When you’re travelling, two things should be a priority: comfort and practicality. This should apply to the socks that you bring along.
Socks are one of the most underrated travel staples but also one of the most important. You need to ensure that the socks you pack are comfortable and practical for where you’re going.
As a man, you might not have given much thought to your travel socks, but we can’t stress enough how much this needs to change. The socks that you travel with can ruin your travel experience if they aren’t suited to your needs.
In this article, we’ll lay out all the data we’ve compiled about the best travel socks for men, as well as what factors you need to consider when choosing your travel socks.
What this article covers:
Best Socks for Travel
Ankle Length Grip Socks
We’ve found that our ankle-length grip socks are some of the most versatile and comfortable socks to take with you on your travels.
When travelling, you often run around to catch flights and taxis. This can leave you flustered and hot. For this reason, these shorter socks are great to have. They’ll prevent you from getting too hot and will be much more pleasant to wear than longer socks.
Our socks are also extremely comfortable, so they won’t bother you during long flights or drives. They’re moisture-wicking and breathable, which is beneficial when you’re travelling for hours on end, as feet tend to sweat easily in these conditions.
Our ankle-length grip socks are ideal if you’re travelling to warm locations and plan to be quite active on your travels. Their length and grip make them perfect for running, tennis, and most other sports, including being the best horse-riding socks.
The grip that these socks have also made them some of the best socks to prevent blisters and can give you a lot more stability and control during activities.
They aren’t ideal for hiking, as they leave your ankles exposed, which could result in them being scratched and hurt on hikes. We would recommend long socks if you’re planning to do a lot of hiking on your travels.
The length of these socks also makes them versatile. You can wear these socks when you’re travelling to your destination as well as when you're there. They can be used for an active day out—they're the best trainer socks—and then readily used for dinner or a night out on the town, too.
These socks are a great addition to have if you’re travelling, and they’re affordable too. You can bag four pairs of these socks for a very reasonable £22.
Why They’re Great
- They’re versatile and can be used for many activities
- They’re comfortable
- They’ll keep you cool
- They’re great for active holidays
Who They’re Right For
- People who get hot when they travel
- People who are looking for comfort when they travel
- People who are travelling to hot climates
- People who are planning to have fairly active holidays
Mid-Calf-Length Grip Socks
Our mid-calf-length grip socks are another type of sock that’s great for men who are travelling, especially if you go for our black grip socks.
These socks are made out of cotton and elastic fibres, making them some of the most comfortable socks out there, which should be one of your priorities when you’re looking for travel socks.
Even though these socks are slightly longer than our ankle-length socks, they’re still breathable and moisture-wicking, so they won’t make you overwhelmingly hot.
That being said, if you’re someone who gets cold easily, the little bit of extra length and warmth is quite relieving.
If you’re planning to do a lot of hiking on your travels, these are definitely the best socks for hiking.
According to our personal experience, their additional length prevents sticks and shrubs from scratching your ankles when you're in the mountains.
Additionally, the silicone grip on them ensures that you won’t slip on your hikes or when you’re running late and sprinting from one flight to the next.
Because of their length, these socks are also the best cycling socks for men and are perfect if you’re planning to do so on your travels, too. Have you ever wondered why cyclists wear long socks? This is because they’re great for temperature regulation, protection, and aerodynamics.
So, our mid-calf-length grip socks are perfect for anyone planning a cycling holiday as part of their travels.
Mid-calf-length socks are also very fashionable, so you can use them when you’re going out or if you’re travelling for business and need to look professional, too.
Similarly to our ankle-length socks, you can secure four pairs of our mid-calf-length socks for a very affordable £22.
Why They’re Great
- They’re warmer than ankle-length socks
- They’re the perfect socks for hiking
- They can be used for many different scenarios
- They have added stability thanks to their grips
Who They’re Right For
- Travellers who tend to get cold easily
- People who are planning on hiking during their travels
- People who are travelling for business and need to look professional
Compression Grip Socks
Our compression grip socks are a must-have for men who are travelling on long flights or who will be spending many hours at a time seated.
When you’re travelling for extended periods, this can have awful effects on your circulation. It can cause ankle swelling or, even worse, deep vein thrombosis.
Deep vein thrombosis is a type of blood clot that occurs when you don’t move for long periods. It’s even more likely to occur when you’re seated in small spaces with minimal space to stretch out your legs. This is why it’s such a common occurrence when travelling.
Deep vein thrombosis is a painful experience that can have nasty complications. Fortunately, our research indicates that our compression grip socks can help reduce your risk of this occurring, making them a necessity for those travelling for hours on end, and even more so if you’re prone to getting blood clots.
Additionally, compression socks for flying can also help fight off leg fatigue. While this might sound counter-intuitive, long flights can make your legs tired, and it takes a while to get used to any sort of activity again afterwards.
Compression socks can help fight this fatigue and help you move around quicker and easier after a long flight.
Besides these factors, though, our compression grip socks are also extremely comfortable because they’re made of cotton and elastic fibres. They won't make you feel overly uncomfortable, so you can sit comfortably throughout the flight or drive.
Unfortunately, compression socks aren’t the most attractive-looking socks, so they’re unlikely to score you any fashion points on your summer vacation.
However, they’re great if you’re going to a cold location. You can wear them underneath a pair of long pants for some added warmth. Additionally, they can also be used if you plan on doing a lot of running and hiking during your travels.
Not only is the compression element great for muscle recovery and fatigue, but the grip element also helps to give you more stability and control, prevents blisters, and can lessen your chance of getting injured when partaking in these activities.
While our compression grip socks are slightly more expensive than the previous two, they’re still very reasonable. You can buy four pairs for £50.
Why They’re Great
- They limit your chance of experiencing deep vein thrombosis from long flights
- They prevent muscle fatigue
- They can act as an extra layer to keep you warm
- They prevent blisters from occurring
- They can prevent injuries when running or hiking
Who They’re Right For
- People who are travelling for extended periods
- People who struggle with blood clots
- People who want to speed up their muscle recovery and limit muscle fatigue
How to Choose the Best Socks for Travelling
Material
The material that your travel socks are made out of is very important. Not only does the material determine how comfortable the socks are, but it should also be a material that is moisture-wicking and breathable.
As important as the look of your socks are, travel socks must be functional. Their material plays a big part in that. You need to make sure that your socks don’t irritate your skin or cause you to sweat more than usual.
Your travel socks should keep your feet dry, sweat-free, and comfortable throughout your journey.
We strongly recommend our unique combination of cotton and elastic fibres to achieve the ultimate levels of comfort.
Length
The length of the socks that you take along for travel depends on your personal preferences, as well as where you are going and what you are going to be doing while away.
If you aren’t a fan of long socks or you’re going somewhere very hot, stick to taking ankle-length socks along.
If the climate is cooler and you are planning on doing a lot of hiking, then longer socks would be ideal. They provide more protection and warmth for your legs.
At the end of the day, you want to pack socks that are going to be comfortable and practical, so always keep this in mind.
Compression
Getting compression travel socks is a good idea if you are going to be seated for hours on end when you’re travelling or if you suffer from blood clot issues.
Compression socks will help promote your blood circulation, limit swelling, and prevent you from getting deep vein thrombosis.
It can be difficult to know if you should wear compression socks on a plane or not and if they’re really necessary.
In our opinion, even if you don’t have a direct risk of suffering from deep vein thrombosis, compression socks can help limit leg fatigue and swelling after long flights or car drives.
We always find that it’s better to be safe than sorry if you’re flying long distances. Compression socks can’t do any harm, so give them a try if you’re not sure.
Odour Resistance
When you’re travelling, you don’t always have access to laundry facilities, and used socks will end up sitting in your suitcase (or being re-worn if an emergency strikes) for the duration of your holiday.
So having socks that have some sort of odour-resistant or anti-bacterial properties can help with the unwanted stench.
Durability
Durability is a very important factor when it comes to picking socks for your travels, especially if you’ll be travelling for a lengthy period.
You want to purchase travel socks that can be worn multiple times, be worn through rough environments, and won’t tear or rip when you do so.
Our sport grip socks are a great example of this and will ensure you have durable and reliable socks that will last you your whole trip and longer.
Quick-Drying
Having quick-drying socks will make things much easier for you when you travel. When you travel for a few days, you’re likely to have to wash your socks at some point.
Having quick-dry socks allows you to wash them in the evening and have them ready for use the next day.
Additionally, if you’re going on frequent hikes, you might find yourself walking through streams or in damp conditions.
Having quick-dry socks means that these things won’t bother you, and you can still have fresh and clean socks ready for you the next day.
Nothing can spoil a trip like unnecessary anxiety. There’s absolutely no reason for you to worry about your socks if you take the time to choose wisely.
Fit
What’s worse than having socks that keep slipping down or are too tight when you’re travelling? It can be a nightmare! And it’s entirely avoidable.
Finding the best travel socks in your size and fit is an essential part of your voyage.
Don’t forget that ill-fitting socks can also cause blisters and sore feet. So, if you’ve outgrown your old socks or they’ve lost their elasticity, don’t take unnecessary chances with your comfort. It may come back to haunt you and your entire trip!
Conclusion
If the type of socks you take with you on your travels is something you never considered before reading this article, then you’re not alone.
Many people toss a pair of socks into their bags and assume they’re good to go, but we hope that, after reading this article, we’ve alerted you to how important your choice of travel socks is.
Granted, there may be more things to consider when it comes to ensuring you have the best travel socks than you initially thought. After all, it’s not something men are encouraged to prioritise, but we can’t stress enough how important it is. Ensuring your comfort is the first step towards restful travel.
This article should give you an idea of what the best travel socks for men are. But remember, this depends just as heavily on your personal preferences as on where you’re going.
Nonetheless, we recommend you spend just a little more time considering your socks before you jet off on your next epic adventure!
Did our blog meet your needs? You might also find our other guides helpful:
- Best Socks for Men
- Best Men’s Knee-High Socks
- Best Ankle Socks
- Best Summer Socks
- Support Ankle Socks
- Best Sport Socks
- Gym Socks for Women
- Athlete's Foot Socks
- Grip Socks for Trampoline
- Grip Socks for Rugby
- Best Walking Socks (Women's)
- Walking Socks for Summer
- Anti-Blister Socks for Walking
- Walking Compression Socks
- How Tight Should Compression Socks Be?
