Most men own one kind of sock and wear it with everything. Then the office socks slide down by ten o'clock, the gym socks rub, and the winter boots let the cold straight through. The fix is simple: a few packs, each made for one job. This guide covers every type of sock a man needs in the UK, how many pairs to own and how to choose the right size.
The short version
- For the office: fine cotton or bamboo dress socks in navy, black and charcoal.
- For winter: wool-blend, terry-lined or fleece-lined socks with some height to sit above boots.
- For the gym and running: cushioned, breathable sports socks, or grip socks for training.
- For trainers and loafers in summer: no-show socks with a heel grip, or low trainer socks.
- For travel: knee-length compression socks with a firm, supportive fit.
1. Office and dress socks
A dress sock should be thin enough to sit smoothly in a leather shoe and long enough that no skin shows when you sit down. Fine ribbed cotton looks sharp under tailoring, and bamboo blends feel smooth and breathable through a long day. Match the sock to your trousers rather than your shoes, and you will rarely go wrong.
- Holborn Ribbed Cotton Dress Socks: 95% cotton with a fine rib, in navy, black, charcoal or khaki.
- Moorgate Everyday Work Socks: plain black, navy or charcoal in packs of 5 or 10, so every work shirt has a matching pair.
- Dunbar Bamboo Business Socks: ten pairs of smooth black bamboo-blend socks.
- Arundel Argyle Dress Socks: argyle, pin-dot, stripe and plain navy for days that need a little character.
- Cheapside Patterned Dress Socks: subtle pin-dots and fine stripes, made for larger feet, UK 9–14.
Browse the full range in The Office Edit.
2. Winter and boot socks
Warmth comes from thickness and from trapped air. Look for wool blends, a terry-loop lining or a brushed fleece inner, and choose a height that sits above the top of your boots so they cannot rub.
- Settle Nordic Wool-Blend Socks: five pairs in heritage Nordic patterns, a classic Christmas gift.
- Kirkwall Thick Wool-Blend Terry Socks: our warmest everyday sock, with a plush terry lining.
- Staithes Fleece-Lined Thermal Socks: for the coldest days.
- Hebden Wool-Rich Hiking Socks: cushioned soles for fell walks and long trails.
- Bamburgh Wool-Blend Terry Lounge Socks: for cold floors and slow Sunday mornings.
For more detail, read our boot socks and wool socks guide and our thermal socks guide.
3. Gym, running and sports socks
Sports socks need cushioning where your foot lands and breathable panels where it heats up. A raised heel tab stops trainers rubbing, and grip pads help your foot stay put inside the shoe during training.
- Loughborough Cushioned Sports Crew Socks: classic crew socks for the gym, tennis and padel.
- Sandown Lightweight Gym Socks: light and breathable for training sessions.
- Wimborne Anti-Slip Grip Sports Socks: grip pads underfoot for football and indoor training.
- Fowey Five-Toe Cotton Socks: each toe in its own pocket.
4. Trainer and no-show socks
With loafers, boat shoes and low trainers, you want the sock to disappear. No-show socks with a silicone heel grip stay in place, and low trainer socks sit just below the ankle.
- Lerwick No-Show Socks: hidden under the shoe, with a heel grip so they don't slip.
- Bude Cotton Trainer Socks: ten pairs of breathable trainer socks, in sizes up to UK 13.
5. Travel and comfort
- Gatwick Compression Travel & Sports Socks: a firm, knee-length fit for long flights, long drives and long days on your feet. Choose by shoe size: S–M for UK 5–7, L–XL for UK 7–9, XXL for UK 9–11.
- Tewkesbury Comfort-Top Socks: a wide, loose top that won't dig in or leave marks, in sizes up to UK 13.
How many pairs do you need?
A simple rule is one pair for every day between washes, plus a few spare. For most men that means 7 to 10 pairs of everyday or office socks, 3 to 5 pairs of sports socks and 3 to 5 warm pairs for winter. Replace any pair that has gone thin at the heel or lost its stretch at the top.
How to choose your size
Every WARDLEY London sock lists the UK shoe sizes it fits on the product page. If you are between sizes, size up. If you have larger feet, look for the Cheapside, Bude and Tewkesbury socks, which go up to UK 13 or 14.
Caring for your socks
Wash inside out at 30°C with similar colours, and skip the tumble dryer. Wool blends last longest when dried flat. It keeps the colour and the shape for far longer.
Build a sock drawer and save
Most of our sock packs are part of Bundle & Save. Mix any 2 packs and save 25%, or any 3 or more and save 30%, applied automatically at checkout. Delivery is free and tracked across the UK, arriving in 3–5 working days. Shop all men's socks.
For hygiene reasons, socks can only be returned if still sealed in their original packaging. This does not affect your rights for faulty, damaged or incorrectly supplied items.
