Swiftwick, a leading producer of athletic compression socks, announces its new Cut-Resistant Hockey Sock is now available for consumer purchase. The sock has already been in high demand by NHL players on teams like the Nashville Predators, Florida Panthers, Phoenix Coyotes and Dallas Stars.
Swiftwick began developing the sock three years ago to deliver superior cut and impact resistance against potentially devastating Achilles tendon injuries, yet also performs the way players want it to.
“No other sock on the market has ever combined cut-resistance, moisture wicking and compression,” says Mark Cleveland, Swiftwick's co-founder and CEO. “In addition, these socks do not inhibit performance on the ice. We’re able to manage moisture while providing blood flow benefits and the performance enhancement of compression, without compromising the overall feel of the sock. The result is a sock unlike any currently out there–one that players will actually want to wear.”
When Ottawa Senators defenseman Erik Karlsson, 2012 Norris Trophy winner, suffered a season-ending injury on Feb. 13, it again brought to light the unfortunate and all too common outcome of a player's Achilles tendon being severely injured after coming into contact with razor-sharp hockey skates.
“These kinds of situations raise awareness about the risks that come with the sport,” says Pete Rogers, equipment manager for the Nashville Predators and president of the Society of Professional Hockey Equipment Managers. “Now many Predators are wearing the Swiftwick Cut-Resistant Hockey Sock because it is the only sock of its kind that combines performance and cut-resistance all in one; other socks on the market simply do not perform as well.”
This unfortunate incident acted as a reminder to players, coaches and parents of the risks associated with not wearing adequate protective gear. Some players choose not to wear protective socks currently on the market because they feel they inhibit performance. They would rather go barefoot, and many do.
“I've been wearing the Swiftwick Cut-Resistant Hockey Sock for more than two years now,” says Steve Sullivan, forward with the Phoenix Coyotes and 2009 winner of the Bill Masterson Memorial Trophy. “I’m confident I can avoid a career-ending Achilles injury by wearing the sock. Unlike Kevlar socks, I don't sacrifice performance for my protection. I can feel the ice with great blade control."
To create the sock, Swiftwick uses an ultra-high modulus composite yarn based on state-of-the-art cut and ballistic-resistant fiber technologies. The end result is a sock comparable in strength to the materials used in bullet-proof vests, but is still comfortable to wear. Lab tests by Teijin Limited, a global group involved in creating advanced fibers and composites, confirm that Swiftwick's new hockey sock doubles the protection against force impact slices of other protective hockey socks and rivals any Kevlar hockey sock for protection against abrasion.
About Swiftwick
Founded in 2008, Swiftwick is headquartered in Brentwood, Tenn. The company is a performance sock manufacturer that proudly employs an American workforce in high-quality textile manufacturing. Swiftwick is an innovator in designing and producing superior socks. The company has a culture focused on manufacturing through environmentally friendly means, social responsibility and leading customer service.
