developed private-label socks . His father was the former president of another area sock brand before leaving to create highperformance socks for specialty vendors .
“ We say our braces are ‘ no-excuses , ʼ ” Higgins said . “ You can wear our designs to get up and be active at any stage in life . When muscles expand and contract , our braces expand and contract with them . We use specialty knitting machines , hypoallergenic silicone , and our patented designs including our Compression Zone
Technology , and newer K-Zone that mimics kinesiology taping .
“ We took those compression bracing principles and added them to socks – creating Socks with Purpose ® that target specific foot-related needs like diabetes , plantar fasciitis , bunions , and an overall healthy foot environment .”
Socks Made for Dinkin ’
For pickleball players , OS1st products are especially applicable .
“ We were introduced to pickleball several years ago , when a good retail partner of ours , Foot Solutions , talked to us about a specific sock for pickleball ,” Higgins said . “ I went to an event in Atlanta , where they had a booth and tent set up and I didn ’ t know what to expect . I looked around and the energy was incredible , how much
KS7 ® Performance Knee Sleeve
AF7 ® Ankle Bracing Sleeve
fun everybody was having . They were competitive , but it was like a gigantic family reunion , the most diverse , inclusive people in sports that I ’ ve ever seen .”
The OS1st PB4™ Pickleball Sock ( pictured ) is designed for a high-impact sport on hot surfaces . It ’ s seamless , moisture wicking and antimicrobial , with specific left / right fit . OS1st added padding in the heel and forefront and SkinThin ® Technology that works in conjunction with the shoe , allowing more airflow to keep your foot drier and more comfortable . This textile engineering assists players on and off the court with the PB4 ® Pickleball Sock as well as flexible , easy-to-wear bracing sleeves for tennis elbow , shin splints , wrist injury , knee support and more .
In addition to giving players increased support and comfort on and off the court , OS1st has included features to make all of its products even more versatile .
“ Everything offers UPF-50 sun protections , even the arm sleeves , in addition to medicalgrade compression ,” Higgins said . “ Players spend a lot of time outdoors on the court , and sun protection was something that just made sense .”
Not only that , but high-quality design and materials means that OS1st garments will be helping you support your game for years to come .
“ All of our products , if you take care of them and don ’ t lose them , last an incredibly long time ,” Higgins said . “ If you ’ re playing in them every week , you ’ re looking at about a good six months of ideal wear . If you ’ re a casual player and these were the only socks you ever played with , you ’ re looking more along the lines of five years . Sooner or later , elastic will break down , but we find that people tend to lose them before wearing them out . Either way , we have a complete and total satisfaction lifetime guarantee with no questions asked .”
The Fun Doesn ’ t Stop
“ As an organization we are continuously striving to partner with the leading brands that support members ’ active pickleball lifestyle ,” said George Bauernfeind , Chief Marketing Officer of USA Pickleball . “ We are excited for this exclusive partnership with OS1st and to feature their top-quality socks and compression sleeves , including at upcoming USA Pickleball events .”
Currently , OS1st products are available in over 2,000 stores nationwide . While they are typically found in specialty running and footwear stores , they are also found in numerous pharmacies and , of course , on the company ’ s website , os1st . com . They can be found in about 60 pro shops as well and are growing their presence in pro shops as the year goes on .
For more information on OS1st , including all of the compression lines and braces , go to os1st . com , where you can order today . Or , if you prefer to shop in person , the site has a convenient locator map showing you where the nearest selling partner is . Experience the science behind every OS1st product and find out what makes them the number-one compression bracing products in specialty retail in the United States .
OCTOBER 2021 | MAGAZINE 95