You probably put quite a bit of thought into purchasing your athletic shoes, shorts, jackets, skates, skis, and helmets. But socks? Nah. Chances are, you grabbed a six-pack at the discount store without considering anything but the price.

It may seem ridiculous, but there are socks designed for almost every sport, and usually they're worth the extra money. Socks act as a buffer between your foot and your shoe, so they help prevent blisters, calluses, and other shoe-friction problems. For each sport, you use your feet differently and wear different shoes, so it only makes sense to wear different socks. There's even a difference between running socks (extra padding across the toes and bridge of the foot) and walking socks (more padding in the heel).