I always get socks from my wife for Christmas. Usually they have video game characters on them and are included in my stocking as a "smaller" gift. I can't say for sure, but I don't think they've ever set her back more than a tenner - because that would be ludicrous. Who pays more than £10 for a pack of socks, let alone one pair?
Puma wants you to pay considerably more than £10 for its latest pair of socks. To be fair, Puma's "Active Gaming Footwear" does look considerably more impressive than a standard cotton sock with Pikachu on the side... but they cost an incredible £80. I mean, if you want to fork out close to £100 for a pair of "gaming socks" (which, come on, look more like shoes, no?), then that's absolutely your business. But I don't understand it, and I don't want to.
"Created with console gamers in mind, the gaming sock is the first edition Active Gaming Footwear," Puma writes. "Designed for indoor and in-arena use, it delivers seamless comfort, support and grip so gamers can adapt to different active gaming modes and game their best."
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Nope. I still don't get it. Not once have I ever been struggling to play Dark Souls and found myself thinking, "Boy, I sure wish my socks had better grip. That'd make fighting Ornstein and Smough an absolute breeze." NOBODY THINKS LIKE THAT... Do they?
Have I woken up in a world where gamers do in fact measure their ability to succeed by the quality of sock on their foot? Has Puma smartly exploited an untapped but lucrative market? I don't know where I stand anymore, I really don't.
Incredibly, Puma is also suggesting that the new socks feature various "modes", like they're some kind of actual gaming peripheral. According to the website, there's "medial wrap-up grip in SEEK mode", "Lateral wrap-up support in ATTACK mode", and "Heel wrap-up stability in CRUISE and DEFENSE mode".
I'm honestly not sure if that's supposed to be a joke or not, but you can find the modes described under "features and benefits", so it really is anyone's guess. One thing is for sure: the idea of a sock entering ATTACK mode is truly terrifying.
Between Puma's latest offering and the new Adidas/Pokémon trainers, it's been a non-stop week for gaming-related footwear. That much I can tell you.
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I honestly don't know if the socks will make you a better gamer. I don't even know if they're actually comfortable (although they do look quite nice). What I do know is that when I sit down to play video games, I tend to stay sat down for the duration. I'm fairly sure whatever's on my feet really doesn't matter, but if you like the look of these, knock yourselves out. Please.
Featured Image Credit: PumaTopics: PC