The 10 Most Essential Pairs Of Socks For Men

Like a lot of cornerstones in the contemporary male wardrobe, the humble sock is meant, primarily, to fulfil a practical purpose — giving you a supportive and comfortable layer underfoot.

Still, they’re a great way to add a pop of colour and/or texture to any fit: as you’re bound to see below.

From the classic over-the-calf dress sock to hi-tech numbers meant to shave nanoseconds off your run, these are all our favourite men’s socks you can buy in Australia right now. Take our word for it: with these inclusions, one pair simply isn’t enough.

Drumohr Navy Cotton Socks

DETAILS

• 90% cotton, 8% polyamide, 2% elastane
• Marled blue colourway
• Available in one size
• Made in Italy

Famously Scottish and now Italian-owned, Drumohr has long maintained a reputation for making some of the nicest knits in the fashion business.

But beyond its best-selling ‘Biscottino’ sweaters, we also like how the brand has translated its fun, mischievous aesthetic into the realm of accessories. That’s very much the case with these cotton-blend socks.

Made exclusively for the brand by Italian hosiery experts Sozzi Milano, they feature an alternating navy and mid-blue weave that adds just the right amount of visual interest to dressy ensembles.

Uniqlo HEATTECH Soft Pile Ribbed Socks

DETAILS

• 44% acrylic, 22% polyester, 14% viscose, 14% cotton, 5% nylon, 1% elastane
• Comes in multiple colourways
• Fits shoe size AU8-11
• Made in China

Pretty much the best winter-weight sock we could find for under $30, Uniqlo’s aptly described ‘Soft Pile’ design employs one of the brand’s best-known innovations — HEATTECH.

Essentially a form of fibrous technology which improves heat retention whilst deodorising, it has been used here to give these men’s socks serious all-day wearability.

The brand markets this as a great sock to wear around the household, and — depending on how determined you are to blend in with your home interiors — is available in versatile shades of beige or dark grey.

Rototo ‘Kasuri’ Ribbed Crew Socks Navy/Burgundy

DETAILS

• 78% cotton, 12% polyester, 10% nylon
• Flecked navy/burgundy colourway
• Fits shoe size US9-12
• Made in Japan

These men’s socks come courtesy of Rototo: a boutique operation in the small Japanese town of Koryo. Made in the epicentre of Japan’s hosiery industry, they are loosely knit with three differently coloured yarns — contributing to the final’s product rustic, comforting feel.

The ‘Kasuri’ moniker refers to a style of traditional Japanese resist-dyeing, in which all of the fibres used to make these mens socks are pre-coloured in order to achieve the specific speckled effect you see here.

Rede Cotton Ribbed Socks (3-Pack)

DETAILS

• 100% mercerised cotton
• ‘Sabbia’ grey colourway
• Fits shoe size AU6-10
• Made in Italy

These ribbed socks from Italian hosiery specialist Rede are bound to get the job done — if what you’re after is a well-made, multipurpose style with zero fuss.

The fact that the cotton is mercerised means this sock possesses stronger fibres and superior colour-fastness. In addition, since they are the areas exposed to the most abrasion, the heel and toe have been knit with a reinforced construction. Sensible, no?

Salomon S/LAB Short Distance Sock

DETAILS

• 83% polyamide, 8% polyester, 5% silicon, 4% elastane
• Features strategically placed NSO patches
• Available in S, M, L, XL
• Made in Italy

We’re well-aware that calling a sock ‘performance-enhancing technology’ seems a bridge too far. Yet if there was an inclusion in this men’s socks list that warranted that description, it’d be the Salomon S/LAB.

Designed by the French alpinist label with seasoned short/medium-distance runners in mind, each pair of ‘Short Distance’ socks is constructed with anti-slip strips around the toe; recycled nylon yarns; and “breathable NSO patches”.

Visible as large circles, the latter allegedly help to boost blood circulation and recovery. So not your average men’s socks, then?

Anonymous Ism Lightweight Slub Crew Sock

DETAILS

• 83% cotton, 16% nylon, 1% polyurethane
• Flecked white/navy colourway
• Available in M (UK4-7) and L (UK8-11)
• Made in Japan

These lightweight socks from Japanese label Anonymous Ism are another inspired choice for the style brigade. For lovers of gorp and trad American clothing, the slubby navy-on-cream weave is something that looks good no matter what uppers you’re wearing.

And, as with our Rototo inclusion, these are made to a much higher standard than what you’ll find on the high street (think a reinforced heel, pre-dyed yarns, and durable ribbed trims).

Kirby Allison ‘Sovereign Grade’ Super-Fine Dress Sock

DETAILS

• 100% Egyptian Makó cotton
• Comes in multiple colourways
• Fits shoe size US10-13
• Made in Italy

Thin, fantastically soft, and available in a range of 7 different sizes (US), we liken these ‘Sovereign’ grade dress socks from Kirby Allison to the Rolls-Royce of hosiery.

Produced exclusively for the brand in a Roman factory where 260-needle machines are still the norm, we’re doubtful you’ll find many other socks on the market that are as comfortable or breath so well.

The two inches of ribbing along this sock’s top (i.e. ‘Gambaletto’) allow it to stretch more easily over the wearer’s calf: a detail you’ll be glad of if you happen to be wearing these for hours at a time.

Mazarin ‘Academy Green’ Knee-High Socks

DETAILS

• 100% cotton lisle
• ‘Academy’ green colourway
• Fits shoe size UK3.5-13
• Made in Italy

Mazarin is another old, stately sock specialist that is bound to be of interest if you have an appreciation for things made in a traditional or artisanal way.

Although the brand makes a variety of knee-length socks in all sorts of colourways, the most iconic of these is the ‘Academy’ green version: a reference to Mazarin’s status as one of the official clothiers of the Academic Francaise.

Predictably, the make here is extremely good. Each sock’s toe is hand-linked, while the cotton lisle fabric is woven using an extra twist per inch. Diagnosis? Dress socks that are as strong as they are silky-soft.

Bresciani Ribbed Calf-Length Socks

DETAILS

• 100% wool
• Comes in multiple colourways
• Available in S, M, L
• Made in Italy

A favourite of well-compensated white-collar types (see: finance bros), Bresciani has been making socks since 1970. More than Mazarin or Falke, the brand has been historically comfortable utilising zany fabrics: as evidenced by its ‘Norwegian weave’ winter socks.

Still, we reckon your best intro to the brand is via the humble navy sock. Made in a ribbed, hand-linked construction these are the only non-athletic pair of hosiery you’ll need during the colder months.

Champion Genderless ‘Qtr Crew’ Sock (3-Pack)

DETAILS

• Cotton/nylon/elastane
• Comes in multiple colourways
• Available in S, M
• Made in Italy

While Salomon’s S/LAB design is undoubtedly impressive, these tried and true short socks from Champion offer a relaxed aesthetic — along with a much better value proposition.

Coming in packs of three, this ‘quarter crew’ style is knit with a cushioned heel from the classic (if somewhat ubiquitous) blend of cotton, nylon, and elastane materials.

With the iconic C-shape logo at the ankle, these are a great option for those who want to advertise their love for heritage Yankee sportswear.

If you’ve enjoyed this buying guide to the humble men’s sock, here are a few more style-related stories to keep you reading:

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