The best no-show socks for men and women

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The best no-show socks for men and women
  • If you want to keep your feet comfortable, protected against blisters, and with added support, you need great socks.
  • If you want to do all that without your socks ruining an outfit, you need great no-show socks.
  • The Bombas Lightweight No-Show Socks are the best no-show socks you can buy, thanks to their ultra-light fine cotton fabric blend, gel grips that keep your socks in place all day long, and other thoughtful details.
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I lived in Los Angeles for 12 years, and during that time, no-show socks played a relatively minor role in my life. From mid-March through November, I wore sandals most of the time, and then during the LA "winter" I wore shoes with long socks under jeans. And usually a T-shirt - LA winters aren't all that intense, see?

Now that I live in the Mid-Atlantic region of the East Coast, no-show socks have become much more of a thing in my life, and for multiple reasons. One is rain. When it's raining, sandals are a bad choice. But when it's raining and it's 90 degrees out, no way am I donning long pants with longs socks, and of course, I'll not be caught dead with long socks sticking up out of my shoes.

Another reason is the fact that there are actual seasons here during which daily temperatures can change dramatically. While I might start a fall day wearing long pants and a jacket, I may have switched to shorts and a long sleeve shirt by early afternoon. And, thus, to no-show socks again.

While it might seem funny to devote so much thought to choosing socks that, by their very nature, won't even be seen by anyone, when your shoddy pair of no-shows slips off your foot and balls up in your shoe, or when it turns out that your socks are very much showing, you'll wish you had invested just a bit more time into choosing the right pair.

Also, you'll be amazed what a difference a great sock can make in offering support during running, hikes, or long walks. I know I was, at any rate, when I first started wearing great socks, many of which you would never even know I had on.

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Here are the best no-show socks you can buy:

Updated on 09/13/2019 by Remi Rosmarin: Updated links, formatting, and prices. Added two new options for our overall pick (Bombas) and for cold weather (MeUndies).

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The best no-show socks overall

The best no-show socks overall
Obsessively researched and thoughtfully designed, Bombas Lightweight No-Show Socks are soft, secure, and give back to a great cause.

As a whole, the Insider Picks team has sung the praises of Bombas many times before. Many of us have called them "the best socks we've ever worn," so it only makes sense that the company's no-show sock topped this list. Like the rest of their products, Bombas no-show socks are thoughtfully designed to be comfortable, supportive, and slip-free.

The finely tuned details that set these socks apart include the thin, lightweight cotton that makes for a really comfortable and breathable fit, and a seamless toe, which means no annoying bump at the front of the sock. Three gel grips on the back of each heel make sure the socks never fall down into your shoe — and in our experience, they perform better than other gel grips we've experienced in low-cut or no-show socks even after being washed several times.

There's also a variety of no-show options, like a cushioned sock and an extra-low-cut version.

Bombas is confident that their socks are great, that's why they have a 100% happiness guarantee. Whether you need a refund, a replacement, or anything else, Bombas is committed to solving your sock problems. Plus, for every pair of Bombas purchased, the brand donates a pair to a person in need. While the socks may seem pricey at $10.50 a pair, you can feel good knowing that your purchase is giving back to someone who needs it. — Remi Rosmarin

Pros: Thoughtful details, multiple no-show options, gives back

Cons: A little pricey

The best for cold weather

The best for cold weather
MeUndies No-Show Socks are made with a soft, thick Supima cotton, making them perfect for cold days when you don't want your socks to show, but still want to keep your feet toasty.

I'm a huge fan of no-show socks. I wear them with pretty much everything besides boots, because there's nothing like a rogue sock peeping out of the top of your shoes to ruin a great outfit.

That being said, I've tried a lot of no-shows in my day, and the MeUndies No-Show Socks are the most comfortable. Long-staple Supima cotton makes these really soft and stretchy, and thicker than most no-show socks I've tried in the past. They're still thin enough to fit underneath any shoe, but the fabric definitely feels more substantial. The weight makes them a great choice for cold-weather days when you want to wear loafers or sneakers but still want to keep your feet warm.

A silicone gel heel grip on each sock ensures they don't slip off while you move, and a thin elastic band at the top of the sock prevents any sagging. So, you can expect these to be very secure.

While these are definitely no-shows, they may come up a little high on the heel. I have experienced this wearing the socks with certain pairs of low-top sneakers, but it's easy to arrange the socks so this doesn't happen. At $12 a pair, these aren't the most affordable option, but due to their quality construction, they should outlast cheaper pairs. Also, if you sign up for a MeUndies membership, you can get them for just $8. — Remi Rosmarin

Pros: Soft, thick fabric, really comfortable, fun colors and designs

Cons: Sometimes you can see the sock at the heel, pricey

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The best for men's dress shoes

The best for men's dress shoes
With a pair of Thirty48 No-Show Loafer Socks tucked under your loafers, boat shoes, or stylish sneakers, your feet will stay cool and dry whether you're sailing the high seas or swapping ideas at a lunchtime meeting.

Certain types of shoes are tricky. Loafers, slip-ons, moccasins, and a few other types of men's shoes really only look good when worn without socks, and that's true whether you're wearing shorts or long pants. While some boat shoes or slip-on sneakers might feel fine without socks, others feel clammy or poke your feet or cause rubbing and blisters with any extended wear.

Enter the Thirty48 No Show Loafer Socks. These extra low-riding now show socks come in a variety of colors that blend into most dressier shoes and that won't draw attention when worn with sneakers if anyone sees them at all.

The Thirty48 No Show Loafer Socks have a very low rise at the back of the foot, just covering your heel and eliminating a common hotspot for blisters. They stay in place thanks to a silicone grip stitched into the sock at the heel, so even if you're quite active while wearing them, they rarely slip off and bunch up.

On those hot days, these thin, minimalist socks help keep your feet cool thanks to patented CoolPlus fabric design that uses a capillary system to draw moisture and heat away from your feet.

More than 1,500 people have left reviews and ratings for the Thirty48 No Show Loafer Socks, and they enjoy a fine 4.5-star rating overall. A gentleman Daniel speaks for many when he says these socks "fit well, the rubber heel ensures the sock stays on the foot, and the different colors are [well] matched to all [his] shoes."

A writer from The Gear Hunt praised the Thirty48 No Show Loafer Sock's "moisture wicking" properties and appreciated that the sock "stays on your feet." — Steven John

Pros: Very low profile, silicone band holds sock in place, available in several muted colors

Cons: Elastic wring around collar too tight for some feet

The best for women's dress shoes

The best for women's dress shoes
The Eedor Thin Casual Boat Line Sock won't stick up above even a low-cut flat thanks to the low-rise back, which just covers the heel.

Many women's shoes have a low cut to begin with, so many otherwise no-show socks will very much show when worn with flats, pumps, and other types of shoe. With a pair of Eedor Thin Casual Boat Line Socks on your feet, you can enjoy the blister protection afforded by socks without the faux pas of visible socks.

While quite low cut, these socks stay in place thanks to a band of silicone affixed to the rear of the sock. The rest of your foot will be kept comfortable thanks to the snug feel created by an 80% cotton, 20% spandex fabric blend. That blend can keep your foot feeling clean and dry under most normal circumstances, but do note that if your feet sweat heavily or get wet due to rain or a puddle, these socks won't dry out any time soon — cotton holds water much more readily than synthetic fibers.

The Eedor Thin Casual Boat Line Socks come in four different colors that are generally neutral and will blend in with the look of many shoes, further enhancing the no show of it all. Also, you can get eight pairs for well under 20 bucks, which is a fine deal indeed.

With more than 3,000 reviews posted on Amazon, the Eedor Thin Casual Boat Line Socks enjoy a commendable 4.5-star rating. One customer loved that the are "very comfortable" and "stay in place all day." Another lady called them "perfect [for when you] don't want the look of socks creeping out of your shoes but you want your foot covered."

Do note that many women reported the sizing running too small, so buy accordingly. — Steven John

Pros: Great low price, good color variety, stay in place reliably

Cons: Sizing runs small

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The best no-show running socks

The best no-show running socks
Your feet will enjoy superb support thanks to the Lycra power bands stitched into every Feetures! Ultra Light No-Show Tab Socks.

Just to clear the air here, I own five or six pairs of Feetures! socks at present, and yes, my opinion about them is probably biased. But I've developed that bias based solely on the fact that the company makes superlative socks. The High Performance Ultra Light No-Show Tab Socks are one of the most comfortable, supportive, and high-performing socks I've ever worn, and that goes for no-shows, crew socks, hiking socks, and on and on.

First, let's talk about support. These socks are made out of a high-density knit blend of polyester, nylon, and spandex, so they are snug and resilient, conforming well to your feet with zero stretching out even during hours of use. A "power band" of added Lycra around the center of the sock offers excellent arch support and compression.

Now for temperature regulation. Not only do the primarily polyester Feetures! No-Show Tab Socks wick away plenty of sweat, but two large mesh panels along the top of each sock allows for excellent breathability and release of heat.

These socks were designed for performance, and I do wear Feetures! socks while running at times, but I wear them more often just because they're comfortable.

With nearly 200 reviews posted on Amazon at the time of this writing, customers have given these socks a collective 4.4-star rating. One lady reported her "feet feeling energized after a four mile run" in Feetures! No-Show Tab Socks, while another customer reported the socks keeping his feet "dry" and without "any rubbing at all" during training for a marathon. — Steven John

Pros: Excellent support, great breathability, durable construction

Cons: Slightly pricey per pair

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