Hey gents,
A little over a year ago, I wrote about going sockless and my disdain for “footies”, a.k.a. no-show socks. I really didn’t like them before, but have since changed my mind… sorta.
Wearing leather shoes (loafers, boat shoes, or driving shoes) with shorts and regular white athletic socks—even the low-cut version—just doesn’t work. Don’t even try it.
At the same time, sweating profusely in your shoes sucks. It ruins your shoes, and in most cases, doesn’t smell very pleasant.
I’ll get to examples of the no-show socks I don’t like, but first…
A version I do like
I picked up this three-pack from Pact the other day (pictured at the top) and am so glad I did. There are other three-packs available here and here.
Why do I like them? They’re a true no-show (can’t see them when I wear loafers), they’re a thicker cotton, and they don’t look like women’s stockings.
A version I don’t like
I’m not a big fan of this style of no-show socks (pictured right). A year ago when I first started seeing no-show socks, these were the only choice.
Why don’t I like them? They remind me of women’s hosiery. On top of that, they don’t seem too absorbent since they’re so thin. I never gave them a chance, and if they were still the only option out there, I’d much rather go sockless.
They all differ
Try them on first if possible; at the very least, recognize that not all no-show sock silhouettes are the same.
For example, I first bought a pair of these, but they’re not cut as low as the ones I mentioned above. They’d work great for a blucher, but not so great for driving shoes, unless you don’t care about a bit of color peeking out. If I’m going low-cut, I want it to be completely invisible, but that’s just me.
I saw these in the store as well, but I couldn’t tell if they would be completely no-show. You can see that the silhouette looks a bit taller at the top of the sock than the Pact ones I purchased.
You could trust my recommendation for the Pact brand socks, or you can try out these others and see what works best for you.
Some benefits, in case they’re not completely obvious
You get the sockless look without the swamp foot. Sweaty feet + leather shoes feel gross. White athletic socks + leather shoes look gross. No-show socks help solve both these issues.
These socks grip your heel. Literally. There are little rubber grips on the socks’ heels so they don’t slide off into your shoe when you walk. Sometimes it still happens, but for the most part, this holds up well.
Comes in great patterns and colors! Like I mentioned, when I first started seeing no-show socks on shelves, they all resembled women’s stockings. Not cool. Now you can find awesome no-show socks in a thicker cotton and adorned with color and pattern like the regular cotton socks I always recommend.
That’s it!
Just a quick tip to keep your feet dry this summer. It’s already starting to warm up in my end of the world; hopefully the sun is shining where you are as well.
Have you stumbled upon any other great no-show socks? Are they truly invisible when you put on your shoes? Let’s hear it in the comments below.
[photos via Nordstrom]