Whether you’re playing in a formal soccer league or just with your friends on weekends, the right pair of socks can help prevent blisters and fungal growth while adding comfort and protection to your feet. Proper socks improve your level of comfort by reducing friction between your foot and cleats, add ankle support, minimize shin guard distractions, and increase your confidence when dribbling or passing the ball. In addition, certain fabrics can improve proprioception by communicating with your muscle fibres to help send signals from the feet to the brain to stabilise and position the foot.
Black soccer socks come in both crew-length and knee-high styles to protect your legs from scrapes and grass burn while absorbing impact on the foot, achilles and lower leg. Many athletes prefer knee-high socks because they prevent calf muscles from becoming cramped during intense games and training.
Most socks are made from cotton, polyester or a combination of synthetic fibers like Nylon and Spandex. Cotton is inexpensive, but it absorbs moisture and can be coarse, increasing the chance of blisters, fungal growth and chafing. Polyester is a bit pricier than cotton but it is soft, breathable and can stretch to fit your foot. Spandex is used for added elasticity and to hold the sock’s shape.
Other fabric options include Olefin, Polyamide and Profilen. These fabrics reduce friction between the socks and cleats and provide increased ankle support and blister control. These are some of the most popular fabrics in high performance socks from top brands such as Nike, Adidas and Nxtrnd.
