Humans naturally seek material to cover us when sleeping. Hence the universal use of blankets, sheets, and pajamas. But our extremities, especially our feet, are some of the most prone areas of our body to feel cold at night. Because our core body temperature drops when we enter REM sleep, this is true not only in cold climates but in beautiful-but-not-air-conditioned paradises as well. Sleep socks are a way to keep your feet warm and feeling comfortable all night. Since there are so many different options on the market, we’ve tested the leading brands to see how they compare. Here are our results:
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How We Picked
Sleep socks can be the ultimate gift for yourself or for a loved one. They provide comfort, warmth, and are ideal for those with injuries, in hospital, pregnant or of advanced age. They typically are woven from materials that differ from normal cotton socks. When deciding which product to purchase for home or health-based work, it is important to consider the following factors:
Material composition
Sleep socks typically are made of materials that are chosen to provide special qualities, like stretching, fuzziness, warmth, and a soft feel. These blends are typically heavy on polyester and often-times spandex. This type of yarn combination tends to give sleep socks their character, but you should pay attention to the specific composition of the fibers. Depending on whether stretchability, warmth, or comfort is most important to you, the materials comprising the socks might make the difference.
Variety
Many brands offer socks in just basic and neutral colors, others offer a wide variety of patterns and bright colors. Not only do some brands offer a wide variety of designs, but some offer different colorized takes on the same design, making for a nice matching set. Depending on the environment or how you plan to use the socks, you will usually have options for something more subdued or something more fun.
Durability
Socks, unlike some pieces of your wardrobe, are meant to be worn time and time again. Socks get the brunt of our friction with the earth as we walk, and that is not different with sleep socks. Some brands are proud of how durable their products are and can promise long periods of use. Another determining factor is how well the socks hold up in the wash: some socks will disintegrate over time. In addition to frayed socks, this can cause lint build-up in your machines.
Grips
Sleep socks can be ideal for those experiencing pain or wobbly walking due to injury, pregnancy, advanced age, or just plain slipper floors. The anti-skid gripping usually adorns the bottom of the socks, designed to help you maintain balance as you walk through the dark. Not all sleep socks come with this feature. Some socks have grips on both sides of the tubing, which makes putting them on a simpler affair.
Cost
Sleep socks typically cost around the same amount as dress or fashion socks, and a little bit more than standard athletic white crew socks. Some come in sets of three or five, so buying a set may be all you need to get to fulfill your sleep wardrobe. When buying in bulk, the dollar or so difference between different brands can really add up. Depending on the durability of the socks, this may be a purchase you make a few times a year, so if the brand is more expensive but more reliably structurally solid, you may pause before opting for the cheaper option.
Buying Tips
Not sure which sleep socks are best for you? Here are some factors to consider before making your purchase:
- Are these for you or for someone else? Because these socks are made to provide more than just a stylish detail to your wardrobe, it is important to consider who this purchase is being made for. If this is for hospital patients, people in a nursing home, children, or a loved one who lives in a slippery or cold house, bear in mind the added features that these sleep socks offer. The difference between having anti-skid gripping and not can be a huge factor when making this decision.
- How often will you wear them? While the majority of these socks are designed for everyday use, invariably some will last longer than others. If you plan on wearing these every day, every night, or even all day and all night, they may not last as long as you would hope. Pay attention to the fabric composition, the wash instructions, and the weight of the socks. This will give clues as to how long they should last for you.
- Do you mind hand washing and line drying? Several leading brands recommend hand washing and line drying these socks. This is because the material doesn’t hold up as well in the wash or the form of the socks will be lost if washed too intensely by a machine. While some customers will happily spend the few minutes to do so after every use, other situations, such as a hospital or elderly care home, may find individual hand washing to be a bother.
- What’s your style? No matter who you are or where you are wearing your sleep socks, you will personally be seeing them everyday! Some brands offer fun stripes, polka dots, cute patterns, and lots of bright colors, often times in matching sets of color or design. You can also find neutral colors, like black, grey, and white, that may blend into your aesthetic more effortlessly. Whether you want your feet to stand out, or merely be the things you stand on, it is important to find a set of sleep socks that fits your needs!
Logan Block
Logan is the former content director of Sleepopolis. As content director, he reviewed new mattresses every week and curated the comparisons, best of pages, and video guides on the site. Logan perfected his method by personally testing over 200 different mattresses, so he’s not only able to discern the overall vibe of a specific bed, but to contextualize its feel within the bed-in-a-box market as a whole.
