My sock drawer was absolutely overflowing. While trying to cut down the sheer number of pairs so I could get the drawer to close, I realized how many specialty socks I own. I had them for running, skiing, hiking, and everyday use. It felt out of control. While my ski socks have to be specialized, I started searching for a pair that could perform the other three activities equally well. Here’s what I found.
The Test
- Everyday Use: I wore each of these five socks for two full days and walked a minimum of four miles, either running errands or going to coffee shops for work, in a pair of shoes. I took notes on comfort and style.
- Athletic Movement: I ran for an hour in shoeson a mixture of trails and roads in each pair of socks.I took notes on their interaction with the shoe, how well they wicked, and their overall comfort. I also worked out in each of these socks for one hour at my local YMCA. I kept the exercises relatively standard—mainly stair-stepping, squats, lunges, and box jumpsڴǰ ski season prep. I took notes on overall shoe and foot interaction, wicking, and overall comfort.
- Odor Mitigation: I took a deep whiff of each sock after 48 hours of use and the aforementioned runs and exercises—sans wash.
The Results
Fits Socks Light Hiker($22)
- Fit: 5
- Everyday Use: 5
- Athletic Movement: 5
- Odor Mitigation: 5
The was a clear winner in this test, because they—cough—fit so well. The elastic along the arch coupled with the deep heel cup hugged my feet like an old friend I hadn’t seen for years. That translated into top marks in all of the individual categories. (Odor mitigation was unrelatedbut still superb.) These sockswere a delight to walk around in every day, and the remarkably snug fit meant I could slide them into my tied shoes without them riding up my heels. They also didn’t migrate around on my foot during lunges and box jumps. The design was my favorite of the bunch, adding a little flair to my daily outfit.
Darn Tough Vertex Micro Crew Ultra Light Cushion ($20)
- Fit: 4.5
- Athletic Movement 5
- Everyday Use: 5
- Odor Mitigation: 4
I usually eschew cushioned socks for lightweight ones because my feet are sweaty in normal situations, much less when I’m exercising. Thehas ajust-right amount of cushion in the heel and forefoot to soften the jarring blows of an eight-mile road run or from hitting the ground after a box jump. The rest of the sock is extremely thin—you can see through the thin parts under a light—which delivered excellent breathability for everyday and athletic use. They were knocked out of first place because they didn’t fit as snugly as the Fits and hung onto a bit more odor.
Icebreaker Lifestyle Light Crew ($20)
- Fit: 4
- Everyday Use: 5
- Athletic Movement: 4
- Odor Mitigation: 4
The reinforced heel and toe, plus ample Achilles support, made theperformlike athletic styles. During a 600-foot climb on a five-mile run, I noticedthat these socksmoved around less on my foot than a lot of running-specific socks I’ve tested in the past. Those performance chops and the muted color with mountain graphics made these an excellent daily driver for office environments. Even though I love them, they took third place because thefit was not as tight as the first two. They rode up on my heel and needed to be adjusted when I slipped them into shoes, though the fit was by no means sloppy.
Balega Blister Resist Crew Running Socks ($18)
- Fit: 3.5
- Everyday Use: 3
- Athletic Movement: 4
- Odor Mitigation: 4
The uses mohair and a proprietary synthetic blend to make a damned comfortable sock. Like the pairs above, thesemix fit features along the arch with cushion at high-impact spots like the heel and forefoot. The friction on my feet was minimal during activities, but these socksdid not fit as well as the styles above—they migrated along my heel during stairand hill climbs—and there was more material than I like on a run. Their thickness also meant theyheld onto more moisture than any other sock on thislist.
Feetures Men’s Everyday Atherton Cushion Crew ($20)
- Fit: 3.5
- Everyday Use: 5
- Athletic Movement: 4
- Odor Mitigation: 4
My first note after running in the was, “Whoa! Really runs like an athletic sock.” Like the Icebreakers, these are labeled as everyday socks, but they use compression and cushion in the right places to make a hell of an athletic sock. The nonpadded parts were light enough to dump heat during my gym workout. Theseended up taking last place because the right toe showed wear and tear after two days of use.