The Very Best Men’s Socks

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Material:59% cotton, 26% acrylic, 12% nylon, 2% spandex, 1% polyester |Thickness:Medium weight |Height:Crew

Uniqlo Colorfulcrew-height socks are available in more than 40 different colors, last for years, and are very affordable at less than $4 a pair. They feel snug but not restrictive, and come highly recommended by ten of our panelists. As a mid-weight cotton-blend crew sock, they can be styled with almost any kind of footwear, ranging from Crocs to dress shoes. Associate editor Jeremy Rellosa has been rotating through five pairs in different colors that show no signs of significant wear after 18 months of (almost) daily use.

Phillip Wong, co-founder and creative director ofHawthorne, appreciates the socks’ medium height and thickness, which make them work for many different outfits and activities. New York City street-style photographerChristopher Fenimoresays they “last hundreds and hundreds of washes before fading or tearing” (Nicolás Lazaro, a community specialist at menswear-resale site Grailed, says he has been wearing some of his Uniqlo socks for “more than a decade now.”)Alexander-Julian Gibbson, a celebrity and editorial stylist atEbonyandGrazia, says he buys new colorful pairs monthly. And photographerPatrick O’Rourkelikes wearing them with blackloafers“so you can catch a glimpse of color on top.”

Material:98% organic cotton 1% nylon, 1% spandex|Thickness:Medium weight|Height:Crew

Maggie’s Organics Classic Crew is like grape jelly to aBirkenstock’speanut butter. These elegant and durable gender-neutral socks are knit and dyed in America using organic cotton and just a touch of spandex and nylon for stretch and structure. They come in a range of colors (including aperfect tie-dye), and despite their soft and cozy hand, they have an unexpected heft of the kind that tends to accompany products made to a higher-than-necessary standard.

Strategist contributorRuby Redstonediscovered the brand’s perfect creamy-white socks after a lengthy online search and raves about their styling: “The wide ribbing makes them look more fashionable than the averagewhite sock, like they could bePrada.” Strategist senior writer Liza Corsillo likes to buy them as a little treat alongside fancy French butter and heirloom tomatoes at the Park Slope Food Co-op. Strategist writer Erin Schwartz is also a fan, noting that “during the winter when I’m feeling grumpy about having to leave the house, remembering I have a clean pair of Maggie’s socks legitimately makes a difference.”

Material:64% cotton, 33% polyester, 2% spandex, 1% nylon |Thickness:Medium weight |Height:Crew

Frequent travelers might be interested to know that these are the socksthe Points Guy(a.k.a. Brian Kelley) wears on his longest hauls. “These breathe, so you don’t overheat, and are great for travel and workouts alike,” Kelley promises. They also have cushioning under the heels and the front part of the foot and a band around the arch that feels snug and helps the socks hold their shape even after multiple washes.

That durability is partly whychef JJ Johnsonowns at least 15 pairs of Nike cushioned crew socks. “They never move for some reason. They don’t shrink,” he says. He primarily wears them to the gym. “I like to have a little sock swag at the gym. When you put them on, you feel like LeBron.”MusicianJimmie Allentold us they’re the only socks he buys. He wears them for everything from playing basketball to fishing to running errands to performing. “The only thing I don’t do is wear them with sandals,” he says.“I’m not that type of person.”

Material:75% cashmere, 23% nylon, 2% spandex |Thickness:Medium weight |Height:Crew

These Italian-made socks from Lorenzo Uomo are knit from a yarn that is made by wrapping ultrafine cashmere threads around a nylon-spandex core. The resulting sock feels every bit as soft as pure cashmere yet is durable enough to be machine-washed. There’s also this dressier100 percent cashmere version, which feels similar to other socks that bigger brands are selling for about $100 a pair. But I preferred the extra stretchiness of the 75 percent version because the fit is a bit more snug, so I don’t have to constantly pull them back over my calves.

Material:77% merino wool, 14% nylon, 7% polyester, 2% spandex |Thickness:Medium weight |Height:Crew

Corridorfounder Dan Snyder recommends American Trench’s subtly styled Supermerino socks when it’s especially cold outside. They’re knit in Pennsylvania from a supremely soft woolen blend that feels closer to $80 cashmere than $30 merino. The terry-looped interior was just enough to keep my toes cozy without getting sweaty during a recent wet and dreary early-spring day. I also appreciated its recessed toe seam, which is completely imperceptible to the touch. The Supermerino comes in ten colors as of this writing, and the subtle tonal variation in the plum-colored pair I tested looks even nicer in person than in the pictures.

For a more athletic style,Victoria Hitchcock, a personal-branding-and-lifestyle consultant, likes American Trench’smerino activity socks, which feature anti-microbial silver for additional odor control. She says it’s a “gorgeous sock” that’s both “old school and hip,” an assessment I can confirm upon trying them on my own two feet.

Material:70% cotton lisle, 30% nylon blend |Thickness:Lightweight |Height:Calf

The Pantherella Danvers is expensive for socks, but you can literally see the difference in quality between these Italian-made, mercerized cotton socks and other similar styles. Even after multiple washes, there was barely a whiff of visible fuzz coming off its surface, forget pilling.StylistBrian Coats prefers its “over-the-calf” fit. “They actually become essential for your circulatory system when you have 25 showroom appointments a day,” he says. His praise is seconded by Fenimore, who told us he has been wearing Pantherella socks for years: “They’re supersoft and thin, so it almost feels like you’re not wearing a sock at all.” I found that this made it much easier to slip into my dress shoes, especially when leaving the house when feet are at their puffiest at the end of a long day.

Grailed’s Lazaro is also a fan ofPantherella’s merino-wool dress socks, which he says have natural breathability and moisture-wicking benefits: “Best of all, they’re hard-wearing enough that I don’t have to worry about deterioration or holes as much as I would with cashmere or other finer fabrics.”

Material:72% cotton, 25% polyamide, 3% elastane |Thickness:Lightweight |Height:Crew

Stylist Jessica Cadmus works with lots of clients who have jobs in finance, and to keep them comfy and looking good, she relies on these cotton-blend dress socks from Hugo Boss. “The socks are durable and the patterns have just the right voice — not too crazy or too loud for a conservative workplace,” she says.

Material:67% merino wool, 30% nylon, 3% spandex|Thickness:Lightweight|Height:Mid-calf

Merino Wool Gear’s Jay Spring recommended the American-made Boardroom Socks for a soft and luxurious sock that’s tougher than most. The reinforced heel and toe improve durability along with comfort. Even so, thin wool dress socks can only be so tough, which is why we recommend using a garment bag for washing.

Boardroom sent senior writer Liza Corsillo a few pairs for her husband, Jacob (who is not normally a dress-socks guy), to test, and he loved that they kept his feet warm but not hot and that they stood up to real wear and tear. His job requires him to be on his feet for hours, and he commutes on his bike every day unless it’s raining. So the fact that these have been able to withstand all that and keep him comfortable was a pleasant surprise, Corsillo says. She also likes that they make his outfits look just a little bit more grown-up and professional.

Material:96% polyester, 4% elastane |Thickness:Medium weight |Height:Ankle

ActorLorenzo Pozzan’sdays vary from filming auditions and reading scripts to traveling for press and red-carpet events, with regular gym sessions and hikes scheduled in. He told us that a key part of his sock strategy is to have a “literal bucket full” of these Reebok ankle socks at home that he wears for the gym and other athletic activities. They are made of stretchy sweat-wicking fabric to help keep your feet comfortable during workouts.

Material:54% cotton, 42% polyester, 4% spandex |Thickness:Lightweight |Height:No-show

When the temperature permits, no-show socks allow sunlight-starved ankles to get some fresh air without risking theblistersandodorthat can come with not wearing socks at all. PublicistJon Salassays he “lives and dies by Uniqlo’s no-show socks,” explaining that “they’re super-comfortable, durable, light, and breathable.” He tries to wear them as close to year-round as possible, which can be hard during New York City winters, but he especially likes them in the summer withsneakersbecause they really stay hidden without falling off his heel. This is because they feature a little rubbery patch at the back of the cuff that keeps them in place where other socks might slip.

Material:63% merino wool, 35% nylon, 2% Lycra spandex |Thickness:Heavyweight |Height:Crew

Darn Tough’s Micro Crew merino hiking Socks are the socks I wear every day unless an outfit calls for something specific (when I wear a dress shoe or loafer, for example). My sweaty feet need all the moisture-management assistance they can get, and these merino-blend hikers from Vermont do a better job than every other sock I’ve tried. They’re dense but not fluffy, so my feet stay warm in the winter, yet don’t get hot in the summer. Even on warmer summer days, I often carry a pair in my bag to slip undermy sandalsin the evening.

Darn Tough socks come with alifetime quality guarantee, and the company really means it. I bought my first pair of its hiking socks around 2014 or so and only recently managed to wear a small hole through the ball of the foot. I sent them back, along with another pair that my cat had chewed a hole through, and received a digital voucher worth the full value of new replacements within a few weeks.

Material:52% US nylon, 44% US wool,4% US Lycra |Thickness:Lightweight |Height:Crew

For a lighter sock that’s still very durable, I find that Farm to Feet’s American Trail Damascus line offers just enough cushion in all the right places to support my feet and wick away sweat without ever feeling restrictive. They’re breathable in the summer and perfectly cozy in the winter, softer and stretchier than the Darn Toughs above — plus slightly more comfortable overall — and they hold up well over time. I’ve been wearing my first few pairs for about a year. I’m not entirely surprised, since its factory is the longtime manufacturer behind Patagonia’s highly regarded socks — which a store salesperson confirmed to me during a recent visit. While Farm to Feet isn’t as well known as Darn Tough for its warranty, it offers a similar100 percent satisfaction guarantee(excluding loss and pet damage).

A taller, more cushioned boot sock can make stiff boots much more bearable. I’d been wearing Darn Tough boot socks under my winter boots long before I learned thatPete Buttigieg couldn’t live without them. “I was on my way to Afghanistan, so I wrote a friend who had already deployed for some advice, and he told me to make sure thesesockswere on my list,” Buttigieg told us back in 2019. He took the advice, but evidently not far enough: “I’d only gotten three pairs of these, and my day always went better when I wore them.”

I haven’t personally tested these socks on the battlefield, but considering they still look brand-new after eight years of use and abuse, I am confident they are a lot tougher than I am. If anything goes wrong, even if it’s entirely your own fault, you can send them back to the company’s factory in Vermont and get a replacement pair for the cost of shipping.

Material:71% merino wool, 21% nylon, 7% polyester, 1% spandex |Thickness:Heavyweight |Height:Crew

For something a little less pricey but still durable, former Strategist newsletter editor Mia Leimkuhler recommends her and her husband’s favorite winter socks: “My husband, Bruce, is really hard on his socks (he wears them around the house and even outdoors to take out recycling), and other wool socks of his show thinning and wear around the ball and heel of the foot, but not People socks.” I did note in my testing that the terry loops are very loose and fluffy, making them a bit too warm for summer use. Still, they’re remarkably affordable for socks knit in America, using thread with over 70 percent merino content.

Material:54% recycled nylon, 41% nylon, 5% elastane |Thickness:Medium weight |Height:Crew

Courier’s HiFi socks are designed for both running and cycling, which is perfect for me as someone who regularly does both — occasionally on the same day. While I’m not confident that the “high-fidelity” cushioning performs any better than a normal running sock, they do feel quite comfortable, are just thick enough to keep my feet from sweating through them, and have held up impressively in the wash over the past seven months. I particularly appreciate that they come in a crew length, since most running-specific socks are no-show, ankle, or quarter-height.

Material:55% merino wool, 29% recycled nylon, 13% nylon, 3% elastane |Thickness:Medium weight |Height:Crew

Wool is a fantastic performance fabric because of its ability to insulate and mitigate moisture. That means it keeps you dry and feels warm on your skin in cold weather and cool in hot weather. That’s why Rellosa recommends these socks from Smartwool, which are blended with nylon for stretch and have padding in the heel and toe for durability. “I’ve used these socks for both slushy winter runs and track sessions in the summer heat, and they’ve kept my feet dry and un-blistered,” he says.

Material:70% merino wool, 21% nylon, 17% polyester, 10% elastane|Thickness:Heavyweight|Height:Calf

Whether they’re wearing them for medical reasons, long-haul flights, or to soothe achy feet while running, most people’s experience of compression socks is that they aren’t very soft or particularly attractive. That’s what makes these merino-wool-blend compression socks from Bombas such a great find. After senior writer Liza Corsillo struggled with too tight (and frankly embarrassing-looking) compression socks during most of her pregnancy, she finally did some more involved searching and purchased a pair of these just in time for a ten-day hospital stay. They are super-stretchy, warm yet breathable, and oh-so-soft. The medium compression mostly feels like a regular hiking sock, but wearing them helped her reduce swelling and improve circulation after her son was born. Now she wears them in cold weather and plans to buy a few more pairs ahead of an upcoming flight to Japan.