How Did I Come Up With My List?
Some of these socks we’ve tested ourselves. Some of these socks come from extensive research and talking to folks in the field. Want to find a good pair of socks? Ask a paramedic next time you see one snagging a burger on their break.
We’ve combined hours of web research, recommendations from people who work hard jobs and need great socks, and our own experiences with these brands over the years to bring you the most comprehensive breakdown of the best boot socks.
Different situations call for distinct features—a firefighter is going to prioritize different things than a hiker would. So we’ve broken our top choices into categories to make choosing the right pair for you as easy as possible.
My Recommendations
Best for Work: Camel City Mill Lightweight
Camel City Mill specializes only in work socks and their dedication shows.
I did a deep dive into the best work boot socks for men and the Camel City Mill Lightweight every day sock came out on top.
They hit all the marks: they’re tough, supportive, comfortable, and help keep your feet from sweating in your boots.
They’re made with 53% Merino wool so they insulate well in the winter and keep your feet cool in the summer.
What I Like
Merino wool blend helps wick sweat away from the foot.
Full cushion padding in the heel and toe reduces the likelihood you’ll develop blisters.
Camel City Mill build their socks specifically for workers, so the design is meant to help improve blood flow and reduce recovery time.
What I Don’t Like
They’re pretty expensive compared to other sock brands, so it’s important that you’re quality-focused.
What Other Reviewers Say
Reviewers seem to like how these Camel City Mill socks stay up even after 12 hours of wear. Darn Tough socks are a common comparison, but for work purposes, these are the top dog.
The Verdict
Working a 12 hour shift can take it out of you. And if you’ve ever ended a workday with sweaty, sticky, tired feet, then you know how bad things can get. That’s why I like the Camel City Mill Lightweight work sock.
With the high percentage Merino wool blend, you get sweat wicking. With compression through the calf you get better recovery after a long shift. And they’re backed with a 10-year guarantee, which is tough to beat.
Made in the USA from Merino wool, these work socks really are something else in terms of quality. They feature compression through the arch and calf which helps your feet recover after a long day. Plus, because they're Merino wool, they're breathable and help reduce foot sweat.
Best Military Boot Sock: FoxRiver Mid-Calf Wick Dry
If you’re a service member, there’s a good chance you’ve heard of FoxRiver. Their Mid-Calf Wick Dry landed as the overall champion of our guide to the best military boot socks.
Why?
If you’ve ever stepped into Army barracks, you’re familiar with the smell. With so many marches and exercises through mud and tough terrain, a pair of odor resistant socks makes everyone’s life easier.
Beyond that, FoxRiver uses high quality technical fabrics that reduce foot sweat so you don’t need to worry about getting painful blisters that haunt you throughout training.
What I Like
The technical fabric blend is thick and breathable.
Because there’s no wool or cotton, these socks never pick up odor.
Wick Dry technology keeps your feet dry which helps avoid blisters.
What I Don’t Like
There aren’t many color options. A solid white sock would be good to see.
What Other Reviewers Say
Reviewers for the FoxRiver Mid-Calf Wick Dry have put these socks through some serious trials. Just take this list from hell:
Ruck march, Marine Corps OCS, 127 degree deployment, El Dorado fire line, 12-hour prison shift.
If they can stand up to any of these slogs, they’re worth a close look.
The Verdict
Ruck marches put your feet through a special kind of pain. Unless you have FoxRiver socks, that is.
The Mid-Calf Wick Dry technical fabric blend offers padding on your heel and toes, plus keeps your feet dry so you don’t develop blisters. You’ll be leading the pack on the next march.
Ruck marches put your feet through a special kind of pain. Unless you have FoxRiver socks, that is. The Mid-Calf Wick Dry technical fabric blend offers padding on your heel and toes, plus keeps your feet dry so you don’t develop blisters. You’ll be leading the pack on the next march.
Best for Cold Weather: Carhartt Arctic Heavyweight Socks
The Carhartt Arctic Heavyweight Socks are the beefiest pair on our list. Decked out with plenty of padding through the shin, these also make for excellent socks if you’re wearing a stiff boot and want to break them in.
These socks are layered up in all the right places. In the toe alone, I measured the two sides add up together to a bit more than 10mm in thickness. This is great news for cold toes when temperatures drop below freezing, but your foot is also going to be fitting a lot tighter in your boot.
I don’t recommend wearing these in warmer weather because they can easily overheat your feet, but in freezing winters like in Washington, Illinois, or New York, these are an amazing pickup you’ll love.
What I Like
The thick padding throughout the heel and shin help with thermoregulation and warmth.
The pull on closure can be folded to protect more against snow and weather.
Blended wool fabric is top-notch for cold weather, but the addition of technical fabrics keep the odor away.
What I Don’t Like
These are only for cold, cold winters. Even brisk 40 degree autumn days are too warm to wear them.
What Other Reviewers Say
From commercial Alaskan fishermen to 60-year-old dudes shoveling snow, there’s a lot of praise for these work-horses.
The Verdict
Extreme cold weather calls for special equipment. And the Carhartt Arctic Heavyweight Socks are beefy enough to warrant being called equipment.
The wool blend balances odor-fighting, sweat-wicking power, and warmth. And the added padding in the shin and heel help insulate your feet against the elements.
Extreme cold weather calls for special equipment. And the Carhartt Arctic Heavyweight Socks are beefy enough to warrant being called equipment. I don’t recommend wearing these in warmer weather because they can easily overheat your feet, but in freezing winters like in Washington, Illinois, or New York, these are an amazing pickup you’ll love.
Best Cowboy Boot Socks: Wrangler Western Boot Socks
Special boots call for special socks, and few brands know the cowboy life as well as Wrangler. Their Western Boot Socks pull up over the calf and feature technical fabrics to keep your foot cool, dry, and odor-free.
These aren’t the most inventive socks, but they get the job done and stay up throughout the day so you don’t have to fish down into your cowboy boot to find these once your work day has started.
What I Like
The technical fabric blend is good at cooling, drying, and keeping things odor-free.
These socks come up over the calf and stay up so you have protection for your shins.
Extra padding and arch support along the base of the sock make these very comfortable during your workday.
What I Don’t Like
There’s no wool or cotton here, so they’re not the best for cold weather.
The Verdict
If you’re rocking cowboy boots, you need a pair of socks that won’t drift down and crumple like those old receipts in your wallet. Wrangler Western Boot Socks are the best we’ve found if you’re wearing Ariat, Justin, or Tecovas. It’s true for work, and it’s true for when you’re ready to throw a few cold ones back and show that mechanical bull who’s boss.
Special boots call for special socks, and few brands know the cowboy life as well as Wrangler. These Western Boot Socks are the best we’ve found if you’re wearing Ariat, Justin, or Tecovas.
Best for Hot Weather: Darn Tough Merino Coolmax
Darn Tough Merino Coolmax socks are made with wool, but don’t let that fool you. These hot weather boot socks keep you dry and cool throughout summer, even if you’re working hard.
Even better, they’re made in the USA and backed with Darn Tough’s no-exceptions, unconditional lifetime quality guarantee: if the stitching breaks through at any point, send them back, no questions asked. How’s that for confidence in your product?
Merino wool is one of nature’s best breathable fabrics, and it quickly wicks away moisture from your foot. This not only keeps your feet dry and keeps blisters at bay, but the rapid wicking ensures your foot stays cool, even in 100+ degree weather.
What I Like
The extra padding through the leg and foot help tremendously with thick, heavy boots that knock against your shins or calves.
The Merino fabric makes these great socks for summer and winter.
They stay up throughout the day because of the snug closure at the opening.
What I Don’t Like
At the time of writing there is only one color option—sometimes people like to have different color pairs when buying multiple so they can wear through them at an even rate.
The Verdict
Keeping your feet cool during the summer with a pair of boots on is no easy feat. But the Darn Tough Merino Coolmax is ready for the challenge. If a lifetime unconditional quality guarantee sounds confident, it’s because Darn Tough is. These Merino wool, USA-made beasts are one-of-a-kind.
The Darn Tough Coolmax Boot Socks check every box when it comes to function and quality. They boast a sophisticated sweat-wicking formula that’s effective even in hot weather, they’re US-made, and they come with a lifetime warranty. They’re even moderately hydrophobic, which is a rare quality for socks since work boots are already required to be waterproof.
Best Over-the-Calf: Camel City Mill Heavyweight
Camel City Mill Heavyweight boot socks have more than a few advantages as over-the-calf boot socks. First, they’re padded throughout the leg and foot, so if you’re wearing tall boots that rub you the wrong way, these socks can be a lifesaver.
But because they’re made with Merino wool, you’re set up for summer and winter. Merino wicks sweat in the heat, and it is an excellent insulator when it’s cold. Even with the technology we have available, sheep are still undeniably awesome.
What I Like
The extra padding through the leg and foot help tremendously with thick, heavy boots that knock against your shins or calves.
The Merino fabric makes these great socks for summer and winter.
They stay up throughout the day because of the snug closure at the opening.
What I Don’t Like
At the time of writing there is only one color option—sometimes people like to have different color pairs when buying multiple so they can wear through them at an even rate.
The Verdict
If you need to stock your drawer with some high quality over-the-calf socks, check out the Camel City Mill Heavyweight boot sock.
They stay up for 12 hours so you never have to go fishing for your socks down in the shaft of your boot and they’re backed with Camel City Mill’s 10 year guarantee, which is one of the best deals in the game.
The Heavyweight from Camel City Mill is the best work sock you can get for a steel toe boot. The padding is heavy in the heel and toe, but since it's made with Merino wool, this sock is also very breathable and won't make your feet sweaty.
Best Women’s Boot Socks: Weatherproof Vintage Marled Cotton Crew
Give her the gift she’ll never forget: socks.
Ok, I’m joking. I feel like I need to clarify that because I have buddies that would take me at my word.
But seriously, we know that the ladies like it cozy, and you might as well pick her up a pair while you’re looking for yourself.
The Weatherproof Vintage Marled Cotton Crew is an excellent balance of style, comfort, warmth, and protection from a stiff pair of boots.
What I Like
The marled cotton looks stylish peeking out the top of the boot.
These are fairly thick, which offers a lot of padding at the heel and ball of your foot.
They’re very warm, which is excellent fall and winter if she gets cold feet easily.
What I Don’t Like
Cotton socks are great for insulation, but if they get wet, unlike wool, they stay wet until you can take them off.
The Verdict
With cold weather on the way, Weatherproof Vintage Marled Cotton Crew socks offer a stylish and comfortable way to keep her feet warm. Be careful not to get these socks wet, because like all cotton socks, once they’re wet, they stay that way until you can take them off and hang them up.
With cold weather on the way, Weatherproof Vintage Marled Cotton Crew socks offer a stylish and comfortable way to keep her feet warm. Be careful not to get these socks wet, because like all cotton socks, once they’re wet, they stay that way until you can take them off and hang them up.
Best Boot Socks for Sweaty Feet: Dickies Dri-Tech Moisture Control Crew
As the name suggests, Dickies Dri-Tech Moisture Control Crew socks know how to deal with a sweaty foot. The technical fabric and cotton blend ensures that your feet aren’t left soaking at the end of the day, no matter how hot it gets.
Built with a reinforced heel and toe, these are great value-packed year-round socks.
It’s worth noting that these are the thinnest socks on the list, measure just over 4.4mm of thickness. This means they will be fantastic when the sun is blazing, but they will not be suitable for cold weather and will run the risk of developing holes over time.
What I Like
Technical fabric and cotton blend fabric keeps these lightweight and super breathable.
They come in bulk packs at a solid value so you can easily stock up your drawer.
There are several color options to choose from.
Mesh ventilation channels promote better airflow and drier socks.
What I Don’t Like
These are excellent value-driven socks, but they don’t have the same longevity as some of the other entrants on our list.
The Verdict
If you’re looking for a solid value sock you can easily stock your drawer with, check out the Dickies Dri-Tech Moisture Control Crew. These keep the sweat away from your foot through technical fabrics and improve airflow with mesh panels in key spots.
Steel toe boots are heavy, and you’ll need socks that counter that with comfort and breathability, but don't skimp on the support factor. The Dri-Tech Crew Socks provide all of that, while also controlling moisture for guys with sweaty feet.
Best Work Socks For Steel Toe Boots: Fox River Steel Toe Work Boot Socks
Haven’t we seen Fox River on this list before? Oh yeah, they make our top pick for work socks. But if you’re looking for something with extra protection to wear with your steel toe boots, look no further than the appropriately named Heavyweight Steel Toe socks.
Built with padding along the top of the toe, abrasion-resistant fibers, and engineered arch support, these socks will make your steel toe boots feel more like a fuzzy pink pair of slippers. But just so we’re clear, they’ll still look like beefy work boots.
What I Like
Steel toe work boots wear socks down like few other boots—these socks build in extra padding and fabrics to fight that wear and tear.
While these have the protection and padding of cotton, the technical fabric blend cuts down on odors.
These are engineered with arch support for extra comfort and security.
What I Don’t Like
The different color options have different fabric-blends, so the white feels different than the grey.
The Verdict
Fox River Steel Toe Work Boot Socks have enough added padding along the top of your toe and ball of your foot to eliminate those annoying blisters that slow you down throughout your workday.
With 1.5cm of padding in the heel and toe, these socks have no problem keeping unwanted blisters away.
Best Hiking Boot Socks: Danish Endurance Merino Trekking Socks
The Danes get so much time off from work, it makes total sense they’d create the best hiking boot sock with the Danish Endurance Merino Trekking Socks.
With their extra time not deciphering obscure insurance plans and basking in their sweet national healthcare delight, they’ve developed a powerful hiking sock that’s comfortable, breathable, and can put in tons of mileage before giving out.
What I Like
Designed by athletes who have climbed Mt. Everest.
Built-in “ventilation lanes” that create extra cooling on hot hikes.
The thick cushioning helps ease the burden on your heels on 10+ mile hikes.
What I Don’t Like
These are only 30% Merino wool, so they’re not really Merino socks. They’re still excellent, but they’re closer to technical fabric socks than anything.
The Verdict
If you’re a hiker, your tools are pretty simple: a good pair of shoes, an excellent pair of socks, and the best trail mix money can buy (almonds, baby—none of that peanut nonsense).
Hikers swear by the Danish Endurance Merino Trekking Socks because of their breathability and the added padding that helps in 10+ mile adventures.
These are actually more technical fabric than Merino wool, so while the name is a bit misleading, their performance on the trail is spot on.
The Danes get so much time off from work, it makes total sense they’d create the best hiking boot sock with the Danish Endurance Merino Trekking Socks. Hikers swear by these bad boys because of their breathability and the added padding that helps in 10+ mile adventures. These socks are actually made from more of a technical fabric than Merino wool, so while the name is a bit misleading, their performance on the trail is spot on.
Sock It Up
Whether you want an all-round boot sock that’s comfortable and stylish, or you need something beefy to pair up with your steel toe’s, these 11 boot socks represent the best in show.
Made in the USA from Merino wool, these work socks really are something else in terms of quality. They feature compression through the arch and calf which helps your feet recover after a long day. Plus, because they're Merino wool, they're breathable and help reduce foot sweat.
If you’re having trouble deciding which is right for your purposes, I recommend going higher end and getting a single pair. Once you’ve worn them for a few weeks, you can decide if you want to go all-in and stock your drawer.
So whether you’re hitting the trails, hitting the job site, or hitting the couch with a glass of whiskey, these boot socks are the best of the best.
Want more sock content? I’m surprised. I mean, that was a lot already. But sure. We’ve got it.
Check out the BootSpy YouTube channel where we regularly review the best boots, dive in-depth on how to care for your leather, and yes, occasionally talk about socks.
The Heavyweight from Camel City Mill is the best work sock you can get for a steel toe boot. The padding is heavy in the heel and toe, but since it's made with Merino wool, this sock is also very breathable and won't make your feet sweaty.
FAQs
Should I wear thick socks with boots?
Wearing thick socks with boots is more comfortable, especially when the boots are new. You will reduce the number of blisters you get by wearing thick socks with boots.
What are the best socks to keep feet dry?
Any sock made with Merino wool keeps feet dry. Our favorite are Fox River socks.
What are the best sock brands?
Our favorite sock brands are Fox River and Darn Tough. They both make a wide range of socks for military members, first responders, firefighters, and hikers. There are many other brands that make excellent socks, but FoxRiver and Darn Tough focus only on socks.
Why do socks fall down in boots?
Socks that don’t have high-quality elastane will fall down into your boots. Our top socks are made with excellent materials, so they don’t have this issue.
