Welcome to EN’s Product Review series! Who doesn’t love shopping… especially when the object of your search is new gear for yourself or your horse? As an enthusiast of all products equine, I LOVE trying out new gear. Which is why I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to try out products, so that I may share my many adventures with all of you! Please join me as I narrate my personal journey of trying out all of the products featured. While I will make no recommendations, I hope that you simply have fun and find entertainment while reading about my many adventures of trying new products, and that hearing about my personal experiences might help give you factors to consider when you are on your own quest for new gear!
These days, there are many fun colors and interesting styles that are being incorporated into equestrian apparel. I, for one, certainly appreciate all of the various technical fabrics that have been designed to deliver superior performance in the saddle. And do you know what’s even better? When said performance apparel comes in bright colors and/or funky patterns. What, that’s just one perk of being an eventer–we can have a little bit of fun with our attire!
Sadly, there is one piece (actually, make that two pieces) of clothing that can easily be forgotten about. That one part of your outfit where you can show as much personality as you want; but can still remain looking polished and conservative enough, even for the dressage ring? Yup, you guessed it…I’m talking about socks!
Alas, though their fate is to be hidden underneath a pair of boots, socks can be sassy in their own right. I do have my fair share of funky socks for every day wear–everything from the more traditional floral and plaid prints, to slightly more eccentric prints including zebras, frogs, chickens, and beyond. While wacky patterns are great and all, when it comes to a riding sock, I also expect that it will perform well underneath my boot.
I was very excited when I had the chance to try my first pair of JoJo Sox last year. One of the things that really caught my interest after learning about the brand was the sheer number of patterns and colors that are offered. While many of the designs are equestrian inspired, JoJo Sox also offers many other patterns as well–ranging from geometric, artistic, and even nature themed.
The day that I tried on my first pair of JoJo Sox, I remember thinking that that my feet looked like they were having their own fiesta. Seriously. Color. Explosion. Nice, right? Since that first pair, I’ve added a number of JoJo Sox to my sock collection. And while I’ve spent a lot of time riding in them, I also find myself wearing them during everyday life as well. Their tall pairs of boots socks definitely do look snazzy peeking out over the top of my Dubarry boots, that’s for sure!
For riding while wearing my paddock boots, I’ve enjoyed wearing both the Tuff Cuff Sox, as well as the 6″ Sox–both in the CoolMax Eco Made fabric. The height of both pairs of socks work very nicely when I decide to school in my paddock boots and half chaps. I like that they are comfortable when I wear them, and they don’t try to slide down while I’m riding like my regular “non-riding” socks do.
Aside from the awesome colors and comfort, the CoolMax Eco Made fabric functions nicely – even when schooling in warmer temperatures, I noticed that the Sox remained dry and my feel were not sweaty or icky after my ride. And a fun fact? The Eco Made fabric is made out of recycled water bottles, so you could say that their very existence could be helping the environment.
Another type of Sox that I’ve enjoyed riding (and also not riding) in are Bambootz. These are a type of Sox that are true to their name, because they are actually made out of bamboo. The first thing that I noticed about Bambootz are just how absolutely soft and smooth they are to the touch. I like the fact that when I pull a pair on, they give me the feeling of being a second skin. And even though they are thin, my boots do not rub my feet through them.
The fabric does allow my feet to BREATHE, and it also does help to keep my feet dry during my ride. Because who likes sweaty feet anyway? I’ve tried Bambootz in both a short and tall height – short working great with paddock boots, and tall pairing well with my field boots.
And to round off the bunch are the Tall Sox – once again, the patterns available do not disappoint (isn’t the giraffe print totally awesome?). What I like about the Tall Sox is the way that they fit my legs; they are form fitting, and I get the feeling that they “hug” my legs, but they are not overly tight or constricting. And, the fabric does not feel like it has any extra bulk, which is a plus for me. As with the other pairs of JoJo Sox, the Tall Sox stay in place while I’m in the saddle, and they also do a nice job of wicking away moisture. Even on those extra warm days.
One of the things that I like about JoJo Sox is that there are a lot of styles. You can pick a style to fit your activity level for the day–out of the number of sock heights and materials available. And depending on your mood, you can pick anything from an eye pleasing geometric design, to a skull and bones pattern in neon colors.
Ladies JoJo Sox retail in price for $14 to $20 – which means that both my inner fashionista and my budget are happy. I’ve found that I’m starting to become a collector of different designs and fabrics. Because, what can I say–I like the fusion of all of the fun patterns, with technical fabrics that are working for me underneath my riding boots.
Go Funky Patterns. Go JoJo Sox. Go Eventing.