Read on for the criteria we considered, or use the links below to jump to any of our sock superlatives.īest overall | Best organic-cotton sock | Best hiking socks | Best no-show socks | Best wool-blend socks | Best cashmere socks | Best dress socks | Best socks with personality | Best everyday athletic socks | Best running socks They shared simple and affordable everyday staples, statement-making styles, and a pair for guys who don’t want their socks to show at all. Our panel includes clothing designers, photographers, footwear designers, runners, and stylists. To help find the very best socks in what feels like an almost infinite sea of options, the Strategist asked 16 stylish people what socks they like to wear for a variety of occasions and tested several pairs ourselves. But there are a lot of below-average socks out there. I’ve gotten through a flash flood in Anonymous Ism’s high-quality socks, which kept my feet warm even as the waters rose like the arctic sea level. I started paying more attention to socks once I started hiking, which made me realize the importance of certain materials. When I was younger, I considered socks to be an F-tier gift at best, but as I’ve gotten older I’ve learned to appreciate the mundane pleasures of a good pair of socks. There are so many ways socks can go wrong: I hate when they don’t hug your ankle tightly enough, or when no-show socks slip off your feet and get all scrunched up at the front of your shoe, or when a single wash cycle turns them into an entirely different pair than the one you bought. If they’re bad, you can’t help thinking about them. Photo-Illustration: The Strategist Photos: RetailersĮvery day, you put on socks and forget about them - if they’re good.