Why Socks Matter

Runners are an obsessive bunch.

We care—sometimes way too much—about the smallest details that can make a run just a little better. We test shoes. We analyze watches. We plan routes. We pick the right gear for every condition.

But what about socks?

If you're like us, they’ve sometimes been an afterthought—a small choice with big consequences. What if socks were just as important to get right as your shoes?

We sat down with Christian Brecheis, founder of Near Earth—a performance sock company built by and for real runners—to talk about sport, design, sustainability, and why the best gear is the gear you never notice at all.

Q: Christian, as big fans of Near Earth, we’re super excited to talk to you. Let’s start with your running journey. What has the sport meant to you?

Christian:I’ve always enjoyed running, but I never really treated it like a sport. For me, it was about staying fit and supporting other sports I was into. That’s changed now. These days I do other sports to support my running. When it comes to runs, I like to challenge myself every now and then, but always in a way that keeps it healthy. I’m not super fast and I am definitely not a professional athlete. What I enjoy most is heading out for a trail run, covering a lot of ground on foot in the mountains, or going for a long run, just cruising along the river—being present and taking it all in. Looking back, it was always about that feeling, even if I didn’t realize it at the time.

Q: So you took this passion for running and turned it into a company. Why socks?

Christian:A couple of reasons. From an aesthetic standpoint, and this is probably because I am a photographer, but there’s nothing worse than shooting great running gear, amazing shoes, and then a lousy sock ruins the shot. From a functional and performance perspective, I was just really disappointed with what was in the market. And if I did find a sock I liked, it’s usually gone by the next season.

People put a lot of thought into the weight of their shoes—how many ounces they are, but how much weight are your socks adding. Are they holding a ton of sweat and getting heavy over a run. Are your socks letting your toes splay? Or are they compressing them and making the wide forefoot base of your shoe a little bit useless?

Nobody really talks about how socks impact your run—but the right sock makes a difference.

Q: No question socks are like an afterthought for a lot of runners. What was missing from the market that you set out to solve?

Christian:Near Earth is a running brand. Our sole focus is designing socks that are purpose-made for runners. It means we're intentional about each decision, every stitch. Our socks are understated and all about performance—but none of this comes at the expense of the environment. The goal was, and still is, to give you a better feel in your shoes and to really care about what runners actually need—all while minimizing our environmental impact. There will be no Near Earth socks for pickleball.

Q: Near Earth feel noticeably different from other options out there. What goes into designing a truly great performance sock?

Christian:It’s like with great pizza, you only need a few ingredients, you just have to make them count. It starts with picking high-end materials, then figuring out what features really matter, and which don’t. Luckily, I can work directly on the circular knitting machine and tweak things to create a truly anatomical sock. Most socks out there have a left and right label but they are basically just flat design tube socks. Near Earth socks are shaped to fit your foot properly, from heel to toe. This is one reason they’ll immediately feel different to you.

Q: How do you balance performance with environmental responsibility?

Christian:This goes back to the purpose. There’s almost no way for consumers to recycle textiles today, so unfortunately it’s hard to have a real impact at the end of a product’s life. Starting Near Earth—a new brand—gave me a unique opportunity to focus on the beginning of life instead. I chose to work with a supplier who sets rigorous standards. Every sock is washed once during production, and they care about the energy consumption, water use, and filtration.

Then, I needed to consider where the raw materials come from and make sure we actually use what we order so there’s zero waste. We know every step of our supply chain, right down to the guy who’s operating the knitting machine. To really make an impact, you need to get super-detailed about everything, down to the paper and ink used for packaging.

The next big steps are finding even better materials—stuff that performs just as well or better and lasts even longer.

Q: It sounds like eco-friendliness is an essential aspect of performance for Near Earth. Can you talk about the specific materials you use—and what makes them eco-friendly?

Christian:For the Distance Sock, we chose yarns produced close to our knitting partner. Even when we need custom dyeing, we work with a place just down the road. While the current materials we use tick a lot of important boxes, we are not quite where we want to be just yet.

For the Race Day Sock, we partnered with Econyl—a regenerated material that offers superior strength, elasticity and abrasion resistance compared to most recycled alternatives.

Look, there’s a lot of greenwashing in the industry, but there are also some genuinely exciting innovations out there. We’ve already stress tested some materials by running a bunch of miles—but there are others I’m still excited to try.

Q: In other words, eco-friendliness is a continuous process of improvement—sounds a lot like running. So, if Near Earth socks are purpose built, do you design with specific conditions—trail, marathon, weather—in mind?

Christian:Absolutely. Very simply put, if you are running in a daily trainer with a thick comfy upper you need a different sock than if you are racing in a snug high performance shoe. I would love to expand the line into a few more categories but honestly I do not think you need a million different socks. A good sock should support what your shoe is intended to do.

Q: That aligns with how we think about gear. You don’t need a million pieces—just the right ones. How do you test your socks—with athletes, in labs, or on the road?

Christian:The best feedback always comes from athletes, no question. Especially runners logging 100-mile weeks—they know what works. If you keep an eye on our Instagram stories, you’ll spot odd colors or designs that aren't for sale yet. Those are usually prototypes being tested.

Q: What do you wish more runners knew about what’s on their feet?

Christian:Honestly, if you are wearing Near Earth socks and you are not thinking about them at all, that is the biggest compliment you could give. I put a lot of thought into them so that runners don’t have to. If you have the peace of mind to put on a pair of Near Earth socks for a race that really matters to you, that is the ultimate reward.

Near Earth socks are available now: https://www.nearearth.run/

Check out Christian’s photography.

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