The best grip socks for soccer do actually have some performance benefits - they aren't just a fancy gimmick to placate the increasing endemic among soccer players cutting their team socks in order to wear what they want underneath.
As the best soccer cleats are all designed with performance in mind, the best grip socks do, too. These socks help to prevent feet from sliding around inside of cleats, as well as providing more traction when pushing off.
In boasting benefits like improving comfort, reducing the risk of blisters, improving the lockdown feeling inside cleats and making sharp changes of direction more responsive, grip socks offer the marginal gain that professionals are all seeking to take their game to the next level. Accessories can also be essential for other players on the pitch - fortunately we also have guides on the best goalkeeper gloves, the best soccer cleat insoles, the best soccer shin guards and a more general look at the best soccer accessories available.
The popularity of grip socks has grown to a staggering height in the past decade, but with hundreds of different options available, it can often be overwhelming in choosing the best. Thankfully, I've broken down the six options most-worth buying to improve your performance.
Best grip socks for soccer
Inspired by octopus, WeFoot has created, in my opinion, the best grip sock on the market at the moment. My foot felt secure at all times while wearing these, and they have great cushioning throughout as well.
The original pioneers when it comes to grip socks, Trusox has been around for over a decade now and is still going strong. With an abundance of colors, thicknesses and sizes available, there's truly something for everyone.
Unlike most other grip socks, Adidas has added extra elements to the heel of its Performance Printed Grip Socks to ensure that the entirety of the foot and heel is kept in place throughout training and games.
Nike has somehow managed to transfer its impressive Gripknit technology onto its grip socks, which provides plenty of stability at all times. They do work best with Nike cleats, however, which can pose somewhat of an issue.
Coming in at a great price, the Apex Pro 3.0 Grip Socks are advanced technologically thanks to the baselayer-style they exude, as well as the brilliant grip both on the inside and outside.
With an anatomical fit, moisture-wicking three-layer construction and high-quality materials, the Falke 4Grip Socks are extremely comfortable thanks to plenty of cushioning throughout.
Best overall
WeFoot has released a new and improved version of their already-incredible grip socks. The socks are one of very few that feature grip elements on both the inside and outside of the sock to maximise underfoot traction - a design feature that I found works perfectly and left me very impressed.
The grip elements feature a unique cell structure, inspired by the efficiency of an octopus’ suction cups. This makes them breathable and still working when coming into contact with moisture, whether it be water or sweat. The socks also provide a good level of cushioning and diamond compression for equal pressure distribution in order to provide optimal comfort.
Personally, I found great levels of grip for my feet inside the boots, which almost provided a unibody experience with my football boots. The fact Tottenham captain Heung-min Son loves them highlights just how high-quality they are as well.
Best for customization
First-worn by world class players at the top of the game, Trusox are the true pioneers of the grip sock industry having burst onto the scene at the start of the 2010s.
With suede-like grip pads on the inside and outside of the sock, Trusox help to enhance the underfoot traction through their patented grip technology. What I love is that the socks come in a range of colors, thicknesses and lengths, so I'm never short of options to get the perfect fit and feel.
In terms of performance, not many grip socks come close in my opinion. It’s like your feet are glued to your cleats which is exactly what you want from a pair of grip socks.
Best at preventing 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, with a unique feel to them as well.
Not only do the silicone heat-printed nodules run along the bottom of the sock, but they also feature up the heel, too. This is an area that other brands don't seem to focus a lot on, but they can certainly help when it comes to preventing heel slippage as well as enhanced lockdown.
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 soccer socks. Adidas have the socks available in black or white and also offer a thin and cushioned version.
Best technology
In typical Nike fashion, I found their grip socks is very different to what is offered by other brands. Nike have their NikeGrip material woven into the sock in a 360-degree contouring pattern and also running up the heel, meaning that the player experiences grip around the entire foot - instead of just the sole and the heel.
I loved the lockdown sensation this provided, while the contouring pattern enables the socks to be worn on either foot depending on the desired direction of traction.
What I didn't love so much is that I found the grip of the socks works better in tandem with Nike cleats, as the insoles sometimes feature NikeGrip as well. This does detract from their quality as a result, because I felt less confident wearing an Adidas or Puma cleat with the socks. There's a lack of colors available, too, which isn't ideal for gameday.
Best value
When it comes to grip socks, not many come close to the quality of the Apex Pro 3.0. The socks’ design is unique to many of the grip socks that are on the market, in that it has an external as well as an internal grip system, but with a dynamic twist.
DuraGrip grip pads that provide grip in dry and wet, run along the sole and heel of the sock, while the exoframe skeleton technology helps hold your feet in place to stop them from slipping on the inside. The socks have the best fit of any sock grip sock on the market, with no bunching of the material and a conforming fit akin to that of a baselayer in the way it hugs your foot.
Not only is the design of the socks great, they perform just as well. They do an immense job of reducing heel lift or foot roller, improving stability and responsiveness, making your boots feel more connected to your body.
Best for comfort
Unknown to a lot of people, the Falke 4Grip are one of the best grip socks on the market. 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, they're extremely premium and immediately feel that way once put on feet.
What I did find, however, is that the silicone grip nubs are minimalistic and so therefore don't provide as much grip while inside the boot as other options. With that being said, there's good levels of cushioning and comfort, while they do still improve on lockdown.
How we test grip socks
Testing grip socks has been an extensive project for our expert in all things related to soccer accessories and technology, with the miles put in over the course of a number of practice sessions and games to truly ascertain a product's performance levels. Our expert also wears multiple different soccer cleats with the socks to ensure they can come to a conclusive, water-tight decision.
The key areas focused upon were comfort, lockdown and slippage inside the cleat, with all those elements helping to determine a true level of performance. While brands often champion the best technologies and latest ideas, our expert tester cuts straight through the marketing jargon to what they actually feel like. Then it's presented in simple, cleat-cut advice aimed at players of all levels.
How to choose the best grip socks
In all honesty, it comes down to personal preference. One grip sock might be perfect for one player but not suited to another, though there's certainly a lot more convergence when it comes to grip socks as opposed to soccer cleats for example. Soccer cleats are often varying in quality, while grip socks are largely all decent enough - though it's still the case that some are a lot better than others.
We would also recommend trying socks on first to ensure they properly fit you and work with the shape of your foot. This is imperative when it comes to grip socks, because some size ranges are quite large and specific elements won't work as they're intended if the socks don't fit correctly.
There's still scope to customise when it comes to different socks, too. Brands offer varying thicknesses, 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.
