5 Best Athletic Socks – 2024 Buyers Guide

If you’re choosing a sock for any athletic endeavor, you should choose a synthetic fiber. Cotton might sound like a comfortable option, but it is a poor choice for athletes. It fails when it comes to moisture management, and isn’t a good choice if you’re going to be working up any kind of sweat. Like other parts of our bodies, our feet do sweat, and it’s important to choose a material that can handle sweat. Synthetic fibers are much better at dealing with moisture and tend to dry a lot faster than non-synthetic ones.

Of course, there’s always an exception to the rule. Merino wool is an often used material for athletic socks providing excellent moisture management, comfort, and antibacterial properties. It also can keep feet warm when it’s cold out and cool when the weather is a bit steamier. Wool socks are also easier to care for than other fabrics, and it doesn’t hold onto odors like other materials. This is a pretty big bonus when we’re talking about sweaty feet. Many will prefer a material like Merino since it’s more natural and comes from sheep making it a renewable resource.

Apart from the material of the sock, the way the sock has been sewn together is also important. Choosing a sock with minimal seams will ensure that you’ll stay blister-free. Seams increase the chance for friction between your foot and the sock which is something all runners and athletes want to avoid.

Some folks will opt for natural fibers over synthetic ones. It also has to do with whether you prefer to have cushioning or none at all. So how did we evaluate comfort? We simply took a look at what people had to say about a particular sock. Did most people find it comfortable, or were there glaring issues like blister formation, too many seams, or itchy fabric? Those were deal-breakers, obviously.

Some materials can cause allergic reactions as well. While Merino is an excellent fabric choice for most, some can become irritated by it, so make sure you choose a fabric that feels nice against your skin.

It is basically its #1 job besides staying on your foot. If a sock can’t actually wick moisture, then it’s not a good choice. We all sweat and our feet sweat too. Without a moisture wicking sock that can sop up all our sweat, the chance that blisters and hot spots will form goes up exponentially.

The wicking ability usually depends on the combination of materials that make up the sock. Most synthetic materials are pretty good at mopping up all your sweat. It’s a good idea to avoid cotton because it’s pretty bad at wicking moisture away from the body. It doesn’t dry quickly either, so you’ll end up with a heavy wet sock at the end of your workout.

The socks on this list are all made of breathable, quick-drying materials. No cotton in sight.

Let’s be honest, though, it’s always nice when you get a choice of colors. We’ve settled on socks that offer a bit of variety, have attractive designs, and that won’t look like your grandpa’s socks peeking out from your athletic shoes.

If you’re used to buying 3-packs of socks at Costco, you’re in for a surprise when it comes to athletic socks.

They are indeed pricier, but that’s because they’re made with durable materials meant to last, and they are made up of technical fabrics perfect for runners that will keep you comfortable.