How to Choose the Best Athletic Socks
Athletic socks are essential fitness gear for any athlete. They’re designed to provide cushioning and help prevent blisters like other socks, but they’re also specifically built to help improve your performance.
There are many different types of sports socks to choose from, so it’s important to know what to look for. In this piece, we’ll break down the different types of athletic socks, which features are best for different sports, and other important factors to help you choose the best athletic socks for you.
Why You Need Athletic Socks vs. Regular Socks
The biggest difference between athletic and regular socks is that athletic socks are built with an athlete’s performance in mind. While regular socks cushion against blisters, they usually won’t stand up to vigorous exercise. Athletic socks include features that address the demands of different sports so you can focus on doing your best.
Important Features
There are several important features that the best workout socks for athletes have. These features can enhance your training and game-day performance:
Get the Cushioning You Need
The amount of cushioning you need depends on the type of activity or sport you’re engaging in and personal preference. For example, if you’re engaged in high-impact sports like running, you may want socks with a lot of cushioning, but this would depend on the length of your run. On the other hand, low-impact activities like Pilates and cycling may not require as much cushioning. There are athletic socks that provide additional cushioning to high-impact areas of the foot, like the heel, to help protect you from the physical demands of your favorite sport. There may also be cushioning in the ankle to prevent chafing, or at the top of the foot to prevent lace bite (like in basketball).
Arch Support
Having flat feet or high arches may cause pain and discomfort during exercise. Some workout socks have arch compression or extra padding built in to support the arch of your feet.
Ankle & Leg Protection
It’s vital to wear durable, over-the-calf socks for sports and activities like soccer that cause impacts to your ankles and legs. Athletic socks tend to have cushioning and support in areas that most often receive impacts while playing the sports they’re made for.
Athletic Sock Materials
The materials of a sock impact how it’ll feel and perform. Make sure to look for socks made from durable materials to withstand the wear and tear of training and exercise. Many athletic socks are made from synthetic fabrics like polyester, nylon, or spandex. These materials are lightweight and flexible, so they won’t constrict your feet or slow your movements. Some socks wick sweat to help keep your feet dry, and some have built-in odor control. Nylon, in particular, is durable, so it’s good for heavy-use socks. While it might seem counterintuitive, some athletic socks are made with a wool blend. Wool-blend socks are naturally odor-resistant, have excellent cushioning, and retain their insulating properties even when wet, making them a good choice for cold-weather activities like hiking or outdoor cycling. It’s best to avoid 100% cotton socks for strenuous athletic purposes because they tend to absorb moisture when you sweat. Not only is this uncomfortable, but it can also cause blisters, odors, and foot fungus.
What are the different types of athletic socks?
Athletic socks come in many styles, each offering its own benefits. Depending on your athletic needs and personal preference, these are the different types to select from:
No-Show Socks: These socks have a low-cut design that remains below the cuff of your shoes to create the illusion that you’re not wearing socks. They’ll get you close to feeling like you’re not wearing socks at all. Make sure to wear low-top shoes with no-show socks because no-show socks won’t protect your ankles from rubbing against the collars of mid-or high-top shoes.
Low-Cut Socks: These socks are slightly taller than no-show socks, providing a little coverage around your ankle. They’re a good fit for low-cut shoes but don’t rise high enough to wear with mid- or high-tops.
Quarter Socks: These socks are slightly higher than low-cut socks and will come up to just above your ankle bone.
Crew Socks: These socks cover everything up to the bottom of the calf. They help prevent your ankles from rubbing against the cuffs of your shoes, even if you wear high-top shoes. Because of their all-around coverage and comfort, crew socks are the most common type of athletic socks.
Mid-Crew Socks: These socks are shorter than crew socks, and will come up to around the middle of your shin.
Over-the-Calf Socks: These socks come up to the bottom of the knee, covering the entire calf. They offer good support, and may also include protective padding.
How Socks Should Fit
It’s crucial to get athletic socks in the correct size. If they’re too big, they can bunch up inside your shoes and cause blisters. If they’re too small, they can impact your circulation, restrict your movement, and cause foot pain. When fitting athletic socks, make sure the heels and toes wrap comfortably around your foot. They should hug your feet and ankles comfortably and never slide down during workouts. Your athletic socks should feel comfortable to wear for an extended period with the same shoes you compete or train in. The manufacturer should have a size chart to tell you which sock matches your shoe size. Don’t worry if your socks leave marks on your legs after wearing them. This is a common side effect of the elastic that keeps them in place, and should disappear soon after you take them off.
Choosing the Right Socks for Your Activity
Most athletic socks have features designed to aid your performance in a specific sport. Here’s what to look for in socks for specific sports.
Running Socks
Running socks should be made of lightweight, quick-drying materials to help your feet stay dry and comfortable. They may have cushioned soles to help absorb impact shocks, with even more cushioning in areas like the heel and ball of the foot that tend to strike the ground. They should also be high enough to stop your running shoes from rubbing against your ankles. Look for socks with odor control to keep your feet fresh during long runs.
Soccer Socks
For soccer, you need durable socks with enough cushioning to protect your feet from constant running, sliding, and kicking. Look for over-the-calf socks that fit comfortably in your soccer cleats and over your shinguards. Soccer socks provide full coverage and include additional padding on the heel and toes to prevent blisters and injury.
Basketball Socks
Look for basketball socks made from moisture-wicking materials with additional cushioning on the heel. Most of them are crew socks to prevent your ankles from rubbing against the cuffs of your basketball shoes as you run.
Baseball Socks
Baseball socks are durable enough to handle quick movements and sudden stops on the field. They should come with extra padding on the heels and toes to prevent injury and improve comfort while wearing baseball spikes. Most players prefer over-the-calf or over-the-knee socks for protection while sliding.
Hiking Socks
A Merino wool-blend sock wicks moisture, dries quickly, and can keep your foot temperature well-regulated during cool- or cold-weather hikes. Look for socks that provide cushioning around your ankles and heels for comfort. Seamless socks will help avoid rubbing and blisters that can spring up on long hikes.
Washing & Taking Care of Athletic Socks
It’s important to take good care of your athletic socks. If you don’t, they’ll start to wear out and won’t function as well as they were designed to. Here’s how to care for them:
- Check the care instructions. Look at the manufacturer’s care instructions first. While the steps in this list are good for most sports socks, some have unique materials that need to be treated differently.
- Separate the socks. Sort your socks by color and material. Washing whites and colors separately will help prevent any color bleeding or damage to the fabric.
- Pre-treat stains. Some sports can leave mud, dirt, or grass stains on your socks. Use a stain remover before washing to help get those stains out.
- Wash in cold water. Hot water can damage fabrics and may cause colors to fade.
- Use a gentle detergent. Look for gentle detergents designed for sports clothing that remove sweat and odors without damaging the fabric. Try to avoid fabric softeners, which can leave residue on your socks and reduce their ability to wick moisture. Never use bleach.
- Air dry or tumble on low. It’s best to air dry your athletic socks or to tumble dry them on low. High heat can damage synthetic materials, causing shrinkage, pilling, reduced elasticity, and faded color.
By following these steps, you can keep your athletic socks in peak condition for longer.