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6 Pairs of No-Show Socks That Actually Stay Up

Socks capable of hiding inside your shoes typically come with a myriad of issues: They don’t stay up on your heel, bunch up or peak through. But not these.

italic no show socks Italic

By Evan Malachosky

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What you classify as “no-show” depends on the types of shoes you wear. If you’re a boots year-round type of person — wow, kudos — then crew socks, the kind that rise above the ankle, are technically no-show. If you’re a sneakerhead, ankle socks probably won’t go much higher than the shoe’s collar. But if you wear loafers or boat shoes, you need a sock shaped like a ballet flat: curved at the back, swooping through the middle and curved again at the front. Here’s why.

Why wear no-show socks?

No-show socks, as the name implies, become invisible when you put your shoes on. They offer your toes and heel protection from stiff or unsavory liners, plus moisture absorption and odor control. Do you need them? Well, no, but loafers, or any low-cut shoe for that matter, with high socks is a divisive look — one that’s split from person to person rather than style camp to style camp (i.e. menswear traditionalists vs new-age streetwear fans).

No-show socks offer an alternative. Whether you’re tired of digging for matching pairs, unhappy with the crew socks you currently own or fear getting a sock tan (it can happen), these invisible, inner accessories come in handy. But they aren’t all made equal.

What to look for:

If you own any high socks without elastic arches or shafts — the parts that wrap around your foot and ride up your leg — you’ll know how annoying it is to own a pair of socks that constantly fall down. Maybe they pool at your ankle or bunch up inside your shoe. Annoying, right? No-show socks are even more likely to do this because there’s just less fabric — and that means less room for elastic elements or even grippy adornments. But there’s hope for those of us that enjoy the freedom of no-show socks: these pairs. They stay put, but be sure to pick the pair most appropriate for your preferred footwear.

The Best No-Show Socks

Back when these launched in 2019, we proclaimed, at last, “Finally, no-show socks that don’t suck.” Even though they’ve now been around for a while, the same rings true: Arvin Goods’ no-show socks are really, really good. They’re the brand’s Essential Crew broken down to its core parts: a sturdy sock bottom and elasticated elements to keep them in place.

MORE ABOUT THESE SOCKS

Bombas Low Cut No Show SockBombas

The Best Upgrade No-Show Socks

Bombas Low-Cut No Show Sock (4-Pack)

Bombas makes great socks. We’ve professed about their comfortability and practicality before — especially the high, honeycomb-arched crew socks. But the low-cut no shows are no different. They come in an array of colors, and prove invisible whether you’re wearing loafers or low-collared sneakers.

MORE ABOUT BOMBAS

Italic manufactures its products in the same factories as designer brands. That means you’re, in the case of Italic’s No Show Socks, getting Calvin Klein-level goods for 25 percent of the traditional retail price. These will stand up to the wash and the elastic is strong enough to keep them pulled up over your heel.

Proper Cloth’s no-show sock will show with a pair of low-cut loafers or boat shoes, but with sneakers there won’t be any visible evidence you’re wearing socks. Pick from three colors or two different multipacks, which include a mix of hues. Each one comes with elasticated arches, plus a seamless toe box (so they don’t rub), silicone grips in the heel and cushioned terry layers at the heel and toe.

Ideal for frequent sneaker wearers, Pact’s two-pack of no-show socks comes spun from organic cotton with a super stretchy mouth (for lack of a better term). You can pick from two colors — both pictured here — but they both come pre-shrunk with silicone grip stripes in the heel.

Made from a mix of cotton, nylon and elastane, Stance’s cushioned no shows have a deep heel pocket so they don’t slip off or bunch up. Plus, the toe is seamless and the inner arch is breathable so you won’t be walking in a pool of your own sweat.

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