PSA: Your Grip Socks Are Not Grippy Anymore

We just realized something. Your grip socks probably have more life in them than you think. The catch? It all comes down to one care move (and spoiler: the dryer is the ultimate enemy).

How often do you replace your grip socks? Do you wear the same pair over and over until you start slipping in Barre class? Do you change your sock drawer out seasonally? Or are you one of the class style mavens who continuously adds patterns, styles, and colors to your grip sock repertoire to best match your mood or outfit?

Here’s the basic grip sock timeline:

Month 1-2: Peak grip – your feet are not going to budge on the reformer or mat. This is when sticking your pose and being able to push yourself deeper in your movement, is supported by the grippy dots on your feet. When you feel secure in your form, you are able to engage more in the exercise and find greater self-confidence and breath.

Month 3-4: First signs of wear – your teacher cues a pull off at the barre, and you’re a bit more concerned about making sure your feet don’t slip versus making sure your core is turned on. Depending on how you’ve cared for your socks since the first time you wore them, you could be facing some uneasiness in class while performing certain moves that require balance or stability on your toes.

Month 5-6: This is when even the stickiest and well made grip socks may not be working their best. Heel grip loss, arch fabric thinning under reformer pressure, and toe grip weakness from repetitive pressure from workouts – all start to surface. Pssst. Your socks aren’t failing you, they’ve just been worked hard. Good job.

The mistake that 90% of us make is how we wash and dry our grip socks. Heat destroys grip coatings and breaks down elastic and cuts your socks life significantly. Stop throwing your socks in the dryer, instead lay flat or hang to dry to get more life out of them. This small, seemingly simple change can add 2-3 months to your your socks’ grippiness. If you are anti-air drying, try flipping your socks inside out before tossing in the dryer or try reducing the heat to “low.” Your grip socks, your Pilates instructor, and your wallet will thank you.