We Tested All the Socks So You’ll Never Have To

In our hunt for the best socks for men, we were faced with a few questions: Does it really matter what socks you wear if they’re going to be hidden by a pair of shoes—and under a pair of pants? What the hell is arch support, anyway? And damn it, when did our parents stop restocking our basics drawers for us, leading us to do all of the work ourselves?

If that seems like a lot of thought to give the layers you wrap around your feet, trust us: getting this nitty-gritty about your hosiery won‘t just improve the feel of your footwear—it’ll help make them look exponentially cooler. Ever seen a pebble-grain oxford paired with ankle or quarter crew socks? Just doesn’t feel right.

Maybe you’ve got specific answers to those questions, or maybe you need all of the above. Either way, we’ve rounded up the most essential socks for practically every type of person.

The Best Men’s Socks, According to GQ

• The Best Socks Overall: Bombas Solids Calf Socks, $15
• The Best Budget Socks: Uniqlo Colorful Socks, $4
• The Best Socks to Buy in Bulk: Nike Crew Socks (6-Pack), $30
• The Best Cotton-Blend Socks: American Trench Mono-Stripe Quarter Crew Socks, $14
• The Best Splurge-Worthy Socks: Rototo Organic Daily Ankle Sock (3-Pack), $80
• The Best No-Show Socks: Bombas Low-Cut No-Show Socks, $14
• The Best Dress Socks: Pantherella Danvers Socks, $34
• The Best Socks on Amazon: Wernies Socks (8-Pack), $15
• The Best Hiking Socks: Goldtoe 656 6-Pack Sports Socks, $15
• The Best Socks for Working Out: Lululemon Power Stride Socks (3-Pack), $48
• The Best Socks for Sweaty Feet: Stance Performance Crew Socks, $20 $18
• The Best Wool-Blend Socks: Smartwool Everyday Solid Rib Crew Socks, $24

Best Socks Overall: Bombas Solid Calf Socks

Bombas has been a clear winner in the sock game for years, and given our testers’ affinity for rating them highly—and an expert recommendation from foot and ankle surgeon Brad Schaeffer, DPM—we’re going to say that the brand lives up to its reputation. “They provide a great level of support and cushion without sacrificing anything,” Schaeffer says. “They just fit perfectly, honestly.”

Bombas socks feature the brand’s “honeycomb arch support,” which cradles the midfoot for a welcome snugness. GQ’s associate commerce editor Tyler Chin appreciated their cushioned foot bed, which acted as if their shoes had included an extra pair of pillowy insoles. A handful of testers noted that they wished the brand didn’t apply its name so boldly on the socks (a bit tacky if you enter a no-shoes-inside-the-home home), but given the comfort and support that these socks provide, we’ll give them a pass.

It’s worth noting that Bombas offers plenty more styles worth considering. For more intel, check out our Bombas socks review.

Best Budget Socks: Uniqlo Colorful Socks

“Quality is never my concern with Uniqlo,” GQ’s sports writer Matthew Roberson says, and his opinion still stands after rocking the brand’s popular socks. Uniqlo makes its super-cheap socks in a whopping 50 colors, making for an easy way to add a pop of color (or not) to any outfit. Looks aside, these are just some really good feet-huggers. There’s no extra support or cushioning, but Uniqlo managed to nail the Goldilocks fit and thickness, and while these socks are cheap on their own, they get even cheaper if you buy four pairs at once since you’ll score a 25% discount.

Best Socks to Buy in Bulk: Nike Crew Socks

Nike

Premium Cotton Crew Cut Socks (6-Pack)

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Pros

• Equally great for the gym and daily life
• Great price

Cons

• If forced to find one, the logo

Be one and done with your sock purchase of the year. Nike’s hard-wearing Dri-Fit socks are a great way to easily stock up the the basics drawer in your dresser. They feature a thicker-than-usual construction, which we found to be extra comfortable for both your regular day-to-day activities or even workouts. Like anything the brand makes with Dri-Fit, these socks keep the dogs, well, dry and as a result your feet stay odor free. Do we wish the Nike logo weren’t so noticeable on them? Sure, but just don’t wear these socks with your dress shoes.

Best Cotton-Blend Socks: American Trench Solid Socks

American Trench

The Solids Sock

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Pros

• Made domestically from American-grown ringspun cotton
• Cushioned footbed

Cons

American Trench’s USA-made socks made it into our inaugural class of GQ All-Stars, and for good reason; These are some pretty luxe socks. They’re not as cheap as your 100 pack of Nikes, but you’re getting socks that are made from American-grown ringspun cotton that feel as good as the American pride you’ll have once you put them on. They have a cushioned footbed, which we found to be comfortable for wearing all day, and we found there was zero slippage throughout the day. And if you want to go for something with a cool retro feel, the striped options make for a nice added touch to most fits.

Best Splurge Socks: Rototo Organic Mini Crew Sock (3-Pack)

RoToTo

Organic Daily 3 Pack Mini Crew Socks in Ecru

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Pros

• Cushioned, but not at all tight
• Made from the highest quality Japanese materials

Cons

If you’re used to spending a couple bucks on socks, you might want to sit down: these socks from Japan-based Rototo are worth the money (and the space in your sock drawer). The cotton-wool construction of these socks offer warmth, sturdiness, and durability. As GQ’s commerce writer Gerald Ortiz notes, “they’re not too tight with the right amount of cushion where you need it.” Frustratingly the brand doesn’t suggest you dry these socks, as doing so results in a tad bit of shrinking, but they easily stretch out once you get your hooves back in there.

Best No-Show Socks: Bombas Low-Cut No-Show Socks

Bombas

Low-Cut No-Show Socks

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Pros

• Far grippier than most no-shows
• No bunching at the back

Cons

Bombas returns to the winner’s circle thanks to its impressive no-show socks. Listen, we don’t necessarily love the concept of no-show socks, namely because, well, just show off your dang socks. But we know folks love to pretend they’re not wearing socks so they can show off their ankles (much to the chagrin of EmRata), and we’ve found that the no-shows from Bombas tick all the right boxes. First, they don’t slip—a major downfall of most no-show socks. Second, there’s zero bunching at the back. Third, they don’t lose their shape after a trip through the washer and dryer.

Best Dress Socks: Pantherella Danvers Socks

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Pros

• High-quality Egyptian cotton
• Option to monogram

Cons

The socks you wear to the gym should not be gracing the insides of your oxfords. No, you need a real pair of dress socks, and Panterhella’s Danvers fit the bill. The Danvers are made of a super high-quality Egyptian cotton that Chin likened to being swaddled in the finest bedding linens. There’s no arch support or cushioning, but that’s besides the point when you’re shopping for dress socks—just add a pair of cushy insoles to your dress shoes if that’s what your dogs need. Additionally, Pantherella offers the option to monogram your socks if you want to personalize them—or to make sure your roommate doesn’t steal them from the laundry because they are that good.

Best Men’s Socks on Amazon: Wernies Ankle Socks

Wernies

Low Cut Ankle Sock (8-Pack)

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Pros

• 16 socks for 15 bucks
• Colors repeat, in case you lose a couple

Cons

• Not as breathable as pricier pairs

You can find most of the socks we recommended already on Amazon, but one brand that’s floating under the radar over at the ‘Zon is Wernies. With over 36,000 reviews and a near perfect rating, the socks felt worthy of gracing our toes. GQ’s global research director Mick Rouse, who’s generally not a fan of ankle socks, says that this pair has held up after multiple wears and washes, noting “the fit and comfort is consistent, and the socks appear to be durable.” He also says that while they are breathable, they’re definitely not as good at regulating temperature as other pairs of higher-end socks. But for two bucks a pair, he says the price point for this quality of sock is pretty great.

Best Hiking Socks: Gold Toe Harrington Crew Socks

Hikes are by no means easy work, and they’re definitely rough on the feet. You might think wool would be the defacto material for a good pair of hiking socks, but we found that Gold Toe’s Harringtons—a cotton-blend—are actually the way to go. They’re reinforced at the toe so they won’t wear out as quickly, even if you are wearing your best pair of hikers. Despite how sturdy these socks are, our testers noted that they were incredibly comfortable to wear and soft underfoot, and so far none have noticed any wear or damage to their pairs.

Best Socks for Running: Lululemon Power Stride Socks

Lululemon

Power Stride Crew Socks, 3 Pack

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Pros

• Snug fit
• Blister-preventing cushioning

Cons

• Tightness makes them a little harder to get on

Finding a good pair of running socks is hard, but Lululemon managed to make a pair that hit the right, ahem, stride. These feet-hugging socks offer a ton of support from practically every angle, and there’s the right amount of cushioning to keep feet blisters at a minimum. Chin loved how fitted these socks were around the foot but found that it did take a little more effort to slip into them because of their snug fit. But on runs? Let’s say those PRs were hit because of excessive training and not because he finally found running socks that actually rule.

Best Socks for Sweaty Feet: Stance Performance Crew Socks

They’re not that attractive out of a shoe, but as long as the dogs are dry, we can’t really complain. Stance’s performance socks are some of the best for those who suffer from sweaty feet, or hyperhidrosis, an affliction that affects around 3% of the population. One way to combat this is by wearing a moisture-wicking material, like what Stance’s socks are made of, to prevent any excessive moisture from accumulating through the day. Chin found that these socks did a fairly good job at keeping their feet dry, while cushioning added extra comfort in the areas their feet needed it the most: around the heels and the balls of their feet. They also fit really well, sitting in place all day without being overly restrictive.

Best Wool-Blend Socks: Smartwool Everyday Solid Rib Crew Socks

Smartwool

Everyday Solid Rib Crew Socks

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Pros

• Merino wool is odor-resistant
• It’s also exceptionally soft

Cons

Stave off cold feet by donning some wool socks. As we mentioned, there is a subsect of the population that deals with sweaty feet, but if you’re wearing the wrong pair of wool socks, you’re in for a swampy mess. Smartwool’s socks are made of a merino wool blend, and we’re chuffed at how well these can keep your feet warm without creating a sauna effect in your shoe. Merino wool is naturally odor-resistant, able to wick away moisture and regulate your body temperature, which is great for year-round wear. Our testers noted how soft these socks were and how well they stay put on their legs throughout the day. They’re not as cushiony as say the Bombas socks, but we can appreciate the brand for trying to add a bit of extra comfort under the footbed.

More Socks We Love

What to Look for in Socks

Material: We wouldn’t say that one material reigns supreme when it comes to socks, but rather it depends on what you’re specifically looking for when it comes to your hosiery. Cotton is great because it’s cheap, and as Schaeffer notes, they’re easy to wash and breathable. You can also opt for wool socks for extra warmth, but we’d recommend merino wool for its thermoregulating properties. However, some brands don’t suggest that you machine wash or tumble dry their wool socks, which makes cleaning them somewhat of a hassle. And if you’re really feeling bougie, cashmere socks are an option for luxe warmth, but they’re also annoying to care for. “[Cashmere socks are] great for just comfort and wearing around the house or sitting on the couch,” Schaeffer says. “If you wear them too much, they will wear down very fast and they do not wash well.”