5 Of The Best Sock Styles For Men

For some of my friends, if I asked them what style of men’s socks they liked, I would get a very blank look, or maybe the word clean, on a good day! For others, I would probably have to book a table somewhere because this answer is going to take all day! So how many types of socks are there?

Put to music this list may sound like a Chas and Dave record, but here goes. You have men’s no-show socks, men’s sports socks, men’s knee-high socks, men’s ankle socks, men’s tube socks, men’s trainer socks, men’s dress socks and well you get the idea. There are a lot of different styles. This list, by the way, hasn’t even mentioned the types of fabrics, patterns, and yes we all have that friend with the Mickey Mouse socks, but enough about him!

Here are the top 5 best socks styles for men.

1) Men’s No-Show sock style

We’ve all been on a summer holiday where we have worn trainers without socks. By the time the holiday is over, so is your love for those trainers. Quite frankly they would probably end up in quarantine as they are so filthy and smelly that they could probably walk home alone! But we do love the shoe, the ankle and shorts look, it’s a great look. But there is a way to stop the holiday romance with that new pair of trainers, loafers or shoes, and that is to choose a pair of men’s no-show socks.

It says what it does on the tin. The socks do not show at all! As far as the outside world is concerned, you are barefoot and fancy-free inside your footwear. But inside the skin is still on your feet, the smell isn’t causing your partner to consider divorcing you, and you may keep your new footwear beyond the 14 days of your holiday.

The men’s no-show sock style is one that stretches far beyond the holiday as well as you can also get men’s no-show trainer socks for the gym! Yes, you are probably correct in thinking that at some point someone got fed up with Tom not wearing sock’s to the gym and decided to do something about it. Whoever you are, thank you!

2) Men’s Athletic Sock style

These are not under any circumstances to be worn, as a fashion statement! But if you are doing sport, going running or cycling then grab a pair of these and you’ll be grateful you did! The best advantage of ankle-length socks is that they help prevent blisters and keep sweat at bay. They are a must-have item for any sports lovers wardrobe. You can get a men’s athletic sock in many shades but understand when you buy white ones that the lifespan of these socks given the treatment you give them are not going to last long until they are looking a little grey and sad!

Made specially with extra padding and cushions within the materials used, they offer additional comfort and protection when doing sports. But, even though they are very comfortable, they should never, ever be worn with shoes or loafers!

3) Men’s Crew Socks style

Probably the most common men’s sock style there is the men’s crew sock is the stable of nearly all men’s wardrobes. Comfortable, durable and can be worn both with trainers and jeans in the street or at the gym. You will usually find men’s crew socks in massive rows in stores compared to other styles that seem to be more limited in quantity on the shelves.

Men’s crew socks style go up past your ankle and hit right around the mid-to-upper calf. Most men’s crew length socks are made from 100% cotton, although polyester blends and other synthetic materials are increasingly popular. You can find crew socks made from wool or even silk although you may have to shop a little harder to find those. Choosing the right size for a men’s crew sock is important though. Too big and they start sliding down your leg, and you look like Nora Batty! Too small and you could end up with the socks cutting in and affecting your circulation. Too small is more of an issue than droopy socks but if you are going to the trouble of buying a pair of sock’s choose the right size!

Men’s crew socks are the most common length, but crew socks are far from average! This height falls in the middle of the calf and pairs well with any shoe. They’re very comfortable for day-to-day wear.

4) Men’s over the calf socks style

Over the calf socks (OTC) are typically seen as a dressier option over something like crew socks, so they are often made from higher-end fabrics like wool or silk. Compared to men’s crew length socks, the major advantage of men’s over the calf socks is the fact they won’t fall down at all. You will find yourself late at night sliding them down your calves you may even get a little impression on your leg from the pattern.

They hit below your knee, and the round tapered shape of your calf prevents these socks from sagging with every step. An important step when choosing men’s over the calf sock’s is what kind of outfit ad shoes you will be wearing. If you like to wear books like Chelsea boots or desert boots you might want to go thinker wool for extra warmth. If you plan to wear them with Oxfords and suits in the summertime, you will want to choose thin, breathable men’s over the calf socks made from dressier material like lightweight wool, cotton or silk.

5) Men’s mid-calf sock style or Men’s dress socks

Men’s Mid-calf socks are the socks that should be filling up your sock drawer — they’re the workhorse of the modern man’s sock supply.

The mid-calf style is perfect with sneakers, loafers, dress shoes, boots and everything in between. Plus they can be found in just about any colour, pattern, thickness or material you can dream of.

Dress socks are generally knit to either mid-calf or over the calf lengths. As the name implies, mid-calf socks tend to reach approximately halfway up a man’s calf while over the calf socks reach fully above the calf, sitting just below the knee. Mid-calf socks are a bit higher than crew length.

Men’s mid-calf dress socks are generally considered more of a casual dress sock length and the following in menswear for this length is growing as trends have shifted toward more casual attire. Men of all ages are devoted wearers of mid-calf dress socks. Men’s mid-calf length is viewed as a more casual look in men’s hosiery and when viewed on the timeline of menswear, it is the more contemporary look. This is the length to pair with jeans, your Casual Friday attire, a Saturday night out or a trip to the beach.

Men’s mid-calf dress socks, with a shorter length, cover less of your legs and keep you cooler in hotter temperatures. And when it comes to shorts, it’s a bit of a faux pas to pair over the calf socks with shorts. Summer is best enjoyed wearing mid-calf length dress socks.

Conclusion

So you walked with us through the 5 of the best sock styles for men. Did you agree with the choice or was something missed? We do like a lovely toe cover but we thought that just might be a little too much for some people to wrap their head around. Besides, trying to describe a toe cover sock style to people is the equivalent of doing a Mickey Flanagan sketch. The socks aren’t ‘out out’ but the socks are ‘out out’ the end of your foot!

The important thing to remember when buying men’s sock styles is the fit on your feet. You could have the best socks in the world but if they don’t fit correctly you are going to face some problems.

When it comes to men’s socks styles we spend a lot of time at Kindsox.com looking at different styles, fabrics, lengths and comfort. Why this passion for men’s socks? Well, it isn’t about fashion, style or even comfort because it is more important what we do with socks.

On kindsox.com we make and have socks donated to us where they are sold and for every sale, we donate a pair of lovely clean and stylish socks to a homeless person. Socks and underwear are the things that homeless people struggle with more often than food, we know, they told us. Lack of anywhere to clean their socks and underwear they quickly become dangerous for the owner to wear so they are often left with socks.

If you are looking for a new pair of socks why not take a look at Kindsox.com range of socks so and help someone else who is struggling at the moment. If you could see their faces when given something like socks you would be shocked. It certainly isn’t that feeling you get when opening your third present and it is another pair of men’s socks.