All experienced golfers know how instrumental the right pair of golf shoes can be when it comes to consistent, improving performance. However, what many golf enthusiasts do not know is that a high-quality pair of golf socks can also help to improve your game while keeping you feeling comfortable and looking stylish.
On the other side of the coin, wearing low-quality golf socks can cause issues such as cold feet and poor balance, which are likely to impact your performance. We have 5 pairs of amazing golf socks to review today! If you’re struggling to pick your favorite pair, you can check out our buyer’s guide and FAQ section, which are both full of helpful tips.
OUR TOP PICK
Swiftwick Maxus Zero Golf & Running Socks
EDITORS CHOICE
BEST VALUE
FootJoy Men’s ProDry Sport Socks
OUR TOP PICK
Swiftwick Maxus Zero Golf & Running Socks
These Maxus Zero Golf and Running Socks from Swiftwick are our top-rated golf socks because they are breathable, comfortable, and supportive – everything you need from a pair of golf socks. Swiftwick’s Maxus Zero socks are made from structurally modified fibers, which are extremely moisture-wicking and will keep your feet thoroughly dry, preventing blisters.
Meanwhile, the thin upper construction ensures breathability. The socks have thick, cushioned footbeds for ultimate comfort, ensuring that foot pain or discomfort won’t distract you from your game. Speaking of discomfort, one of the primary causes of foot pain during golf is a lack of proper support.
While your shoes should contribute most of this, the relaxed arch band delivers supportive compression, which can help to reduce discomfort while keeping your socks in place. Unfortunately, some (not all) wearers of these socks have reported that the socks still slip down from time to time, meaning that it’s very important to find the perfect fit if you don’t want to be readjusting your socks constantly.
Luckily, the size range for the Maxus Zero socks ranges from small to x-large, which is fairly inclusive and makes finding the ideal fit easier.
Pros
- Modified fibers – Moisture-wicking
- Thin upper – Breathable
- Thick footbed – Comfortable
- Relaxed arch band – Supportive compression
- Sizes small to x-large – Inclusive
Cons
- May slip inside the shoe – Potential readjustment required
EDITORS CHOICE
Kent Wool Tour Profile Socks
Our runner-up golf socks are the Kent Wool Tour Profile Socks. The Kent Wool Tour Profile socks are made from a combination of different fibers, including merino wool, spandex, nylon, and polyester, which work together to create a comfortable and soft sock fabric. Additionally, the cocona fibers are specially constructed to make the socks more resistant to blisters by preven.
Because the material is relatively thick, these socks provide a tight, snug fit that won’t slide around inside your shoes. However, the thickness of the material does mean that the sizing may run small for some wearers. The socks come in a multipack of 3, which means that even if you play golf multiple times per week, you’ll always have a fresh, clean pair of golf socks.
It’s worth bearing in mind that the Kent Wool socks retail for a high price point, so they’re not the most budget-friendly socks in the world. However, they are of excellent quality and a great option.
Pros
- Merino wool, spandex, nylon, and polyester – Soft and comfortable
- Thick material – Snug fit
- Cocona fibers – Blister-resistant
- Multipack – 3 pairs
Cons
- Expensive – Not budget-friendly
BEST VALUE
FootJoy Men’s ProDry Sport Socks
Comfort is key when it comes to golfing. After all, with the average length of a golf round being over 4 hours, you need to be able to stand without discomfort for a long time. The FootJoy Men’s ProDry Sport Socks are the perfect golf socks to enhance both your comfort and performance.
Made from a blend of polyester, spandex, acrylic, and nylon, these socks are stretchy, comfortable, and breathable to ensure the perfect fit and most enjoyable experience.
However, it’s not just the fabric blend that makes these socks so comfortable. The fibers are moisture-controlling, so you won’t have to worry about excess moisture ruining your golfing experience.
Plus, the comfort seam across the toe helps the socks to follow the form of your foot and does not cause any rubbing or blistering. Another key feature of these socks is the double-layered heel construction, which provides cushioning and support for hours of painless golfing.
The FootJoy socks come as a single pair or in a multipack of 2 for those who like to golf more frequently. Sadly, although these are the most comfortable golf socks on the market right now, they aren’t the most durable and tend to become worn over time.
This means that you may need to replace them more regularly than the other socks on our list, but for many, the enhanced comfort is worth it.
Pros
- Polyester, spandex, nylon, and acrylic – Elastic and breathable
- Comfort seam – Enhanced comfort
- Moisture control fiber – Moisture-wicking
- Double-layered heel – Supportive
- Multipack – 2 pairs
Cons
- Not very durable – May need replacing
RUNNER UP
Gold Toe Golf Sta-Cool Double Eagle Tab Socks
These socks may not technically be the best value for money because some of the other socks on our list come in multipacks.
However, this single pair of golf socks retails for a lower price than any other product we’ve reviewed today. So, if you’re looking to save money without compromising on quality, these are the socks we’d recommend. The Gold Toe socks are made from a nylon, polyester, and spandex blend. This makes them not only breathable, but highly durable, so you won’t need to worry about finding a replacement pair for a long time.
This is another factor that makes these seemingly expensive socks surprisingly budget-friendly. Cooling mesh panels are built into each sock, providing comfortable arch support to help you feel your best during any game. Meanwhile, the use of XS rebound technology delivers a high level of cushioning for enhanced comfort.
The double tab design, which rises at the front and back of the foot, provides extra protection against uncomfortable rubbing from your shoes.
Thanks to the Sta-Cool wicking, sweat isn’t an issue when wearing these socks on the golf course. However, they are much better for the winter than the summer because of how thick they are. You may find your feet becoming uncomfortably warm in hot weather.
Pros
- Nylon, polyester, and spandex – Durable and breathable
- Sta-Cool wicking – Prevents excess moisture
- XS technology – Comfortable cushioning
- Cooling mesh panels – Supportive
- Double tab design – Protective inside shoe
Cons
- Very warming – Not for hot days
RUNNER UP
PUMA Golf 2020 Men’s Pounce Socks
Finally, the PUMA Golf 2020 Men’s Pounce Socks are some of the best sports socks on the market for golfers. PUMA’s Pounce socks are made from spandex, cotton, and nylon, which is the perfect fiber combination for soft, comfortable, breathable, and durable socks.
Additionally, the fibers that make up these golf socks are moisture-wicking to help keep your feet dry, hygienic, and blister-free. You can purchase these socks in a pack of 3, so you’ll never need to be without a pair of your favorite golf socks before a game. Unfortunately, the size range for the PUMA socks only extends from size 9 to size 12, so these are not the right socks for golfers with smaller or larger feet.
Pros
- Cotton, nylon, and spandex – Breathable and soft
- Moisture-wicking fibers – Keep feet dry
- Multipack – 3 pairs
Cons
- Only for sizes 9 – 12 – Not for smaller or larger feet
Buyer’s Guide: Choosing The Best Golf Socks
The golf socks you choose can truly be the difference between an enjoyable game of golf and an uncomfortable one. That’s why it’s worth putting a fair amount of thought into your decision. For more guidance on prioritizing the right features in your new golf socks, read on!
Material
Of course, you should pay attention to what kind of material a pair of golf socks is made from. Manufacturers will normally state which fibers make up a pair of socks. Specific blends can have different advantages and disadvantages.
Cotton is a common material found in golf socks, especially the thicker, softer ones. Cotton is a soft, breathable fiber that is naturally moisture-wicking and breathable, so this is a good fiber to prioritize for comfort and breathability.
Polyester, like cotton, is also breathable, although not quite to the same degree. It’s moisture-wicking as well and remains lightweight and breathable whilst also feeling soft and retaining warmth.
You’ll also see nylon and spandex on the labels for a majority of golf socks because these materials are budget-friendly and hold their shape well, resisting wear and tear for a long time.
If you want your socks to last you as long as possible, look for spandex and nylon fibers. Additionally, both materials are breathable and moisture-wicking.
Acrylic and wool are also likely to make an appearance in your search for the perfect golf sock fabric blend. Acrylic is a wool-mimicking, moisture-wicking material that will keep your feet warm and dry.
It’s generally very comfort-enhancing. Wool may be more expensive than acrylic but it’s also natural, soft, comfortable, and odor-resistant, which is great for socks you’ll be standing around in for hours at a time. If you have sensitive skin, you may want to stick to more natural fibers like cotton and wool.
However, be aware that these can be more expensive and may not hold their shape as well as some artificial fibers. The upside is that they are often superior in terms of comfort.
Specifically, we recommend looking for moisture-wicking fibers to ensure that sweat doesn’t build up and cause you to feel uncomfortable when you’re trying to focus on your performance.
Thickness
While you’re considering the different fibers, it’s also worth thinking about the thickness of the material. This can be a difficult balance to get just right because, on the one hand, you want your golf socks to be thick enough to provide adequate cushioning and support.
On the other hand, you don’t want them to be so thick that your feet get too warm or you struggle to fit your socks into your shoes. It’s ultimately up to you whether you prefer to wear socks that are on the thinner or thicker side.
However, we’d recommend avoiding overly thin socks since these may get uncomfortable after hours on the course, and extremely thick socks can feel excessively warm.
There’s a middle ground between the two that we feel we have, for the most part, prioritized in our selection of socks.
Construction
The way a sock is constructed can also be used to separate a good golf sock from a less practical and comfortable one. This extends beyond the material and how thick that material is. A good golfing sock should have a sufficient amount of padding in the heel to provide support and comfortable cushioning.
Moreover, it’s a good idea to look for a band around the middle of the foot, which usually acts as a form of both compression and support. The compression helps to prevent your socks from sliding off inside your shoes mid-game while also providing arch support to maximize your comfort, even during long games.
Ideally, seams inside golf socks should be as subtle as possible, causing minimal friction and annoyance. Look for seams advertised as ‘comfort seams’ or similar and you should be on the right track. A tab at the front and back of a golf sock can be surprisingly useful. Firstly, if your shoes have a tendency to rub against your ankles, tabs can help to prevent this. Additionally, if your socks do start to slip, it’s much easier to pull them back up with the help of a tab.
We’ve addressed the ideal overall thickness of a golf sock already, but we recommend socks where the footed is especially thick if you find yourself lacking in arch support.
Size
Finding golf socks in the perfect size can be tricky, especially as manufacturers express their size ranges differently. Some sock manufacturers, for example, have size ranges from small to x-large, while others use a numerical sizing scale.
If you like the look of a pair of socks and see that the sizes are non-numerical, please don’t take a guess and consult the manufacturer’s specific size guide instead. A good fit is essential when it comes to golf socks if you don’t want to spend every game pulling your socks back up or feeling like your toes are cramped in your shoes.
Quantity
Depending on how often you play golf, you may need more than one pair of golf socks. All of the socks we’ve reviewed today are machine washable and many are highly moisture-wicking, meaning that they should dry quickly. This means, in theory, that you could probably wash the same pair of socks between sessions and have one dedicated pair of golf socks – especially if you only play once a week.
However, if you don’t want the pressure of always having the same pair of socks washed and dried before your next game or practice, you could always purchase a multipack of socks.
Some of the socks we’ve reviewed today come in packs of 2 or 3, so you can have a spare pair in your bag for emergencies or rotate the pairs throughout the week if you play golf more frequently.
Frequently Asked Questions
Some of the socks we consider the best golf socks were not specifically designed for golf. Athletic socks designed with other sports (such as running) in mind can make excellent golf socks, as our product selection shows. However, we would not recommend wearing every day, non-athletic socks to play golf. These will probably not provide enough support and cushioning and may not be moisture-wicking enough.
Most golf socks are athletic or ankle-length, but it’s also not uncommon for golfers to wear crew-length socks. Ultimately, it’s down to personal preference, but ankle-length socks are generally considered to be the standard.
Some golfers choose to put socks on their club heads to protect them from wear while they are in storage. This is because the enamel on club heads can get worn down from rubbing against other golf clubs in a bag. Socks are also sometimes used to protect the shaft of the club from the same kind of damage. However, you can also get protective covers for both club heads, so we recommend using your golf socks to protect your feet instead.
Conclusion
Golf socks might not seem like the most important piece of gold apparel, but they play a vital role in ensuring your comfort, which can improve both your posture and performance. Remember that a high-quality golf sock should offer cushioning, support, breathability, moisture-wicking, durability, and general comfort.
Your search for golf socks doesn’t have to be limited to golf-specific designs, with so many amazing athletic socks on the market. However, we truly believe that these are the 5 best pairs of golf socks you can buy!
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