Looking for comfortable women's socks

October 31, 2018 9:50 PM

It's really hard to find women's socks without elastic at the top, and I need some suggestions.

Whenever I wear socks with an elastic band on top, I get indentations on my legs, and I'm getting tired of it. (I'm talking about a sock length between ankle socks and knee socks.) This has been happening for years. I started googling it a minute ago and closed the tab when I scrolled to "Surprising Physical Signs of Heart Disease" (thanks, Google) -- and I've seen this question from a couple of years ago, which also worried me re health, but my question/situation is a bit different from the asker's. (Re the heart disease issue, I've had all kinds of tests -- long story -- and my cardiovascular health is fine. Still, I wonder if it's worth asking my doctor...)

Some of my socks feel too tight and leave a mark (I've finally gotten rid of the really bad ones rather than leave them in my drawer forever), while others feel OK and leave a mark anyway. Sometimes I fold the top down, but that doesn't really help. Is this a common thing, and if so, why is it so hard to find socks that aren't tight on top? I'm not overweight, although I'm definitely on the "curvy" side rather than "skinny." Still, I'm small enough to shop in the girls' section at Target. I do have big calves (mostly because they're muscular), so most knee socks aren't comfortable for me. Not only is this situation uncomfortable, but I have some body image issues and this doesn't help, although I know that may sound silly.

I have a few pairs of socks from Sock Club that are nice in that the elastic part is much wider than normal and spreads out the pressure, I guess, but I don't want to spend that much. Ideally, I'd get some cheap, comfortable socks that don't have a band at the top at all (and still stay up somehow). As for shoes, I usually wear ankle boots, knee-high boots, slip-on loafers, or sneakers.

posted by trillian to Clothing, Beauty, & Fashion (21 answers total)

Unless there is a reason why you want socks to go up your leg why not go with a variety trainer socks and be done?
posted by koahiatamadl at 10:20 PM on October 31, 2018

Hi, I have the same issue: socks pretty much *always* leave a mark on my legs. And I too have muscular calves and am not considered overweight. I just think most socks for women-type people assume you have dainty ankles and scrawny lower-legs or something (yes, this also brings up body-image issues for me as well).

Anyway...I don't know if you can find these socks at your run-of-the-mill department store, but on Amazon I've bought what are called "relaxed top" socks. There might be other names for these of which I'm not aware, but that should put you on the right track. These socks (at least the ones I bought) were SO much more comfortable. And no calf/ankle strangulation marks either after many, many years of putting up with that BS!

Good luck. :)
posted by Halo in reverse at 10:24 PM on October 31, 2018 [1 favorite]

I always get that, and my calves aren’t particularly wide. I checked, and the bamboo socks I got from Mark’s work wearhouse leave only a faint line, and feel pretty comfortable.
posted by Valancy Rachel at 10:28 PM on October 31, 2018

Have you tried mens or boys socks?
posted by kylej at 10:32 PM on October 31, 2018 [2 favorites]

You want All Day socks. They do a variety of styles for both women and men (though I'm a woman, my feet are large enough that I have to wear men's socks) and are great.
posted by Athanassiel at 11:22 PM on October 31, 2018

I really love uniqlo men’s socks.

Online, Sock Dreams has a large variety of socks for wide calves, with very detailed descriptions of each.
posted by shalom at 2:27 AM on November 1, 2018 [2 favorites]

fwiw I am in a non-overweight bmi range with no major health conditions and socks do this 100% of the time for me, including athletic socks and mens socks, and I wear as comfortable as possible socks. I actually didn't realize until now that this wasn't just what socks did (I'm still not sure it doesn't happen to everyone?).

I do find that the indentation from athletic ankle socks is much less uncomfortable than other socks, if that helps. The "classic" sock length is the worst for this.
posted by randomnity at 4:56 AM on November 1, 2018 [1 favorite]

Sorry, for a specific recommendation, my current favourite are the black new balance socks that hit just above the ankle bone (both women's and men's versions are good). Cheap and so comfortable, I eventually bought 4 packs of ~8 to make them my daily sock.
posted by randomnity at 5:02 AM on November 1, 2018

A friend of mine has this need, and she looks for the type of socks that roll at the top.
posted by wellred at 5:03 AM on November 1, 2018

I have this issue and have been buying socks marketed as "diabetic socks" on Amazon which have a much more relaxed top. There are lot that come in appealing colors/patters and look otherwise like standard (rather than medical) socks.
posted by TwoStride at 6:43 AM on November 1, 2018 [1 favorite]

Sockwell has some "relaxed-fit" socks. I have bought several pairs of the "easy does it" and "big easy" models. They're expensive and don't wear as well as I'd like. I also don't much like the colors and styles. They're too sporty and don't blend well with my clothing colors. But they're the best I've found so far.

I don't understand how people wear standard socks. My ankles just are not that damn big, and I am not diabetic, but those socks are constricting.
posted by Weftage at 6:47 AM on November 1, 2018 [1 favorite]

These are only good for Lounge Socks mostly, but I find that chenille-type socks (fuzzy socks) you often see specifically in holiday- or winter-oriented designs do not do this. I am wearing a pair from Daiso right now ("Room Socks") but also acquire many as impulse buys at drugstores and Target during the holiday season.

They fall apart really fast, though. Chenille and merino wool socks end up wearing through at the ball of the foot before the end of the season for me (a person who works from home and never wears shoes or slippers, so I am generally hard on socks).
posted by Lyn Never at 7:32 AM on November 1, 2018

Sock Dreams has very helpful customer service, in addition to a huge selection and fast free shipping. You can contact them here:
https://www.sockdreams.com/contact

I have contacted them in the past about the fit of a garter belt, construction of socks, etc. and have always been pleased at how helpful they are.
posted by fiercecupcake at 7:40 AM on November 1, 2018

Oh, so what I'm suggesting is, tell them what you told us, and see what they recommend.
posted by fiercecupcake at 7:40 AM on November 1, 2018

The only socks I can wear without that kind of discomfort are from H&M-- the socks sold in packs, with a slight scallop pattern at the top. They have no tight band across the top at all, and they do stay up, unlike some other versions I have tried at Sockdreams, etc.

The only problem is that these socks have been getting much thinner in recent years, so they are not as perfect as they used to be, but still miles better than anything else I've tried. Otherwise, all socks are hell for me, and I have been known to resort to just cutting the elastic at the top of other socks like a maniac. This does work decently, and since I'm usually wearing boots it doesn't show.

Lastly, I am extremely tiny and petite, so I have no idea how average-sized and larger people can wear those other socks? They feel like a tourniquet! Good luck in the search.
posted by thegreatfleecircus at 9:10 AM on November 1, 2018

Seconding the suggestion for trying out diabetic socks - Himself (not diabetic, no heart disease) has a similar situation with sock tops causing discomfort. He buys the Simcan brand, some styles of which are available on amazon.com but I don't know how readily available they are otherwise in the US (they're a Canadian company).
posted by Mary Ellen Carter at 9:24 AM on November 1, 2018

Just in case there's an easy fix: indentations in your skin from, for example, socks, can be about dehydration. Are you drinking enough water? Are you getting enough electrolytes? (I know someone who pretty much only drinks Earl Grey and her doctor had to literally prescribe water.)
posted by aniola at 9:27 AM on November 1, 2018

I've been wearing these for a few years, and really like them. If you happen to be a Costco member, you can get them there, and return them if you want to.
posted by still_wears_a_hat at 2:40 PM on November 1, 2018

I like these socks. The top doesn't dig in at all but stays up.
posted by pinochiette at 7:52 PM on November 2, 2018

Same issues here, to the point that I try to avoid any socks with a band around the top (okay, I sometimes break this rule for very cute socks, but I always regret it). I've had the best luck with Gold Toe women's roll cuff socks--they come in 6 packs, various colors, and haven't changed in years. Available at Macy's, Amazon, etc. The ribbing is parallel to the leg and uniform up the entire portion above the foot, so there's nothing to dig in around the top.
posted by Jemstar at 11:35 AM on November 4, 2018

Response by poster: Many sock options here -- thanks, all!
posted by trillian at 5:54 AM on November 12, 2018