by Not every guy thinks about the socks he is wearing. Most men usually buy a deal 3-for-the-price-of-2 pack of socks, and then they go on with their day. So why is it important to know what type of different socks there are and which ones are the best for you? Is there any difference between those $1 socks and those $10 socks? On these and many other questions, we will be answering today. So in case you want to know what are the best socks for men, keep on reading!
Different Lengths of Socks
If you don’t wear socks around your house, or even worse when you are wearing shoes – you need to stop right now. Socks matter, and so does their material and length. Not only do they keep your feet dry & warm, but they also prevent blisters and can be worn as fashion accessories. So here is a little guide to different types of socks.
1. Ankle Length Socks
Ankle socks are probably the most popular option when it comes to the length of the socks. They are perfect for tennis shoes, sneakers, and any other type of low rise shoe. These socks are mostly made of comfortable material and are meant to keep your feet warm and to make sure you have no blisters. Depending on the material, they can also be looked at as running socks because they are very breathable.
2. Quarter Length Socks
These socks go just a bit above your ankle and work great with low sneakers and boots. You can also wear them when you have long jeans or in general. They give enough coverage and protect your feet from blisters. These are usually worn for professional purposes and are mostly black or white. These are great running socks.
3. Crew Socks
These are the more extended type of socks. Unlike ankle socks, they go very high and are great for winter and outdoor activities. Crew socks are also used as fashion socks these days. You can also often see people running wearing these socks, as well as athletes.
4. Slip-on Socks
These are a fit, no show socks since you can wear them with any shoes and they will not show. These have become very popular as of recently and are an excellent choice for those people who do not like it when their socks show. In case you do not like wearing socks, this is your best option. It will keep your feet from smelling, but they will not be as effective with blisters.
Different Performance Socks
Socks we mentioned above refer to the size of the sock. But there are different socks for various purposes. For instance, you are not going to wear the same socks when going on a hike and when going for a run. Also, in case you have cold feet, you are going to want a specific sock to keep your feet warm. Some people have health issues, and there are even unique socks for that. So here we are going to be talking about different socks for different purposes.
Hiking Socks – the name says it all, socks that are made for hiking. If you love hiking or you are just getting into it, it is essential to have the right pair of socks with you, the best socks. Imagine going on a 3-4 hour long hike to find out you have gotten blisters, or your feet are cold and wet. So first of all, do not be scared off because of the price. Hiker socks are a part of your hiking equipment and are usually pricier than your average sock. When buying hiking socks, these are the materials to look for: wool, silk, spandex, polyester, nylon, and spandex. All of these materials have their advantages and are great for hike socks. Hiking socks are usually the length of crew socks.
Run Socks – yet again, it is obvious what these socks are for. For runners, it is especially important to take care of their feet. Blisters are probably their worst nightmare, and a good pair of socks can prevent them from happening. This athletic sock should be made out of breathable and fast-drying material. Running socks also have padding in them, meaning that unlike your regular socks, they have the left sock and the right sock. If you are willing to pay a bit more, look for compression socks. These socks are usually ankle-length socks.
Socks for Cold Feet – most people’s feet will get cold during winter and when they are not wearing socks. But there are also people whose feet are cold during the whole year, and ordinary socks just won’t cut it for them. Cozy wool socks are a popular option when it comes to cold feet. Woolen socks will keep your feet dry, warm, and are very breathable. But they usually do not fit very well with shoes. So the best socks to keep your feet warm, but that you can still wear are rain boot socks, thermal socks, and microfiber socks. These socks can be any length.
Health Socks – this type of sock is made to help with some health issues. There are healthy socks which you do not have to wear only if you have a health problem. They can help prevent fungi and bacterial growth, which can cause even more problems. There are also diabetic socks because they can prevent diabetic foot wounds. There are also compression socks for varicose veins. All in all, socks can be a lot more than just a part of your accessories.
Different Types of Materials
There isn’t the best material for socks. Every material has its advantages and is suitable for something. You will probably want to have packs of different material socks for comfort, style, support, and best results.
Cotton – this is the most popular choice in any store. Cotton socks are soft and durable; they stretch easily and absorb heat very well. All of this makes cotton socks an excellent choice for every day casual wear. But if you are an athletic type, you will want to avoid cotton socks. They retain heat very well-meaning that your feet will be wet because of the sweat, and that can cause blisters.
Wool – now this is the choice everyone goes for in the store during those winter days. Wool is wrinkle-free, is somewhat stretchable, and it keeps your feet very warm. But your ordinary wool socks are not going to cut it for everyday activities. While they are suitable to be worn around the house, they are not the best option for outside. Merino wool on the other side is made from merino sheep and is the perfect choice for hikers and backpackers.
Spandex, Nylon, Polyester – these materials are usually blended with other materials, and you will most likely never find a sock made entirely out of only one of these materials. These materials add stretch, durability, dryness, while other materials add comfort.
There are a lot of other materials, such as silk, cashmere, or bamboo rayon. But these materials are not very popular and are usually not found in the store very quickly. Be aware that for these materials, you will most likely have to pay a bit more than for a multi-pack that can be found in any local store.
Choosing The Right Size
Because of their stretchy material, you can usually see that one pair of socks is supposed to fit several different shoe sizes. Socks often have various size indicators on them. For instance, 40-44 (European shoe sizes), or M (for medium), or 6 – 8.5 (American shoe size), or even 24-26cm (size shown in cm). This can get somewhat confusing, but it is essential to know your shoe size, and that will make things drastically easier. No matter what socks you are buying, whether it is running socks or crew socks, you always want them to be the same size (or to be compatible) as your shoe size. Wrong sock size can lead do blisters and other types of wounds. So always make sure you are buying the right sock size!
How To Take Care of Your Socks
Let’s say you have spent hours searching for the best pair of socks, you maybe bought several pairs, or you gave a bit extra cash for those fancier ones. Either way, you do not want them to get ruined because of inadequate care. Most of us throw our socks in the washer and are always surprised how come two socks go in, but only one comes out? Well, here are a few tips to prevent that from happening and to keeping your socks in excellent condition.
Tip #1 – Wash them in the washer with cold water and always add a softener. To prevent losing socks, put one sock in another. That way, you will still know how to pair your black or white socks correctly, and you won’t keep losing one sock.
Tip #2 – If you do not want your socks to rip, trim your long nails. It does seem fairly obvious, but a lot of people do not take regular care of their toenails.
Tip #3 – Drying and ironing your socks. Even though most of us are used to putting our clothes in the dryer, you should avoid that with socks. Hang your socks somewhere and let them air dry; this will help with keeping them alive longer. Also, do not ever iron your socks.
Stylish Socks
Socks do have a lot of different purposes. From health socks to running socks. In the 21st century, socks have also become a fashion item, a part of accessories. With stylish socks, you can spice up your style and even make your shoes stand out more. Here are some of our best pick for stylish socks!
1. Crew Socks for Dress Shoes
Dress socks work great with dress shoes. They are the length of crew socks, and they give a bit more style to your everyday look. Why wear simple black socks, when you can make it fun and still professional with these fantastic fun socks? They are making the cut in more and more countries, and are truly becoming a fashion item.
2. Geometric Crew Socks
When we are running, we want our socks to give us arch support and to be darn tough, but in our, every day to day lives, why not make it fun with these geometric socks? They work great with all the shoes and pants. These socks also work with a lot of different styles, the fabric is delicate, and they are cool because they are not plain old black boring socks.
3. Black & White Calf Socks
While only black or only white socks are a bit boring, they can be fun when we combine the colors into a cool design. These socks are fantastic for your every day to day life and can work great with almost all outfits. They give your standard look that extra touch.
4. Super Casual Crew Socks
Best socks are the ones you feel comfortable in. While you can go crazy with your entire outfit, you can always keep it casual. These socks work great with your more laid back outfits and are ultra-comfortable. They will keep your feet warm, dry, and will make sure there are no blisters.
5. Modern Crew Socks
It has become trendy for people to wear socks with popular symbols on them, like these Sponge-bob socks. These socks are very modern and hip. They can work great with your more informal outfits and are probably not suitable for work meetings. Still, socks like these are very stylish and are an excellent match for most people.
6. Best Band Socks
Socks are also a great way to show your love and support towards a band, singer on any other person on the planet! These Rolling Stones socks are stylish, fresh, and also can show to everyone around you what your interests and likes are. Maybe you want to show your support more subtly, so instead of wearing a shirt, you can always rock these fantastic socks!
7. Best Holiday Socks
We all have at least one holiday we wait for all year long. Whether it is Christmas, Valentine’s Day, or Halloween, there are different socks you can wear for your style to compliment the holiday! Why not show your love for the spooky season with some orange socks or your passion for Christmas with amazing red socks? You can spice up your style just by adding a few details! Remember, sometimes less is more.
Having Said All of That,
Socks are more than just some random clothing item we wear under our shoes. They have so many different purposes and are an essential piece of clothing. There isn’t genuinely only one best pair of socks. While some socks offer arch support and are darn tough, other socks are warm and cozy. Running socks and stylish socks are different, and we can’t say that one is better than the other. In the end, the best socks are the ones that work for you. Hopefully, you found tips and tricks in today’s article helpful, and maybe from now on, you will be taking your sock game to the next level!
Feature image from Pinterest
