I love socks.
I am particular about a lot of things. One of these is socks. I don’t like feet and this has driven my high standards and passion for socks. That being said, even though I’ve found the socks I love which are my clear benchmark I still like to shop around and evaluate the competition in the unlikely case I find some that are better. As part of this endeavor I will review the socks I test/use in the hopes that your feet can be happy (and so can you!).
I will rate socks on a 5 point scale for their durability, feel (factoring in material), toe seam, design, and comfort (how the socks manage long hours of consecutive wear). Though the toe seam factors into comfort it gets its own rating because of how important it is to the sock. An average of these will give an overall rating out of 5. I will add to the chart over time and welcome suggestions of new socks to try. My detailed thoughts will be a part of each sock review.
Review summaries will be compiled below. Additional details such as some pros and cons can be found in the extended reviews.
One thing I will not give ratings on is price. I may mention pricing for context so you can make your own value judgement (and I will try to call out possible deals). A good friend of mine was wise when he said that it’s worth spending extra money for comfort and quality in the things that separate you from the ground. It’s not that you have to spend your money blindly but if you find something that you like that works for you and gives you good value, happiness value included, then it’s worth every penny (a principle not limited to socks).
Disclaimer: I am not sponsored by any brands (which means my feet are still open advertising space).
| The Sock(s) | General Comfort | Toe Seam | Material | Durability | Design | Overall Rating |
| Bombas | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5.0 |
| Stance | 4 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 4.6 |
| K.Bell | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 2.2 |
| Sushi | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 1.8 |
Bombas
Bombas are my benchmark for what a sock can be. I own a variety of styles and materials so that I can use them in any/all situations. I am in love with nearly every aspect of the Bombas I’ve owned which is why I give Bombas a perfect score. I realize I’m saying I’ve loved nearly every aspect but am still giving a perfect rating. Though I love nearly every aspect, the reason for a perfect score is simple: I would just use one of the perfect styles instead of the ones that I would rate lower.
Summary:
Bombas are amazing. The price tag is steeper than other socks but the company stands for positive change in the world, donating a pair of socks to a homeless shelter for every pair you buy. This is an easy cause to get behind. If you are a first time buyer you get a sizable discount (use my referral link to make me extra happy!) and can find more discounts over other times of the year (I think I remember a good sale around Easter?).
I used to own over 100 pairs of socks before I stumbled upon a Bombas ad over 3 years ago. I tried a few pairs and couldn’t turn back, getting rid of all the other socks I owned, trimming down to a few handfuls of Bombas. I could go on saying so many more positive things about the socks but the fact is that they are amazing socks that make me exceptionally comfortable and happy. I only struggle to choose which pair to wear each day.
Stance
I’ve been seeing ads for Stance socks for years. I have had friends mention seeing Stance socks in stores (surprisingly mostly at airports) a number of times. Sock City (a sock only store go figure) in South Lake Tahoe caught my eye and I had to go in. On principle I needed to buy at least 1 pair of socks (I did buy another – more on that later). There was a wall dedicated to the various designs and heights of Stance socks. I wanted to go with an ankle height for maximum comfort and a better comparison to the socks I already love. The design I went with caught my eye and I didn’t look back.
Summary:
I take a positive stand on Stance socks. I’m very satisfied with them. My obsession could have manifested differently had I invested in some Stance socks first instead of Bombas. I’m glad I tried them out and I will continue to wear them as I love the design of the ones I have. The Stance socks don’t have a cause they stand behind so while they’re similarly priced, your hard earned dollars are not going towards more than a sock that is really good but not quite perfect. Since the pricing is similar to the Bombas, I would say go with the best. If you’re feeling like something different or find a particular design that catches your eye, don’t be shy to jump into a pair of Stance socks. Based on my generally positive experience with the socks I am interested to try a pair of their crew height socks to see if they would be a better alternative to the Bombas dress socks that bother my leg hair (an adventure for another time).
K.Bell
Socks are just one element of how we put together our style. They’re a way to be expressive and stand out in what can otherwise become a drab world of khaki pants and prim button downs. Goofy designs or unique patterns, fun socks, are a perfect way to add flair beyond the minimum. The other pair of socks I bought from Sock City in South Lake Tahoe was the K.Bell Mallard Ankle Biters. I think it’s safe to say these count as more than 1 piece of flair.
Summary:
I had 2 gut reactions to the K.Bell socks. The first came when I saw them on the rack: these are awesome and I must have them. The second came when I put them on for the first time: I don’t know how I’m ever going to actually wear these. You’d be quackers not to like the design. You’d be similarly quackers if you bring them to the top of your list of socks you want to wear. Comfort takes precedence over design in my book and these are not comfortable socks. Based on my experience with the mallard, I will not be buying any more K.Bell socks (unless I find another mind blowing design but truthfully, the mallard may be their pinnacle).
Sushi Socks Box
I think I’ve already made the point clear that design matters. While I had not taken the presentation (packaging) into account for the socks I’ve reviewed so far (and will likely not take it into account after this review), it made a difference in my fondness for these sushi socks. Embarrassingly, it took me more than a few seconds to realize these were socks after I opened the packaging.
Summary:
The presentation of these socks is sure enough of a spectacle to make a wonderful gift for anyone. The rest of the experience of the socks is fairly neutral. They don’t live up to the comfort standards of my top socks and are generally unadmirable after removing them from the packaging. I think having uneventful socks is not a bad thing – most people would prefer it that way.
