Buyer's Guides

Best Running Socks for 2024 | Fully Tested and Reviewed

From ultralight ankle socks, to protective crew socks. Looking to find the best running socks for you? Here's a round-up of the best performers following our tests.

Make no mistake, choosing the right running sock could make or break a great day on the road or out in the hills. If you’re someone who, quite rightly, invested a lot of money into a decent pair of trail running shoes, then ensuring your feet are wrapped up in an equally high performing pair of running socks is the key to comfort at speed or over long distances.

How to Choose Running Socks

Running socks provide cushioning and comfort. Those are the obvious attributes. But a really goos pair will have other features that make life that bit more comfortable. Expect to find running socks packing features such as support in specific areas and minimal seams to reduce the chance of blisters. Anti-odour treatments are a great feature to look out for to help keep your socks smelling ‘fresh’.

You’ll notice that many of the socks featured in this list are made from a mixture of materials. Some are fully synthetic while some have a high proportion of natural materials. You also tend to see a lot of socks that have a balance of synthetic fibres, wool and elastane. Gone are the days of wearing regular cotton socks while running. This is because, generally speaking, cotton absorbs a large amount of moisture (sweat) and is unable to wick it away from your body.

Going for a lightweight Merino fabric ensures that the socks are able to remain breathable and comfortable, all while giving a good fit around your foot to prevent any unwanted blisters. Nylon or polyester is then blended with the merino yarns to give the sock structure and durability. Lastly, a stretchy material, like elastane, is generally used to give the sock a tight fit that won’t move or bunch, avoiding any dreaded blisters. A high amount of synthetic content tends to make for a sock that’s durable, that wicks moisture well and dries quickly. Odours tend to build up faster, however. With socks with a high wool content, these tend to be warm, soft, breathable and wicking too, but the drying time can be a little slow and the durability might not be so high.

Related: Best Running Shorts

What’s best then? Well, it depends on the scenario. Speak to most of our testers here at Outdoors Magic and they’ll say that they might opt for a sock with a higher synthetic content in summer, to prioritise ventilation and to keep the feet cooler, while in winter they’ll look for something bulkier with a high Merino content, to add that extra bit of warmth.

Will Renwick during some of the sock testing for this round up.

The height of the running sock is important to consider. Crew cut running socks are becoming extremely popular in recent years. Crew cut socks offer a little extra protection around the calves for when your route exposes you to a bramble bush or two or to guard you when your foot accidentally clips your calf. Conversely, if you’re running in an extremely warm climate, then you may prefer the increased breathability of an ankle sock – or a sock that goes below the collar of the shoe.

Our Team’s Verdict on the Best Running Socks for 2024

Here are the pairs of running socks that impressed us the most following our tests out on roads and trails. All of the pairs featured here are available in men’s, women’s or unisex models. If you’re looking for more equipment for your running adventures, you’ll also find in-depth guides from us on the best running gloves, running packs and running jackets.

Best Overall Running Sock 2024: Hilly Marathon Fresh Socklet
Runner Up and Best Trail Running Sock: Arc’teryx Mid Crew Synthetic
Best Socks for Long Runs: Inov-8 Active Mid
Best Toe Socks for Running: Injinji Ultra Run No-Show
Best Merino Running Sock: Smartwool Run Cold Weather Targeted

Why You Should Trust Us

My name’s Will Renwick, I’m the editor of this site and I compiled this guide and carried out all of the testing. I’ve been writing about running gear for over 10 years now, with contributions to the likes of Running Magazine, Outdoor Fitness, the Running Channel and more. I love long distance running – especially multi-day stuff – and some of my exploits on the trail have been featured on the BBC, in the Guardian and Evening Standard. I initially drew up a long-list by selecting brands that have a strong reputation within the running world while also researching new up and coming running brands that are creating a buzz. My testing was then mainly on trails and roads – not track – where I put at least 30 miles into each pair through a variety of conditions. After my tests, I then picked out the standout performers, and they are as follows…

1. Hilly Marathon Fresh Socklet

Best Running Socks Overall following our tests

Price: £15
Available lengths: Socklet min, anklet min, anklet med
What we liked: Anti-odour, comfortable

Out of all the socks tested, these were the ones that we found to be the best for handling smelly feet and they also got our pick as the best breathable running socks. One factor that makes them so great for preventing odours from building up is their embedded Polygiene odour-control. It’s a long-lasting, skin-friendly technology that stops smell-causing bacteria from building up and spreading.

These socks feel comfortable to wear, mainly thanks to the slightly padded knit and soft weave. It’s not ultra cushioned throughout but most runners will find that there’s just enough padding in the right areas. We particularly like the top padded cuff which we just adds a touch of extra cushioning against the collar of your shoes.

Materials: 97% Polyamide, 3% Elastane / Cushioning: medium / Breathability: very good / Wicking ability and drying speed: very good

Buy the Hilly Marathon Fresh: £15 at Runnersneed.com

2. Arc’teryx Mid Crew Synthetic

The runner up – a close second following our tests

Price: £22
Available lengths: Low, mid, calf
What we liked: Long lasting, breathable, fast drying

These are primarily designed with mountain running in mind but we’ve actually found them to be versatile enough to use for all kinds of stuff. Our testing period with them has lasted over a year and they’ve been used for everything from day hiking and backpacking through to cycling and trail running. They’ve served as a useful day-to-day sock too – we’ve had them in the black colour which fits in just as well with a pair of suit trousers as it does with a pair of hiking shorts.

They’ve held up remarkably well after that year of testing and feel – and smell – just about good as new. They still have that nice stretchy and comfortable fit and never slide down the ankle. There’s been no wear and tear or bobbling either. These are fully synthetic and therefore they wick moisture well and dry very quickly. We found that smells do build up fairly quickly, however, and that’s the main downside to them. Here’s hoping that, with the next iteration, Arc’teryx teams up with a brand like Polygiene to add anti-odour defences to their fibres.

They’re on the thin side and there’s not really any pronounced padding. As such, they’re socks that are very breathable and cool to wear in hot conditions but not necessarily a great option if you’re looking for cold weather warmth.

Materials: 71% Polyester, 26% Nylon, 3% Elastane / Cushioning: low / Breathability: high / Wicking ability and drying speed: very good.

Buy the Arc’teryx Mid Crew: £22 at Arcteryx.com

3. Inov-8 Active Mid Sock

Best Socks for Long Runs

Price: £10
Available lengths: Low, mid and high
What we liked: Good balance of protection and breathability

Inov-8 are real running specialists. Based in the Lake District, the home of the fell running, their main speciality lies in trail running footwear and they make their products – including their socks – with long distances in mind. This pair of socks from them feature a smart ribbed design on the top of the foot which provides protection and ventilation. Underfoot, there are padded panels at the toes and heel for cushioning. The materials they’ve used are high wicking and durable and are sourced from recycled materials. These socks are all-rounders but they’ll serve ultra runners particularly well.

Materials: 97% Recycled Polyamide, 3% Elastane / Cushioning: good / Breathability: high / Wicking ability and drying speed: good

Buy the Inov-8 Active Mid: £9 at Decathlon.co.uk

4. Injinji Ultra Run No-Show

Best Toe Socks for Running

Price: £14
Available lengths: No-show, mini crew, crew
What we liked: Anti-blister design, breathable

As you can see, these socks are slightly different compared to the other socks in this round up, most notably at the toes. The thinking behind their little toe ports is that this kind of design minimises skin on skin contact and therefore reduces the risk of blisters. From our experience running in these socks, we’d say that there might be something in this. We didn’t experience any blisters running in them and a look at other reviews people have written would suggest that they’ve spared a lot of other runners from any nasty rubbing too. The only downside with these socks is that they can be quite fiddly to get on. If you’re not precise enough, you can end up with two toes together and you often have to fiddle to pull the toe fabric ends out before sticking the socks on. There’s definitely a bit of a knack to it.

Looking beyond the toes, these have a useful construction, including loads of terry looping across the base of the sock that adds heaps of padding, then a thin, breathable mesh up top that brings ventilation to proceedings. The fabric, which is a synthetic blend, feels durable and abrasion resistant and it’s quick drying and moisture wicking too. Unfortunately there appears to be no anti-odour control, so we found that smell can build up in the fibres and regular washing was required.

Materials: 33% CoolMax® 64% Nylon, 3% Lycra / Cushioning: medium / Breathability: medium / Wicking ability and drying speed: good

Buy the men’s Injinji Ultra Run: £14.16 at Amazon.co.uk
Buy the women’s version: £11.16 at Alpinetrek.co.uk

5. Smartwool Run Cold Weather Targeted Cushion Mid Crew

Best Merino Running Sock

Price: £16
Available lengths: Low, ankle and mid crew
What we liked: Good quality materials and construction, excellent odour control

Smartwool are real experts when it comes to the design and manufacture of Merino wool garments and these socks are a case in point. The Run Targeted Cushion, has a fairly high Merino content that makes them very comfortable to wear and able to cope with all the demands of running.

In our tests, odours were kept under control after multiple runs and moisture was wicked away quickly to make for a quick drying time. We particularly liked the amount of arch support these provided and the well-designed toe box which didn’t cause any niggles or friction.

The high merino content and thick weave makes these a warm pair of socks best suited to winter running. If you tend to get cold at your extremities even in autumn and spring, this might be a good pair of socks to consider.

Materials: 55% Merino Wool, 13% Nylon, 29% Recycled Nylon, 3% Elastane / Cushioning: medium / Breathability: medium / Wicking ability and drying speed: good

Buy the men’s Smartwool Run Cold: £23 at Amazon.co.uk

Best of the Rest

6. Bridgedale UItra Light T2 Merino Sport ¾ Crew

Price: £19
Available lengths: Low, ¾ crew, crew
What we liked: Warm, comfortable

These socks have a high Merino content and we found this makes them well suited to runs in colder conditions. They’re quite thick for a pair of running socks and there’s quite a lot of cushioning underfoot and on the back of the heel.

While their warmth is their big strong point, the downside to them is that they’re very slow drying. In our tests, we found that they were good at wicking away moisture from sweat, but if the sock got saturated, whether that was by stepping in a puddle or from heavy rainfall, it seemed to stay saturated.

So, if you’re running in cold but dry conditions then these are great. But if there’s moisture around we’d recommend looking for something with perhaps a higher proportion of synthetic materials.

Materials: 18% Merino Wool, 18% Polypropylene, 62% Nylon, 2% Lycra / Cushioning: medium / Breathability: quite low / Wicking ability and drying speed: not great

Buy the men’s Bridgedale Ultralight T2: £14.30 at Amazon.co.uk
Buy the women’s version: £17.50 at Bridgedale.com

7. Rockay Razer

Price: £18.50
Available lengths: Crew
What we liked: Sustainably made, breathable

There’s quite a lot to like about Rockay’s offering to the trail running market. First of all, these socks are made from 100% recycled materials. The sock consists of 51% Econyl Regenerated Nylon, 45% Recycled Polyamide, and 4% Recycled Elastane.

Secondly, the Razer Trail Running Socks come with the Rockay Blister-Free Guarantee, meaning that the good folk at Rockay will offer you a refund, or send you a new pair of socks, if you develop a blister while using these socks.

Finally, for every pair of socks sold, Rockay have committed themselves to removing 125g (13 bottles) of plastic trash from the ocean. So while the £18.50 price tag might initially look steep, there’s a lot going on with these socks that, to us, looks like money well spent.

Read our full Rockay Razer Trail Running Socks review.

Materials: 51% Econyl Regenerated Nylon, 45% Recycled Polyamide, 4% Recycled Elastane / Cushioning: low / Breathability: high / Wicking ability and drying speed: very good

Buy the Rockay Razer: £20 Rockay.com

8. Darn Tough Run Micro Crew Ultra-Lightweight

Price: £21
Available lengths: Short, crew, 3/4
What we liked: Hard wearing, breathable

We’re big fans of Darn Tough hiking socks here at Outdoors Magic. We featured their Kelso Micro Crew Light in our Outdoor 100 product guide and, rather unsurprisingly, their running socks make our top pick of trail running socks.

The Darn Tough Run Micro Crew Ultra-Lightweight uses a combination of 51% nylon, 44% merino wool, and 5% lycra spandex. The merino wool brings comforting breathability to the party, as well as quick-drying and stink-fighting properties.

Hard wearing nylon has been brought in to add durability. Finally, the little bit of lycra helps with the stretch to ensure there’s no slipping, no bunching, and therefore, no blisters.

Materials: 51% Nylon, 44% Merino Wool, 5% Lycra Spandex / Cushioning: low / Breathability: high / Wicking ability and drying speed: good.

Buy the men’s Darn Tough Run Micro Crew: £22 at Alpinetrek.co.uk
Buy the women’s version: £19.80 at Trekitt.co.uk

9. BV Sport STX+

Price: €13
Available lengths: Low, mid, ankle
What we liked: Lots of cushioning, innovative design

These socks, and the brand itself, hadn’t been on our radar until they were handed to us in the welcome pack at a trail race in France. They’ve since risen up to become a firm favourite, offering just about everything you’d want from a running sock, including generous padding at the heel and toes, niggle free seams and an upper half with a touch of venting

What’s pretty unique about these is that they have a flap of material at the back of the heel. This can be folded down to add extra padding or you can lift it up and out of the shoe to drape it over the top of the collar, thus adding a little shield from dirt and debris. We’re not sure this makes a world of difference but it’s no intrusion either.

Expect a mid level of thickness and warmth. We found they were well suited to runs in cold and wet conditions. We haven’t tried them in summer yet but we’d expect them to run pretty hot. The drying time also is on the slow-ish side due to the thickness of the weave in places.

Materials: 77% Polyamide – 21% Polyester – 2% Elastane / Cushioning: medium / Breathability: medium / Wicking ability and drying speed: OK

Buy the BV Sport XTS+: €13 at BVsports.com

10. Balega Blister Resist Quarter Socks

Price: £17
Available lengths: Low, crew
What we liked: Versatile, moisture wicking

These running socks by twenty-year-old running sock manufacturers Balega are designed to keep feet cool in the summer and warm in the winter. They’re made from a blend of materials: a synthetic that Balega call Drynamix and a wool called Mohair. One of the oldest textile fibres in use, Mohair is a durable and resilient wool that’s derived from the hair of the Angora goat. It’s known for being warm in winter, due to its insulating properties, and also moisture wicking enough to create a cooling effect in summer.

Socks with a high wool content can often be quite heavy and thick-feeling, but that’s not the case with the Balega Resist socks. They feel light and breathable. There’s also a nice bit of padding under the heel and around the toes and that not only adds comfort but it seems to help to prevent blisters too.

With the cushioning and strong arch support you get from these, we’d say they’re a great pair to wear on longer runs.

Materials: 40% Polyamide, 28% Drynamix, 27% Mohair, 3% Microfibre, 2% Elastane / Cushioning: quite high / Breathability: good / Wicking ability and drying speed: good

Buy the Balega Blister Resist: £15 at Amazon.co.uk

How to Choose a Pair of Running Socks

Running socks are an easy part of your running kit to overlook but it’s very important to put some thought into the ones you choose. Doing so will greatly help your running experience. We’d even go so far as saying they’ll make you a better runner, because to improve at running you need to enjoy the process and to enjoy the process you need to feel comfortable.

When choosing running socks, you don’t just need a good pair, you need a good pair for you. That means choosing the right style, materials and construction to suit your personal preferences and the usage you’ll be putting the socks through.

Things to think about include the types of surfaces you normally run on, the distances you tend to run and the typical temperature and weather conditions.

What to Avoid When Buying Running Socks

There are some big things to avoid when choosing running socks. Cotton is a big no-no. It’s a material that tends to absorb and hold moisture making for very slow drying times and the risk of your feet getting cold, blistered and unhygienic.

You also want to avoid socks that have pronounced seams as they can rub and cause skin irritation. Ideally, you want socks that have minimal seams and, when they are present, they should be almost invisible or strategically located so as to avoid chaffing.

The Best Materials for Running Socks

Most socks are made from a blend of materials, usually involving synthetics like nylon or polyester, wool – more often than not, Merino – and an elastane that creates the shape and springy feel.

If you want your feet to stay cool when you’re running then a pair of socks with a fully synthetic blend will be your best bet. This type of sock will be hardwearing, moisture wicking, quick drying and it will bring lower levels of insulation than a sock with wool content.

This sock from Rohan has a seam that’s carefully located in order to prevent rubbing.

Wool socks, on the other hand, are excellent for cold weather running or simply for people who tend to get cold at their extremities. Merino wool is world renowned for its insulating qualities and its lovely soft feel and it’s a truly excellent material for running socks. Any pair of socks with a Merino content over 50% will be comfortable, moisture wicking, warm and, because wool is anti-microbial, they’ll handle odour well.

Construction

It should go without saying that thin socks are going to be cooler than thick socks. They’ll also be less cushioning and padded. As such, you’ll tend to see short distance runners wearing very thin and light socks, while ultra distance runners might opt for socks that are slightly more cushioned. If you notice your feet feeling sore in certain points after a run, you might want to look for socks that have padding in that specific location.

If you’re prone to blisters, you might want to consider socks that are double-walled. Brands such as 1000 Miles and Wrightsocks opt for this type of construction. Their socks come with an inner and outer layer of material which means that any rubbing that occurs causes friction between the sock material, rather than against your skin.

This pair from 1000 Mile shows a sock with extra padding at the achilles and underfoot.

It’s worth looking closely at a sock when you’re shopping around. These days, sock manufacturers deploy clever zoned weaves at different parts of the foot. For instance, our Best Buy pair of socks in this review has a thin weave at the top of the foot with small air channels to allow hot air to escape, while under the foot, the weave is denser to create extra padding.

Length

Socks come in various lengths to cater to different preferences and practical needs. Ankle socks typically cover the foot up to the ankle bone, providing a minimalist and breathable option suitable for casual and athletic activities. Crew socks extend higher, covering the ankle and part of the calf, offering more warmth and support, making them versatile for both casual and sportswear. Then there are mid or micro crew socks which fall between ankle socks and traditional crew socks. They typically cover the foot and reach slightly above the ankle, providing a compromise between the minimalism of ankle socks and the additional coverage offered by crew socks.

This sock has special channels to create air flow.

Deciding between crew, mid/micro crew, running socks depends on the kind of running you intend to do. Lower cut socks will allow for more air circulation so are generally preferable when running indoors or in warm conditions outdoors. On the other hand, long running socks will keep you warmer in the cold months. The best socks for trail running also tend to be longer as they can help protect your legs from sharp vegetation.

Anti-Odour Treatments

We mentioned that wool socks have natural anti-microbial properties that prevent odours from building up. If you prefer socks without wool but still want odour control, look for socks that contain a special treatment designed to prevent the growth of smell-inducing bacteria. In many cases, brands will partner with a company called Polygiene that specialises in such a treatment. Some brands also have their own technologies designed for the same purpose.