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Owning a variety of socks is essential in ensuring you have a pair to go with every outfit and activity. It's also important that they're comfortable to wear and will support your feet throughout the day. Trainer socks, or pop socks, are usually shorter and thinner than your average pair, which is great when you don't want your socks to be the star of the show.
These socks work for both women and men, and many popular brands like Nike and Calvin Klein make them for both. We've taken a look at Amazon, ASOS and more to find the best invisible, no-show and ankle-cut trainer socks that really don't slip down! Whether you're focused on looks or you need a comfortable pair for running or walking, we've got you – and your feet – covered.
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Trainer socks may be small, simple items of clothing, but their comfort and their suitability are vital in ensuring you get lots of wear out of them. Socks are something that you probably get through quite a lot of in a week, so you'll want to make sure you're prepared with multiple pairs of comfortable options.
There are a few different materials that can either be used together or separately to create trainer socks with all the qualities they need. Go for a more natural choice with cotton or bamboo, or maybe the cheaper choice of synthetic materials.
Some of the most common materials used to make trainer socks are cotton or a synthetic material like polyester which is designed as a cotton alternative.
Cotton as a fabric is breathable and comfortable, exactly what you want on your feet, but cotton can be more expensive and is often mixed with synthetic materials to make it cheaper, but this in turn can make socks feel less luxurious.
For a different material, and one that has plenty of desirable qualities, look for socks made from bamboo.
Socks made from this fabric, often a form of viscose derived from bamboo, is very soft and breathable, as well as being antibacterial which stops any nasty smells or bacteria from building up.
Socks have to be able to bend and stretch around your feet, both when you're putting them on and while they're on your feet, so it's important that they have some give.
Elastane can provide that, and it doesn't need to be added in huge amounts to give that much-needed stretch – 2 or 3% should suffice.
Wearing socks that are too small will mean they stretch, end up with holes in and and fall down as you walk. Equally, those that are too big will bunch around your feet and could be uncomfortable for different reasons. This is why it's so important to get socks that are right for your feet.
Luckily with socks, unlike with shoes, you have some leeway. Socks often cover a range of sizes, whether that's described in standard UK shoe sizes or in small, medium or large. If the sizing seems unclear, try and find a size guide to see if you can match up the range you need to your feet.
All trainer socks are designed to fit neatly within the boundaries of your shoes, being mostly concealed from view, but even then there is some variation when it comes to cut and how high or low the cuff comes up your foot.
A normal trainer sock cut covers the foot completely and might come up your ankle ever so slightly. It basically covers the same area as your shoes, but the collar might be seen above your footwear unless, of course, you are wearing hi-tops.
Socks like this are less likely to fall down than those which come up lower, preventing the frustration of constantly having to pull them up. This also makes them a good choice for running, walking, or other forms of exercise where you are probably less concerned with how they look.
On the other hand, if you don't want your socks to be at all visible and you're wearing shoes that show more foot, go for a low or very low cut.
These only come partway up the foot and are also known as hidden socks or no-show socks because you can't see them once your shoes are on. The issue with these socks is that they're more likely to fall down, so we recommend checking for features like silicone grips on the heels which are added to combat this.
While there is a range of trainer sock colours you can choose – bright shades included – most do tend to come in more muted tones. This is largely because most wearers want their trainer socks to blend in and ideally match the colour of the shoes they're wearing.
So, before you buy, think about what shoes your going to be wearing with your trainer socks most. If you want them to match but you wear a variety of shoes on a daily basis, think about going for a multipack with a choice of colours, allowing you to pick the colour that most goes with your outfit.
On the whole, trainer socks are super easy to clean and care for, especially those designed to be worn for sports and exercise. Unlike other items of clothing, they don't need any special treatment and can just be thrown straight into the washing machine.
Some pairs might have temperature recommendations that will help to keep your socks in the best condition, and it's worth noting that they may not fare well in the tumble dryer – you don't want your socks shrinking until all you can fit in is your big toe!
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Price | Key features | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Sock Snob Bamboo Breathable Trainer Socks|Pack of 4 | £7.99 Low Mid | Keep Your Feet Cool All Year Round | ||
2 | Snocks No Show Socks | £19.99 High | Comfort Won't Disappear With These Invisible Socks | ||
3 | John Lewis & Partners Organic Cotton Rich Twisted Heel Toe Trainer Sock|Pack of 4 | £12.00 High Mid | Add a Splash of Colour to Your Sock Drawer | ||
4 | Under Armour Unisex Heatgear Trainer Socks | £8.00 Low Mid | Sporty Element Brings a Spring to Your Step | ||
5 | Calvin Klein Retro Logo Liner Socks | £8.00 Low Mid | Affordable Socks From a Luxury Brand |
Thanks to the inclusion of the natural wonder-material bamboo, these socks will do an excellent job of keeping your feet cool, even during the hottest days of the year. They are also excellent at wicking away sweat, stopping the build-up of nasty smells or bacteria.
You have a choice of sizes too, so you're sure to find the one that works perfectly for you. Fortunately, even the presence of bamboo doesn't mean these socks will cost you a fortune – in fact, they are very reasonably priced for a pack of 4.
We love these socks for their ability to disappear from view and the way they're able to balance that with comfort. Made by a passionate start-up company, they are non-slip and, thanks to their hard-wearing nature, you won't start to find holes after just a few wears.
Usually, styles like these can have trouble staying up, but with these socks' extra-large silicone heel pad, they won't slowly slide down your foot throughout the day. And they are truly accessible, covering a huge range of sizes – so much so that they'll work for the ladies too!
Working for both casual days out and trips to the gym, these socks are as versatile as they come. They also make a change from the usual black and white colouring of trainer socks, instead offering an exciting choice of different shades of blue, grey and red.
Cotton is the main material used, and it is organic, therefore ensuring it is of the best quality. To keep this cotton stretchy and comfortable, elastane is also added, and despite the inclusion of natural materials, these socks are robust enough to be machine washed over and over again. Be careful, however, to keep them out of the tumble dryer.
Under Armour might be more known for their sportswear, but they also make clothes that you can wear casually too, including these socks. They keep some of the features that make sports socks so comfortable, like the extra cushioning, so they could be worn for more active pursuits – but they would also be perfect under fashion trainers, too.
While they boast anti-odour technology, these socks don't contain any natural materials so they might be lacking some of the soft and breathable qualities you're looking for. However, they are durable and can be quickly washed in the machine.
Calvin Klein is a recognised brand for making stylish clothes and underwear that also work practically. These socks are the perfect example of that, with their combination of soft cotton and stretchy polyester. And, somewhat surprisingly for such a quality brand, they're not too expensive either.
The only slight downside is that they only come in one universal size, which will limit who is able to wear these socks. Also, they don't have as much cotton as you might hope for in a pair of socks from a brand as high end as Calvin Klein.
And now it's time for our list catering to the ladies. We've taken into account that women have, on average, a slightly smaller foot length and width to help you find the perfect sock for you.
Author: Emma Cramp
No. 1: Sock Snob|Bamboo Breathable Trainer Socks|Pack of 4
No. 2: Snocks|No Show Socks
No. 3: John Lewis & Partners|Organic Cotton Rich Twisted Heel Toe Trainer Sock|Pack of 4
No. 4: Under Armour|Unisex Heatgear Trainer Socks
No. 5: Calvin Klein|Retro Logo Liner Socks
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