The best grip socks for football aren't just so that players look fancy on the pitch - they can actually make a huge difference on performance levels thanks to the different technologies that have been developed over the years.
Preventing feet from sliding around inside the best football boots, grip socks enhance performance by offering a focused playing experience not filled with distraction. They also improve comfort, reduce the risk of blisters and make players even more confident that those sharp changes of direction will be as responsive as they'd like. After all, football is all about marginal gains, and grip socks can hold the key.
Accessories can also be essential for other players on the pitch - fortunately we also have guides on the best goalkeeper gloves, the best football boot insoles and the best football shin pads.
Since first coming into the market more than a decade ago, the popularity of grip socks has grown exponentially. Indeed, it's impossible to now go through a game at any level of football without a player wearing them in some format or guise - but with hundreds of different grip sock brands available, what are the best? Here, I break down the best options.
The Quick List
These are probably the best grip socks you've never heard of. We rate them for their technology and comfort, and they're worn by Heung-min Son.
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Technology like contouring in different parts of the sock, the Nike Vapor Strike Sock stands out in Nike boots and is a top performer all around.
The Apex Pro 3.0 grip socks boast plenty of technology and comfort and they keep your foot secure in the boot, all for a very competitive price.
A three-layer design and made with high-quality materials, the Flake 4 grip socks offer plenty of comfort and cushioning for your feet.
For their Printed grip sock, Adidas have added extra material to the heel area to keep the heel, and the rest of the foot, firmly in place.
Pioneers of the grip sock game, Trusox have been around for over a decade and their socks come in a range of thickness, size and colours.
Best Overall
WeFoot has already impressed us with their previous grip socks, but now there's a new and improved version on the market. Their Air Grip Socks cover a broad range of foot sizes and provide traction on the inside and out of the sock, which performs brilliantly.
When I tested them, I found that they provided tremendous levels of grip and left me with a close-to-unibody experience with my football boot. It's worth noting that Heung-Min Son uses these and in my opinion, that highlights how good they truly are.
The sock's design is based on an octopus's suction cup on its tentacles. The sock has a unique cell structure that helps it become breathable too, so the performance isn't impacted by wet conditions or sweat. WeFoot's Air Grip Socks also provide top-tier comfort as they distribute pressure around the foot equally, giving you a cushioned and effective performance.
Best technology
Nike has done things a lot differently with their grip socks. While most options focus on locking down just the sole and heel, Nike has woven its NikeGrip material into the sock in a 360-degree contouring pattern that sits on both the sole and top of the sock, ensuring there's minimal slippage whenever your foot is inside your boot.
This helped to provide a lockdown I have never felt before, and is something I'm truly a huge fan of. With the contouring running in different directions on each individual sock, there's an element of customisation available depending on where the player's desired direction of traction.
I don't rate these quite as highly as the WeFoot grip socks, however, because it felt like the NikeGrip Vapor Strike socks only worked when placed in the best Nike football boots - with NikeGrip elements also featured on the insoles inside the boots, there's a symbiotic relationship that isn't quite as evident when wearing the best Adidas football boots or best Puma football boots, for example.
As a result, I felt a lot less confident wearing these grip socks at all times, while the lack of colours is a hinderance when matchday rolls around and a colour match is needed.
Best Value
If you're looking for value for money, then look no further. The Apex Pro 3.0 Grip Socks are a great value option as they come in at a good price, but unlike some on the market, they offer internal as well as external grip.
In football, it ultimately comes down to performance, whether it's a grip sock, a boot, yourself or your team. These grip socks deliver on that front too as the technology used here improves your stability, reduces foot movement within your boot and helps responsiveness and how connected your boot feels to your body.
But, while we're highlighting the pros and cons of these socks, we will talk about the design. ExoFrame technology is used to secure your feet and to stop your feet from sliding within your boot. And, DuaGrip tech runs around the sole and heel for grip in dry and wet conditions. These socks fit really well and offer great value, we just wish there were more colour options available.
Best for comfort
Featuring stabilising compression zones, silicone nubs along the sole of the sock and the heel, an anatomical fit and a moisture wicking 3-layer construction, the Falke 4 Grip socks are extremely premium. As soon as I put them on my feet they felt comfortable and ready to grip the inside of my boots.
They may be relatively unknown, but that certainly shouldn't stop you giving these consideration.
What I did find, however, is that the silicone grip nubs are minimalistic so don't provide quite as much grip as other options do. Plus, I don't particularly like the aesthetic of the sock. Though that's only a minor issue, it's still something worth considering before spending your hard-earned cash.
Best for heel slippage
Adidas’ venture into the grip sock industry is not one to be overlooked. Their socks are a more premium version of a lot of the traditional grip socks we see everywhere.
The sock has silicone heat printed nodules running along the bottom of the sock and also up the heel, a place where a lot of grip socks brands don’t include. I found this particular feature was a great addition, because it prevented any slippage and also ensured pushing off from a standing start worked a lot better than with regular socks.
The socks have an anatomical design to improve the fit and also do a great job of providing a greater level of underfoot traction compared to regular football socks. Adidas have the socks available in black or white and also offer a thin and cushioned version.
Best for customisation
Having burst onto the scene more than a decade ago with the likes of Gareth Bale and Luis Suarez both wearing them, Trusox are without question the pioneers of the grip sock industry. The iconic design is still going strong, too, with plenty of other brands having attempted their best to copy them in recent times.
Indeed, Trusox has patented the grip technology used on their socks, meaning everyone else has had to attempt something slightly different. With suede-like grip pads on the inside and outside of the sock, Trusox aids with underfoot traction so much so that it feels like your feet are glued to your boots.
Plus, they come in an abundance of colours, thicknesses and lengths, meaning I'm never short of options when I want a new pair or want to try something slightly different to help with my perfect feel.
How we test grip socks
Testing of grip socks is carried out by our expert in all things football-technology, who tries on as many pairs over the course of a number of training sessions and games to truly ascertain the performance level of each product.
Factors to consider in the performance of each grip sock centred on comfort, lockdown and, of course, grip, with the expert considering the claims made by each brand to cut straight through to the crux of how they actually feel while playing football. This helps with simple yet detailed advice for players of all levels.
How to choose the best grip socks
Unlike with football boots, grip socks are all a lot closer aligned in what they offer players, though there are some that are certainly a lot better than others.
Key factors to consider are choosing socks that actually fit your feet, otherwise the specific elements you're wanting to gain an advantage from simply won't work as well. Some brands offer a different thickness to their socks - so if you prefer more cushioning, a thicker sock is better. Similarly, some players prefer a lightweight, minimalist feel - therefore, thin socks are more suited.
It really all comes down to personal preference.
