Hidden Gems: Fuel Clothing Socks

It’s just flipping socks right? Well, yes, but actually no. I am very picky on socks because that is the one part of my body that I sweat the most. My feet are fairly sensitive so when I get a pair of socks that are hard or rough to the touch, I am out! I actually was referred to Fuel Clothing by my good buddy Travis Preston and he suggested I try them out. Now I am normally a “up to the knee” sock guy and my normal program with Stance socks and my Asterisk Zero G pants were fine, but I have been noticing that the Stance socks were getting hard and crusty feeling after more than a few washes. I was looking for anything that remained soft for more than a month of riding so I decided to try some Fuel knee/crew socks. 

Fuel socks have moisture wicking fabric, odor blocking fibers, are ultra breathable, has a double padded heel, reinforced elastic with quick dry acrylic, is machine washable and even though say to hang dry them, I throw them in the dryer. After a couple months of use I have quickly become a fan of the Fuel socks for a few reasons. The sock itself feels good against my skin and doesn’t irritate it. The Fuel socks DO NOT get hard or crusty feeling after over 20 rides. The socks are thick enough for a little cushion yet are ventilated enough where I am not getting all slushy inside my Tech 10s. They are not a nightmare to put on like some other socks I have tried because the elastic is so damn tight around the opening of the sock, that I end up stretching them out in three rides. They are durable and last me more than a few rides! Again, socks aren’t rocket science but when it comes to finding little hidden gems like these Fuel socks, it’s tough for me not to share them with you all. You can use the code “Keefer20” to save some dough if you order. I even pay for my own socks because if a product works I have zero problem paying for my own shit. I am not your typical media guy. I like to support good companies and Fuel Clothing has been around our sport for quite sometime, but somehow I missed the memo on their socks. So when I go riding, I am sliding on some Fuel socks before strapping on the BRACES! YES! KNEE BRACES! Check all the socks out at fuelclothing.com. 

Hidden Gems (Acerbis MX Pro Socks)

By: Michael Allen

I decided to start this series of short reviews because sometimes there are products that either slip through the testing cracks or are just overlooked altogether. From time to time I come across products that aren’t often talked about and I think to myself “man how come I didn’t know about this?” So, from now on when I come across a great product that has slipped through the cracks without getting any attention, I’ll be sharing that info with you, the loyal Keefer Inc. Testing reader.

For the first installment of “Hidden Gems” I’ll be telling you guys about a pair of socks that I randomly purchased two years ago (yes, I’ve been wearing them on and off for that long). I forgot my socks at home one day so that forced me to swing by my local shop and buy a pair on my way to the track. I was in a hurry and these were the first pair I saw, so I grabbed them and was on my way.  The Acerbis MX Pro Sock is a very minimalist sock made of a thin mix of 60% acrylic, 20% polyamide, 10% polypropylene and 10% elastin. The socks pull up just below the knee and over time the elastic never seemed to get stretched out. I am fairly hard on gear not just when I wear it, but also with washes. Some people tell me I over wash my moto stuff, but I like everything to be clean at all times so I wash all my gear after every time I ride, so I have no doubt these socks have been washed at least 80 times. 

Like I said, these socks are on the thin side, so if your boots are a little big or you’re riding in cold weather, you’ll want something a little thicker. Whenever it’s not cold these have become my go to socks and I have yet to wear a hole through them or have the threads come apart. This is most likely due to the fact that Acerbis reinforced the socks in the necessary areas of wear to help with durability. With a price tag of $20.88 these socks are a great deal. I liked mine so much I went back and purchased a second pair for when I need them. The pictures attached will look different than the ones on websites because they changed the look, but that just goes to show you how long mine have lasted. I hope this little tidbit of information on a not so talked about product was helpful for your next purchase. Stay tuned as I write more about some other “Hidden Gems” I come across in the near future.

Stance Long Moto Socks

No, the Stance moto socks aren't going to change your life like some may claim, but they are pretty damn comfortable for moto socks. Your motocross or off-road socks usually are the one piece of your rider ensemble you don’t really think too much about, when throwing gear into your gear bag. With the evolution of knee braces, however, socks have evolved somewhat right? Remember the thick ass neon socks of the 90's? Yes, I use to wear those and would never wish that upon anyone ever in my life. Stance is a company strictly devoted to your feet and they are a very moto oriented company, so the stuff they offer has some moto "thought" behind it.

Stance offers short and long moto socks, but since it is starting to get hot and I wear knee braces, I wanted the long Stance motocross socks to put on my stinky size 10 feet (instead of the short sock, Asterisk or Leatt knee brace combo). The Stance socks have mesh panels that go up your leg for breathability, arch support and a reinforced toe/heel cushioning to combat holes. I will admit that the Stance socks are some of the softest- feeling socks I have put on and feel very cushiony inside my boots. The long mesh leg panels provide decent sweat resistance and the Lycra band at the top of the leg grips your thigh area firm enough for a nonslip grip. I have worn a pair of these Stance socks for more than a couple months and the elastic has held up well, only if you DO NOT DRY THEM! If you dry these suckers the elastic will stretch/sack out and lose their elasticity. Then what will happen is you’ll be pulling these suckers up all day inside your riding pants. 

For $38.00 a pair for socks it’s something that will only attract some. I have tried on other brands of socks with almost the same comfort for almost half the price. However, I will give it up to Stance for being a very durable sock! The socks I have been wearing for over two months (riding 4-5 times per week) have zero holes in them, which is rare for me. They do lose a little of their soft new like feel after several washes, but are thin enough so my feet aren't sweating all to hell. Mrs. Keefer can attest to the smell that comes out of my gear bag after a long day... She even commented that these socks don’t stink or feel as wet as some other socks I take off after a full day of motos. Yes, my wife washes my socks! I know, right? That's why I married her! 

So if you aren't into the Asterisk or Leatt knee brace pants and need a longer sock for knee braces, you can head over to stance.com and check out all the moto socks they have to offer. I only can afford a couple pair at a time, but if you’re a picky sock person these could be up your alley.