Best Running Socks 2022: Nine Pairs Our Testers Keep Coming Back To

Introduction

Do you really need to spend serious money on technical running socks? Not always. But it does pay to find a comfortable, well-made pair that treats your feet kindly, especially if you run longer distances or regularly go past the two and a half hour mark. Your feet are the one thing you have to look after as a runner, and the right socks genuinely help.

We asked our running testers to each pick their favourite pairs, choosing them first and foremost for comfort, and secondly for style. Some are fun, some are featherlight, and a few are built for winter miles. Here are our best running socks.

Why Good Running Socks Matter

A common question is whether you can simply grab a pair of regular socks from the drawer, or buy the cheapest pair available and call it a day. For short, casual runs, a perfectly good pair of running socks can be had for very little. But as mileage builds up, seam-free construction, good cushioning placement and a cuff that stays put start to matter a lot more.

Blister protection, breathability and durability are the threads running through almost every pick below. Style was also a factor: several of these socks have earned compliments from complete strangers.

Incylence Running Socks

Incylence is a German company with a lovely little wolf logo and a huge range of fun designs, from reflective strips to diagonals and polka dots. They come in a nice packaging box, which makes them a good gift option. A crew cut and a lower cut that sits just above the Achilles are available.

At 20 euros they are not the cheapest, but they are very durable. Long-term pairs have shrunk slightly after many washes with no signs of wear at all. They are thin with mild compression around the midfoot and subtle padding on heels and toes, plus a double layer cuff that holds in place. Some versions use 65 percent recycled nylon, and the company also makes ultra light versions aimed at triathletes and racers. Made in Italy or Portugal.

Balega Anti-Blister Crew Running Socks

Balega, a South African start-up, makes these a bit cushier than most. A heel tab sits over the back of the Achilles, the heel cup is soft, thick and deep, there is reinforcement under the arch and a nicely thick toe section.

Despite the extra thickness, they have caused no blister problems at all, and the tab sits really nicely over the top of running shoes so they simply do not fall down. That makes them a strong pick for runners who get hot ankles in high socks but still want coverage on race day. They cost about 15 pounds, and the extra softness gives them an almost impact-resistant feel around heel and toe. The company also runs social projects, including the Lacedi project for disabled and disadvantaged people along the Comrades route and Back on My Feet, which uses running to help homeless people back into the community.

Versus Socks Cutback

A pick for anyone who loves fun socks. The Cutback comes up nicely around the ankle and does not drop down, and these pairs have taken a fair battering in the wash while still going strong. Seamless toe, arch support, loads of fun designs, and good Christmas gift potential.

At 11.99 they sit at the friendly end of the price range, with plenty of stockists in the UK.

Brav Performance Running Socks

Brav is a young Welsh company that wins on both looks and performance. The designs are brilliant, with a huge range of patterns from Rockets to forest-themed trail socks, and these are among the very few items of clothing that have drawn compliments from total strangers.

They are far from just lookers either. Our tester has run marathons, ultras and eight to nine hour runs in them. The fabric blend includes a slightly knitted upper section into the calf, cuffs hold nicely even after heavy use, and one pair covered a large chunk of an 1,800 mile multi-pair rotation and is still going strong. Padding around toes and heel is thick but not overdone, with a lighter panel across the top of the foot, making them comfortable all year round. At 12 pounds a pair, they are very competitively priced for what you get.

Stance Performance Run Crew Mid Cushion

The thickest and most padded socks on this list, and a late convert for a tester who normally prefers thinner socks. The cushioning runs around the top of the toe, most of the way down the foot, into the heel and up around the ankles, which helps prevent rubbing from shoe collars. A seamless toe area leaves nothing to cause friction or blisters.

That padding felt like a luxury soft feel on the foot without overheating it, and two marathons have been raced in these with excellent results. The mid rise up the calf holds in place without pinching or flopping down, and the non-hairy fabric looks set to resist wear for a long time. The one caveat: in really drenched conditions they hold a bit of water, so lighter socks perform better in constant wet.

CEP Reflective Cushioned Mid-Cut Running Socks

Picked first and foremost for supreme comfort over longer miles. They fit nicely, feel super soft, and have padding in exactly the right places in the toe and heel, with cushioning that rises up around the ankle and the Achilles to protect against high shoe collars.

What really makes them stand out heading into the dark winter months is the 360 degree reflectivity woven into the sock, helping you be better seen. CEP also says the wrinkle-free Medi compression stimulates the ankles with a deep sensory effect that increases stability. Whatever the science, they are silky, snug and absolutely refuse to wrinkle or bunch, even on steep descents and tricky terrain. At 19.95 they are a little pricier, but you are paying for the compression and the reflectivity.

Balega Anti-Blister Crew: A Second Take

Balega’s anti-blister crew socks also earned a pick from a second tester, this time specifically for blister-prone runners. They are super cushioned and thick along the bottom of the foot, with generous padding around toe and heel and a gentle arch support that is present without being overly constrictive.

Made from mohair, a natural material designed to wick moisture away from the foot, they have worn extremely well: no shrinking, and no going stiff or hard over time. If blisters are your recurring problem, this is the pair to try.

Runderwear Ultra Light Running Sock

At 12 pounds, these are the socks one tester plans to wear for cross country season. They have breathable zones with lighter see-through panels, are incredibly light at under 20 grams, and fit like a compression sock, coming up just above the ankle. They are snug enough that they take a bit of effort to put on, but that snugness means they would fit inside spikes without budging, and the tester expects water would simply run straight through them with no rubbing.

No problems have been experienced in general running either, though they are not yet proven over marathon distances. A great company and a very specialised, very light sock.

Stance Run Tab Socks

A sock every runner should have in the wardrobe. These are a reliable go-to available in every length and colour, always look cool with funky patterns, and this hidden cut shows only a small tab with a reflective logo above the shoe.

Cushioning sits around the toe and heel with light arch support, made from a nylon blend. Compared with thicker socks on the market they are not super plush, but that is arguably what you want in an everyday running sock. The pair shown has survived about a year of washing with some softening, and Stance remains a trusted, always-reliable choice.

Nike Spark Lightweight Running Crew Socks

At 12.95, these were bought specifically to run a marathon in, chosen for their light weight and the security of a long cuff that would not slip, bunch or slide under the foot on race day. They use a very thin yarn, so they will not last forever, but they are super lightweight and sweat wicking.

They come in a fluoro highlighter yellow, black and white, with reflective details that are a nice bonus for winter wear. As a race day go-to in a long length, they are hard to beat.

Buying Advice

If you are wondering whether to invest, the honest answer is that you do not have to spend big. A perfectly serviceable pair can be had for a pound or two, and several picks here cost around 12 pounds. What you pay more for is durability, better cushioning placement, compression, reflectivity or special fabrics like mohair.

Match the sock to your running: cushioned crew socks for long road miles, ultra light socks for racing and cross country, reflective mid-cuts for dark winter training, and fun patterns for everything else. Above all, find the pair that keeps your feet comfortable past the two hour mark.

Conclusion

These nine pairs are the ones our testers individually loved and returned to time and again. Whether you go for the durable and playful Incylence, the blister-friendly Balega, the versatile Brav or the featherlight Nike Spark, the right sock is the one that gets you through your longest runs comfortably. Happy running.