Myth: Only reach for OS1st when something's bugging your feet.
Fact: Reach for them always. The "feet feel great after" part just comes with it.
Because we understand feet the way we do, a lot of people treat OS1st like a remedy — something you pull out of the drawer when a hot spot flares up, an arch aches, or a long day is coming. Break glass in case of foot trouble. Useful, but occasional.
That framing sells the socks short, and it sells your everyday runs short too. The engineering that helps when something's bugging your feet is the same engineering working quietly when nothing is. Reducing friction before it becomes a blister. Moving moisture before it becomes a problem. Holding fit so the sock stays where it should from the first step. None of that is a rescue mission — it's just what a well-built sock does on an ordinary Tuesday.
So the honest answer to "when should I wear these?" is: always. Not because every run is a crisis, but because there's no run that doesn't benefit from less friction, drier feet, and a fit that stays put. The good stuff isn't reserved for emergencies.
And the part people remember — that quiet realization that your feet actually feel great after — doesn't require you to have earned it with a problem first. It's not a reward for suffering. It just comes with wearing the right sock, every time you lace up. Make them the default, not the backup.