Best Socks Round Up
This website has spent a lot of time going over men’s footwear – from Oxfords to Work Boots to High-top Retros and more. However, I do get asked about the other thing covering your feet from time to time: what socks do I think are best?
That’s a more difficult question to answer than it might seem. There are a lot of brands out there, and they are each trying to solve a different problem. Knowing that, I’d like to do a small recap of the brands that I’ve tried. What makes them something you might want to consider – or might want to skip.
Be sure to check back over time, this list will be updated as new socks are tried.
Cotton vs. Wool
Just a bit of background, I should come clean from the beginning that I am not a wool sock absolutist. Over the past few years, we’ve seen a lot of people put themselves in the wool blend or nothing camp. I’m not one of them.
Wool certainly has its benefits. It’s moisture wicking properties are well documented, and socks made of it last much longer. Simply look at the warranties you get on wool sock brands compared to cotton. At the same time, wool has a tendency to stretch throughout the day. It goes back when washed, but can result in socks that don’t stay up as well, or don’t stay close to your foot.
Cotton on the other hand has its own benefits. It tends to be the most elastic, so you’re much more likely to get a one-to-one fit. It’s also more breathable – not to mention much more affordable. It isn’t a coincidence that professional athletes typically wear cotton socks. Of course, cotton tends to wear much faster and if it gets wet it’ll be wet until you take them off.
All that to say, at least in my mind more wool does not necessarily mean better. I judge a sock on how it actually feels to wear, not what the label tells me.
What do I Look for in a Sock?
While I’m going to try and make all these reviews as objective as possible, I do want to get my preferences out of the way. In the same way that one person prefers support over flexibility in a shoe, each of us will have our own preference for socks.
Personally, when I’m looking at a pair of socks, the most important thing is comfort > how much it impacts the fit of my footwear > durability > water resistance. Just being honest – the last time my socks got truly soaked at a place I couldn’t change socks, I was probably 8 years old.
Darn Tough
Price: $17-35
Why Buy?
Darn Tough socks have a warranty that is the best you’ll find, and have so many options it’s impossible to not have something for everyone.
Why Avoid?
Darn Tough sizing can be extremely inconsistent, and some of the higher-wool blends stretch out during the day.
My Favorite: Lightweight Crew Sock
Pros
I had to start with Darn Tough, because it’s extremely likely everyone else has too. They are the brand that most people think of when they think of quality socks.
It’s easy to see why. This Made-in-America (Vermont specifically) brand creates just about every kind of sock you can imagine. Running socks, casual socks, ski socks, hunting socks. It doesn’t stop there. They have 5 different cushioning levels, 6 sizes, and 8 (!) different heights. It keeps going, they have patterns for the office, fun socks, socks for camo. Honestly, it can be a bit overwhelming.
You also can’t forget the warranty. They have a lifetime warranty on all their products (assuming you bought from an authorized retailer – not Marshalls). Even just for normal wear. I will say, as someone who tried it, shipping to Vermont for most of the country will end up costing nearly as much as another pair on sale. Still, pretty good.
Cons
While Darn Tough is certainly a good place for most people to start, it is not a slam dunk.
The biggest issue for me is the total inconsistency in sizing. Depending on the sock, my size 12 brannock feet fit in everything from M to XL. Annoyingly, unless you’ve owned that specific make up before, you don’t find out until after you’ve opened the pack. I’ve probably given away half the Darn Toughs I’ve ever bought to friends or family after just trying them on.
Another issue that applies to their heavier cushioned socks – but not their light or no cushion – is that they tend to stretch out during the day. This is fairly common on generic wool socks, but others don’t do this. Maybe it’s related to the sizing issues, but I never grab my cushioned Darn Toughs if I’m going to be out for more than a few hours.
Boardroom
Price: $16.50-17.50
Why Buy?
Boardroom socks is one of the most affordable options in its segment, with great core basics to choose from.
Why Avoid?
Boardroom socks’ standard style can stretch a bit (not a problem with the patterned).
My Favorite: Patterned Over the Calf Dress Socks
Pros
If you’re looking for a pure dress sock, it’s hard to suggest anything other than Boardroom. As of when I’m writing this review, I have more Boardroom socks than any other. They are comfortable, stay up, and limit (but don’t entirely stop) the problem of pants sticking to over-the-calf styles.
I will say, while both are great, I find the weave they use for their patterned socks notably more comfortable than their single-color. They claim all of their socks are “medium” thickness, but compared to every other brand I would say the patterned are “thin” and the non-patterned are “very thin.” That isn’t inherently a bad thing, they are dress socks after all. However, given the choice I would recommend patterned.
Additionally, Boardroom is fairly unique in that they offer both cotton or wool socks. As I mentioned in the beginning, there is a time and place for each. Boardroom understands this.
Cons
While I can strongly recommend Boardroom socks, they are not faultless.
The first is sizing. While the size 8-12 fit my size 12 feet perfectly, I’m at the very top of that range. Given that the only other option is a larger fit, I imagine that smaller footed guys won’t have any real choice with Boardroom.
Further, the warranty period is a pretty short 90 days. I understand that expectations need to be lower for dress socks, however longer warranties are becoming the norm for smaller wool sock brands.
Worn
Price: $16-28
Why Buy?
Worn socks offer the closest-to-cotton one to one fit I’ve felt in a wool sock, and have nearly as many heights as bigger brands.
Why Avoid?
Worn socks might have less wool than a wool-purist would want, and Googling the name has a 50/50 chance of showing you someone’s ragged old pair of Fruit of the Looms.
My Favorite: Enhanced Boot
Pros
Worn socks is the closest I’ve seen any brand come to combining the one-to-one fit of cotton with the breathability of wool. Unlike most brands, which typically have between 60-70% wool in their blends, Worn tends to be closer to 50%. This allows the sock to have a lot more stretch in it, and it doesn’t lose its shape throughout the day.
Worn offers 5 different sizes, though I don’t think they need to. The size L fits my size 12 foot in every pair I’ve tried, but with as stretchy as these are I bet I could fit into a M or XL and still be fine.
Worn socks also offers a number of heights, though typically the height and cushion are very corelated. Higher socks almost always mean more cushioning, and lower socks less. If you like cushion but height, you’re out of luck. Still – you can pick from no show, ankle, crew, mid, boot, and over-the-calf options.
Cons
When it comes to Worn there are two things that you should consider. First, while I find the lower wool balance a positive, you do notice that these have less wool when wearing them. They don’t wick sweat quite as well, for example. It’s worth the trade off for me, but if the whole reason you want wool socks is to handle moisture, these might not be for you.
The other thing to be aware of is that Worn socks all tend to carry fairly bright patterns or are stark white / full black. If you’re an office drone who wears business casual or business formal, these will almost certainly stand out more than you would hope.
Camel City Mill
Price: $26-28
Why Buy?
If you need a durable work sock, I’m not sure you’ll be able to find anything that rivals Camel City Mill.
Why Avoid?
Despite the name, the two options are really “heavy” and “extremely heavy” in their socks.
My Favorite: Lightweight Wool Work Sock
Pros
Camel City Mill socks are clearly built to be a pair of socks that will stand up to anything you throw at them. I almost feel bad reviewing them since I know my soft suburban life will never push them to what they are meant to do. There might be a more durable sock brand out there, but I have not tried them.
One of the biggest things that Camel City Mill socks have going for them is the blend. By sticking to a wool blend that is closer to 50%, I find they don’t stretch out during the day. They also use pods of cushioning rather than large pads on either end, which helps make sure these still very thick socks don’t mess with your shoe sizing too much.
They also offer a 10-year warranty on their socks. While not quite as good as Darn Tough, it’s still a really long time for a pair of socks.
Cons
The biggest drawback for Camel City Mill socks that you should be aware of is that they are all very thick. Their lightweight model is only slightly less built up than something like the full-cushion heavyweight model from Darn Tough or Smartwool. I have not tried the heavyweight option, but I would suggest only going there if you really need the extra padding for your job. Even then, you’ll probably need to size up in your boots.
The other thing you should be aware of is the sizing. The boots are extremely stretchy, so it isn’t that it’s easy to mis-size, but they don’t have smaller options. Even the brand themselves state they sell “large” and “extra large.” If you’re on the smaller end of their sizing (maybe a size 9 or less), you might find these fit a bit loose.
Finally, they are not cheap. I think the build quality justifies the price point, but if you just need a basic pair of wool blend socks, there are more affordable options.
Smartwool
Price: $16-40
Why Buy:
Smartwool offers a baffling variety of styles, patterns, blends and more.
Why Avoid:
Smartwool stretches more than any other brand, and sizing is extremely difficult.
My Favorite: Run Low Ankle Socks
Pros
If you’re the type of person who likes to show your personality through your socks, Smartwool might just be the brand for you. They have a ton of patterns and colors for you to sort through. In addition to standard bright or subdued colors, Smartwool has partnered with a number of advocacy groups – such as the Nature Conservatory or Trust for Public Land – to allow you to support a cause.
Their advocacy doesn’t end there. They will sell your old gear for you if it’s still in good shape (sending you a cut of the profit) to save on waste, and will recycle socks of any brand (any material).
Cons
While my wife has several Smartwool running socks she enjoys, I’ve never been able to keep a pair of Smartwool socks long enough to give them an honest pros list myself.
Smartwool socks – at least to me – exemplify all of the potential issues with wool socks. While the offer 4 different sizes to choose from, each and every pair seems to fit differently. Even if the foot fits, the calf can be anywhere from painfully tight to falling down immediately.
If it was just that the sizing was difficult, I could see trying several until one fits like I did with Darn Tough. Unfortunately, Smartwool stretches to an extreme degree throughout the day. It is genuinely uncomfortable as it bunches up around your heel and toe.
I really appreciate the brand’s commitment to the environment, but this is not the brand to fit my particular needs.