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Socks are a critical yet often overlooked detail of your daily comfort. Our apparel experts combed the market before choosing 15 of the most popular options to purchase for comparative testing. We looked at the comfort, wicking, breathability, odor retention, and versatility 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Editor's Note: We updated our men's sock review on November 5, 2024, to include new products, remove discontinued and outdated options, and incorporate retesting results with new media showcasing the updated award winners.
Darn Tough's promise of a lifetime warranty and its standout build quality for socks does the brand name justice. The Darn Tough Micro Crew Midweight's cushioning provided enough support so that we didn't feel much foot fatigue after jumping around on concrete all day while skateboarding. Even after getting the sock sweaty during hot summer hikes, it only took a short time to air out and dry out, thanks to its high Merino wool content. We even put these socks through two days of jump roping in a row and let them sit unwashed for a week, where the initial odor faded to something barely noticeable. We didn't notice any significant wear after putting these Darn Tough socks through a bunch of different activities. But even if we had, these socks come with an unconditional lifetime warranty, so they'd be easy to get replaced directly through the manufacturer, making them a great value nonetheless.
There's a hefty cost that comes with these Darn Tough socks. An individual pair costs as much as a six-pack of other socks from other brands. You're paying extra for the “buy it for life” manufacturer commitment that comes with the Micro Crew Midweight. We wouldn't choose these socks for every scenario. They are not the right pick if you need an ultra-thin sock to keep from getting sweaty, nor are they a good choice when faced with the opposite scenario and need an extra thick sock to keep your feet warm in cold camping conditions. Yet, for a single sock that does it all reasonably well, these Darn Tough Micro Crew Midweights come as close as we've seen yet. For those who aren't fans of wool, the Darn Tough Coolmax Micro Crew Midweight is a highly comfortable, similarly breathable alternative made of synthetic materials. Or, for a less expensive option that might suit your everyday needs better, take a look at the Dickies Dri-Tech Crew 6-Pack, which scores for comfort and breathability and sells at a fraction of the cost.
Sweat and odors weren't much of an issue for these Darn Tough socks during repeated jump rope sessions.
Known for its durable workwear clothes, Dickies makes socks that live up to the brand's legacy. The thick cushioned bottoms of Dickies Dri-Tech Crew 6-Pack socks gave us more reassurance when jumping down gaps on a skateboard and some relief for longer hikes. Normally, multipacks tend to be lower quality, but Dickies' durable construction and comfortable design turn the script. This six-pack bundle is a steal based on performance-price value alone.
However, there are a few downsides to the Dri-Tech Crew's chunky build. To start, its toe seam rubbed against our skin in snug shoes, creating a chafing and blister hazard. This won't be an issue for every wearer, but it's worth taking note when you try the socks on with shoes. Next, even though the bottom of the sock is well-cushioned, the rest of the material feels thin in comparison. So, the padded protection doesn't wrap around all areas of the foot and may end up being less comfortable depending on the distances you cover and the shoes you wear them with. We also found that wearing the Dickies socks' for extended periods led to a build-up of offensive smells when we took off our shoes. Their overall breathability proved above average across the lineup, but that didn't make the thicker cotton-blended fabric immune from odor issues. Still, the affordability of these Dickies socks makes up for some of their downfalls. If you're looking for a crew-length sock that can handle the wear and tear but won't get as stinky, we recommend going for the more premium Darn Tough Micro Crew Midweight. The cost is up there, but the results speak for themselves.
The Dickies Dri-Tech Crew socks tend to hold onto odors even after light hikes.
As the name suggests, the Smartwool Everyday Anchor Line Crew offers a wool sock in a sleek black crew look that goes with any outfit. The thin, breathable material meant our feet didn't feel swampy or damp, even during hours-long skate sessions on scorching summer days. Smartwool excels in designing for breathability and odor resistance. These socks practically smelled brand new, even after being unwashed over a full week. They are also lightweight and feel like a second skin, even fitting into some of our most aggressive climbing shoes.
Like the top Darn Tough choices, the Smartwool Everyday Anchor Line Crew retails for more than $20 for a single pair. This puts them out of reach for many average shoppers, even if their sturdy construction makes them a great investment. If, instead, you're looking for something with a similar cushion level that won't get quite as linty, the Stance Icon 3-Pack is a nice, thin, reasonably affordable casual option worth considering. Still, this Smartwool sock's excellent performance with our breathability and odor retention tests makes it a superior sock for certain scenarios. If you want something that still has a no-cushion feel but don't want to wear wool, the Wernies No Show Casual Cotton Multipack socks would be an appropriate substitute.
Vapor streams flowed freely through the Smartwool Everyday Anchor Line Crew during our breathability tests.
Bombas burst onto the sock scene with its mission of donating a piece of clothing to a homeless shelter or charity for each item purchased. Generosity aside, we think the brand earned its place in the market with well-designed socks like the Bombas Solids Ankle. The design features a blister tab that prevents chaffing of your Achilles and a “Honeycomb Support System” that cradles your foot arch for better comfort. During our testing, the Bombas socks were great at staying put in your shoe and combatting any lingering sweat smell.
Although the Bombas didn't trap any odors, our feet did feel damp inside, even when it came to just lounging around in these socks. We noticed that the Bombas Solids Ankle also took a while to dry in our breathability tests, which was due to them being made mostly of cotton. These Bombas socks represent the most expensive packaged set we tested, although, with four pairs included for that cost, the per-pair price tag ends up becoming a bit more reasonable and in line with what we say out of other top performers in this category. For those in the market for a high-quality sock in a low-cut, athletic style, we would not hesitate to recommend these. If you're looking for a more affordable option and don't care about brand names, the CelerSport Ankle Athletic socks perform slightly less impressively than the Bombas when it comes to breathability but still hold their own as far as comfort and odor resistance, and they won't break the bank.
The Bombas Solids Ankle socks felt great for cushioning while skating but got too swampy during hot days.
You've likely seen Stance socks in the wild with their colorful pop culture and sports team collaborations. Even though we tested out one of the most basic colorways of the Stance Icon socks out there, they were still just as dapper and stylistically versatile as some of the more vibrant options in the lineup. The snug fit, along with the slick-feeling materials, meant that the crew-length socks were easy to get on but stayed in place even with all the jumping around while skateboarding and jump roping. One tester really liked the thinner design of the Icon socks when it came to sensitivity since it let him feel the board better when skating.
On the flip side, the lightweight build meant the Stance socks don't excel in cases where you need some more padded support for your feet. These crew socks showed decent breathability and moisture-wicking capabilities but couldn't compete with the other higher-rated wool options since they are mostly cotton. If you prefer a thinner sock that looks as good as it feels, the Stance's Icon socks are a solid purchase. However, if you need a crew-length sock that's more affordable and breathable but not as stylish, the Adidas Athletic Cushioned Crew 6-Pack is a decent alternative.
We had enough sensitivity with the Stance Icon socks to help with more precise skate tricks.
CelerSport may not be a household name, but the CelerSport Ankle Athletic represents a decent deal for someone looking for basic socks for any sporty activity. We found that these socks closely resemble the Bombas Solids Ankle and offer a similar amount of cushion and a comparable “elastic cuff” that helps you pull the sock on, cup your heel better, and prevent chafing on the Achilles.
Overall, the Ankle Athletic lacks the same quality build that other brands have. The fit of the CelerSport socks got progressively baggier the more we washed them, leading to a rather unflattering floppiness. The sock's cushioned bottom wasn't as breathable as the more permeable top, which could explain the development of some stink over time. These are still great as cheap socks to get your sweat on in, but we wouldn't send you this direction if you are looking for quality performance over time. If you want a thinner ankle-cut sock, the Feetures Elite Max Cushion No Show Tab offers better sensitivity but costs 4x+ more on a per-sock basis, so you'll need to account for the higher cost.
The CelerSport Ankle Athletic socks felt right at home with light gym workouts.
Credit: Jackson Chen
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Socks shouldn't be just a passing afterthought when it comes to performance.
Credit: Jackson Chen
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 15 different brands and styles, ranging from budget multipacks to premium pairs. 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 they held onto odors, and determined how well they worked with different outfits.
Our side-by-side analysis was divided into the following four metrics:
Comfort and All Day Performance(40% of overall score weighting)
Breathability (25% weighting)
Odor Retention (20% weighting)
Style and Versatility (15% weighting)
How to Choose the Best Sock
There are three crucial items to consider before buying your next pair of socks — material, length, and amount of cushioning or thickness — to make sure you have all the necessary info before making a final decision.
What Type of Material?
Cotton socks are known for their comfort and plush feel but have a major drawback: they absorb sweat and take much longer to dry than other fabrics. In more serious cases, cotton socks lose any sort of insulation when wet, which could lead to frigid feet on colder days. On the other hand, wool socks are far superior when it comes to moisture-wicking and odor resistance but can cost a lot more per pair. If you're looking for animal-friendly options, companies have been developing enhanced synthetic blends that perform more impressively by the day, with options built using polyester, nylon, and acrylic. When cut well, these synthetic blends can keep up with wool socks in terms of ensuring your feet stay dry, but we still find they often tend to hold onto odors more so than natural fibers. They also lack the same cushy feel as Merino wool socks.
The Merino wool of this Darn Tough sock makes it great at fighting odors during humid gym workouts.
Credit: Jackson Chen
How High Should You Go?
When it comes to choosing sock length, there are a good number of options. At the lowest end, we have invisible or no-show socks that are designed to stay hidden even with low-cut shoes like slip-ons or flats. These hidden socks often have rubber grips on the inside of the heel to keep them from slipping. At the other end, we have crew-length socks that hug your leg and fall just under the calf. These taller socks can provide more comfort and warmth but also allow you to show off some personality with fun designs. In the middle, we have ankle socks that are a good balance between no-show and crew-length socks. As the name suggests, these socks sit at or above your ankle and won't risk getting peeled off and stuck under your heel like no-shows. On top of that, ankle socks are a lot easier to get on than crew socks, which usually require some rolling down or shimmying. Beyond these most common options, you can find lengths somewhere between ankle and crew or even compression socks that cover your entire calf.
The Wernies socks were the only ones on the list that lived up to its no-show name.
Credit: Jackson Chen
Lightweight, Heavyweight, or Something in Between?
Cushioning or thickness is another important consideration when shopping for socks. Generally, the thicker the sock, the more cushioning it provides. Heavyweight socks can help with foot fatigue throughout the day thanks to their well-padded bottoms, but they often come with a bulkier feel that may not work with tighter-fitting footwear. On the other hand, lightweight socks are great when you want more sensitivity and excel in hot-weather scenarios, thanks to their airy designs. If you want a sock that even Goldilocks would approve of, plenty of companies offer midweight options that provide a happy medium between cushion and sensitivity.
The Stance socks were pretty thin but that meant better board feel when aiming for grinds.
Credit: Jackson Chen
Why Trust GearLab
Lead tester Jackson Chen has gone through more socks than he can remember, thanks to constantly ripping holes through his skate shoes. Because of that, he has experimented with tons of sock brands, whether it's for skateboarding, tackling a rocky approach to a climbing crag, or just getting him to and from home, work, the gym, and life in between. He has logged years of sock inspection and disappointments, giving him an excellent gauge of what makes a high-quality, every day, handle-it-all pair and which are unlikely to withstand regular sweat and wear-and-tear he throws at them. He particularly enjoyed the opportunity to take an even more thorough, objective approach to the testing process to hone in on the pairs that will serve you best, no matter what your needs.
The Darn Tough socks offered a great balance between cushioning and breathability for skating.
The Dickies socks have a workwear look to them but feel appropriate in a gym, too.
It may be blasphemy to climb with socks, but the thin Smartwool socks fitted in tight climbing shoes and kept the funk away.
Buck Yedor, another 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 his years as a professional rock climbing route setter, it has always been crucial for him to have a comfortable, high-performing sock that can carry him through the long days on his feet.
Our testers evaluated the elastic in the cuffs of each pair of socks through high-impact activities.
Credit: Jon Oleson
Another member of the team, Jon Oleson, is a self-proclaimed sock aficionado who 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 recovering at home proved to be the perfect testing ground for every type of men's socks.
Analysis and Test Results
Socks are about as utilitarian as clothing gets. While they may all look pretty similar, design, material, and construction can vary greatly and equally 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 over time.
What's the Best Value?
Buying socks that will last more than a couple of years is important to most people, including our test team. 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 a value pack can't keep up? Or is a well-known brand truly worth 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 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.
Our test team put every pair of socks in the lineup in a head-to-head comparison, evaluating the cost of each pair in conjunction with its build — materials, fit, comfort, breathability, odor retention, and versatility.
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. But even if we had, the multi-pack contains five more pairs as backup. For the price, it's hard to beat that kind of value. If you care more about quantity than quality, the Hanes Double Tough Crew came with 12 pairs for the same price as other multipacks.
The Hanes socks felt baggy even in our tightest slip-on shoes.
Credit: Jackson Chen
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, particularly since there are so many pairs in the pack. It's nice to know that although we didn't come across any issues with durability during our testing period, you've got several pairs to choose from, even if you did. The main difference between the CelerSport and the Champion, in case you're wondering, is that the Champion is fully synthetic, while the CelerSport is a cotton/synthetic blend. We found synthetic socks tend to hold up better than softer cotton in general, and the CelerSport was thicker overall and more comfortable on our feet.
The CelerSport socks have a band of fabric designed to conform to your foot arch.
Credit: Jackson Chen
If you're looking for a premium sock with more cushion and durability, we can't say enough good things about the Darn Tough Micro Crew Midweight sock. Even though it's the most expensive sock we tested, it's also the most durable and long-lasting. This means that over the sock's 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, which, in our testers' experience, stands up to the hype. Just pay for shipping, and you'll receive a new pair of socks, no questions asked. All things considered, the Darn Tough socks may be the greatest value out there.
The Darn Tough Micro Crew Midweight can handle hiking, cardio, or lounging all the same.
Credit: Jackson Chen
Comfort and All Day Performance
The comfort of any sock is of paramount importance, and this metric assessment receives 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 standout in this metric was the Darn Tough Micro Crew 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, they held up to sustained use, proving to be as durable as the manufacturer claims.
Another high-performing pair was the Stance Icon 3-Pack, which is constructed from a soft, mostly cotton fabric that felt great against our skin. Merino wool offers superior softness and comfort, and we found that both the Darn Tough Coolmax Micro Crew Midweight and the Smartwool Everyday Anchor Line Crew kept our feet feeling fresh throughout the day. Although the latter lacks any sort of cushioning.
The Smartwool socks felt great for feeling what's beneath our feet but fell behind on cushioning.
Credit: Jackson Chen
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.
The Dickies socks stayed in place even when going for high-speed grind tricks.
Credit: Jackson Chen
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 Champion No-Show proved to be a bit too floppy, no matter what shoes we paired them with. On the other hand, the Feetures Elite Max Cushion No Show Tab provided the most form-fitting feel among our low-cut sock options. However, if you're sensitive to rubbing and chaffing, we recommend a higher-cut ankle sock like the CelerSport Ankle Athletic or Bombas Solids Ankle. Both of these socks have additional material above the ankle to protect the Achilles.
The extra piece of fabric at the back of the CelerSport ankle socks help with any heel rubbing in shoe.
Credit: Jackson Chen
Fit is also an important aspect of comfort. You want your sock to stay in place and 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. Stance offers its socks in four sizes ranging from small to extra-large, and we tested a medium-sized sock that covered sizes 6 to 8.5. Thanks to a smaller size range, we found the fit of the Stance Icon sock to be close-fitting but not uncomfortably so. If you prefer a tighter fit for your socks, the Nike Performance Cushion Crew felt the most snug out of the options we tested.
Even with the constant bouncing, the Stance Icon socks felt like it was hugging our legs while jump roping.
Credit: Jackson Chen
Breathability
Beyond a good fit for all-day comfort, a quality sock will be breathable and made of a moisture-wicking material. A sock's breathability comes from a combination of material and weave. The Smartwool Everyday Anchor Line Crew, made from a blend that's mostly wool, is highly breathable and excellent at wicking moisture. Even after being completely soaked, these socks took the least time of any in the lineup to fully dry.
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 Darn Tough Coolmax Micro Crew Midweight received a high score here due to a combination of synthetic fabrics, including Coolmax polyester, that offers both wicking and top-notch breathability. While offering less cushion, the Adidas Athletic Cushioned Crew earned a top spot in our drying tests thanks to a mostly polyester design.
Even if they get sweaty, the Coolmax fabric lets these Darn Tough socks dry off quickly.
Credit: Jackson Chen
While a thicker sock will inevitably score lower in terms of breathability, manufacturers can make up for it with moisture-wicking properties to keep feet dry. While the Darn Tough Micro Crew Midweight sock wasn't as breathable as the thinner contenders, the mostly wool makeup helps move moisture to the top layer, where it can evaporate quickly.
The Darn Tough sock's wool design ensures that sweat doesn't stick around during gym workouts.
Credit: Jackson Chen
Odor Retention
Alongside breathability, odor retention is just as crucial when looking for a sock that you want to spend most of the day in. Socks made of mostly wool can count on natural fibers to stave off any bacterial growth that causes unpleasant odors. We found that once the Smartwool Everyday Anchor Line Crew dried off, there was barely any indication that we previously sweated profusely in them.
When dealing with cotton socks like the CelerSport Ankle Athletic, we experienced a much more noticeable lingering odor after saturating them in sweat. Lastly, socks made of synthetic fibers can be a mixed bag. It was hard to detect any strong sweat smell using the Darn Tough Coolmax Micro Crew Midweight, but there was a lasting chemical smell throughout our testing with them.
We ran into some obvious sweat smells after skating in the CelerSport socks.
Credit: Jackson Chen
Style and Versatility
While these practical metrics are important when it comes to selecting socks, we still want something that looks good and makes us gravitate toward them when digging through the sock drawer. When trying to find a sock to match our many athletic or casual outfits, we found ourselves reaching for the Stance Icon socks the most often since they came in three neutral colors and a sleek design. In case you don't want your socks clashing with your outfit at all, the Wernies No Show Casual Cotton socks were the only no-show socks that were low enough to stay out of sight.
Many of the socks we tested were your stereotypical athletic socks since they were basic white crew-length socks. Options like the Amazon Essentials Half Cushioned Crew and the Gold Toe 656S Cotton Crew were great examples of this and suited our gym outings. We wouldn't wear most of these socks when it came to any formal settings, but the Smartwool Everyday Anchor Line Crew could pass for a dress sock thanks to its thin and plain black design.
The Smartwool's simple, skinny black sock look made it one of the most versatile choices.
Credit: Jackson Chen
Conclusion
After researching the most popular socks on the market, our review team settled on 15 pairs and set out to see how they compared. Through a series of side-by-side evaluations and rigorous field testing, we were able to determine how each pair performed in real-life conditions--from the home to the gym to the office and trail. We tested everything from no-shows to calf-length socks, each made from varied 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.
We did a ton of meticulous testing so you don't have to for your next sock purchase.
