Sock style guide

When choosing your socks it's important to get the right fit to avoid blistering and other injuries.

• We recommend that when buying your socks, you take your normal shoe size.
• If you find that you're borderline between sizes, we'd advise that you take the smaller size to avoid excess material bunching up and causing blisters.
• If you're wearing a thicker sock, you should consider taking a ½ size up in your footwear.

You'll also need to consider the length of your sock. This will vary depending on the sport and the intensity of the sport you're playing. It's also largely dependant on personal preference. We've given you some tips below to help.

This invisible sock is extremely low cut and is hidden beneath the shoe. The advantage of this type of sock is that it provides breathability and comfort inside the shoe whilst remaining hidden on the outside, so it looks as if you aren't wearing any socks at all. This gives a flattering, lengthened look to the leg and is also great for keeping you cool in warmer weather. It is sometimes used for racing as this type of sock tends to be very lightweight, although some runners do experience heel slippage which can lead to blistering. For this reason, many runners prefer to take a higher cut sock.

This sock is cut just below the ankle and is just visible above the shoe. We've found that this type of sock is most popular with our runners. It is less likely to slip or move than a micro sock, yet it's also less bulky, less visible and more lightweight than a higher cut sock.

This is a traditional sock, cut above the ankle and suitable for most sports, including tennis and gym work. Again, this type of sock is less prone to slippage, therefore there is a lower likelihood of blistering and the higher cut will help keep you warmer in cold weather. This cut is ideal for when you're wearing walking boots, as the higher cut will help protect the ankle and the lower leg.

This type of sock is generally reserved for sports such as football or skiing which require additional warmth and protection. Some walking socks are also designed in this length for the same reason. We've also found this length of sock is popular with our British Forces customers