Best running socks of 2024, tried and tested

It doesn’t matter how much you love your running shoes, your feet won’t be happy if you’re wearing the wrong running socks. Your socks are the only thing you wear that directly interacts with your shoes, and since those are arguably the most important piece of gear for runners, that makes the humble sock almost as important.

This often-underestimated piece of a runner’s outfit plays an important role in keeping your feet dry and warm (or cool), and preventing blisters or discomfort that could slow you down. To that end, we spent several weeks logging miles in the newest, most innovative and most recommended running socks in order to choose our top picks.

Best no-show running socks: Jogology Medium Cushion No-Show Socks

A good running sock is one you never have to think about, and the Jogology Medium Cushion No-Show Socks fit the bill to a T. They fit like a second skin, and come in three cushion levels (low, medium and high) to cater to runners’ preferences; since I’d never worn the brand before, I opted to test the middle-of-the-road option.

I was happy to discover that these ankle socks are thin enough to wear comfortably with race shoes, but not so thin that they don’t protect my feet from blisters. The company says they’re constructed similar to a running shoe: The heel and midfoot are secure, thanks to a contoured cradle that prevents slippage and a cushioned arch support band, while allowing flexible toe movement. I found the fabric to be soft and slick, but not slippery. And I never felt any excess movement of my foot, whether I was wearing the Nike Invincible 3 daily trainer or the Asics Metaspeed Sky Paris racing shoe.

From a performance tech perspective, these socks have plenty to boast about. They’re crafted using 200-needle machines (the more needles, the better, like thread count on your bedroom sheets) and recycled re-dri yarn. That yarn is sustainable and recycled, and offers?moisture-management capabilities alongside extra durability. The socks are constructed with mesh panels to increase ventilation, and the anatomical shaping helps dial in the fit.

Best quarter-height running socks: Bandit Lite Run Quarter Socks

Bandit, a boutique running brand based in Brooklyn, NY, started with a simple pair of socks. After a few sold-out drops fueled by word of mouth throughout the New York City running scene, the brand branched out into more performance apparel, but they’re still offering stylish yet functional socks for training and racing.

I’ve tried a number of Bandit socks, but my favorite (which I tested for this story) are the Lite Run Quarter Socks. They’re slim but supportive, using a blend of polyester — including Coolmax, a specially engineered type of polyester that consists of fibers that are carefully engineered to wick moisture away from the foot — and spandex, which offers a flexible amount of compression. The fabric is knitted in a honeycomb pattern that vents heat, which also keeps your feet cool and dry.

These are considered race-weight socks, which means the cushioning is minimal. That means they pair extremely well with race day shoes, which tend to fit a little closer to the foot; I raced the Cherry Blossom 10-Mile in the Lite Run Quarter Socks paired with the Asics Metaspeed Sky Paris, and my feet felt great for the entire distance (I even ran a personal best time). On the flip side, I also wore these for a five-mile trail run in the La Sportiva Levante, a high-cushion shoe for technical terrain, and my feet felt equally great while moving around a lot more in the shoe than they would on the road.

Best crew running socks: Bombas Running Calf Socks

Bombas always pops up on “best socks” lists, and for good reason: They’re one of the most comfortable options out there. This calf-high design is no exception, and came highly recommended by a number of people in the running community.

I was a little unsure when I first saw how thick they were, but my misgivings were quickly dispelled during a track workout (I first paired these with the Tyr Valkyrie Elite Carbon Runner). The shaft of the sock didn’t budge, even during my fastest intervals; that’s courtesy of the brand’s Stay-Up Technology, which uses a secure ankle cuff and a blend of tension and elasticity to keep the sock in place without making them feel compressive, as well as Bombas’ signature snug honeycomb knit, which also adds support. That snug feeling continues at the midfoot to bolster the arch, which feels especially nice on longer runs.

These socks definitely skew towards the maximal end of the cushioning spectrum, but strategic zone cushioning puts extra padding under the heels and around the toes while keeping the fabric — a blend of polyester, nylon, cotton and elastane — on the leg and foot a little slimmer. With the extra thickness, I was surprised by how airy and light these felt, even when I wore them with a shoe that generally feels warmer to me (in this case, the Nike Invincible 3); that honeycomb construction along with a blend of yarns provided plenty of airflow ventilation and moisture-wicking tech to keep my feet dry and blister-free.

Best cushioned running socks: OS1st Wicked Comfort Socks

OS1st was another new-to-me sock brand, but they claim to be the fastest-growing sock brand in run specialty, so I had to try them. The company started with a sock designed to address plantar fasciitis (a common running injury), and has since used its patented way of targeting specific areas of the foot with different levels of pressure to build out their sock line.

I tested the Wicked Comfort Socks, which are, in fact, wicked comfortable. If you flip them inside out, you can see the looped yarns that provide that pillowy texture underfoot and around the toes. That padding is made possible by a 200-needle construction and the brand’s high-performance materials, which include Lycra spandex, micro-nylon, nano-bamboo charcoal and merino wool treated with silver-ion for moisture-wicking and antimicrobial purposes.

Comfort aside, I was surprised by how light they felt. OS1st says these socks wick moisture up to five times faster and are two times more durable than their counterparts, and while I can’t vouch for those numbers, I can say my feet stayed dry and cool on a 12-mile long run and during a rainy, muddy trail run. And even though they were the thickest of the no-show ankle socks I tested, I didn’t feel like they took up any more room in my shoe; that extra little bit of padding actually kept my foot from sliding around in the shoe even on steep downhills.

What to consider when shopping for running socks

Materials

The fabric a sock is constructed from will have a direct effect on how you feel as you run, especially in hotter conditions (like that of a running hat). We chose to test socks that use natural materials, like merino wool, or a blend of synthetic materials, like polyester and nylon, to promote moisture wicking and breathability — and, in turn, comfort. Fabric technology can also help prevent blisters, the bane of any runners’ existence.

Design

Moisture-wicking and breathability will boost performance, because they help prevent discomfort and blisters that might slow you down. Many running socks also incorporate an element of compression to support the foot in key areas. The way a sock is designed will promote comfort, too; look for features like seamless toes, contoured heels, ankle cuffs, wide toe boxes and anatomical designs (where each sock is designated for a particular foot).

Comfort

Just like with running shoes, comfort should be the driving factor behind a sock purchase. Some runners prefer quarter or calf-height socks, while others prefer no-show or ankle socks. Some runners prefer a thicker sock for more protection underfoot, while others prefer a super-thin layer. The best sock for you will depend on the type of shoe you wear and how you want your foot to feel in that shoe.

How we tested

We started by polling the running community to see which socks most people were wearing on their runs. Then, we narrowed that list down to running-specific socks, and added a few more options that were highly recommended by other review sites. We also reached out directly to running sock brands for info on their most innovative options as well as their bestselling socks.

After calling in 10 pairs of running socks — keeping fabric technology, comfort, support and other features in mind — we put them to the test. We wore each pair in at least two runs: The first run was done in a daily trainer, and the second was done in a racing shoe. On each run, we paid close attention to the cushioning, support, breathability and moisture-wicking aspects of each sock in order to pick our top recommendations.

Materials

Design

Comfort

Other running socks we tested

Feetures High Performance Ultra Light No-Show Tab Socks

The Feetures High Performance Ultra Light No-Show Tab Socks skim the skin in the best way possible. The seamless design — made from a mix of polyester, nylon and spandex that also uses iWick fibers to wick moisture from the skin — is super comfortable, and has a mesh construction on top of the sock for added breathability. When I wore these for a 2.5-hour trail run, I didn’t have any issues; my feet stayed dry, supported at the arch and blister-free, and I didn’t even experience any rubbing at the back of the heel, thanks to the cushioned cuff. While they’re not quite as slim as the Jogology socks that earned a top spot on our list, the low-profile design (the thinnest cushioning Feetures offers) fits comfortably with daily trainers, racing shoes and trail shoes.

Injinji Run Lightweight No-Show Socks

“Toe socks” sound like something you’d buy for a five-year-old, but this unique design is excellent for blister protection. Injinji socks individually wrap each toe in a blend of nylon, Lycra and CoolMax EcoMade fabric (a polyester fiber) to pull sweat away from the skin and keep your feet dry. I thought the excess fabric between each of my toes might feel weird, but I only noticed it for less than a mile of my first run in them; after that, it felt like every other sock I’ve run in — although my feet did feel less sweaty overall, which bodes well for longer, hotter workouts. I did still experience some friction on the outside of my big toe, near the joint, something I’ve found to be very common with thinner socks, but I liked that the no-show length features a heel tab to protect against chafing and keep the socks from sliding into your shoes.

Swiftwick Aspire 5

Of all the socks we tested, the Swiftwick Aspire 5 were the most supportive. While they’re not medically graded compression socks, they firmly hug not just the arch and contours of your foot, but the shaft also extends five inches up to the calf for a little more support than your average crew sock. That extra bit of snugness also kept the socks from sagging or bunching at any point over a 10-mile run, and — even though tighter socks can sometimes cause some discomfort over the course of longer runs — Swiftwick’s seamless construction avoided any pressure points. While the Aspire 5 have a thin profile and minimal cushioning, they did feel a little warmer and less breathable than similar options I tested — but hydrophobic olefin fibers work with nylon to move moisture away from the skin and allow hot air to pass through the fibers. This is a great option for any runner looking for more support without resorting to a full compression sock.

Darn Tough Quarter Ultra-Lightweight Running Sock

Here’s the main selling point behind any Darn Tough sock: If a hole ever develops, you’ll get a free replacement pair from the Vermont-based company. But the Quarter Ultra-Lightweight Running Sock also uses low-profile, lightweight yarns, which make them a durable and comfortable option. They’re made from a mix of merino wool, which naturally regulates temperature and resists odor, breathable nylon and snug Lycra spandex, so you can wear them for longer without worrying about overheating, stink or sagging cuffs. I put them to the test on a muddy 9-mile trail run in a more minimally cushioned trail shoe (the La Sportiva Cyklon), and could feel the extra cushioning under my feet courtesy of the soft terry loops on the inside of the sock. I also appreciated how the extra inch of cuff protected the back of my heel from chafing.

Stance Performance Crew Socks Ultralight Cushion

These Stance socks were a close second place in the performance crew category. They’re just as lightweight as the Bandit socks, but the performance mesh fabric (made of nylon, polyester, elastane and combed cotton) feels a little more snug and supportive — Stance says the elastic fabric is known for its high tensile strength and abrasion resistance. These do have more technical elements, including an antimicrobial and moisture-wicking wash that’s designed to keep your feet feeling fresh and dry, and a specialty finish that eliminates odor-causing bacteria. Overall, these just felt like a little more sock, which may better serve runners going longer distances — the brand’s Infiknit construction specifically targets high-friction areas like the toes and heels for more durability and a longer lifespan.

Balega Blister Resist Performance Crew

These Balega socks offer some serious cushioning, extending all the way from above the heel to over the toes. Given how thick it felt (it seemed like I could feel every single soft loop underfoot), I thought these would be too much stuffed into a pair of shoes, but I was pleasantly surprised by how comfortable they felt on my first easy 5-miler in them. The temperature stayed below 60 degrees Fahrenheit for all my testing runs, so I didn’t have any issues with overheating and can’t say these felt any different from other more maximally cushioned socks I tried, but the combination of mohair wool — a naturally breathable and moisture-wicking wool — and moisture-wicking fibers is meant to reduce the risk of friction blisters and keep your feet cool and dry. Because of the thickness, though, I’d reserve these for runs in cooler temps.