What do you do when you’re not able to run at the moment, let alone walk at a very brisk pace without getting winded or causing contractions?

You geek out over running accessories in the hopes that testing some new gear will help keep you from trying to distract yourself by cranking up the resistance during your current low-intensity, low-impact workouts.

Which is why we’re talking socks today, particularly the Feetures! Elite Collection ($14.99 per pair), the brand’s most technically advanced product (yep, they had me at “targeted compression”).

Designed to provide maximum support in all the right places, these socks also feature a construction that reduces irritation and discomfort (i.e. protection from blisters), as well as material that wicks moisture to keep feet cool and dry.

I tried out a pair from each end of the cushioning spectrum — one with light cushioning (in “Ultraviolet”) and the other with maximum cushioning (in “Atlantis”).

And no, not all of Feetures!’ socks come in such bright colors; they just knew I’m a sucker for loud workout gear, so they sent me two fun colorways to check out. 

Since I have a pretty narrow heel, I prefer thick running socks; what I love about this max cushioning style is that the tab at the back is nice and cushy (see picture below) to act as both a buffer and a barrier as your feet inevitably shift in your shoes.

They held up nicely during a long walk on the treadmill in which I played with speeds and incline to try them from different angles, so I can only assume they’ll perform just as well once I’m back running out on the roads post-baby.

As for the pair with light cushioning, they’re perfect for cross-training — so I tried them out during a bootcamp session, as well as the walk to and from class.

What I like about these is that they’re slightly less bulky, yet still provide plenty of protection thanks to an anatomical design in which there’s extra cushioning in high-impact areas (see the picture below where I flipped it inside out to illustrate), as well as seamless construction that virtually eliminates any irritation.

Sure, “A sock is a sock,” you may be saying to yourself. But you’ll beg to differ the first time you have to cut a run short — or grit your teeth and tough it out if you’re far from your home/car — due to a hot spot that develops into a painful blister.

So do yourself a favor, whether your’re ramping up workouts, still enjoying your off-season, doing some pre-training planning for the year or simply sidelined (like me!) for the next few months, and take a moment to inventory and update your outdated running attire and accessories.

You’d be surprised at how quickly technology changes and how much more pleasant workouts can be when your gear works with you rather than against you!

When’s the last time you re-vamped your workout gear?