Finding the best socks for work boots can be a challenge. Comfort is key if you’re on your feet all day long – you want something that feels nice to wear without feeling too hot on your feet. This is why we’ve reviewed 5 of the best socks out there for work boots.
The bottom line up front: we like the Germapro Men’s Hiking and Work Boot Socks. They’re ideal if you suffer from sore feet or legs, and they’re great in terms of hygiene too.
We also like:
- Wrangler Men’s Western Boot Socks – perfect if you wear longer boots
- Enerwear Men’s Cotton Thick Cushion Boot Socks – ideal for cold weather
Keep reading to find out more. We’ll be looking at:
- What to look for in socks for work boots
- 5 of the best out there, including their key features, pros, and cons
- Frequently asked questions about socks for work boots
- Which ones we like the best and why we like them so much
Let’s start by looking at some of the key features you may want to look for in socks for work boots!
Table of Contents
- Best Socks for Work Boots Compared
- What to Look for in Socks for Work Boots
- Top 5 Best Socks for Work Boots
- Enerwear Men’s Cotton Thick Cushion Boot Socks – Best for Cold Weather
- Dickie’s Men’s Dri-Tech Socks – Best for Moisture Control
- Wrangler Men’s Western Boot Socks – Best for Longer Boots
- ONKE Cotton Moisture Wicking Athletic Work Boot Socks – Good All-Rounder
- GermaPro Men’s Hiking and Work Boot Socks – Good for Sore Feet
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Our Final Thoughts – Which Socks for Work Boots are the Best?
Best Socks for Work Boots Compared
What to Look for in Socks for Work Boots
Here’s a quick overview of what you should look out for when buying socks for work boots:
Comfort
As work boots can be heavy, a good pair of soft padded comfortable socks makes the world of difference.
Some socks come with extra padding in the heel area, as well as around the balls of the feet. This is really helpful if you’re on your feet all day, as it can help to prevent your boots from rubbing against your feet. Socks come in varying thicknesses. It’s worth trying on your boots with your new socks before you head out to work, as very thick socks may cause your boots to become too tight.
Supportive socks may have extra cushioning for tendon support – this is perfect if you’ve had an injury in this area, or if you do need that extra bit of support. These will feel tighter than regular socks, which is something to consider.
You can find socks that are made to give you arch support, by having denser fabric in the arch area. It sounds like a small thing, but this can really help if you suffer from a lot of foot pain, especially after a long day at work.
Hygiene
Some socks are designed to help improve hygiene and are designed to absorb sweat, helping to keep your boots fresher for longer. They can wick moisture away from your feet, helping you to feel dry and comfortable. They’re also designed to be breathable, hopefully stopping your feet from overheating. Some socks have special grooves, which are designed to improve ventilation.
Some socks are treated with antimicrobial materials, which can help to inhibit the growth of bacteria – Ultra Fresh has an article about antimicrobial socks if you want to find out more about this. You can also find activated charcoal in socks – this helps to absorb odors but may wear off after a few washes.
Fit
Fit is really important for footwear at work because it can become a safety hazard if your boots are too loose or too tight. Your socks should fit nicely underneath your boots, with no excess fabric bunching up underneath. If you wear long boots, it makes sense to look for longer socks, to stop them from rubbing against your legs.
Finding your size can be tricky, especially with longer socks – it may take a bit of trial and error to find socks that stay up without digging into your calves.
Materials
Socks tend to be made from synthetic materials like Lycra, spandex, or nylon (or a mixture of these). You may see cotton-polyester blend socks, too. Pure cotton socks are not the best for work, as the cotton absorbs moisture but takes a long time to dry, which will cause you to become uncomfortable.
Durability
Durability is another consideration. No pair of socks will last forever, but it’s good to know that they won’t fall apart after just a few washes. Check that the seams are sturdy and don’t develop holes too quickly. It’s also worth checking if they maintain their shape even after a few wears, as sagging can make your socks uncomfortable to wear or even a hazard if it causes issues with the fit of your work boots.
Top 5 Best Socks for Work Boots
Here are 6 of our favorite pairs of socks for work boots. We’ve included their key features, pros and cons along with an overview of each one, so you can hopefully find the best ones for you.
Enerwear Men’s Cotton Thick Cushion Boot Socks – Best for Cold Weather
Key Features
- Materials: 62% Cotton, 18% Acrylic, 9% Nylon, 9% Polyester, 2% Spandex
- Quantity: 10 Pairs
- Sizes Available: Men’s 6-12
The Enerwear Men’s Cotton Thick Cushion Boot Socks are comfortable thanks to the extra cushioning on the sole. It also has arch support, to help reduce arch fatigue over time, and the elastic at the top doesn’t feel too restrictive. They’re comfortable to wear even after you’ve had them on all day.
They’re good from a hygiene perspective. Although they’re thick and very warm, they do have moisture-wicking properties which will help to keep them fresh, and they still feel breathable despite the extra padding.
They come in a wide range of color options, mostly in the black/blue/grey/green range. The only downside is that they tend to pill quite quickly, but you might decide that the low price is worth it.
Pros
- Warm, ideal for colder weather or hiking
- Good arch support
- Padded and comfortable
- Has moisture-wicking properties
Cons
- Will start to pill after a few washes
Dickie’s Men’s Dri-Tech Socks – Best for Moisture Control
Key Features
- Materials: 78% Cotton, 19% Polyester, 2% Spandex, 1% Nylon
- Quantity: 6 Pairs
- Sizes Available: 5-9, 6-12, 12-15, 15-17
The Dickie’s Men’s Dri-Tech Socks are cushioned and comfortable, with arch compression and a snug fit around the heel and in-step to help keep your socks secure. It has extra support around the heel and toe area, too. They’re not so thick that they would be suitable for very cold temperatures, which is something to keep in mind.
These are ideal socks hygiene-wise, as they have several features to help to keep your feet fresh. With moisture wicking fibers, ventilation channels to improve air circulation, and improved breathability to help you to feel dry and fresh even after a long day at work.
They have a wide range of sizes available as well as a lot of color and design choices, including white, grey, black, and blue. As they’re thinner, they’re not as durable, but they’re reasonably priced too.
Dickie’s is a well established brand in the industrial industry, having been in business since 1922.
Pros
- Thinner, good for warmer weather
- Good arch and heel support
- Great from a hygiene perspective
- Wide size range available
Cons
- Not as durable (as thicker socks)
Wrangler Men’s Western Boot Socks – Best for Longer Boots
Key Features
- Materials: 80% Polyester, 17% Nylon, 3% Spandex
- Quantity: 3 Pairs
- Sizes Available: 9-13, 12-16
The Wrangler Men’s Western Boot Socks are perfect for longer boots (like the Hisea Men’s Work Boots). Although they’re designed for Western boots, they also have a lot of features that make them ideal for work boots, including the comfort factor – they have padding at the bottom and arch support, which is great if you’re on your feet all day. It has a smooth toe seam to reduce irritation.
They have some good hygiene features, including moisture-wicking polyester to help draw moisture away from your feet. They’re not overly thick, so your feet won’t feel overheated.
There are black, white, and grey color choices available, and they’re pretty durable, with the elastic holding up well over several washes. They do run a bit small, so it might be worth going for a larger size to stop them from digging into your calves.
Like Dickie’s, Wrangler is a well established brand that has been in business since 1904 making work related clothing.
Pros
- Great for longer boots
- Cushioned with arch support
- Moisture-wicking
- Pretty durable
Cons
- Sizing runs small
ONKE Cotton Moisture Wicking Athletic Work Boot Socks – Good All-Rounder
Key Features
- Materials: 60% Cotton, 37% Polyester, 2% Nylon, 1% Spandex
- Quantity: 10 Pairs
- Sizes Available: 6-12, 12-15
The ONKE Cotton Moisture Wicking Athletic Work Boot Socks are fully cushioned with a deep heel and comfortable elastic top. They’re stretchy and comfortable, but they lack extra arch support. It does have a smooth seam on the toe area for extra comfort.
They’re moisture-wicking, and they feel cool to wear. If your feet tend to get overheated, this is a good option, but they won’t be great for colder weather.
There are black, white, and grey colors to choose from. They’re durable, which is great – the elastic holds up well, and they remain comfortable without sagging even after several washes.
Pros
- Stretchy and comfortable
- Moisture-wicking and cool to wear
- Durable
Cons
- Doesn’t have extra arch support
GermaPro Men’s Hiking and Work Boot Socks – Good for Sore Feet
Key Features
- Materials: 42% Germanium-Infused Polyester, 30% Coolmax Fabric, 22% Nylon, 6% Elastane
- Quantity: 2 Pairs
- Sizes Available: Medium-Large, X-Large, XX-Large
The GermaPro Men’s Hiking and Work Boot Socks are great if your feet are prone to getting sore and tired. The geranium-infused polyester is designed to be super comfortable, and they have been constructed in a way that provides support and cushioning in strategic places (like the heel, the ball of the foot, and the arch of the foot) to keep you comfortable all day. It has front and side ligament protection, which feels tight but not constrictive – ideal if you’ve suffered an injury or if your legs get sore. They work well as hiking or climbing socks, too.
The Coolmax fabric (which is made from 50% cotton and 50% polyester) is designed to keep your feet cool. It has moisture-wicking and air channels, to help improve ventilation. It has activated charcoal in the material, too, which helps to keep them hygienic (you can find out more about activated charcoal in the article by Indiana Public Media).
They come in a variety of colors including grey, black, green, and brown. They’re pretty durable, although the activated charcoal will wear off after a few washes, which means the odor-combating properties may not last long.
Pros
- Very supportive
- Moisture wicking with cooling materials
- Odor-eating properties thanks to activated charcoal
Cons
- The activated charcoal may wear off after a while
- Sizing isn’t consistent with shoe sizes, so may take trial and error to find the right fit
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some of the most commonly asked questions about socks for work boots:
Can I use my socks for hiking as well as for work boots?
Yes – socks for work boots tend to perform well with hiking boots as they are padded and supportive, which is particularly useful if you’re out for a long hike. The REI Co-Op has a great guide on how to choose hiking socks if you need more information.
For more hiking product recommendations, try our Teva vs Chaco walking sandal comparison. We also have a guide to the Best Walking Sandals for Women, the best ponchos for hiking, and the best hiking watches. If you’re a hiking enthusiast looking to plan your next trip, our guide to The Clouds Rest Hike is a great read.
What socks should I wear with my work boots if I suffer from plantar fasciitis?
Plantar fasciitis is a painful condition, and it’s worth taking extra care in finding appropriate footwear if you suffer from it. Compression socks can help with plantar Fasciitis.
How should I wash my socks for work boots?
Careful washing may help your socks to last longer. It’s worth checking the instructions and following them closely – proper washing can help prevent sagging in the elastic, as well as protecting them from holes forming. My Society Socks has a great little guide on how to wash your socks to make them last.
Our Final Thoughts – Which Socks for Work Boots are the Best?
So – which socks for work boots do we like the best?
We think the Germapro Men’s Hiking and Work Boot Socks have a lot to offer. The design is great, especially if you have sore feet or legs or you’ve suffered from an injury to your feet before. They’re designed to be comfortable and supportive without being too restrictive. They don’t feel too hot to wear, which is great if you have sweaty feet. Although the activated charcoal may not last forever, they’re still durable and an all-round good choice for work boots.
We also like the Wrangler Men’s Western Boot Socks. If you work outdoors in longer boots all day, they’ll stay up without sagging and keep your feet cool.
On the flip side, if you live in a colder climate, you might want to take a look at the Enerwear Men’s Cotton Thick Cushion Boot Socks. They’re pretty thick, but they’re comfortable and supportive too.
We hope this has helped you to find the perfect socks for work boots!