Achieving a casual fair-weather look around the ankles can be a tricky thing, especially if you don’t want to smell like you just lost a kicking contest with a swamp. In order to keep your feet smelling fresh in your favorite pair of shoes, you’re going to need the best no show socks for men. As with any garment, there’s no shortage of outstanding options at your disposal. No show socks for men come in all shapes and sizes, and many of them are highly specialized. You’ll want to keep some in your everyday rotation, but also save a little room in your sock drawer for specific pairs like no show compression socks and socks made specifically for breathing and wicking sweat away while running.
By all means, going sockless is an option—but it’s not without its inherent aromatic risks. Your best bet is opting for a carefully curated pair of invisible socks for men that look great, feel great, won’t slip down your ankles, and won’t make any unwanted appearances. As fate would have it, here come 18 of those right now.
1. Best Overall No Show Socks: Bombas Men’s Cushioned No Show Socks
Material: 75% Cotton, 19% Polyester, 5% Spandex, 1% Nylon | Sizes Available: M-XL | Colors Available: Red, White, Yellow, Black, + Bombas. You know them, you love them, and it should be no surprise that—in our sometimes-humble opinion—they make the best no-show socks for men. The seamless toe and the cushioned footbed are nice, but what really matters is that they’re just not going to fall down or bunch up regardless of what you’re doing in them.
2. Best Thick No Show Socks: Pure Athlete Merino Wool Socks
Material: 53% Merino Wool, 36% Polypropylene, 7% Nylon, 4% Spandex | Sizes Available: S-XL | Colors Available: Multiple Options These thick, no show socks for men are made from breathable, sweat-wicking merino wool. They’ve been manufactured with running and an active lifestyle in mind, as evidenced by the blister-reducing padded heel, the seamless toe, and the no-slip cuff.
3. Best Black No Show Socks: Gap No-Show Socks 2-Pack
Material: 87% Cotton, 12% Polyester, 1% Spandex | Sizes Available: One Size | Colors Available: Black, Gray, White, Blue Some of the best socks for men are also the most basic ones. Gap does basics and does them well. Nothing to write home about, but also nothing to ignore—especially in terms of how much mileage you stand to get out of this versatile black pair.
4. Best Compression No Show Socks: Feetures High-Performance Ultra Light o Show
Material: 65% Polyester, 32% Nylon, 3% Spandex | Sizes Available: 6-12 | Colors Available: 7 Options Not all compression socks need to climb up your calves, pitch a tent, and proclaim, “Hi, we’re compression socks.” In fact, some of the best supportive socks are hidden in plain sight like this technical-in-all-the-right-places option from Feetures.
5. Best White No Show Socks: Hanes Men’s Performance No-Show Socks
Material: 56% Polyester, 34% Cotton, 7% Rayon, 2% Spandex, 1% Nylon | Sizes Available: 6-12 | Colors Available: White Consider the basic white no show sock. It’s your foot’s trusty steed. Your everyday go-to for the hot months when it’s all ankle, all day. You don’t need much, but you need them to be comfortable, and you need them to stay on your feet.
6. Best No Show Socks For Loafers: Boardroom Socks No-Show Socks
Material: 74% Merino Wool, 24% Nylon, 2% Spandex | Sizes Available: 7-12 | Colors Available: Beige, Gray, Brown, Black The sockless loafer look is classic, timeless, and exudes effortless cool. Not only that, it’s an appropriate style choice for countless warm-weather occasions. But here’s the rub: warm weather.
7. Best No Show Dress Socks: Bombas Men’s Low-Cut No Show Sock 4-Pack
Material: 65%% Cotton, 34% Polyester, 1% Spandex | Sizes Available: M-XL | Colors Available: White, Tan, Brown, Black, + Pulling off a head-to-toe formal look while flashing naked ankles isn’t a rookie move, but it absolutely can and absolutely should be done. There’s no shortage of men’s dress socks dripping with personality and charm, but that doesn’t necessarily mean you should always be wearing them.
8. Best No Show Socks For Running: Tracksmith Merino No Show
Material: 73% Merino Wool, 26% Polyamide, 1% Elastane | Sizes Available: XS-L | Colors Available: Denim/Gold, White/Berry, Navy/Ivory, White/Gold When it comes to running and all things running gear, Tracksmith obsesses over the details in all the right ways. True to form, every stitch of their Merino No Show socks for men was poured over to maximize comfort and durability during your short and long runs.
9. Best No Show Socks Multipack: NN07’s Three-Pack
Material: 75% Cotton, 14% Polyamide, 6% Polyester, 3% Elastane | Sizes Available: S-XL | Colors Available: White, Navy The key to NN07’s no-show success is its internal heel gumming that creates a pocket for your heel and ensures that these otherwise basic socks stay where they’re supposed to.
10. Best No Show Socks For Golf: Swiftwick Maxus One 3-Pack
Material: 64% Polyester, 33% Nylon, 3% Spandex | Sizes Available: S-XL | Colors Available: Black, White Pretend, if you will, that the beverage cart has no sway over your penchant to care about how your feet feel on the back nine. In general, you want your golf socks to do three things: Breathe well, reduce friction, and not fall into the dark chasm otherwise known as the bottom of your shoes.
11. Best Colorful No Show Socks: MeUndies No Show Sock
Material: 100% Cotton | Sizes Available: S-XL | Colors Available: 67 Options No show socks aren’t supposed to show. So it stands to reason that the color and design don’t matter, right? Not necessarily.
12. Best Winter No Show Socks: Minus 33 Mountain Heritage No Show Wool Socks
Material: 60% Merino Wool, 27% Nylon, 12% Stretch Nylon, 1% Spandex | Sizes Available: S-XL | Colors Available: 7 Options It can be tough finding wool no show socks made with seasonal conditions in mind. The bare ankle look is predominantly a warm-weather one, after all. And while Minus 33’s Mountain Heritage sock will breathe well during the summer, it was made with all seasons in mind.
13. Best Budget No Show Socks: Fruit of the Loom Breathable No Show Active Liner Socks
Material: 98% Polyester, 2% Spandex | Sizes Available: 6-12 | Colors Available: Black At the end of the day, the best no-show socks for men are still just… socks.
14. Best No Show Socks For An Active Lifestyle: Thorlos Experia Techfit
Material: 66% Thorwick Cool Polyester, 18% Polyester, 15% Nylon, 1% Elastic | Sizes Available: S-XL | Colors Available: Blue/White, Green/White, Black/Yellow, White/Gray Thorlos designed their Experia Techfit foot bags with all things outdoor activity in mind.
15. Best Odor-Fighting No-Show Socks: Duluth Trading Company Funk No! Copper No Show Socks
Material: 46% Cupron® Polyester, 33% Nylon, 8% Merino Wool, 8% Acrylic, 3% Polyester, 2% Spandex | Sizes Available: M-XL | Colors Available: Black, Gray, Khaki And now to address the ankle-sized elephant in the room. Smell. Foot odor.
16. Best Designer No Show Socks: Zegna Cotton-Blend Jacquard Socks
Material: 75% Cotton, 25% Polyamide | Sizes Available: EU 39/42, EU 43/46 | Colors Available: Black/Gray Jacquard When you think of invisible socks for men, you naturally associate them with legendary Italian fashion houses, right?
17. Best Organic No Show Socks: Paul Smith Organic Cotton No Show Socks
Material: 75% organic cotton, 22% polyamide, 3% elastane | Sizes Available: One Size Fits Most | Colors Available: Black, Navy, Gray Keep your summer head-to-toe sustainable look going with these organic cotton socks.
18. Best No Show Socks For Sneakers: Stance Cotton No Show Socks
Material: Combed Cotton Blend | Sizes Available: S-XL | Colors Available: 15 Options Generally speaking, if you’re looking for a pair of the best no show socks for men that you can wear with any shoe, the lower the cut, the better. But if you have no intentions of wearing anything other than sneakers, opt for a higher-cut sock and all the bells and whistles that the extra real estate allows for.
What To Look For When Buying The Best No Show Socks For Men
Material
The optimal material for your socks, whether you’re going for dress socks, crew socks, or no show socks, depends mainly on what you’ll be doing in them.
Heel Grip
One of the biggest complaints when it comes to no show socks for men is that they bunch up, leaving a puddle of cotton and aggravation at the bottom of your shoes.
Shoes you’ll be wearing them with
No-show socks are intended to be undetectable under a low-cut shoe, sure, but some shoes ride lower than others.
FAQ
– No-show socks are just that. They’re meant to be invisible under any footwear that’s appropriate for warm weather.
– The best way to fold no-show socks is the way that you’re most comfortable with (and the way that won’t get them lost).
– Many of our picks for the best no-show socks for men feature silicon grips that are incorporated into the heels.
– As a general rule, your socks should match the rest of your outfit. Consider any of the warmer months fair game. Feel free to pair your exposed ankles with anything from sneakers and tapered jeans to loafers and linen pants.