13 Best Socks for Men, Tested and Reviewed
The humble accessory shouldn't be overlooked.
A young Elvis Presley was a fan of argyle socks, which he often wore with penny loafers. David Letterman preferred thin, gray, silky socks that covered his calf. Justin Trudeau wears socks in colorful patterns, especially Star Wars–themed ones, to nearly every global conference. And Justin Bieber is often snapped in bright, hefty socks, usually from his label, Drew. These men have different styles, but each understood exactly how this seemingly simple accessory can completely change an outfit.
Neglecting the layer that covers feet, keeps them warm, and prevents blisters and odors from forming isn't a good idea. And you’d think it would rank higher on the dressing scale considering the base functions, but socks are often covered by pants and shoes or forgone altogether, so alas.
If the King of Rock and Roll, the Canadian prime minister, and the Biebs serve as an example, your fit could benefit from a damn good pair of socks. They may not completely transform your look, but like a nice tie, they can add some much-needed interest to more basic outfits. For the discerning dresser (*raises hand*), no stone should go unturned, which means nailing every detail, even the ones that go unnoticed at first glance.
So let’s hop on the bandwagon by eyeing the selection below. The humble sock deserves better, and it's high time we restored it to its rightful place in our wardrobes. Maybe not at the top, but certainly not at the bottom. That spot is reserved for underwear.
In the game of socks, Bombas is a contender for MVP. From the quality to the price, there's nothing wrong with this player. The Marl Calf socks in particular have a cushioned footbed, seamless stitching to prevent irritation, and the right balance of not-too-tight elasticity to ensure they don't annoyingly slip down throughout the day.
| Quantity | 1 pair |
|---|---|
| Height | calf |
| Materials | 63% cotton, 30% polyester, 6% rubber, 1% spandex |
It should come as no surprise that J.Crew, purveyor of all things classic, offers some of the best crew socks around—and in a pack of three, no less. These are a cotton and nylon blend and come in the heather gray seen here, black, and white. Coming in at under 20 bucks per set, you can grab all three colors to complement your closet.
| Quantity | 3 pairs |
|---|---|
| Height | crew |
| Materials | cotton/nylon |
Shake up your accents from a solid-colored sock to this geometric cream and black pattern. The reinforced toe will keep them from getting holes and if you want to lean fully into the Happy Socks vibe, try these in the more colorful blue colorway they come in.
| Quantity | 1 pair |
|---|---|
| Height | crew |
| Materials | 86% cotton, 12% polyamide, 2% elastane |
Stance is an iconic sock brand. There's no question as to why these infallible pairs are on our list. The heel on this cotton-blend sock is slightly padded for extra comfort, and the four neutral colors included in this four-pack will fit seamlessly into any wardrobe.
| Quantity | 4 pairs |
|---|---|
| Height | crew |
| Materials | 76% combed cotton, 17% polyester, 4% nylon, 3% elastane |
Goldtoe is an absolute classic in the world of socks. Amazon has a great deal: 12 pairs for less than 45 bucks. Never worry about mismatched, misplaced socks again. The cotton, nylon, and spandex blend also has a moisture control detail to keep feet that run hot from sweating in your shoes.
| Quantity | 12 pairs |
|---|---|
| Height | crew |
| Materials | 81% cotton, 18% nylon, 1% spandex |
If you already know and love Hanes for making some of the comfiest basics, from underwear to tees, add these essential socks to your rotation. This 12-pack is plush, warm, and durable, and will keep you from doing laundry for a while.
| Quantity | 12 pairs |
|---|---|
| Height | crew |
| Materials | 56% polyester, 43% cotton, 1% spandex |
If you want to get a little luxe with your socks, go with Gucci. These knee-high, cotton-blend socks look great in the tiny gap between your pants hem and your shoes.
| Quantity | 1 pair |
|---|---|
| Height | calf |
| Materials | 80% cotton, 18% polyamide, 2% elastane |
This six-pack of cushioned crew socks averages out to only $4 a pair, which is pretty damn worth it in our opinion.
| Quantity | 6 pairs |
|---|---|
| Height | crew |
| Materials | 95% polyester, 5% spandex |
Those familiar with Lululemon's comfortable athletic gear may or may not have tried the brand's extra cozy socks. If you haven't, what are you waiting for? These feature a cotton blend fabric and a cushioned toe area, all in a three-pack of neutral colors as versatile as your favorite tee shirt.
| Quantity | 3 pairs |
|---|---|
| Height | crew |
| Materials | cotton blend yarn |
You've heard of underwear with the days of the week on them—now get ready for socks with your initials on them. Sock thieves, beware; you're no match for these classy, custom herringbone dress socks.
| Quantity | 3 pairs |
|---|---|
| Height | crew |
| Materials | 80% combed cotton, 19% nylon, 1% spandex |
The easiest way to say you pay attention to detail without saying anything at all? An embroidered PRL logo sitting right at your ankle. These come in a batch of six and feature a moisture-wicking cotton blend fabric and a mesh top to help your feet breathe.
| Quantity | 6 pairs |
|---|---|
| Height | crew |
| Materials | 84% cotton, 8% nylon, 6% polyester, 2% elastane |
Pantherella proves that you don't know you need cashmere socks until you try cashmere socks. The brand is beloved by Esquire's style editors. One wear and you'll understand why. Along with the super soft fabric, these have a seamless toe and can be monogrammed for an extra personal touch.
| Quantity | 1 pair |
|---|---|
| Height | crew |
| Materials | 85% cashmere, 15% nylon |
For those cold winter days when you feel like your toes might never be warm again, you need some thick, plush merino-wool socks. These are basically like sweaters for your feet. And unlike your typical merino wool, you can pop these right in the washer and dryer.
| Quantity | 2 pairs |
|---|---|
| Height | crew |
| Materials | 77% merino wool, 21% stretch nylon, 2% lycra elastane |
Tips for Choosing the Best Socks
You might not think twice about which socks you put on, but you should. Socks are, after all, the foundation of your fit—so you should choose wisely.
While we wholeheartedly love and recommend every pick on the list above, here are some tips to narrow down your search:
First, consider what occasion you're looking to stock up your sock rotation for; the socks you choose for the gym should not be the same socks you choose for a formal occasion. Athletic socks, dress socks, and, hell, even cozy, stay-at-home socks are all made differently and usually with materials and features specific to how they’ll be worn. Look for moisture-wicking cotton weaves when buying workout socks, and softer, more luxurious fabrics like cashmere for your dress socks. Consider color ways, too. You may want to go neutral or bright with your dress socks and stick to white or gray for your athletic ones.
Secondly, consider what's going to get you more bang for your buck. Going for a multi-pack, when the option is available will spare you laundry days in the long run.
Lastly, pay attention to features and materials. There are few things worse than stocks that don’t stay up around your ankles. Many of the options on our list have tech and stretchy fabrics that help them stay put.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the best height for my socks?
Generally, whether you should get a crew, ankle, or calf sock is down to preference. But if you don't really care either way, a good rule of thumb is to wear calf or crew socks with dressier shoes (such as loafers or oxfords), and keep the no-shows and ankle socks for your laid-back sneakers and slip-ons.
Do certain socks pair better with certain shoes?
I'm glad you asked, because the answer is a definitive yes. Like I said before—keep the longer socks for your dressier shoes. There is nothing worse than seeing a no-show subtly peek out from the edges of a loafer, or a thick, cable-knit sock being stuffed into a shiny black oxford. Keep your dressier socks for your dressier shoes, and wear your Nikes, Adidas, and casual socks with your dressed-down kicks.
How We Chose
Personally, I love socks. I wear them even in the heat of summer. The rest of our staff at Esquire, even if they don't share my particular love for socks, have a healthy rotation of styles they wholeheartedly support. So to put together this list of our picks, I chose socks I've personally tried, tested, and loved, as well as socks that my fellow Esquire editors have tried, tested, and loved. After that, I went one step further and scoured the ratings and reviews for every pair here. Trust me when I say you won't find socks that have gone through this many checks anywhere else.
Other Picks We Love
- Speaking of true bang for your buck, it doesn't get much better than a pack of 10 Levi's ankle socks for under $15.
- For an infallibly basic crew sock (also available in a variety of colors, for all your fun shoe combos), Uniqlo has a solid pick.
- If you're looking for something fun that doesn't skimp on softness, Kapital could be your best option.
- You know and love Dickies pants for how durable, classic, and comfortable they are. Why not give their Dri-Tech Moisture Control Crew Socks Multipack a try, too? With moisture-wicking tech, these are breathable AF. There's also arch compression support to help with circulation, especially if you work out in them.
Why You Can Trust Esquire
We're not going to say something is great unless it's actually great. Every product in Esquire's roundups is carefully chosen by our fashion and e-commerce teams.
It's hard to go wrong with socks, but it's also hard to go right with them—that's why we've compiled the styles we've tried, tested, and loved from over the years, as well as the socks that the rest of our stylish colleagues here at Esquire endorse. We've put in the research, we've worn these ourselves, and now we're recommending them to you because they're just that good.
No two tastes are the same, and no two men are the same. Your proverbial mileage may vary. But if you're looking for the right place to start, with advice from folks who care (possibly too much!) about this sort of stuff, this is the place to be.
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