Hidden Contour = Support

There are 3 elasticated zones in the new Hidden Contour.  We wanted to give you the perfect amount of support through the mid-foot, heel and collar without making the sock tight around the toes.

The Hidden Contour

The blue arrow points to a nice, supportive mid-foot wrap that stretches across the top of the foot and hugs the arch underneath.  The white arrow highlights another band that starts just below the collar at the top of the foot and holds right in front of the heel at the back of the arch.  The black arrows show the final band that comfortably wraps the ankle below the "honey-comb" pattern comfort rib top.

But again, we want to leave the toes alone, giving them a space to move and wiggle freely just like the fit of a shoe.  This sock is made for that runner looking for a snugger, more dynamic fit.

Deep Heel

Balega takes pride in all the little details that make our socks #1.  One of these is a section of the sock that's often overlooked, but plays an integral role in the function of the sock:  The deep heel cup and heel gore.  I know it sounds pretty geeked-out, but this is one of my favorite parts of a Balega sock!

The new Hidden Contour.

 In the above photo notice the red arrow pointing at the seam.  This is the heel gore.  Our manufacturing process slows down so that the machines can create a longer seam in the heel to create a deeper heel cup.  In the same way that your foot "locks" into the heel counter of the shoe, this deeper well ensures that the foot fits securely in the heel so the sock doesn't slip into the shoe. 

If you look closely you'll see the black arrow pointing to the Y-heel construction part of the heel gore.  The seam forks.  This allows the tension of the elasticated fabric to be distributed better around the heel to avoid too much pull on the long heel gore (maintaining durability) and also cups the foot in that spot allowing for a better fit, no shifting on the heel and no slipping down.

California Trip Pt. 3 Northern CA (Stockton & Sacramento)

After the 4th of July, I started heading north to visit FF stores in the Sacramento and Bay areas.  As a contrast to the wet and humid weather in North Carolina, California was extremely hot and dry with average temps being just over 100 degrees.  I definitely miss my home state and this trip, visiting these places, just made my homesickness worse.  But I was able to see some old friends and meet some really great folks along the way.

First stop:  

Great little staff here in Stockton.  That's Omar helping a lady with some new kicks!  I, of course, found the perfect pair of socks for her.

Owner Tony Vice rolling up his sleeves to hit the sales floor.

Next stop:

This place was CRAZY!!! So busy.  This is my high school buddy and FF Sacramento manager, Justin Weisenburger.  You may also remember him from the old Somnio catalog.  He obviously loves having his picture taken.

Had a great trail run the next morning with Justin along the river in Sacramento.

California Trip Pt. 2 Central CA (hometown)

So, I spent the next part of the trip working from my hometown to prepare for the last part of the trip.  I did some trail running in my favorite National Park, ran a 10k race, and got a chance to re-explore my little town of Exeter, CA.

When folks out in NC hear that I'm from CA they always ask, "Northern or Southern?" And when I say, "Central", they looked confused.  As if a whole giant section of farmland and valley didn't exist.

 

 

Main St. (actually Pine St.) Exeter, CA

on the way to some amazing trail running.

This little guy was not happy waking up to the sounds of us coming down the trail.  --Black Bear. Sequoia Nat'l Park

Indian grinding mortars.  Sequoia Nat'l Park

They don't make trees like this in NC.

post trail run.  Not happy with the altitude.  This is at about 7000 ft.

Sierra Subs.  One of the greatest sandwich shops known to man.  If you're ever up there I suggest the Mufaletta.  Three Rivers, CA

The crew at Sierra Subs.

My highschool auditorium.  I think this bldg is from 1910.  Exeter, CA

Again, not what people are thinking when I tell them I'm from CA.  This is on the way to my brother's furniture workshop.

Great little coffee house in Exeter.  It was my office during my time being home.

little alleyway.  Exeter, CA

In the 90's, to try to put our little town on the map, Exeter started commissioning murals throughout the downtown area.  There are dozens now.  You can see a complete album of them on my Facebook page.

This one represents an old car race through downtown back in the old days.  And the guy on the right, in the white coat is our neighbor!  He has one of those cars in his garage.

Highschool buddy, my sister and me.  4th of July 10k.  Exeter, CA

California trip Pt. 1 Southern CA

This was a long trip for Balega thus far.  2 weeks total of working and traveling.  I'll break this post up a bit to make it easier to comb through.

I started the trip out in Huntington Beach, CA for the Fleet Feet Conference and ended it two weeks later in Redding, CA.

I used to tour my home state quite a bit, back in the day, when I played music and it had been awhile since I've seen so much of it since those days.  So, after the conference I hit the road going north, stopping in to see the southern CA FF locations then headed up to my hometown in the San Joaquin Valley.

Christiana and Mark at FF Rancho Cucamonga

This little crew was great fun to work with at FF Burbank. l to r: Lyndsey, Maritza & Leo.

Me trying not to get food on my shirt.

Heading up the 99.

Thank you Fleet Feet Sports!

We had a great time at this year's Fleet Feet Conference in Huntington Beach.  For me, being new to Balega, I really enjoyed meeting new folks and catching up with some old friends.  As a vendor partner, Balega wanted to reaffirm our commitment to our relationships with great stores and let the new owners know how we intend to help support your business outside of just dropping socks off at your doorstep.  Thank you for letting us be a part of it all!

rough place to have a work conference

Chris Bevin and Tanya Pictor going over the game plan before the doors open.

Hitting the ground running.

Bert looks serious.  So do all the new COLORS!!!

Andrew letting folks know who's in charge.

I used to play music in a town, in a joint that Frank used to frequent in CA....he also looks just like my old roommate from back in the day!

"South of The Border": Fleet Feet Sports - Columbia, SC.

I took a short trip (1.5 hrs) down from Charlotte, NC to visit the Fleet Feet Sports Columbia, SC.  The state capitol is here and a zoo, neither of which I got to visit.  But I did have a great time hanging out with some really talented and inspiring staff at FF Columbia.

Fleet Feet Sports - Columbia, SC from Ben Hernandez on Vimeo.

A great way to recycle old shoes!

We talked about socks, the Columbia running community, great trail running nearby and they even gave me this great pint glass before I left!

And you know I couldn't leave Columbia w/o finding a cool place for a cup of coffee.  Thank you, Dan Matena, for the suggestion!

Drip in Columbia, SC

It's all single pour, people.  Single pour!!!

On the way to my next destination I got hit with an INSANE rain storm.  Every couple of miles I would pass another car that had slid off the road into either the center median or off to the right in a ditch.  But when it was all over I spotted this oasis in the wilderness:  SOUTH OF THE BORDER!!! Theme Park! Gift Shops!.....BMX Track!!??  Yes.

"You never sausage a place! You're always a weiner at Pedro's!!"  Another sign had a real, wrecked car mounted on it and said, "It's A Hit!"  I couldn't take a picture in time.

Yes, friends.  That is a Space Needle-sized sombrero tower. 

 Adios Carolina del Sur!