10 Best Socks For Basketball: A Complete Buying Guide

The features of socks play a significant role in the performance when the game requires active footwork and moving around.

Each sports brand has different designs and qualities based on player preferences. Basketball socks require more ankle support and cushions to keep the feet comfortable while keeping the feet dry with moisture-wicking fabrics.

The picture provides more insights into the features of high-performance basketball socks. Similarly, the criteria that can help decide on the best basketball socks are as follows.

Material Quality And Comfort

Basketball requires players to move back and forth on the court in short intervals. The pressure on their feet depends on the quality of the materials used in socks.

The best socks use a mix of cotton, polyester, nylon, and elastane, while some even use wool for their ability to transfer moisture. Cotton absorbs moisture, while nylon and polyester remove them quickly. 

Meanwhile, comfort varies for each player based on the amount of padding they prefer and the features of their feet. Keeping the feet dry is a primary requirement for any player since they can get sweaty during high-intensity games.

Since sweat can lead to slippery feet inside the shoes, sports socks use varying materials to transfer wetness on the outer layer to maintain a dry status on the inside. Likewise, a small amount of elastic is used to keep the socks comfortable around the feet.

Thickness and Breathability

The thickness of the socks depends on the requirement and choice of each player. Players with smaller feet usually prefer to wear thicker socks. 

It helps them keep their feet in place with fewer chances of sliding ahead, reducing the possibility of blisters. On the contrary, those with wider feet prefer to wear thin socks that let their feet easily fit into the shoes.

Meanwhile, the socks are made from breathable materials that allow ample airflow while releasing heat and moisture from the feet.

Size And Length

The size of the socks requires much attention from players in selecting a pair that suits the purpose. The comfort of players depends on their requirements.

While the socks are volatile due to their elastic nature, the length of the socks is divided into three categories; Crew Cut, Medium Cut, and Low Cut.

Crew-cut socks go all the up to the shins, keeping the calves and ankles safe, while medium-cut are shorter ones that reach just above the ankles. Meanwhile, low-cut socks remain below the ankles and stay hidden while wearing the shoes.

Durability And Style

The durability of sports socks depends on the usage limit without losing their original properties after a wash. 

Players are willing to spend more on basketball socks, so they expect them to last for at least a few games. Considering the high-intensity gameplays, practice, and workouts, socks' materials should last longer than the cheaper alternatives.

On the other hand, the style of the socks depends on the brand's ability to grasp the customers' interest. The designs and patterns on the surface should highlight the love for basketball as per the changing trend.

Here are the ten best basketball socks that cover all the qualities discussed earlier.

The Nike Dry Elite 1.5 Crew Basketball socks are made specifically for professional athletes. They boast a perfect fit and have distinct styles for right and left.

They use Nike Dri-Fit fabric made from cotton, nylon, polyester, and elastic while using the dri-fit technology by the brand to ensure it wicks out all the moisture from the inside. It comes in crew-cut size and fits perfectly around the calves.

The material is soft and comfortable, while the arch band secures and reduces foot pressure. Additionally, the traction on the sole increases the grip with a ribbed texture that ensures airflow. 

There are designated cushioning for the ankle and the foot while it comfortably holds the calves. While the cost is higher than average sports socks, they have higher quality and multiple color choices.

The Under Armour HeatGear Crew is specifically designed footwear that focuses on keeping the feet cool and dry.

HeatGear already signifies its usage from the name as it is more suitable for reducing heat and maintaining smooth airflow through multiple ventilations.

The fabric materials include 97% polyester and 3% spandex, ensuring moisture-wicking abilities and keeping the feet dry.  They use mesh panels to ensure breathability and dry away the sweat faster.

They use targeted strategic cushioning and padding for perfect comfort and firm arch support to reduce fatigue. Similarly, they have fitted heel contours around the foot for better fit and stability.

The extra padding and cushions keep the feet comfortable for high-intensity games. With a three-pair crew-cut design, the HeatGear socks are more cost-effective than other brands. 

The Nike Performance Cushion Crew Training socks are equipped with Dri-Fit technology that helps keep the feet dry. 

They are made up to seventy percent cotton, and the rest blend elastic and nylon, making them similar to traditional socks. However, the Cushion crew has quick-drying features and a reinforced surface around the toes and heels with extra cotton fabrics.

On the other hand, the mesh fabrics keep the feet ventilated, and the overall cushioning increases the comfort for basketball players.

They fall behind the Elite Crew range since they do not have separate right-left pieces, but their overall performance is similar to other alternatives.

The three-crew pack is a value for money in the high-end section for basketball socks. It also has rib cuffs for a tight fit.

The Adidas Creator 365 Basketball Crew Socks are the best alternatives for Nike's Elite range. Adidas uses polypropylene in its interior, which wicks moisture and lasts longer.

Adidas makes the Creator 365 with Climalite material, made from a blend of cotton, polyester, polypropylene, nylon, and spandex.

They use cotton for the outer texture and the Climalite blend for the inner fabrics to keep the feet dry. This combination is suitable for handling high-intensity pressure in basketball.

Creator 365 are crew-cut socks with a dedicated toe pocket and heels made from polypropylene which helps them last longer under pressure. They also the specific right-left designs to ensure the best fit.

Meanwhile, they have a textured design in the foot using the Adidas Traxion design, which increases the grip on the surface. In addition, they have snuggling cushioned surfaces in the ankle to handle swift moves near the basket.

Their arch support uses compression technology to hug the entire foot providing extra aid to the Achilles area.

The Rockay Accelerate Anti-Blister Running Socks can keep the feet dry in extreme heat with its unique blend of materials.

It is made from a combination of Polyamide, Elastane, and Merino Wool, which ensures breathability and quickly wicks away moisture to keep the feet dry. They are a European brand targeting runners while compatible with any athlete worldwide.

The premium materials create a snug fit with arch support and even provide a lifetime guarantee which is never seen in American brands.

As the name suggests, these pair of Rockay do not allow blisters, and the left and right feet have separate socks. Meanwhile, they only have mid-length, quarter, and low-cut designs, suitable for players that prefer a pair in these sizes.

Stance Icon Hoops basketball socks are the best alternative for players with wider feet. The Stance was the official NBA sock brand on the court from 2015 to 2017.

Icon Hoops are a quarter-style design that fits snugly to the foot with medium cushion in all areas. They used Feel 360 technology which wicks away the moisture while removing the bacteria that cause odor. 

The Feel 360 ensures the feet remain dry and comfortable while their original material Infiknit provides high resistance to friction. Infiknit is a blend of fibers patented by Stance that is resistant to friction.

Stance was established in 2009 to make socks an exciting accessory in the sports world. Their popularity was boosted after being the official NBA on-court sock for two years. 

They still hold the license for NBA, and one can order team and player-themed socks through their official Stance website. Stance Icon is the best alternative for those athletes who prefer thinner socks.

Adidas Team Speed Traxion Crew is a premium category sock for elite basketball athletes. Traxion Crew has ribbed leg compression and a secure fit design.

The footbed has ergonomic cushioning that maintains the grip and stability for higher performance output. Likewise, the heel, toe, and ankle absorb the shocks with strategic cushioning while the separate left and right feet ensure a perfect fit for the feet.

The moisture-wicking technology on their Climalite material helps the feet remain cool and dry by ensuring maximum breathability.

They use the arch support system to reduce foot fatigue, and the thickness is higher than their other designs to handle high-performance gameplays. It is suitable for football and basketball, but they have limited options for size variations.

Under Armour Playmaker crew socks are popular in basketball for their Stephen Curry edition. The Playmaker edition is thick socks made for players using quick dry materials.

They use No-Slip ArmourGrip technology below the foot to keep the socks in place while running and jumping. The arch support is designed to reduce foot fatigue, and the mesh ventilation increases the breathability for the feet to remain dry.

The Playmaker is a thicker version of socks with extra cushioning in the underfoot and ankle areas to keep the feet secure. Meanwhile, the toes, forefoots and heels have added cushioning for more protection.

Materials used include polyester, cotton, Nylon, and Elastane with 75% polyester to keep the feet dry and wick the moisture quickly. They have a specific right and left sock like the other top choices.

It is a performance edition sock made to compete with the Nike Elites and utilizes various designs using players to improve the market reach.

Thorlos Over The Calf Basketball Socks are the best in comfort due to their extra padding and cushioning. The over-calf design provides extra protection for the players.

Their socks use Thorlo acrylic fabric that retains its softness even when it gets wet from sweat. They have the most cushioning on the footbed compared to the others on the list, and the moisture-wicking methods work perfectly to keep the feet dry and comfortable.

In terms of breathability, they use multiple ventilation to keep the foot from getting too warm because of the thick texture.

They are designed for basketball players to get extra comfort and thickness without worrying about sweat, as they use Thor-Lon fibers to wick moisture and keep the feet dry in any condition.

They have reinforced the toe and heel areas, and their No-Rub Toe technologies keep the toes from getting irritated after extended play.

The Champion Crew socks have plenty of cushioning on all the strategic areas to keep the feet comfortable.

The champion crew uses an arch support system for players to stretch and score 3-pointers quickly. Materials used have polyester and spandex to ensure quick drying and moisture-wicking during intense gameplays.

The stitches are designed to maintain airflow for breathability, and the design prevents clammy feet by keeping them dry using the Champions’ Vapor tech.

Champions Crew is available in three color options blue, black, and red combined with white. They are much more affordable than the others without compromising performance. Their crew-cut size supports the ankle and calves perfectly.