/8 Best Winter Socks for Men in 2019

8 Best Winter Socks for Men in 2019

It’s a very good time to be on the hunt for the best winter socks, whether you’re searching for something utilitarian and warm to hold your ankles down during wintry commutes or something furry and neon to make a statement in a sea of navy and brown-clad office drones. The early 2010s were big years for bare ankles—and the no-show socks required to pull the look off. Fast forward to 2019 and flashing two or three inches of sock is cool again, and so the market is flooded with colorful, textured styles that are made to be seen, and made to be flexed in. And, better still, those out-there styles we love are being made in thicker and more winter-friendly weights—great news for all of us, not just sock lovers, because it’s cold and, you know, warmth. Now the thing we have to do to save our toes is also the thing we want to do to express our unique personalities and life is a perfect marriage of form and function. Well, below the knees at least. God help the bros running around in silk shirts right now. Below, the best winter socks we’re especially feeling right now.


The Best Precious (But Not Too Precious) Winter Socks

Paul Stuart cashmere blend ribbed sock

Surviving a long winter is all about finding novel ways to trick your brain into believing that leaving home is a good idea. And pulling on a pair of cashmere socks—encircling your toes in all that impossibly cozy, soothingly soft luxury—is one of the most reliable methods we’ve found for keeping positive in the face of blistering cold weather. But pure cashmere comes with a serious cost—both in terms of your wallet (you’ll be hard-pressed to find a pair for less than $100) and your time (hand-washing tube socks is nobody’s idea of a good time). That’s why we love these Paul Stuart jams: they’ve got all that cashmere goodness you need to get your butt out the door, only blended with some viscose and nylon for extra structure and machine washability. The fact that they clock in at a relatively reasonable $55 and come in a dozen fly colors is just icing on the cake.

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The Best Winter Socks for Breaking Necks

Kapital 84 Yarns heel smilie leopard socks

The heyday of goofy statement socks is, thankfully, mostly behind us now. (Somebody needs to let
Justin Trudeau down lightly.) We’ll make an exception, though, for the hosiery dreamed up by the
Japanese denim masters at Kapital. Designer Kiro Hirata and co. have a knack for knitting
smiley faces and
purple cacti into their socks in a way that feels artful, charming, and not the least bit corny. This chunky pair goes a step further by adding some leopard print—the reigning menswear pattern of the moment—to the equation. These are just some plain fun socks, the kind that’ll earn you plenty of attention and compliments for all the right reasons.

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The Best Heavy-Duty Winter Socks

Smartwool trekking heavy crew socks

When things are extra horrible outside—like, polar-vortex-level bad—these are the ones you want. Think of ’em as a full-on parka for your feet: thick enough you’ll be worried about them actually fitting in your boots (they will); performance-minded enough that your feet won’t completely overheat on the go. A certain GQ staffer once wore these exact socks while spending multiple nights in a
quinzhee hut in the backwoods of northern Ontario, and he still has all his toes. So, yeah, they’re the real deal.

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The Best Workweek Winter Socks

Falke Lhasa ribbed socks

If your budget won’t quite allow for a drawerful of the Paul Stuart numbers above, these Falke jams are a great everyday alternative at half the price. They’ve got a healthy serving of cashmere in the mix, all served up in a package that’s slim enough to fit in your dress shoes and subtle enough to appease even the soberest of office dress codes.

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The Best Stank-Free Winter Socks

American Trench merino activity sock with silver

Got the kind of feet where people start leaving the room before you’ve even finished untying your laces? American Trench’s signature socks will help. There’s anti-microbial silver knit directly into heel and toe to ward off odors at the source, and the breathable merino wool that comprises the rest will keep your dogs toasty and moisture-free.

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The Best Trippy Winter Socks

Bombas merino tie dye calf sock, 4-pack

A thousand podcasters can’t be wrong: Bombas socks really are as good as advertised. They’re comfortable, cushion-y, and plenty warm for the winter. This four-pack is a one-way ticket to good vibes, thanks to a quartet of earthy, wintry, tie-dyed tones.

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The Best Throwback Winter Socks

L.L.Bean merino wool ragg socks, 2-pack

Nothing beats classic American style, and nobody does classic and American better than L.L.Bean. Their ragg socks are every bit as soft, nubby, and altogether perfect as you remember, and will look incredible peeking out from the top of
those duck boots you hopefully remembered to buy early this year.

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The Best Earth-Conscious Winter Socks

Maggie’s Organics cotton crew sock

One more ragg option for the green-minded among us: Maggie’s loose-knit take is made in North Carolina from fair trade organic cotton, and comes in way weirder colors—like deep eggplant and bright green—than its more traditional counterparts.

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More Best Stuff

The Best Men’s Cashmere Sweaters Are the Swankiest Way to Stay Cozy All Winter
The Best Winter Boots Can Handle the Wettest, Slushiest, Blizzard-iest Weather
The Best Dress Socks for Any Budget
The Best Jeans for Men Under $100 Are Available at a Shopping Mall Near You
The Best Chelsea Boots to Wear with Everything