I used to think all socks were the same — a pack of cotton socks were all-purpose in my eyes. I would pick up a pack from the drugstore and use them for everything. That was until I finally tried dedicated workout socks. These socks help me get through my exercise in ways I couldn’t imagine, including giving me more compression in my arches and increasing overall comfort.
However, not all workout socks are the same. Many are designed for specific exercises like running and cycling. To help you find the best workout socks for your fitness journey, I spoke to experts about what to consider, including fabric compositions, and gathered NBC Select staff-tested options that align with their expert guidance.
Our top picks
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How I picked the best workout socks
Choosing the best workout socks is often based on personal preferences, including design features and materials. However, our experts helped weigh in on key features to be mindful of when shopping. When curating this list, I kept the following in mind:
- Material: One of the main things that make workout socks different from the socks you wear on a daily basis is their composition. Workout socks can include fabrics such as cotton, nylon, polyester, spandex/elastane and wool. Traditional cotton socks tend to soak up moisture, while these fabrics wick away sweat, regulate temperature and offer more stretch. All of the socks below have at least two of these materials.
- Activity: Workout socks are made for various low- and high-impact fitness activities. This list has options for all movements, including specific choices for running, yoga, cycling and more.
- Price: Unlike standard cotton socks you might wear daily, workout socks tend to have a higher price point because of material composition and design elements. My list has individual socks as low as $10 and bundles as high as $52.
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The best workout socks of 2025
Best overall
Feetures make some of our favorite socks, including the Elite Max Cushion pair. I wear them for every activity — running, HIIT classes, strength training — because they make my arches feel more comfortable, thanks to its medium compression. They also offer so much cushioning that it feels like pillows are on my feet. Although they initially feel thick and plush, they are lightweight and breathable, so my feet never feel sweaty after 30+ minutes of constant movement. Plus, I noticed they hold up well even after frequent wear and washes.
Best for high-intensity workouts
Forme’s Ankle Guard socks won an NBC Select Wellness Award for best overall workout socks. NBC Select updates editor Mili Godio tested these socks and loved the support. “These are the perfect socks for all kinds of workouts, whether I’m running on the treadmill or taking a HIIT class,” says Godio. “They’re tighter around the ankles, which gives me a great amount of support when walking or running. The best part is that they’re not restrictive and very breathable, so I can wear them all day.”
Best grip
NBC Select reporter Zoe Malin also tested these NBC Select Wellness Award winners and loves wearing them during her reformer pilates and barre classes. “The material is soft and comfortable against my skin, and even though I’ve washed them dozens of times, they’re still pretty sticky,” she says. “I love the crew length — since they cover my ankles, they rarely slip down.”
Best crew
To run the New York City Marathon, NBC Select editorial director Lauren Swanson chose her Saucony sneakers with these accompanying socks. “I prefer the ankle-height option because they help make me feel more stable when running,” she says. The Saucony is also good at wicking away sweat thanks to the polyester construction and it has decent stretch thanks to the spandex.
Best ribbed
NBC Select SEO editor Nikki Brown loves wearing these socks during her yoga and dumbbell workouts. “The fabric is nice and thick and the design is fun to show off too,” she says. “I can’t wait to wear them in the summer with shorts.” The crew workout socks come in either green or pink stripes and the ribbing holds the socks in place, according to the brand.
Best half-crew length
This pair of half-crew length socks from Set is another favorite of Godio’s, who wears them whenever she goes on long runs or walks. “I’ve looked high and low for crew socks that look good with my running sneakers (obviously in an attempt to be on trend), and these fit the bill,” she says. “They aren’t super long, so they don’t shorten my legs when I wear them, which is a huge problem I have with socks that go above my ankles. Plus, they’re amazing quality — I’ve put them through the wringer in terms of high-intensity workouts, and they’re still as good as new.”
Best no-show
Malin also recommends these no-show socks due to their versatility. “I love these socks because they’re so reliable — I can wear them for running, training and walking. The heel and toe is slightly more cushioned than the other parts of the sock, which is exactly where I need the most support,” she says. “I also appreciate the heel tab, which protects my ankles from rubbing against the back of my shoe and getting blisters. I’ve worn these weekly for about six months and wash them constantly, and they’re still in great shape.”
Best ankle
These Wellness Award winners are another favorite of Malin's, who wears them for any fitness activity because they have enough cushion to support her as she runs and trains. Our testers also love that they are breathable and moisture-wicking, and they never have issues with the socks falling or slipping off their heel as they move around.
Best for cycling
When running outside or cycling in sub-40-degree temperatures, NBC Select reporter Harry Rabinowitz chooses this Swiftwick Pursuit pair. “My hands and feet get cold easily, so I pay special attention to socks and gloves during winter,” he says. “These socks are made with 60% Merino wool, which keeps my feet much warmer than any other material I’ve tried.”
Best for pilates
Experts in our guide to the best Pilates socks suggest these grip socks because they’re durable, snug and support your arches. The ankle socks have slight cushioning, and to prevent any discomfort, they also have a heel tab to protect the Achilles tendon, according to the brand.
Best for running
“These running socks hug my arches just the right amount, which helps reduce swelling when I’m on my long runs,” says Swanson. “Inevitably, my feet will always be sore after 17 miles, but these make a huge difference in the level of comfort I experience.”
Best for yoga
“I love that these socks are toeless and breathable because I overheat easily, so I can wear them without wanting to immediately rip them off,” says Brown, who practices yoga most mornings in her living room. “The grips on the bottom work on a range of yoga mats, in my experience, and they help to keep the sock from sliding around on my foot. I’ve had these socks for years and the grippies are all still in place after being washed over and over.”
Best bundle
“These are by far my favorite workout and lounge socks,” says NBC Select page Ella Morrissey, who loves the Bombas Marl Ankle Socks so much she purchased them in a pack. “They are incredibly comfortable, have the right level of thickness, and don’t get worn down by my shoes when I’m running.” Although this quartet is in women’s sizing, it also comes in men’s sizing.
How to shop for workout socks
To help you determine which workout sock is best, our experts suggest looking at material composition, compression, cushion and more.
Material
You might notice a few different fabric blends in workout socks because certain materials have specific benefits, including sweat-wicking. Below, Preeti Gopinath, an associate professor of textiles at The New School’s Parsons School of Design, breaks down five you may commonly see on a label:
- Cotton: This fabric will soak away sweat. However, it takes longer to evaporate and dry, so your feet might stay wet when wearing 100% cotton.
- Polyester and nylon: These two focus on wicking away moisture and evaporating it quickly so feet stay dry and cool. This is called comfort cooling — the faster the sweat evaporates from your skin, the cooler your feet will feel. These also help improve the socks’ durability because they are made of filament fibers versus cotton, which is made of multiple fibers twisted together where each joint becomes a breaking point. One of the main differences between polyester and nylon is that nylon has a little more stretch.
- Merino wool: Merino wool is a great fabric to consider because it’s soft, can keep your feet warm and resists moisture, which is great for short periods when working out. However, once it soaks up a lot of moisture, it can become heavy and gross.
- Spandex/elastane: Spandex primarily adds a stretch to the socks and is the stretchiest of all fabrics. No matter how much they may spread, they will revert to their original shape.
While the material of your sock may depend on personal preference, it’s also essential to pay attention to how it impacts the overall health of your foot when working out. Socks made 100% out of synthetic materials may increase the risk of infections like athlete’s foot because they may not find the balance of moisture-wicking and breathability, says Dr. Alicia Canzanese, a board-certified podiatrist. Therefore, socks should combine natural and synthetic fabrics to increase the benefits and lower risk, Canzanese says.
Compression
On the sock label, you may see arch support and arch compression; however, they do not mean the same thing or are used interchangeably. Arch compression is an excellent quality in workout socks because it helps with comfortability by increasing blood flow and helps reduce swelling and fluid build-up, according to Canzanese. It can also provide relief from plantar fasciitis, says Dr. Priya Parthasarathy, a board-certified podiatrist. Calf compression socks can help support conditions like shin splints and ankle instability and prevent generalized swelling, according to Parthasarathy.
Cushion
With socks, you don’t want too much of a good thing; instead, you’ll want more balance when it comes to cushioning. Cushioning plays a significant role in comfortability; however, too much cushioning can take up more room in your shoe and can increase the risk of blisters because there’s a risk of more friction with a lack of space, says Canzanese. If you need lots of cushioning for comfort, you’re better off looking for that in your workout sneakers instead of a pair of socks or wearing multiple layers of socks, she says.
Fit
The socks should fit like a glove especially around the arch, says Parthasarathy. You also want the heel area of the sock to align with your foot without the sock itself stretching out. Your feet should not slide around in the socks, nor should your feet feel restricted in them. This helps you avoid blisters, discomfort and injury, according to our experts.
Cut
Workout socks will come in multiple lengths including no show, ankle, crew and quarter. The decision of the cut will likely fall on personal preference and the activity you choose, according to our experts. However, more fabric can provide more protection, says Parthasarathy.
Meet our experts
At NBC Select, we work with experts who have specialized knowledge and authority based on relevant training and/or experience. We also take steps to ensure all expert advice and recommendations are made independently and without undisclosed financial conflicts of interest.
- Preeti Gopinath is an associate professor of textiles at The New School’s Parsons School of Design.
- Dr. Alicia Canzanese is a board-certified podiatrist at Gordon Podiatry in Pennsylvania and is an adjunct faculty member at Temple University.
- Dr. Priya Parthasarathy is a board-certified podiatrist at Foot & Ankle Specialists of the Mid-Atlantic in Silver Spring, Maryland and is the president-elect on the Maryland Podiatric Medical Associations Executive committee.
Why trust NBC Select?
Bianca Alvarez is a former associate reporter at NBC Select who frequently covers beauty and wellness topics. For this story, she interviewed three experts, a textile designer and two podiatrists, and compiled a list of the best workout socks that align with their guidance and recommendations. She also gathered NBC Select staff-favorite socks for all types of workouts, including running, pilates and training.
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