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Socks are a critical yet often overlooked detail of your daily comfort. Our apparel experts combed the market before choosing 13 of the most popular options to purchase for comparative testing. We looked at the comfort, wicking and breathability, warmth, and durability of each pair. Bulky seams, scratchy material, or poor moisture-wicking abilities can leave you an unhappy camper, especially if you're on your feet all day for work or play. From budget multi-packs to premium pairs, our in-depth review will help you find the right pair of socks to keep your feet moving forward in style and comfort.
Editor's Note: We updated our men's sock review on May 6, 2024, to include more info on our testing process and to showcase more testing photos of our award winners.
Darn Tough is well known for living up to its name, and once again, they've proved it. Comprised of soft Merino wool, the Hike Boot Midweight sock is super comfortable and has a decent amount of breathability for a midweight sock, partially due to built-in breathability panels. Other than these panels, the midweight padding is abundant, helping wick away moisture and keeping your foot comfy, warm, and dry. These socks are tight to the skin, and we didn't notice any hot spots or bunching during testing. Additionally, the “seamless” toe offers an added layer of comfort. While we didn't have any issues with the durability of these Darn Tough socks, you'll rest comfortably knowing that if they ever fail, you can apply the lifetime warranty.
The biggest downside here is the price. These aren't your bargain bin socks. If you plan on investing in multiple pairs, this pair will put a dent in your wallet. On the plus side, Merino wool is naturally anti-microbial and odor-resistant. We wore these socks for weeks on end without washing, engaging in everything from working sweaty days to lounging around by the fire, and in the end, we didn't notice a bit of funk. Of course, we don't necessarily recommend this approach to sock hygiene, but we recommend you try wearing them more than once without washing them. Also, keep in mind that these are midweight wool socks, so they might be too toasty for some situations. However, this is mitigated by the Merino wool and its effectiveness at wicking away moisture. Even after hot work days, our feet were comfortable and dry at the end of the day. If you want a durable sock and happy feet, we recommend investing in these midweight socks from Darn Tough. Folks looking for something a little lighter should check out the Dickies Dri-Tech Crew Multipack.
The Darn Tough Hiker Boot Midweight sock withstood every challenge that we threw at it, proving to be comfortable from the gym to the trail to the office.
Socks that come in value multi-packs often don't stand the test of time. They can be quick to wear, and we sometimes see holes or elastic wear before our rounds of testing are complete. Yet, the Dickies Dri-Tech Crew Multipack surprised us with its heavy-duty construction at a bargain bin price. The thick footpad lends a comfortable layer of padding that kept our feet happy during long days at work or play. Also, the manufacturer's claims about the moisture-wicking capabilities of the interwoven polyester proved to hold up. Cotton socks are usually not great for active applications since they hold moisture and are slow to dry, but the synthetic material is good at wicking and is quick to dry, lending these socks an edge. You can buy them in multi-packs of either 6 or 12, and either way, you'll be sure to keep these socks in your drawer for some time to come.
As we mentioned, we were surprised by the performance of this seemingly cheap sock. In some ways, however, it was true to form. Although the footpad is thicker, the leg cuffs and insole are very thin. This may not be an issue since the leg cuff isn't a common point of wear, but we thought it was worth mentioning. Further, the heavy-duty foot padding doesn't extend to the back of the heel, so this is a point to watch for early wear. If you have tight-fitting shoes or boots that you're planning to wear with these socks, you'll want to know that the toe seam is bulky and may bunch, which may lead to discomfort. Also, if you're buying socks specifically for active use, then you may want to consider something other than cotton socks. While these socks incorporate some synthetic material, making them better than fully cotton socks at wicking away moisture, our testing does reveal that it's still a cotton sock and doesn't perform as well as socks built for active pursuits. All-in-all, we do recommend the Dickies Dri-Tech as an affordable option that will keep your feet satisfied whether on the worksite or in the office. If a low-cut affordable sock is your priority, don't forget to check out the CelerSport Ankle Athletic, a best budget sock pick for high-impact sports like running.
The Dickies Dri-Tech Crew stood up to our testing and comes at a value that's hard to beat.
The CelerSport Ankle Athletic sock lives up to its name of being built for athletics. With reinforced ankles and cushioned heels, these socks perform great for sustained athletics. After a long day of pounding pavement or dirt trails, our feet stayed dry, odor-free, and comfortable.
These socks are great for running or other sports, but they're not the ones we'd choose for wearing to the office or for a night on the town. Though the cushioned ankle keeps your Achilles from rubbing on your shoes, the obvious bulky tab that sticks out over the back of your shoe is too casual looking for anything but recreational wear. If you're seeking a more stylish sock to wear out on the town, check out the Stance Icon 3-Pack, which better serves that niche.
The extra cushion on the Celersport ankle socks make them great for athletics.
Material: Proprietary Blend of Recycled Fabric | Sock Height: No-Show
REASONS TO BUY
Internal rubberized heel to prevent slippage
Highly comfortable material
REASONS TO AVOID
Expensive
Not great for athletics
Arvin Goods are putting their best foot forward and aiming to produce socks that keep your feet happy and are also good for the planet. With a manufacturing process that uses recycled materials and a recycling program where they will take your socks back when they are finally blown out, this is a purchase you can feel good about. Thicker than your average no-show socks, they are surprisingly comfortable to stand around in all day, and the added piece of rubber in the heel keeps them from slipping off. Although hidden while wearing shoes, the fun colors these socks come in make for a stylish look while lounging around shoeless.
The caveat with no-show socks is that if they're not paired with low-cut shoes, their low coverage can cause some ankle bone chafing. We love these socks for casual wear or the office, but they're not suited for athletics or manual labor. The Champion No Show is another low-cut option that comes in a 6-pack for a super affordable price.
A small strip of rubber on the inner heel keeps the Arvin no-shows from slipping off.
Stance socks are well-known in skateboarding and snowboarding culture for their fun styles. The company has evolved to make socks and accessories for a wide variety of activities, including casual everyday wear. The Stance Icon has subtle styling details that keep you looking good but are still appropriate as workwear. With a slight amount of heel cushion and elastic arch support, they provide added comfort to keep you on your feet all day. The proprietary material feels almost slippery against your skin, but the fit is snug enough that they don't slip down your shins. With good moisture-wicking abilities, they are perfect for hot and sweaty days spent on your feet.
While we found the Stance Icon to be comfortable for casual all-day wear, they wouldn't be our first choice as a pair of hikers or runners. These stylish socks will take you from the office to the skatepark and, in a pinch, perform just fine on a short run. If a sock for high output activities is what you seek, don't forget to take a look at the Darn Tough Men's Hiker Boot Midweight. It provides a nice balance of warmth and thermoregulation while you are out on the trail, and it's not unstylish either.
The stylish and comfy Stance Icons.
Credit: Buck Yedor
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The right pair of socks can make or break any type of adventure.
Credit: Jon Oleson
How We Test Men's Socks
First and foremost, socks need to be comfortable; we believe not many pieces of clothing can impact your comfort as much as a great (or bad) sock. As the barrier between you and your shoes, socks receive an incredible amount of abrasion and wear. For this review, we thoroughly researched the sock market before independently purchasing 13 different brands and styles, ranging from budget multipacks to premium options. We then put them through our rigorous testing process to determine which ones will keep your feet the happiest. We paid attention to how comfortable the material felt on our skin, took note of their moisture wicking properties and breathability, gauged how warm they kept our feet, and determined how well they would hold up day after day.
Our side-by-side analysis was divided into the following four metrics:
Comfort (30% of overall score weighting)
Wicking and Breathability (30% weighting)
Warmth (20% weighting)
Durability (20% weighting)
Why Trust GearLab
Buck Yedor, our lead tester on this project, has walked the walk to understand the ins and outs of what makes a quality sock. From the time he spent working with Yosemite Search and Rescue to years as a professional rock climbing route setter, having a comfortable and high-performing sock has always been crucial for long days spent working on his feet.
The thin Under Armor Resistors fit will into running shoes but have some quality issues.
The very breathable but slightly scratchy, cotton Gold Toes.
Coovan socks are made from a thin and soft synthetic fabric.
Jon Oleson is a self-proclaimed sock aficionado and recognizes that a good pair of socks can make or break any adventure. He brought his years of active lifestyle experience and sock-buying expertise to this project. His days spent hiking trails, trudging around the forest with his chainsaw, walking around town, and evenings recovering in stocking feet proved to be the perfect testing ground for men's socks.
In our experience, Darn Tough socks will take whatever you can throw at them, including wearing as a warm cover for barefoot workouts.
We tested the elastic in the cuffs through high-impact activities.
We want a sock that's comfortable in all environments, including wearing out for casual nights on the town.
Analysis and Test Results
Socks are about as utilitarian as clothing gets. While they may all look pretty similar, design, material, and construction can greatly impact performance. It's these subtle details that can really set different pairs apart. We spent long days at work and played in each pair to narrow down the strengths and weaknesses of each.
Value
Buying socks that will last more than a couple of years is important to most people, us included. There's nothing more disappointing or discomforting than having a toe or heel poke out of a recently purchased pair of socks that are meant to protect and pad your feet. While you can perhaps trust a more premium sock to hold up to intense wear, how do you know whether or not a value pack brand will be worth its threads and your money? Don't fret because we put these socks through the ringer so that you won't have to worry about investigating that return policy when you pop a toe.
The Dickies Dri-Tech Crew Multipack proved to be the best value for a set of crew socks. Whether you're on the construction site, sitting in the office, or buzzing through traffic as a bike courier, these socks will keep you comfortable and hold up to the use. We didn't come across a single issue with durability during our testing period, and even if we did, there were 11 more pairs to back it up. For the price, it's hard to beat that kind of value.
If you're looking for the same sort of value in an ankle sock, both the CelerSport Ankle Athletic sock and the Champion No Show are worth a gander. These multi-sock value packs offer great value, and again, although we didn't come across any issues with durability during our testing period, even if you wear through one pair, you've got several more behind it. The main difference between the two, in case you're wondering, is that the Champion is fully synthetic, while the CelerSport is a cotton/synthetic blend. While synthetic socks tend to hold up better than softer cotton in general, the CelerSport was thicker and more comfortable on our feet.
If you're looking for a wool premium sock with more cushion and durability, we can't say enough good things about the Darn Tough Men's Hiker Boot Midweight sock. Even though it's the most expensive sock that we tested, it's certainly the most durable and long-lasting. This means that over a lifetime, you'll get more miles per dollar spent. And if they ever do wear out, they're backed by Darn Tough's lifetime warranty. We've had to utilize this warranty only once, and we can verify that all you'll pay is shipping for a new pair of socks. No questions asked. All things considered, these socks may be the greatest value of all.
The Darn Tough Men's Hiker Boot Midweight sock is made to withstand even heavy duty use and comes with a lifetime warranty.
Credit: Jon Oleson
Comfort
The comfort of a sock is paramount and received a lot of focus during testing. To gauge the comfort of the material, we evaluated how the different pairs felt on our skin. Beyond the initial test of simply putting a pair on, we wanted to know how the material felt after sustained use. A clear stand-out in this metric was the Darn Tough Hiker Boot Midweight. Made from a blend of Merino wool and synthetic threads, the material is thick and soft, and it felt great from the moment we slipped them on in the morning to when we peeled them off later that night. Additionally, it held up to sustained use, proving to be as durable as the manufacturer claims.
Another high-performing pair was the Stance Icon, which is constructed from a soft, fully synthetic fabric. Merino wool offers superior softness and comfort, and we found that both the REI Merino Wool Trailsmith Crew and the Smartwool Everyday Anchor Line Crew kept our feet snug as a bug in a rug. Although the latter lacks any sort of cushioning.
We found the Smartwool socks to be comfortable in many aspects, although they are thin and don't offer the cushioning of many other contenders.
Credit: Jon Oleson
Another aspect of comfort is whether or not the elastic holds the sock in place without bunching or chaffing. The Dickies Dri-Tech socks do exactly this; they're tight in all the right places with a good amount of cushion underfoot. These socks carried us through the day without our thoughts turning to our feet. However, we did find that the cotton/synthetic blend was not quite as soft as other contenders.
Although they didn't perform the highest in the comfort metric due to the material being a bit more coarse than other competitors, the Dickies Dri-Tech Crew sock was comfortable enough to keep on our feet after a long day of work.
Credit: Jon Oleson
In terms of ankle socks, you want the cuff to stay above the shoe. We don't know anyone who likes stopping mid-run to pull the sock up and out of their shoe because it's bunched and crunched around the arch. While most of the socks that we tested did a pretty good job of staying in place due to compression elastic panels and/or strips of rubber on the heel, the Arvin Goods No Show proved to be a bit too low cut for most running shoes that we paired them with. If you're sensitive to rubbing and chaffing, then we recommend a higher-cut ankle sock like the CelerSport Ankle Athletic or Bombas Solids Ankle, both of which also have additional material above the ankle to protect the Achilles.
The CelerSport socks have additional material on the back of the sock to keep your shoe from rubbing on the Achilles.
Credit: Tad McCrea
Fit is also an important aspect of comfort. You want your sock to stay in place as well as fit your foot well. Most manufacturers do a decent job of creating a range of sizes so you can get a sock that closely mirrors your size. Sometimes, manufacturers attempt to use a one-size-fits-all approach, as with the Bombas Solids Ankle sock, which is made to fit a size 6-12 men's shoe. Universal fit may be appropriate in some instances, but we found that this sock left a wad of material bunched above the ankle.
The one-size-fits-all approach can lead to discomfort if extra material bunches in the back, as with the Bombas Solids Ankle sock.
Credit: Jon Oleson
Wicking and Breathability
Beyond a good fit for all-day comfort, a quality sock will be breathable and moisture-wicking. A sock's breathability comes from a combination of material and weave. The Stance Icon, made from a proprietary synthetic blend, is highly breathable and excellent at wicking moisture. Even after being caught in a rainstorm, these socks were dry in no time. The Dickies Dri-Tech, true to their name, performed well for a cotton/synthetic blend. Only after long, sweaty runs did we notice any sort of residual moisture between our toes.
Wool and synthetic fabrics are both superior to cotton in terms of wicking. The socks that offered a blend of these materials performed highly in this metric. The Smartwool Everyday Anchor Line Crew received a high score here due to a combination of wool/synthetic fabric and thin construction, offering both wicking and top notch breathability. While they're a bit more plush, the REI Merino Wool Trailsmith Crew also left our feet feeling dry after long, sweaty days.
A combination of superior fabric and thin construction caused the Smartwool Anchor Line Crew to score highly in the wicking and breathability metric.
Credit: Jon Oleson
While a thicker sock will inevitably score lower in terms of breathability, manufacturers can incorporate technology into the design to help it along. While the Darn Tough Men's Hiker Boot Midweight sock wasn't as breathable as the thinner contenders, a combination of breathable panels on the ankle and top of the leg cuff, as well as Merino/nylon fabric left our feet feeling comfortable and dry during long, hot days in a boot.
Even though it's a thicker sock, Darn Tough incorporated breathability panels on the ankle and leg cuff to give the Hiker Boot Midweight a leg up.
Credit: Jon Oleson
Warmth
Warmth is an important consideration when the weather turns chilly or even when it's hot outside, but the office keeps the air conditioning cranked. Both the thickness of the sock and the material play key roles in how warm a sock will keep your feet. The Darn Tough Men's Hiker Boot Midweight was the clear winner in this category, both being comprised largely of Merino wool and having a thicker construction than any other contender. Not far behind were the other Merino wool blends, the REI Merino Wool Trailsmith Crew and the Smartwool Everyday Anchor Line Crew. The REI is a bit thicker than the Smartwool, which gives it a little extra insulation.
Cotton blends tend to perform lower in this metric because cotton isn't good at retaining warmth, especially when wet. The old adage is that “cotton kills” because getting caught in cold, wet weather wearing just cotton can lead to injury or even death from exposure. While we didn't test any purely cotton socks, we noticed that the cotton/synthetic blends were not as effective at keeping our feet warm. For instance, even though the Bombas Solids Ankle socks had a thicker construction than others, due to the type of material and low cuff design, we couldn't rely on them to keep our feet warm.
Although the Bombas Solids Ankle was a decent running sock, because of the mostly cotton construction we couldn't rely on it to keep our feet warm when the weather turned chilly.
Credit: Jon Oleson
Durability
Although it may not be the highest consideration for most when buying a sock, it's nice to know that you'll be able to wear them for more than a month without wearing a hole. This rings especially true if you're investing more money in what is meant to be a high-quality sock vs a bargain multi-pack. Even with the latter, though, it can feel like a frustrating waste of resources to throw them away after a few wears. The outstanding all-star in this metric is the Darn Tough Men's Hiker Boot Midweight sock, which is made to withstand even heavy wear and comes with a lifetime warranty that's hard to beat.
Material type, quality, and thickness are determining factors in how long your sock will last. Thinner socks will wear more easily, while more material will generally last longer. While we didn't wear a hole in testing, the Smartwool Everyday Anchor Line Crew sock was the thinnest that we tested and, as such, should not be expected to last as long as the other Merino wool contenders. With a bit thicker design, the REI Merino Wool Trailsmith Crew can be expected to wear less quickly.
The Merino Trailsmith Crew from REI has a fairly thick construction for a lightweight sock and can be expected to endure some abuse before it wears out.
Credit: Jon Oleson
Cotton is a softer material than wool, so cotton socks prove to be less durable overall. Incorporating synthetic materials can increase their lifespan, but generally, we don't expect cotton socks to last as long as their wooly counterparts. That said, manufacturers can add extra material in high-impact areas in order to increase longevity. Dickies did just that with the Dri-Tech Crew by creating a heavy-duty footpad that proved to be enough for long heavy work days in a boot. We did notice that this reinforcement didn't extend to the back of the ankle, which may be a point of early wear in this otherwise tough cotton sock.
The reinforced material doesn't extend up the back of the ankle in the Dickies Dri-Tech Crew sock, which may result in early wear in this area.
Credit: Jon Oleson
Conclusion
After researching the most popular socks on the market, our review team settled on 13 pairs and set out to see how they compared. Through a series of side-by-side comparisons and rigorous field testing, we were able to determine how each pair performed in real-life conditions--from the home to the gym, from the office to the trail. We tested everything from no-shows to calf-length socks, made from various materials at every price point. We hope that our intensive testing and comprehensive results will make your next purchase as comfortable and easy as putting on a new pair of socks.
Buying an expensive pair of socks can be a stretch, so we hope this review offers some insight into which pairs will be worth the investment.
