Ten minutes into a cardio workout the other day, my feet quickly started heating up. As if someone rubbed Icy Hot all over them. I honestly freaked out a little bit. Then I remembered I was wearing for the very first time Kentwool’s brand-new SensationWool socks ($25 per pair). They’re marketed as golf socks that are therapeutic for foot pain relief, as they’re made of superfine Merino wool and “Nufabrx” nylon, which is infused with capsaicin and a synthetic cooling agent. This combination of warming and cooling ingredients – much like you’ll find in over-the-counter pain treatments – aims to give your dogs temporary relief from aches and pains.
It took about 15 minutes after my workout for the heat to subside. Whether you’ll feel the Icy Hot sensation depends on your body chemistry, a company spokesman tells me. Some people only feel an after-chill. If you’re just wearing them at rest, you may not feel anything unusual.
“The socks’ warming and cooling sensations deliver pain relief without the mess and inconvenience often associated with creams and pills,” vows Lauren Hubbard, president of Kentwool Performance Apparel.
The company suggests you only wash the socks in cold water, and claims the pain management features will last through 30 wash cycles. Now I’m looking forward to the next 18 holes I walk, just to see if they’ll heat up my round.