Top 10 Crew Socks Reviewed & Rated

We spend most of our lives on our feet, and we tend to think about the comfort of our shoes before we consider the one thing that stands between our feet and the shoes - our socks. A comfortable sock matters just as much as a comfortable shoe does! If you truly want to enjoy a cozy foot environment, you have to choose the right pair of socks. The comfort of the sock is decided by many factors, but mostly the construction, the materials, and the features the sock has.

You have to consider the way your socks are made before everything else. You probably noticed that plenty of athletic socks have seamless construction and very precise stitching. The reason why is very simple. Seams that are thick and bumpy rub against your feet when you walk, creating friction. That friction then creates hot spots or blisters, and they are the complete opposite of comfort. Socks that slide around our footwear spell disaster too, which is why a high-quality sock has to be non-slip. No show socks and ankle socks are the ones who most often slide into your shoes, but crew socks can be guilty of this too. They might not slither all the way into the sneakers, but they can bunch up and create friction. The best measure to prevent this from happening is a tight top band. The top band should hold the sock in place without cutting off your circulation. If the sock has compressive elements, they will help the socks stay in place as well. A tight top band will also keep dirt outside of the socks, so there won't be anything in the socks left to irritate you.

The padding can also affect the level of comfort. Some socks are fully padded, while other socks have strategically placed cushions meant for specific socks. Some socks have no padding at all, and those are best for everyday wear, or for shoes that are already generously padded. The amount of padding you need will depend on the purpose of the sock. If you want to run, the toes and heels are the areas that should have cushions, because they suffer the most from the impact when your foot makes contact with the ground. Hiking socks should be padded even more, and the padding can even extend above the heels to guard your Achilles tendon. If you just want a crew sock to wear indoors, the padding doesn't matter, and you can choose whatever you like. Finally, if you need a pair of crew socks for the gym, try to get socks with little to no padding. When you lift, you need to have a stable, firm surface to support your feet as you drive your heels into the ground, and cushions can disrupt that, resulting in poor form and injuries.

And last but not least, the compression also affects comfort. Compression socks are a very popular clothing item, and they are used by athletes, nurses, pregnant women, and people who suffer from circulation issues. The compression found in socks is usually graduated, meaning that the intensity of the squeezing changes throughout the sock. It's usually the tightest around your arches, offering them support, and it gradually weakens as it nears the toes and the heels. It's also relatively weak around the calves, while the top band remains firm to keep the socks in place. Compression can reduce swelling, fatigue, and muscle vibrations, increasing comfort as a result. It also improves circulation and aids recovery and healing!

Although you don't often think about the way the sock fits, because it's stretchy and flexible, it is something that you need to consider before buying it, especially if the socks are for athletic or medical purposes. Regular socks are usually one size fits all. Although this is very convenient, it's not accurate and it doesn't take different foot shapes into account. A person with average foot size and width can do well with a universal sock, but as soon as you fall out of the average range, and many of us do, this won't work for you. And that's when you need to look into socks of different sizes. Usually, sock manufacturers follow the same chart shoe sizes do, and your shoe size should be equal to your sock size. If you don't know what your shoe size is, there's an easy way to find out. You need to step barefoot on a piece of paper and trace the outline of your feet. Measure the longest and widest points, write down the numbers and compare them to an online size guide. Crew socks go over your ankles and reach your calves, so sometimes you will need to measure your ankle and calf circumference to get the best fit. If you fall between sizes, some brands will tell you to go for the larger size, while others recommend going for the smaller one. This depends on how flexible the socks are, and how much they stretch out when you wear them. The fit is also affected by what the socks are made out of, whether they have compression or not, and by the features, they are adorned with.

Socks can be made out of any material you can think of. The very first socks were actually made out of leather or matter animal fur, and we can hardly imagine wearing leather socks today! Socks are either made out of natural or synthetic materials. The two most popular natural materials are cotton and wool, while polyester, nylon, and elastane are common synthetic options.

Cotton is used to create everyday socks. It comes from the cotton plant, and it's relatively cheap and easy to find. Cotton socks are usually very colorful, as the material absorbs colors very well. Cotton is lightweight and very breathable, making cotton socks excellent for warm weather. But cotton is not very durable, and it cannot wick away moisture, so it's not a good choice for athletic socks. Wool is an excellent choice though. Your first association for wool would probably be warmth. Although wool socks do keep us warm, they can also cool us down. Wool is a miraculous material, with thick strands of hair that trap air pockets. These air pockets either cool you down or warm you up, adapting to the weather and your temperature effectively. Wool can also absorb plenty of moisture, but it beats cotton because it transports that moisture to the upper layers where it can freely evaporate, leaving you dry. Wool is very tough, and it's unlikely a pair of wool socks will tear. But wool is very pricey, especially Merino wool, so don't be surprised when you see socks with wool strands adorned a hefty price tag!

Polyester, elastane, and nylon are all synthetic fibers. They are derived from the same ancestor - plastic. Polyester is a hardy material that is very capable of wicking away moisture, leaving you dry and bacteria-free. Nylon is usually transformed into a mesh, creating breathable layers that let air circulate. And elastane, or spandex, is a super stretchy material that allows your feet to move naturally. Many manufacturers use these materials, but they transform them into highly specialized weaves that create excellent socks. Some brands are eco-friendly, like Rockay, and they use recycled materials, saving the planet from excess plastic. A sock that is made out of a blend of all the materials we mentioned above should be the best choice.

Some socks have some extra features that make them a perfect choice for sports and other activities that do not work well with everyday socks. The most important features of any sock should be moisture-wicking and breathability. Moisture-wicking fibers will keep you dry, while a breathable layer will let the fresh air cool you down, minimizing sweating. Some brands treat their socks to prevent bacteria and sweat buildup, meaning you won't even need to wash the socks so often. Some socks are anti-blister, saving you from the most annoying foot problem. Padding and special top bands are also excellent features, as we discussed in the Comfort section.

Socks are usually very cheap, and you won't have to spend a fortune on a pair. But specialized socks, especially athletic socks, can be expensive. They generally have features that are unique to their construction, and they last much longer than a regular does. All of these aspects rack up their price, but you shouldn't worry about spending too much on them, because their value makes up for their price! Your feet will feel better, and you will have a robust pair that will save you money in the long run.