Most people choose no show socks the way they choose regular socks: grab a multipack in roughly the right size and hope for the best. Then the socks peek above the shoe, or slip off the heel by lunch, and the conclusion is that no show socks do not work.
They do, but they are less forgiving than regular socks. A crew sock can be a size off and nobody notices. A no show sock that is a size off ends up under your arch. Here is how I would choose a pair, starting with the question most people skip.
The short answer
Check five things. Choose the cut for your shoes, not for your feet. Size by foot length. Pick a thin, breathable fabric with some stretch. Look for a heel that is shaped to your foot, with a silicone grip to hold it. And choose a color close to your skin or to the shoe's lining.
Start with your shoes: the cut
The cut decides whether the sock stays hidden, and the right cut depends entirely on how low the shoe's opening is. Brands use different names, from liner to ultra low to low cut, so judge by where the sock sits rather than what it is called. Ours come in three heights:
| Cut | Where it sits | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Low-Cut | Lowest, below the opening of very shallow shoes | Ballet flats, heels and other shallow shoes |
| Mid-Cut | Just inside the collar, with more hold at the heel | Loafers, sneakers, clogs, slip-ons and boat shoes |
| High-Cut | More coverage across the top of the foot | Dress shoes, and sneakers with a tall or padded collar |
If you are unsure, start from the shoe. Our pages for loafers, ballet flats, heels, dress shoes, sneakers and clogs and slip ons each show the cut that suits that shoe. For more on how the heights compare, see low cut vs no show socks.
Get the size right
Size matters more for a no show sock than for any other kind. Too big, and the spare fabric folds and travels until the sock slips. Too small, and the tension at the heel pulls the sock off. Size by your shoe size and check the chart rather than assuming one size fits most.
Our socks are unisex and sized by foot length:
| Size | US men | US women |
|---|---|---|
| S | 3.5 to 5 | 5 to 6.5 |
| M | 5.5 to 7.5 | 7 to 9 |
| L | 8 to 10 | 9.5 to 11.5 |
| XL | 10.5 to 12.5 | 12 to 14 |
| XXL (Mid-Cut and High-Cut only) | 13 to 14.5 | 14.5 to 16 |
If you fall between sizes, size down for a firmer hold at the heel. The full chart with EUR sizes is on our size chart page.
Fabric: what each one does in a no show sock
The fabric decides how the sock feels, how it handles sweat and how long it keeps its shape. Most socks are blends, and the blend matters as much as any single fiber.
Cotton
Soft, breathable and familiar. Cotton absorbs moisture well, but it holds on to it, and on its own it stretches out and does not spring back. That is why cotton socks are almost always blended with something else.
Modal
A type of rayon made from beech wood pulp. It is softer and smoother than cotton, absorbs moisture readily, and holds its softness and shape through washing better than standard rayon. I wrote about the difference in rayon, modal and soft socks.
Spandex
The stretch. A small percentage lets a sock fit closely and recover its shape after each wear. Too little and the sock grows looser over the day. It is the fiber that keeps a no show sock from turning baggy.
Nylon and polyester
Durable and quick to dry, which is why they are common in athletic socks. They can feel less breathable against the skin than cotton or modal in an everyday shoe.
Merino wool
Good at regulating temperature and resisting odor. Merino socks tend to be thicker and suit hiking and colder weather, which makes them a harder fit in a loafer or a flat.
Bamboo
Most socks labeled bamboo are a rayon made from bamboo pulp rather than a raw bamboo fiber. They can be soft and absorbent, but read the label carefully rather than relying on the word bamboo.
Ours are 45% cotton, 45% Lenzing Modal and 10% spandex. The cotton breathes, the modal adds softness and handles moisture, and the spandex keeps the fit close from morning to evening.
Thin or cushioned
For low shoes, thin is almost always better. Loafers, flats, heels and dress shoes leave very little room inside, and a cushioned sock takes up space the shoe was not cut for. That tightens the fit and pushes your heel up and out of the shoe, which makes slipping more likely. Cushioning makes sense in running shoes and on long days in athletic sneakers. Our socks are thin, made for everyday shoes.
The heel: grip and construction
The heel is where a no show sock succeeds or fails. Almost every one has a silicone grip inside it, ours included, and the grip helps. But the grip can only hold what it is given.
Most no show socks are knit as a tube, so the heel is the same stretchy fabric as the rest of the sock and the grip does all the holding on its own. Ours are cut and sewn from a cotton and modal fabric, so the heel already sits where it should before the grip does anything. A quick way to compare socks is to turn them inside out and look at the heel. I explain how in why no show socks slip off.
Color
The best color is the one nobody notices. With light shoes and a bare ankle, choose a shade close to your skin: Almond Beige or Toffee Tan. With dark shoes, match the lining: Midnight Black or Espresso Brown. With white sneakers, Pristine White.
Care, and when to replace them
Machine wash cold and tumble dry low. Heat is what breaks down elastic fibers, so a hot dryer shortens the life of the spandex and the grip. I skip fabric softener for the same reason.
Replace a pair when the heel has stretched out, the grip has worn smooth, the fabric has thinned at the heel or toe, or the sock starts slipping in shoes it used to stay put in.
Frequently asked questions
How do I choose the right size no show socks?
Size by your shoe size and check the brand's chart. A no show sock needs to fit more closely than a regular sock, so if you are between sizes, size down.
What is the best material for no show socks?
For everyday shoes, a thin blend of a soft, breathable fiber like cotton or modal with a little spandex for stretch. Synthetic blends and merino suit athletic and outdoor use better.
Should no show socks be thin or cushioned?
Thin for loafers, flats, heels and dress shoes, which leave little room inside. Cushioned for running shoes and athletic sneakers.
How do I stop no show socks from slipping?
Choose the right cut for the shoe, the right size, and a sock with a heel shaped to your foot and a silicone grip to hold it. If the shoe lets your heel lift, fix the fit of the shoe first.
Are no show socks unisex?
Ours are. They are sized by foot length, and the size chart lists US men's and women's sizes side by side.
Which cut should I buy if I only want one?
The Mid-Cut suits the widest range of shoes: loafers, sneakers, clogs, slip-ons and boat shoes. If you mostly wear ballet flats or heels, choose the Low-Cut instead.
The bottom line
Start with the shoe, then the size, then the fabric and the heel. Get those four right and the color is the easy part. If you want to compare all three cuts in one place, they are on our no show socks page.