Best Socks for Tennis & How to Choose

To start, you might be wondering if you need specialized socks for tennis. There are a few reasons we recommend wearing performance socks rather than your everyday casual socks. In tennis, you spend a lot of time making quick stops and starts. All this movement requires cushioning in specific areas, and you'll want to choose socks that limit blisters because, let's face it, your feet can get hot and sweaty when playing tennis. Some players, including some Tennis Warehouse playtesters, opt to wear two pairs of socks. The idea behind the double socks is to reduce blistering potential even further.

We've narrowed it to three main features to consider when choosing performance tennis socks for yourself. You'll want to check cushioning levels, sock height and material. Let's dive in for a closer look.

Tennis players spend a lot of time on their feet, especially up on their toes. For that reason, you'll want to look for socks that have padding on the footbed. The thickness of the cushioning is partly personal preference, but other factors such as court time and weather can also affect your choice.

• Thick cushioning: If you’re playing on hard courts a lot, maximum cushioning socks can be a good option to protect your feet from the impacts of running on a hard surface. Thicker socks can also be a great option for players with narrower feet who find their tennis shoes to fit a little too wide.
• Light cushioning: Even light cushioning tennis socks should have some padding in the forefoot and heel. These socks will provide more "feel" and a slimmer fit inside your shoes. These socks also often have features like mesh on the top of the foot or around the arch band to keep your feet feeling cooler in hot conditions. Thinner socks can also help if shoes are feeling too narrow.
• Medium cushioning: Falling right in the middle, medium cushioning socks are the workhorses of tennis socks. These socks are the most versatile and offer a good starting point for those who aren’t sure what their cushioning preferences are.

Crew socks, quarter socks or no-show ... Although much of the time the height of the sock is more of a personal preference or for style, there are some instances where one sock height might be more favorable than the other.

• Crew Socks: When you're wearing mid-cut shoes, we would recommend opting for a crew height sock or at least a quarter sock. The higher cut will help protect your skin from rubbing. If you're playing on clay courts, you might also opt for these higher cut socks to keep your feet cleaner. If you need to wear ankle braces, these long cuff socks are a good idea to protect your skin.
• Quarter socks: The short cuff style is a tennis classic. Like the tennis crew socks, the quarter-height socks are a good option when playing on clay courts or when you want a bit more coverage.
• No-show socks: These low-cut socks are the perfect choice for players who want to avoid high tan lines. Most premium no-show tennis socks will come with a heel tab, which offers extra padding for your Achilles. The heels of tennis shoes are often higher than casual sneakers for added ankle stability, so the heel tab offers skin protection and helps the socks from slipping down inside your shoes.

Tennis socks are generally made of synthetic materials without cotton, although some do have some cotton in them. The primary reason why synthetic materials are favored is they help keep blisters at bay by wicking moisture away from your skin, while cotton tends to absorb sweat. Other features to consider:

• Toe seams: Many premium tennis socks will be made with smooth toe seams. This along with the wicking materials will help limit blisters and discomfort while you’re playing tennis.
• Left and right foot specific: Some tennis socks will come marked with “L” and “R” to mark which foot each sock is meant to fit. These socks offer a premium fit and are anatomically designed to fit each side.
• Arch band: Several styles of tennis socks will come with a band around the midfoot. This band is often ribbed and more compressive to offer better arch support.
• Sizing: The most premium tennis socks will be offered in multiple sizes that correspond to a range of shoe sizes. Tennis Warehouse will provide a sizing table on these socks to help you choose the right size socks for your feet. Each brand is different so be sure to check the sizing details. You want your socks to fit snugly on your feet to reduce the chance of rubbing. Less technical socks will typically be offered as “one size fits most.”

The Feetures High Performance Cushion Socks check all the boxes for performance socks for tennis. The iWick fabric wicks away moisture and the toe is seamless to help prevent blisters. Lycra power bands hug your feet for support. These socks have plenty of cushioning underfoot, but they are not too thick, making them a good option for a variety of foot types. They’re available in sizes from small to extra large and in crew, quarter and no-show heights.

Runner-up: Fitsok CF2 Cushion socks

These socks by Fitsok are also high performing, and they’re a great value because they come in bundles of two or three pairs. They’re made in sizes from small to extra large. All three cuff heights (crew, quarter and no-show) are also available.

Thorlo’s tagline is the “original padded sock” for a reason. These Max Cushion Socks deliver what they promise: an ultra cushioned feel. There’s extra padding over the toes to protect your feet from the starts and stops of tennis footwork. The socks are also wicking to reduce blisters. One thing to note is that these socks are so thick and protective, you may find that you need to go up a half shoe size to accommodate the extra cushioning. These socks are available in a variety of sizes and cuff heights, including crew, low/ankle cut (quarter height) and roll top (no-show).

Runner up: Feetures Max Cushion

These Feetures socks have good cushioning but are not as thick and protective as the Thorlo Max Cushion Socks. These socks come in a variety of colors for added fun.

Whether it’s hot outside or you like a slimmer style sock, the Thorlo Experia series is our recommendation. Thorlo engineers these socks to have a slimmer overall feel on the feet, but Experia socks still provide padding in key areas for protection. With mesh zones, these socks are also breathable, perfect for hot days on the court. Like other Thorlo socks, these are made with material that reduces blister potential. You can find Experia socks in crew, low cut and no-show styles.

Runner up: Feetures Elite Light Cushion

The Feetures Elite Light Cushion socks have a sleek overall fit with a bit less cushioning than the Experia socks. These socks are a great option when looking for a low-volume sock.

Get the support your feet need from OS1st Plantar Fasciitis Socks. These socks have medical grade compression to target plantar fasciitis, foot fatigue and associated arch/heel pain. They have an anatomical left/right foot design for an optimal fit. The OS1st socks come in crew and no-show styles for the court.

If you’re looking for an all-around sock that goes from court to the gym and everywhere in between, the adidas Cushioned 3.0 socks should be on your list. These socks come in packs of three and offer a cushioned feel overall. They’re built with light arch support and adidas’ AEROREADY moisture-wicking technology.

Runner up: Nike Everyday Cushion

These socks are quite similar to those from adidas but are not quite as cushioned and contain more cotton. If you’re a fan of the Swoosh or are looking for nice socks for the court that are a bit lighter, try Nike's Everyday Cushion socks. These socks even come in kids sizes.

Footwork is such an important part of playing tennis, and treating your feet right can only help you feel better on court. Choosing the right equipment for your feet can help you play longer and more comfortably. If you’re not sure which shoes you should be wearing, we can help you pick the right tennis shoes for you and offer our picks for best tennis shoes. And don’t let your tennis socks be an afterthought. Picking the right socks can help you stay blister free so you can keep on playing!

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