Best Crew Cut Socks – 2024 Buying Guide
Top-rated crew-cut socks offer fantastic stability, durability, and moisture control. With many brands ensuring retail prices don't make a hole in our wallets.
We've thoroughly tested and reviewed a number of crew socks, ranking them for their performance and value. Peruse our list below and pick up a few pairs to test out on your own.
Standout Picks
Criteria Used for Evaluation
Style
All of these socks are crew socks, so it's important that you like the crew cut style--if you don't then you are in the wrong place! That being said, you have other style options to consider so make sure to check all of those features out!
We want our readers to understand the ins and outs of how we come to the decisions for the socks on our list. Even when it comes to finding the right pair of running socks for your gear upgrade, style is important to consider. More than just the colors and patterns, the styling also encompasses things like the overall design and construction of the socks.
It's important to look at styling options because when you like the look and the fit and feel of your socks, you're going to enjoy your runs and workout sessions more. So, when you are shopping for running socks, be sure to take the time to look at the style and design options and see what each item on our list has to offer and how you can benefit from its design features.
Since everyone has their own needs and criteria, knowing the thought process behind our own judgments will allow our readers to know which things to consider more heavily and what they need to be less concerned with. For this purpose, we broke down the individual aspects to there absolute clearest points.
Size
It's important to ensure you order the right size. If your socks are too big or too small you will end up with something that is uncomfortable and that won't work for you during workouts.
Fit and size go hand in hand so it's important to ensure you have the right fit and size. Sizing is important when it comes to finding quality running socks. If your socks are too small, they can constrict blood flow and cause your feet and legs to hurt and swell. If your socks are too big, they can shift and move and bunch up in your shoes as you run and workout which can be very annoying and lead to blistering.
Socks that are too short can cause your shoes to rub against your ankles and can lead to sores and blistering and chaffing. Likewise, socks that are too tall can be hot and uncomfortable on your legs, especially in warm weather. So, it is important to get socks that are the right size for your wants and needs and specific activities.
Our goal is to provide you with sock products that are available in a range of sizes so you can easily get exactly what you want and need! Sizing with crew socks, and most other socks is a lot rougher than sizing shoes. Socks are sold in general sizes since they tend to be elastic. That being said, we still have to be considerate of how true to size the sock is to what it advertises.
Sizing also needs to be considerate of the elastics and how it adheres to the ankle and the heel. These are all the factors we have to be aware of when choosing socks for this list. All in all, take the time to measure your feet and check out the sizing chart for each brand of socks--they often differ and are not all the same so if you are on a cusp size this is especially important.
Features
There is no single pair of crew socks that works for everyone if there were there wouldn't be so many selections to choose from. Make sure to take the features offered by the socks you are considering before you buy.
What we consider features of a sock is the aspects that may not be directly be linked to performance but can be essential for what you are looking for. It is important to think about the various features that are available in the socks you are considering adding to your running gear so you can have them on hand when you need them.
You are investing in your gear and of course want to get the best that you can afford and the best that you can find, and that is what we here at RunnerClick hope to help you with. Our goal with these buying guides is to help you find the products that meet your needs and that have the features and designs that best fit your lifestyle.
Runner socks have many features to consider and you can find out more about these features by reading below! When people think of socks, they don’t tend to jump to features. And yes, it's true, many socks don’t have what we are considered showy features. Socks with moisture and microbial management for people who sweat excessively.
Supportive socks for people who deal with high arches and plantar fasciitis socks with these strengths and features are the types of choices we wanted to make for this list. All in all, you need to make sure you get something that fits your needs--and addressing any foot issues fall in this category so only get something that fits your needs.
Value
Value is not just about price. Instead, take a look at everything the crew socks have to offer and compare it to your initial investment to see how much value they actually have to offer.
Value is critical because if you're going to invest money in something you want it to be a good investment. While most people do not think about spending a lot of money on socks, it's always best to invest in quality. Yes $1 socks would work but they will not work as well, hold up as well, or perform the same as a more expensive pair that is made specifically for runners and their unique needs.
The value of your running socks is more than just the money you are spending, it is the value of the benefits you get when you wear the socks. The adage that you get what you pay for is true in many things in life, including running gear - even socks! Value tends to unusually be pretty simple to calculate. The amount you are getting for what you are paying is a pretty straightforward metric.
The factor that makes the value of socks that’s a little more difficult to parse is that we need to take into account that they are commonly sold in bulk. Calculating the socks cost into how many socks you are getting along with the over the quality of the sock are the entirety of what we take into account when dictating value.
Advanced Features
There are plenty of criteria we can sort through for the socks that will help you to make a decision. The final factor we here at RunnerClick chose to focus on when looking for the best running socks for our guide was the advanced features that are included. Advanced features look at everything extra that is offered by the pair of socks you are looking into.
Whether it's materials, warming and cooling properties, how they fit, the color of socks and design features, or anything else that impacts the look, feel, and function of the socks, these are the features that athletes look for. These are the kinds of advanced features that we wanted to highlight in our products that were selected for our guide list with the hope that it will help you find the socks that are right for you.
Some of the most important information for us to consider is the composition and construction of the socks. These things factor heavily into how well these socks will last along with their overall performance. For example, overly prevalent seams can cause issues so we will favor socks that minimize them in their construction in order in only to represent only the best socks on our list.
While there are plenty of criteria we can sort through for the socks that will help you to make a decision there are just some factors you will have to consider for yourself. All in all, the most important thing you need to remember is to ensure that the socks offer all of the advanced features that you know you need and would prefer to have.
10 Best Crew Socks Reviews
1. Rockay Razer Crew
A new addition to the running trails is called Razer. This trail running sock may be new to the market but it aligns with our core values and high standards. Made with 100% recycled materials, Razer is the trail sock that creates the perfect balance between performance and protection for the runner.
Read moreComfort
The underneath cushioning system was designed to create comfort where it is needed most—from the heel to the toe. The arch compression and mesh technology allows for a snug fit. In addition, it allows your foot to feel fresh, cool and dry.
Quality
You will find that this running sock is the ideal length and that helps keep debris at bay while running on the trail. Quality is a priority and this sock is comprised of a high density knit that ensures durability and also adds to the softer feel.
Value
Serious runners expect more from a running sock and thus price consideration will be different from those individuals selecting socks for daily use. With that said, Razer offers both high quality and comfort at a competitive price to other trail running socks in its league.
2. People Socks Premium Wool
This 4-pack of hiking crew socks from People Socks is made predominantly from Merino wool. Individuals who enjoy hiking or trail running will appreciate these crew cut socks due to their impressive durability offered as well as their fantastic comfort and heat insulation.
Read moreStyle
These are another great neutral and minimalistic design. They look great and are available in several neutral colors for you to choose from--so you have some options.
Size
The available sizes for these People Socks are from men’s sizes 7 to 12, with no specific information given for women’s sizing. Customers should expect these crew socks to be slightly thicker than the average pair because of the material used. Some shrinkage may occur if these socks are washed with hot water.
Features
The most significant selling point to these crew cut socks is the fact that they are primarily made from Merino wool. This helps to insulate the wearer’s feet from low temperatures and provide a decent layer of cushion. Extra reinforcement has been added to the heel and toe of each sock in order to provide greater durability.
Value
When compared to a massive 12-pack of generic white crew socks at a department store, these People Socks will seem overpriced. However, when evaluating the asking price for two pairs of well-made wool crew socks, this is a fantastic value. Hikers, trail runners, and individuals in colder climates will reap the biggest benefits from this product.
Advanced Features
Made in America, these hiking crew socks are knit from a material that mostly consists of Merino wool, with elements of nylon, polyester, and spandex mixed in. Because of this, it is recommended to only wash them in cold or slightly warm water and to either air-dry them or tumble-dry them on a low setting.
3. Darn Tough Vermont Merino Wool Micro
These socks are reliable and comfortable and made from Merino wool. They come in men's and women's sizes now in women’s sizes. In addition to offering superior cushioning, heat retention, and anti-microbial properties, these crew socks come with a lifetime guarantee.
Read moreStyle
Here we have another stylish pair of socks. They look great and are available in several color schemes to choose from--all of which are neutral and perfect for minimalistic outdoor lovers.
Size
Unfortunately, the manufacturers of these crew socks don’t offer much information regarding their sizing. Educated guesses made by reviewers and verified customers place the range of sizes anywhere from 5½ to 12½ (men) and 4½ to 11½ (women). Much like many other products listed here, lower cuts of this model are available for those who would prefer them.
Features
Many features are shared between the men’s and women’s models of these crew socks, including a performance-style fit and a predominantly Merino wool construction. One design aspect that sets this model apart from the men’s version is a wider variety of colors and styles.
Value
When compared to the cost of other wool crew socks, the price for these is around the average going rate. However, the addition of a lifetime guarantee helps to increase the value in this particular package. All things considered, it’s still a hefty price for a pair of socks.
Advanced Features
The makeup of this crew sock’s construction is a familiar ⅔ Merino wool with a bit less than ⅓ of nylon and a small amount of Lycra spandex. Care must be taken when machine washing due to the heavy use of wool, but the lifetime guarantee that comes with every purchase should take care of any issues that arise in this department.
4. Darn Tough Hiker Micro
These socks were built to last and adorned lovingly with the title of Darn Tough. With a fantastic sense of style and extremely sturdy wool construction, a pair of these crew socks can provide suitable protection and heat retention for even the toughest of hikes and trail runs. Read
Read moreStyle
Available in lots of colors, you can have fun with these socks. Not only do they look great, but they also fit securely and comfortably so you always look and feel great when you wear them.
Size
Unfortunately, the manufacturers of these crew socks don’t offer much information regarding their sizing. Educated guesses made by reviewers and verified customers place the range of sizes anywhere from 5½ to 12½. Much like many other products listed here, lower cuts of this model are available for those who would prefer them.
Features
In addition to providing excellent insulation in colder environments, the heavy use of Merino wool in these Darn Tough crew socks provides anti-microbial and anti-bacterial properties. This helps to prevent skin irritation and foot odor, and blisters are avoided due to the highly specialized performance fit.
Value
As a sturdy pair of wool crew socks, these Darn Tough products are priced appropriately. They’re still on the higher end of the cost spectrum in terms of all crew socks but the price tag shouldn’t surprise anyone familiar with this particular form of crew socks. Certain sizes will come at a discounted price when shopping online.
Advanced Features
Darn Tough crew socks contain no cotton, making them ideal for wearers who have a sensitivity or allergy to it. Instead, these are primarily made of Merino wool with smaller amounts of nylon and Lycra spandex. Additional cushioning has been added to the underfoot in order to provide the extra comfort and protection often needed for challenging trail runs and hikes.
5. Thorlo Thick Cushion Running
For those looking for an alternative to both cotton and wool-based crew socks, Thorlo has created a product with a radically different design to both of these common offerings. Made primarily from a proprietary acrylic-based material, these socks are highly resistant to damage while also providing excellent comfort for the wearer.
Read moreStyle
If you are looking for a plain and minimalistic pair of crew socks, you will love these crew socks. They are available in white and black and definitely have an old school minimalistic look that is coming back into style.
Size
This product comes in unisex sizing, meaning that one model will work for either men or women’s feet. In the standard size offerings, feet with a men’s shoe size of 6 to 11 or a women’s size 7-13 are covered. The unfortunate downside to this is that men with larger feet will need to order extra-large sizing, which may have limited availability.
Features
The primary selling point of these crew socks is that they are made from a primarily acrylic-based material. Known by the manufacturer as Thor-Lon, this fabric is extremely dense and does a fantastic job providing durability and cushioning. This is especially true around the heel and arch since the extra supportive material was placed in these key areas.
Value
Despite being made of exclusive and high-quality material, these socks are priced very competitively in comparison to other high-end crew socks. It isn’t unrealistic to find a pair or a pack of multiple pairs with a lower price than socks made from Merino wool. This is an even better deal when considering how long these crew socks can last with the proper care.
Advanced Features
The exact formula of materials used for these crew socks is almost 90% Thor-on with small amounts of stretchy nylon and spandex. This has the benefit of providing lightweight cushioning but it also requires more care to be taken when machine washing in order to ensure a longer lifespan.
6. Thorlo Thick Padded Hiking
In order to provide the level of comfort and environmental resistance required for heavy-duty hiking, Thorlo designed these crew socks with the highest possible amount of comfort and resistance while keeping the weight and cost low. The result is a reliable and desirable accessory for any serious outdoor enthusiast.
Read moreStyle
These socks are great looking socks to hit the great outdoors. They are functional and they look it--but you still have a couple of color selections to choose from.
Size
Depending on what color option a customer chooses, the size options for each model are disappointingly limited due to scarcity. Because of this, it may be very hard to track down smaller or larger than average sizes in the desired style. However, women with shoe sizes between 6½ and 13 shouldn’t have too much difficulty.
Features
As is to be expected from Thorlo, these crew socks are made from Thor-Lon, a proprietary material that is acrylic-based. This material is very dense and provides a great deal of cushion in addition to targeted support to sensitive areas of the feet. Additional compression is provided in these key areas through the use of stretch yarn as well.
Value
There’s no denying that these aren’t exactly a budget pick in regards to crew socks. For the same price as one pair, customers can obtain 10 or more pairs of standard cotton socks. However, this single pair of Thorlo crew socks can easily outlast all 10 pairs of those cotton socks with the proper care, giving them the superior value.
Advanced Features
Almost ⅔ of the material used in these Thorlo crew socks is Thor-Lon. The rest is primarily nylon for the purpose of providing greater durability and a smattering of other fibers such as spandex and polyester. While some care needs to be exercised when machine washing these socks, not as much is needed when compared to those made from Merino wool.
7. Hanes Crew Socks
This pack of crew socks made mostly from cotton is the best budget pick in terms of value for volume. It may lack some fancy features present in more costly offerings on this list but enough is included in the package to make this excellent casual footwear.
Read moreStyle
For Hanes, these socks are actually pretty stylish. They are available in several color selections and although they aren't the most stylish, you can definitely choose the ones you like most.
Size
Anyone in the range of men’s shoe size 6 to 14 will be able to find a size of these Hanes crew socks that fit them comfortably. Finding the proper size for the customer’s feet will also result in the secondhand benefits regarding comfort and durability, so this step is important.
Features
These socks are far from the warmest or most durable on the market. However, they do offer some impressive features for a budget crew sock, including reinforced material around the heel and toe and some rubber for a more tight-fitting collar.
Value
This is far and away from the best deal for crew socks in terms of volume. Customers will be hard-pressed to find a better deal on socks with comparable features. They’re not the best on the market and are easily surpassed by many wool offerings but they are priced according to their ability.
Advanced Features
The cost-effective formula that went into these socks is predominantly made from cotton with bits of polyester mixed in. Additionally, some rubber was added around the collar in order to provide an extra secure fit. As a result of this design, these crew socks are fully machine washable.
8. Smartwool PhD Outdoor Light
For the men’s offering of Merino wool socks, Smartwool implemented similar features to ensure parity with their women’s versions. However, some aspects are a bit different aside from the sizing, such as the different color styles and visual elements incorporated into this version of their popular wool crew socks.
Read moreStyle
As far as style goes, these socks are neutral and functional. You have the options of crew socks and ankle socks, so if you decide you love them then you can get them in all of the styles they are available in.
Size
Unfortunately, men with smaller shoe sizes are going to have a tough time tracking down a pair of these Smartwool socks that fit them due to a limited availability online. However, anyone who wears shoes in a men’s size from 6 to 14½ will be able to find a pair of these that fit them comfortably.
Features
Since these are mostly made from Merino wool, the number one benefit to their design is excellent heat retention. This makes them the ideal choice for hiking, trail running, or just standard casual activity during extremely cold weather such as snow. Another nice feature is a lack of seams around the toe area, providing extra comfort and reducing the risk of skin irritation.
Value
When determining value through volume, Merino wool-based socks are going to be among the priciest options available. However, when considering the level of comfort and warmth offered by this model as well as the impressive lifespan, this cost seems like more of a solid investment in high-performance running hardware.
Advanced Features
Much like the women’s version, this men’s model of Smartwool crew socks is made from mostly Merino wool with a decent amount of nylon and a tiny amount of elastane mixed in. The wool provides insulation, the nylon adds durability, and the elastane helps to create a tight fit on the wearer’s foot. Due to a large amount of wool used, these socks must be machine washed.
9. Smartwool Hike Medium
With the aim of providing the best experience possible from a pair of wool socks Smartwool designed these crew socks to provide amazing comfort, durability, and heat insulation. Its design heavily incorporates Merino wool and nylon with absolutely no cotton whatsoever.
Read moreStyle
These crew socks are available in a lot of different colors to choose from. They look great and are definitely on the thicker side so they will definitely keep you nice and warm.
Size
The sizes offered by Smartwool in this package can accommodate anyone in men’s sizes 3 to 11½ and women’s 4 to 12½ according to the manufacturer’s size chart. For handy reference, the size for each sock is labeled clearly on its side. Due to the fact that it’s mostly made of wool, washing with warm water can cause shrinkage.
Features
Since these socks are made predominantly of Merino wool, the primary feature offered by this Smartwool product is heat retention. This makes it an ideal choice for running or hiking in colder weather. Aside from this, elastic was added to the arch in order to provide additional support for those with plantar fasciitis.
Value
Since these socks aren’t made from cotton, it makes sense that its price is higher than that of cotton-based crew socks. Smartwool offers enough features in a package of a high enough quality to justify the high cost for a single pair; however, the specialized nature of its design means that only a particular kind of trail runner will get the most out of this pricey product.
Advanced Features
Containing absolutely no cotton whatsoever, these Smartwool socks are made from approximately ⅔ Merino wool, ⅓ nylon, and a very tiny amount of elastane. Because of this, anyone with an allergic reaction to cotton will love these crew socks. However, due to its particular design, these socks cannot be machine washed with hot water or tumble dried on higher settings.
10. Nike Dri-Fit Half-Cushion
Aside from providing heel and toe support and excellent arch compression, what sets these Nike crew socks apart from others is the specified fit for each foot. Although it may sound like a minor change, this small design feature provides a more specific and comfortable fit tailor-made for each foot.
Read moreStyle
True to the Nike brand, these socks look sleek and stylish. They are one of the brand's more minimalistic options and you can choose between black and white selections.
Size
Something that may be cause for concern is the lack of accurate information for the smaller sizes. Although this will affect those with smaller feet, anyone with feet size medium and up can find accurate info through Nike’s size chart. According to their size chart, their socks fit shoe sizes from 6 to 15.
Features
Moisture management is handled through Nike’s proprietary Dri-FIT technology which is helpful for preventing athlete’s foot or blisters. The specific formula used to design these socks also helps to make them breathable and supportive with extra compression placed around the arch. This makes them the ideal crew socks for runners with a predisposition to sweating and plantar fasciitis.
Value
Whether they’re ordered in a 3-pack or a 6-pack, the cost of these crew socks is incredibly reasonable when considering the features included. The cherry on top with this Nike product is the fact that it specifically designed every single sock to fit one specific foot, which is a very rare find in crew socks.
Advanced Features
The material used by Nike to create these crew socks is nearly equal parts nylon and cotton with a bit less polyester and a tiny amount of spandex. This is how they are able to breathe so well while also providing comfortable compression and compatibility for machine.
