Updated on 09/07/2025 by Silvija Meilunaite
Toe socks are socks that have your toes separated, think of them like gloves for your feet.
With the rise of tabies in fashion, there has been a rise in toe socks. However, toe socks are not a fashion statement; they are becoming popular as functional wear that is way better for you than your regular socks.
Toe socks might look silly at first and be hard to put on your feet, but after wearing them for a while, you will understand why everyone in the barefoot and feet health community is raving about them.
Let’s explore why toe socks are good for you and which are the best toe socks for your needs.
Best toe socks brands:
There are so many brands of toe socks, from very affordable to quite an investment, so your choice will mostly depend on your budget and where you will use the toe socks the most. after doing quite a bit of research, here are the top toe sock brands:
TOESOX – best yoga and pilates toe socks brand for women
Injinji – best performance toe socks
VWell– best budget athletic toe socks brand
Vibram– best for Vibram FiveFingers shoes
Sunew – best for viscose toe socks
Here are some examples of the best toe socks for specific needs:
Best toe socks for women
Injinji Women’s Run Lightweight No-Show Toe Socks
Price $19
The Injinji Run series offers restriction-free movement and eliminates skin-on-skin friction, one of the primary causes of blisters. From training runs to race day, Injinji running socks will go the distance by keeping your feet protected in any shoe. The no-show length rests below the ankle and features a heel tab to protect against chafing and keep the sock from sliding into the shoe.
VWELL Toe Socks
Price: $26.65 ( for three pairs)
These pastel-coloured socks are perfect for everyday wear or exercise. They are dry and comfortable the whole day.
Coolmax material can reduce heat and sweat. Made of 32% coolmax, 5% lycra and 63% nylon.
Best toe socks for men
Sunew Toe Socks for Men
Price $13.99 for 3 pairs
Material: 80% Viscose, 15% Polyester, 5% Elastic. Fabric made from Viscose is extremely soft. The fabric is very breathable but is more synthetic than cotton or wool. More colors are available.
CaiDieNu
Price $19 for five pairs
If you want something classic, simple, and practical, these toe socks are for you. They are suitable for running and everyday wear.
AONIJIE 3 Pairs Toe Socks
Price $28.99 for 3 pairs
Aonijie toe socks feature high-quality fibre construction that supports the foot arch and keeps feet cool, dry, and odour-free, making them ideal for both warm and cold weather. The five-toe design promotes natural toe splay, reduces friction, and enhances sensory feedback, helping to prevent blisters during activities like running, walking, hiking, and training. Made from ultra-fine polyester yarn, these seamless socks are durable, soft, comfortable, and skin-friendly.
Best toe socks for athletes
CREEPERS SOCKS
Price £13
The best athletic Toe Socks for Ultimate Comfort and Function.
Run, hike, bike, and play in shockingly comfortable Merino wool toe socks that prevent blisters and reduce skin-on-skin chafe for all-day comfort. Creepers toe socks have seamless stitching, ultra-fine yarn, and stay-up support bands that allow full foot function and feel.
IOMI FootNurse
Price £7.99
These toe socks, made from Coolmax® moisture management yarn, encourage better foot health. They help reduce moisture and chaffing, which helps protect against athlete’s foot and blisters on your feet and especially your toes. These lightweight, comfortable socks provide a barefoot feeling and have great arch support and comfort.
AONIJIE Toe Socks
Price: $27.99 for three pairs
If you like colour and quality, these Aonijie toe socks are for you.
Coolmax Fabric: Superior fibre construction supports the foot’s plantar arch, provides excellent moisture management and cooling, Prevents blisters & hotspots, and is odour-free, keeps your feet warm in winter and cool in summer
VWELL Toe Socks
Price $22.12 for 3 pairs
VWELL Coolmax toe socks are designed to keep your feet cool, dry, and comfortable. The five-toe design promotes natural toe splay, reduces friction, and provides better sensory feedback, making them ideal for running, climbing, or training, as well as for use with flip-flops and five-finger shoes. They feature targeted arch support for stability and injury prevention and a stretchy, non-slip cuff to keep the socks securely in place. Sewn with 200 needles, these ultra-thin and ultra-soft socks are denser, softer, and more durable.
Best toe socks for yoga and pilates
TOESOX BALLET CROSS FULL-TOE SOCKS WITH GRIP
Price $18.00
The five-toe design allows toes to move, spread, and bend naturally for better stability and positioning. ToeSox Ballet Cross Full Toe Socks feature the ToeSox patented non-slip sole pattern for secure footing on any surface. These low-profile socks sit comfortably below the ankle, with an inbuilt arch band that gently supports and lifts the mid-foot.
Ozaiic Yoga Socks for Women with Grips, Non-Slip Five-Toe Socks
Price $14.99
It is a perfect exercise toe socks made of combed cotton and silicone gel grips on the bottom. One Size Fits Women’s shoe size 5.5-11
For more options of Pilates and Yoga socks with a grip, check out: The Best Pilates Socks You Can Buy In 2025
Best toe socks for hiking
VWELL long Toe Socks
Price $ 14.12 ( 3 pairs)
Toe socks are made from 74% combined cotton, 24% Polyester, and 2% Spandex, and they are five-finger socks with moisture wicking. Keep your feet cool and dry.
Soxsense long Toe Socks
Price $ 17.99 ( 2 pairs)
Terry Cushioned Toe Socks. These hiking toe socks have a plush towel bottom for extra softness and comfort. This design minimizes foot friction, reduces fatigue, and protects against painful blisters.
Why are Toe socks better than regular socks?
Separating your toes and letting them spray freely have multiple benefits:
1. Toe socks can improve blisters and friction.
Because each toe is separated, it minimises skin-on-skin contact that prevents blister forming, especially during physical activity like running, hiking or walking long distances (1).
2. Toe socks can improve toe alignment and mobility.
If you own a pair of barefoot shoes, you will notice a difference whilst wearing toe socks. You can spread and wiggle your toes more when wearing toe socks inside wide-toe box shoes. If you suffer from bunions like me, you will fall in love with toe socks (1).
3. They are great for moisture management.
If your feet sweat a lot, you get fungus infections like athlete’s foot, and, well, your feet smell, you might like toe socks to help your feet stay dry for a longer time. You can choose toe socks with antimicrobial fabrics to prolong the benefits of dry fabric between your toes.
4. Toe socks stay in place.
Do you know that annoying feeling when your ankle socks keep moving around? This feeling might not be familiar to Gen Z :), toe socks are great for activities that make your socks move around.
What is the best way to wear Toe Socks?
With wide box shoes
If you wear regular shoes, you might feel the benefits of toe socks less as your toes will be crammed in your shoes. I love wearing toe socks with my barefoot shoes, as they enhance the sensation of being barefoot.
At home
If it is too cold to walk barefoot at home, I love wearing my non-slip-toe socks around the house. Toe socks also help alleviate bunion pain.
In the gym ( shoes or no shoes)
Wearing toe socks helps my stability when wearing my barefoot trainers for strength exercises. Toe socks are great for yoga if it is too cold to be barefoot. Just get the non-slip ones so you don’t start sliding around. You can buy socks if you want a bit more grip and stability.
Vibram FiveFinge shoes or tabi
If you own a pair of Tabi but can’t seem to find socks perfect for them, or just can’t stand wearing shoes with bare feet, you can also try toe socks as a cheaper and more readily available alternative.
And if you are a fashion girlie and love jumping on the latest trends, you own a pair of Vibram FiveFinge shoes, and of course, you need some toe socks to make them even more comfortable.
Just so you know, this post contains affiliate links, and I may earn a small commission if you buy through them at no extra cost to you. For more details, please check out Affiliate Disclosure. Thank you so much for supporting Barefoot Basil 🫶.
Check out my newest article about Vibram FiveFingers shoes, why they are all over the fashion feed, and where to get them.
Many people who try toe socks love them, but some might find them weird or feel that it is too much effort to put them on. If you want to try toe socks, I recommend wearing them multiple times before you decide they are not for you. I love toe socks and have gotten used to putting them on quickly. I feel way more comfortable wearing toe socks in warm weather, paired with my barefoot trainers, while exercising, and I love to wear them on long flights as they keep my feet warm and dry.
Are you a big fan of toe socks? Can you recommend good brands? Or do you find them odd and can’t imagine wearing them?
To learn about the benefits of wearing barefoot shoes, read my review about Vivobarefoot shoes here: I Wore VivoBarefoot Shoes For 2 Months; Here Is My Honest Review
Are you looking for a perfect barefoot boot for this winter? You might like this post: The Best Barefoot Boots You Can Buy This Winter 2024,
- Tedeschi, R. (2023). What are The Benefits of Five-Toed Socks? A Scoping Review. Reabilitacijos mokslai: slauga, kineziterapija, ergoterapija. https://doi.org/10.33607/rmske.v1i28.1357.
Silvija Meilunaite PN1-NC, is a certified nutrition coach and a writer in the nutrition and self-improvement field with a passion for exploring science-based knowledge focusing on holistic health and plant-based nutrition.
Featured in the Wellness on Time magazine.
