Socks For Living will pay for postage back to us and then for the new item to be sent out to you. 

5. Socks For Living reserves the right to inspect the faulty product and will determine if the item has been abused or is faulty.

Questions?

What if I have already worn my purchase, can I still exchange it?

No.  Due to health regulations we can only accept products back that are in original condition and that have not been worn or washed.  

What if the item I bought was faulty or defective?

All products carried by Socks for Living undergo stringent quality checks from the time we receive the goods to the time we ship.  In the unlikely event you receive a defective item please notify us within 5-7 days of receiving your product at returns@socksforliving.com.  We will assess each instance of damaged and/or faulty goods on a case-by-case basis and replace or refund the item in question.  Note you will not be charged return postage for your faulty items. 

I have returned my items for an exchange but have not heard anything?

Depending on your location will depend on when we get them, so please allow reasonable time for shipping.  Upon receipt we will action your exchange within 24-48 hours and provide you with an email response as to the progress of your exchange.

Further questions? 

Simply contact us at returns@socksforliving.com and one of our team will touch base with you to discuss your question.

What are the shipping costs?

NOTE: All prices are in Australian dollars - AUS

 

Australian Customers

Type	Postage	Cost
Spend Under $30	Aust. Wide Regular Post*	$6.90
	Aust. Wide Express Post**	$9.20
Spend Over $30	Aust. Wide Regular Post with Tracking*	$1.95
Postage Options	Registered Post Guaranteed Next Day Delivery – Express Post**	Add $5.00 Add $9.20
	(Orders over $80 Receive FREE Upgrade to Express Post )

*Allow 1-4 days for regular post delivery.

**Selected Australia Post Next Day Delivery Locations

 

NZ Customers

Type	Postage	Cost
Spend Under $60	Registered Post Airmail	$15.00
Spend between $60 and $140	Registered Post Airmail	$19.82
Spend Over $140	Registered Post Airmail	FREE

Allow between 3-10 days for delivery

 

Canadian, US & Middle East Customers

Type	Postage	Cost
Spend Under $100	Registered Post Airmail	$20.00**
Spend Over $100	Registered Post Airmail	$25.00**

**NOTE: All US Customers are required to pay a US initiated tax of $9 AUS on all orders weighing 500 grams or more.  Sorry, but the US govenrment has decided this tax will apply on all sales.   

Allow between 3-10 business days for delivery

 

Asia & Pacific Customers

Type	Postage	Cost
Spend Under $100	Registered Post Airmail	$18.00
Spend Over $100	Registered Post Airmail	$23.00

Allow between 3-10 business days for delivery

 

Rest of World

Type	Postage	Cost
Spend Under $100	Registered Post Airmail	$27.00
Spend Over $100	Registered Post Airmail	$37.00

 

All shipping costs are in AUD dollars.

Note: If you are outside the aforementioned areas please contact us at customerservice@socksforliving.com

Incorrect delivery address/returned parcels

If an incorrect delivery address is provided or a parcel is returned to us as undeliverable, an extra postage fee will apply to re-send it.

International Shipping

Orders delivered outside Australia are exempt from 10% GST. This will be deducted from your order total during checkout, after your delivery address is entered.  Presently, we only offer shipping to New Zealand and Asia Pacific Customers. If you fall outside these areas, please contact customerservice@socksforliving.com to discuss your request.

Questions

Do you offer free shipping?

No, but we do subsidize on all orders making shipping Australia wide on any orders only $1.95.  We do not make any money on postage. 

Subsidized Shipping to NZ, Canada, USA, Asia Pacific & Rest of World on any orders.

When will I receive my order?

Orders placed before 3pm EST will be shipped the same day. Items are shipped via Australia Post Regular Post, including those sent FREE shipping take between 1-4 days depending on your location i.e. capital city to capital city take 1-2 days, whilst remote country locations may take a day or two longer.  Items dispatched via Australia Post Express Post are delivered the next business day to areas serviced by the Express Post network.

Is a signature required?

During the checkout process, you have the option of selecting Registered Post. This option requires a signature on delivery.  All other shipping options will be placed in your letter box, or placed near front door.

Has my order been shipped yet?

A confirmation email will be sent to you advising when your order has been shipped and it’s tracking details (if applicable).

Can I track my parcel?

A confirmation email will be sent to you advising when your order has been shipped and it’s tracking details (if applicable). This can also be viewed online in your account. Simply follow the link in our email once your order has been shipped.