What makes a quality sock

When your goal is to create the best socks, you must first understand what makes the best socks. To answer that question, we look at the reasons we wear socks and what we need from them.

It comes down to comfort and style; though part of fashion, like most items of clothing socks are also functional. We wear socks because they give us comfort - they provide a soft layer between our shoes and our feet, and they keep our feet comfortable (dry, warm, fresh, not too hot and not too cold). Every step you take is either enhanced or diminished by the quality of your socks. What makes a sock right for your feet is the fit, the knit and the material.

Since we are wearing socks, we want those socks to last long and to look good. Meaning matching or even enhancing your outfit, but also simply without holes or other defects. Some people think this does not matter much, with socks being tucked away in your shoes and hidden by other items of clothing. Those people often change their minds quite quickly at airport security checks or when entering shoeless homes and venues, or as they sit uncomfortably in their shoes during long-haul flights.

Being particular about your socks doesn’t just add to the comfort, a good-looking pair of socks can improve your look exponentially. If nothing else, it shows you care about the details. So then, how to tell a quality sock from an inferior one.

You get what you pay for.
Price is an obvious measure, but not always an accurate one. While it is hard to make quality socks at cut-throat prices, it is possible to price up inferior socks. Companies that spend more time and money on marketing their products than on the materials and craftsmanship still have high costs to cover. In effect, you’re paying for advertising and not quality. As a rule of thumb, unless there are sales on, don’t expect too much from a cheap pair of socks.

Find out what it’s made from...
Check the material. Unless you’re heading for Mars or the Mariana Trench, i.e. in need of very specific performance clothing, when it comes to materials for socks the more natural, the better. In most cases, synthetic fibres are used because they are cheaper. A small amount of nylon or polyester can add to the durability of a garment, but when used in larger quantities, it is usually for cost reasons and not for performance reasons.

Natural fabrics are generally more comfortable and have beneficial properties that synthetic materials often lack, like wicking away moisture to keep your feet dry (wool, linen, hemp), thermal insulation (wool, silk), soft to touch (cotton, silk), breathability (cotton) and odour repellence (wool, linen, hemp).

And even within the same material, there are quality differences. We work with long fibres and thicker yarn to create strong, durable socks that don’t need a lot of synthetic material (e.g. nylon, polyester) for longevity.

For outstanding comfort, look for socks with a high percentage of natural materials - they’ll feel better, perform better and often look better for longer.

...and how it’s made.
This can be very hard to tell if you’re not familiar with various manufacturing methods, however it is worth mentioning here as it does make a difference. Modern manufacturing is fast and cost-efficient. Thin yarn is used to facilitate the process and keep production output as high as possible. Garments come out fast and affordably. They also feel flimsier and come undone easier.

Our socks are knit on vintage knitting machines that have been passed on from generation to generation. They use thicker thread to create a low gauge sock that lasts longer, provides more cushioning comfort and is more breathable. As these machines are rare, as is the skilled labor that they require, modern mass-production is no longer able to create these kinds of socks.

Check the shape.
The heel is an important part of the sock, and a structurally tricky one. For that reason, it is another good indicator of sock quality. A deep, L-shaped heel will fit better around your foot and will stay in place better (no bunching at the back), compared to a flatter (straighter) sock. It also prevents blisters and increases the longevity of your socks, as it reduces wear and tear caused by friction due to movement of the sock. Creating a deep heel with as close to a 90º angle as possible takes extra time is time consuming, and many sock makers forego this in favour of manufacturing speed, resulting in sometimes almost straight socks. Lay your sock flat to see how angled it is.

Check the shape again.
Shape retention is a good tell of quality, however it’s one that you won’t find out until you’ve been wearing your socks for a while. The shape and fit of our socks doesn’t come from elastane, which wears quickly and loses its elasticity, leading to an out-of-shape sock. Instead we rely on the design (specifically the deep heel), and the natural elasticity provided by the low gauge knit and the ribbed finish of the socks to create a close, snug fit, that returns to its shape after every wash. The benefit of this is that we use less synthetic materials, and our socks keep their shape better than more heavily synthetic-based socks.

One size fits all.
Fit is as important when it comes to socks as it is for every other item of clothing you wear. While some might claim that their ‘one size fits all’, this usually isn’t actually the case. Too loose and your socks will bundle in your shoe creating an uncomfortable situation with all sorts of chafing and blistering. Too small and you’ll end up with a very tight fit which would feel very restrictive and could hamper blood flow, even if they are super stretchy.

Wash less, wear more.
Your standard issue, mass produced thin cotton-polyester socks might need to be washed after every wear, however when it comes to low gauge quality socks you’ll find this isn’t as necessary. Thanks to the breathability of our socks, due to their low gauge knit, combined with their material properties (they wick away moisture and are anti-bacterial), our socks do not need to be washed after every wear. This not only saves washing cycles, it also increases the longevity of your socks by not over-exposing them to detergents. Simply air them out overnight and they’ll be good to go.

To sum up, a good quality sock uses a high percentage of natural materials and is constructed with your feet in mind, giving you more comfort, a great fit and a long-lasting sock.