I used to have anti-slip socks back when I was younger. They worked well, although the sock became loose and started falling off my feet after only a couple of washes. Now there are a great variety of grippy socks to choose from.
Anti-slip socks have grippy material on the bottom to prevent slipping on smooth floors. These work well across many situations and can be used for several applications.
Anti-slip socks work well:
- On wooden floors
- On kitchen floors
- At the gym
- At the hospital
- At dance class
- During yoga
- When doing Pilates
- As a diabetic sock
- For sports (Baseball, Soccer, Football)
- For toddlers
They act like slippers because they grip the floor and can prevent a slip or fall from occurring. The best part about wearing them is you can wear them as regular socks with your shoes (getting them in may be difficult). After your done, you can still feel confident you’ll walking without your shoes in many slippery areas.
What are Anti-slip socks?
Anti-slip socks have a very thin tread pattern on the bottom. Silicon and other materials are used as the grippy tread pattern. They grip smooth floors fairly well and are better at gripping than just wearing socks without grip.
They are called by several names including non-slip socks, non-skid socks, anti-slip socks, hospital socks, yoga socks, and grip socks.
Almost any type of sock can be made into a grippy anti-slip sock. That’s why you find these socks in various categories if you go shopping. You’ll see them in sports, exercise, medical, and comfort sock departments online or in stores.
I have used these socks and enjoyed using them as a slipper. I could wear them around the house all day and would sometimes even go outside with them on. These types of socks can give you just a little more protection than a normal sock.
Depending on the type of sock you get, you will have varying levels of grippy material on the bottom of the sock. So, depending on the activities you are participating in, you may decide to get a sock that has either more or less grip.
Do Anti-Slip Socks Prevent Falls?
Anti-slip socks may prevent slipping, but they will not likely prevent falls. Falls happen for many reasons. Sometimes it is the leg strength a person has. Sometimes it is a loss of balance. As you grow older you are at a greater risk of falling.
On super slippery floors, an anti-slip sock may prevent slipping and this may help prevent a fall, but falls usually occur for other reasons.
To prevent a fall use bright lighting, remove obstacles such as rugs, use a cane or walker if needed, avoid loose socks, flip flops, or slippers, and exercise.
In a study conducted to find out about hospital use of anti-slip socks, they perform experiments on wet floors and an angled sloped floor. They found that the gripping power of anti-slip socks wasn’t as good as just walking barefoot in sloped areas. (ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)
Also, they noticed that if socks were loose or worn wrong this could also be problematic. Compression socks seem to work better than non-slip for water but not sloped floors.
Maybe the best of both socks is what’s needed; a tight sock with a non-slip grip. That way hospital patients can have better traction in various situations.
That being said, anti-slip socks used for those who wear them properly and are fairly agile, can help prevent slipping and help you walk well on smooth surfaces.
If you don’t use anti-slip socks make sure your feet are moisturized so they grip the floor well. A very dry foot will slip easily on a smooth floor.
At the same time, if you are applying moisturizing cream to your feet, you should wait until it has been absorbed by your feet before walking on a slippery floor.
Who Should Use Anti-Slip Socks?
Almost anyone can benefit from wearing grippy socks if you get the right type of socks for your situation. You may need to test your socks to see if they will work for the situation you will be using them in.
These socks usually perform well for most people in most situations, but each sock is a bit different and each situation may vary. People should use an anti-slip sock if they:
- Need an extra grip during exercise or the sports activity they are engaged in. With the high levels of friction caused during sports, shoes need to be extra snug. A sock that won’t move can help prevent blisters by keeping the foot in place.
- Want to sock to wear on a lazy day at home, instead of using slippers.
- Are walking over slippery surfaces on a daily or weekly basis, and they don’t want to expose their feet to any bacteria and grim on the floor.
- Don’t want to slip on slippery floor surfaces. One in three people older than 65 experience a fall. (nfsi.org) Older individuals may want to see if these socks help them prevent slips.
Not all grippy socks are made to perform the same types of activities. So make sure when you are shopping for non-slip socks to specify the activity that you will be doing with them the most.
The key to getting the best sock for your needs is to check that it is a quality sock and won’t fall apart quickly, and to make sure it will work well for its intended purpose.
Here are some things to look for to get the best results:
- It should fit firmly around your foot and leg and not be loose. Remember that some socks will shrink after washing. Socks that are too small could slip off your heel. Calf high socks work well for sports and over the ankle for most other activities.
- It should have a uniform pattern that on the entire bottom, that doesn’t stick out from the sock much.
- The sock should be made out of materials that won’t stretch over much out over time. Polyester, nylon, spandex, and cotton mixtures should work well. It should be similar to an athletic sock for a better gripping performance. (Not 100% wool, not 100% cotton, and not plush socks)
- It should be thin enough for your shoes if using them for sports. Thinner is usually better for most sports activities, but if your hiking thicker socks could be better.
- If using them as a medical sock, such as socks to keep your feet warm and walk around in at a hospital or when sick at home, tighter calf-high socks should perform better. If you have diabetes, you may need looser socks, although if they are too loose, they could cause difficulty walking.
- You may need socks that leave your toes exposed, such as when doing yoga. Make sure to find quality socks that stay in place as you go through your routine.
What Anti-Slip Socks Should I Get?
The beat socks are the ones that will provide the best quality and are made for the activity you have in mind. Here are some socks that I found that I would buy myself or recommend to others.
I recommend reading at least 5 reviews (some with high ratings and some with low ratings) before buying a pair of grippy socks. Get all the facts before getting something that doesn’t work for you.
Recommended Socks
For Soccer/Football/Hockey
These socks are good for playing sports where you will be moving a lot and your feet need to be extra secure to prevent blisters. They should work well at preventing foot slippage, and because they are so high, they will stay tight on your foot the entire game.
They are very elastic socks and are one size fits all (adult 6 – 11.5). So if you don’t like tight socks and your feet are near a size 11, you may need to consider a different sock.
For the Gym/Basketball/Dance
These socks are good for playing sports, dancing, and possibly basketball. Keep in mind that they will take effort to fit into tight shoes because of the grippy pads. They should work well with high-intensity activity and because they are made of 50% polyester they should be durable.
Like the other socks, these are one size fits all (adult 6 – 12). So if your feet are 10 or 12 they might not fit as well as a smaller sized foot. Some people like tight socks to help with circulation, such as when running or walking for long distances.
If you are a dancer who needs extra precision and control of your dancing shoes, these could help your foot stay in place better.
For Yoga
If you do yoga regularly, you may enjoy the benefits of anti-slip socks. They can give you the extra grip you need on your mat or floor.
These socks have four sizes to choose from and come in three pairs. Made of cotton and spandex, They have an opening for all five toes so you can articulate your toes as you do your yoga.
People seem to like these socks, although some people felt the toe openings were too tight.
Another yoga sock that can be used for Pilates, barre, and ballet can be found at this link. (Amazon.com)
For Multipurpose Use
If you are a runner, you may have noticed these short, ankle-high socks with a tab in the back. A shorter sock is easier to put on and take off, and the tab in the back can help your socks stay on better with shoes.
These socks can be helpful for those who exercise, walk on slippery surfaces, or find traction when recovering from injury or during old age.
These socks come in small, medium, and large. You get two pairs of socks. Made of cotton, elastic, and spandex, they have grippy dots on the entire bottom of the sock.
For Swollen Feet/Lymphedema/Diabetic/Cast
If you’ve ever had a swollen ankle, you know how difficult getting socks on is. I twisted my ankle once and had to go without one sock.
If your ankles are always swollen, these socks may help keep your feet warm and help on slippery surfaces.
These socks come in 2 pairs and are supposed to be very stretchy and should stay up. They should be comfortable for those swollen feet.
They are one size fits all. They are made mostly of cotton with some nylon and spandex. Read reviews to see if these are helpful for your situation.
For Comfort
If you’ve ever had a swollen ankle, you know how difficult it is to get socks on. I twisted my ankle once and had to go without one sock.
If your ankles are always swollen, these socks may help keep your feet warm and help on slippery surfaces.
These socks come in 2 pairs and are supposed to be very stretchy and should stay up. They should be comfortable for those swollen feet.
They are one size fits all. They are made mostly of cotton with some nylon and spandex. Read reviews to see if these are helpful for your situation.
Final Thoughts
There are many uses for grippy socks, and if you intend to use them, you will likely find that they will at the least help prevent slipping if you’re on a slippery floor. There may be a trade-off in comfort when using anti-slip socks but most people find them fairly comfortable.
If you know what type of anti-slip socks you need, you should be able to find ones that suit you. Non-slip socks should work for most people, but note that they may not suitable for everyone or every situation.
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