Just received my OSI order of two pairs of the Italian sock and the Pro Sock with stripes. The Italian ones look nice, high quality, but the Pro Sock is appalling. It is the thickest sock ever, and the quality of the stripes is poor, disappointed with the quality of the whole sock overall. Couldn’t imagine running around in this for 90 min. unless it was 40 degrees or lower in which case the thickness of the fabric would keep me warm. Looks nothing like the pic on the website and I will be returning them. Has anyone else gotten this sock before? Did I just get a dud?
Just out of curiosity, I thought USSF was dealing away with the three stripe sock? I guess I should ask: are you using this for USSF games or something else?
I agree about the OSI Pro socks. They are very thick, that's why I buy the economy socks. The quality is about the same as the pro sock, maybe a bit lower, but it's thinner and they last a lot longer. The only place where I can find them on sale is epic sports.
This reminds me of the second miracle that occurred at our Georgia HS recert -- we're now allowed to wear the 2-stripe socks!
I think the two stripe is all they put in marketing materials and the three stripe is not yet banned. Wink wink, nudge nudge.
Lots of high school guys in my area use 3 stripe and we all have to match. When I was still in Ohio, it was 3 stripe only. That said, when I lived in Ohio I freakin loved those OSI super thick pro socks. Because when you're doing multiple games a day in sub 30 weather, those things were amazing for keeping me warm. Yeah, they're lousy on a 90 degree day, but if you live in a cold climate those things can be a life saver.
AYSO still uses three stripe, but I’m not buying another ten Score jerseys just for AYSO so I may as well just suit up in OSI. I have reffed in pretty cold weather, but my legs never really get cold, just my hands. Besides, I’d need bigger shoes to fit my feet plus socks comfortably.
Fixed it for you. Many AYSO regions are using up old stock (or getting great deals on distributor's old stock). Others are moving to the two stripe. And I suspect many don't particularly care.
My daughter called these socks "Dad's big fuzzies." I do wear them, but only in cooler weather, for high school and college games. Probably not getting any more big fuzzies, though.
Now hopefully all my Georgia USSF assignors will let us use the two stripes. I have two that insist on the three stripes. That's fine in the February tournaments. Not so much for May.
The AYSO store isn't hawking Score's new fancy two stripe socks yet but they have put the Agora three stripe socks on clearance-like prices ($3.95/$4.95 per pair for regular/pro) so I'm guessing the two stripes will start becoming more common come the fall.
I bet I'll show up actually in the three stripe which is the norm around where I ref AYSO games and my AR's will be in the two-stripe so I'll have to change. And yes I know it's only AYSO but I usually walk out with my crew and like looking as professional as possible. But at least I come prepared.
So that's where those thick fuzzy things in my drawer came from. I've had them forever. I like them for the really cold games too. One of my daughters says they look like giant caterpillars eating my legs.
Woo hoo!!! I go away for a while, come back and find another discussion about socks! I love this forum!
The Italian Sock is GARBAGE!! I go through two pairs per season and then they have to be thrown out and replaced due to holes in the heel, sole, etc. I wash my gear on delicate and always hang dry and still can't get them to last more than a single season. I've had better luck with the economy but it seems to fray near the ankle which looks kind of crappy but no holes so far. Can anyone recommend a solid three stripe sock without logos that looks good and is better quality than the crap that OSI is offering?
I'm only one season in so I might not be the person to comment on this, but I sort of feel like, depending on the level of officiating you're doing, they shouldn't really last longer than that? I'm a bigger guy (5' 11 ~235 lb) and I went through two pairs of shorts and two pairs of socks after 240ish games. Some of the other refs I talk to in my area are buying at least a new pair of socks every season, some buying more since they do the number of games I am doing.
I use these from One Stop Soccer. They sell on Amazon too, but I can't get Amazon's website to work from my work computer. (luckily Big Soccer works!!). They are reasonably thick and comfy, the only problem is that the stripe pattern is only on one side. So, if they you need to turn them down, you will need to wear them inside out, so that the stripes show on the outside once your fold them over. But, I just pull them straight up and they say up no problem.
Score #707, thin, modern construction, good price, King size available. Love 'em. 7017 is the two stripe version. Better call them, the web site now indicates 707 is the 2-stripe. If you use the 3 stripes, you should stock up. In danger of being a broken record, I wear thick wool socks under my ref socks. Hot or Cold weather. Always comfortable.
That hasn't been my experience, but I guess it depends on how many games you do and/or maybe some other shoe factor. The Italian socks last fine for me and I've never noticed the heel to be particularly fragile. They tend to fit snug in the calf (almost like a compression sock) and are essentially the only referee socks I use.
You're running wrong. I wear out socks in the ball of the foot, not in the heel. I love sock threads (but not threadbare socks).