Men's Apparel | The Very Best Men’s Socks
From cozy cashmere to moisture-wicking merino.
Every day, you put on socks and forget about them — if they’re good. If they’re bad, you can’t help thinking about them. There are so many ways socks can go wrong: when they don’t hug your ankle tightly enough, when they make your feet feel clammy, when they develop heel and toe holes suspiciously fast, or when a single wash cycle shrinks them to the size of a doll’s foot.
To find the very best socks for men, we asked more than 20 stylish people what socks they like to wear for various occasions, and tested several pairs ourselves. Our panel includes clothing and footwear designers, photographers, runners, hikers, cyclists, businesspeople, and stylists. Based on their recommendations, our own testing, and many years of combined Strategist staff experience, the resulting list includes simple and affordable everyday staples, statement-making styles, and even a couple of pairs for those of us who want to make it look like we’re not wearing socks at all.
Read on for the criteria we considered, or use the table of contents to jump ahead to any of our sock superlatives.
Updated on February 4, 2026
