Despite only covering your toes and gently hooking onto your heel (shout out the silicone heel grips), the elastics keep the sock in place well. The sock is available in a few colors, including a trio of skin tones, and you can select from three sizes instead of the usual two (which might explain why the Bombas fit so well).
If your footwear doesn’t require such a low cut, Bombas also offers Mid-Cut No-Show Socks (which, full disclosure, we haven’t tested, but would trust to work equally well) and Cushioned No-Show Socks, which came in second place in our testing. Just keep in mind that the heel is thicker on the cushioned version, which had it bunching up for some testers.
Best Upgrade No-Show Socks: Smartwool Everyday No-Show Socks
If you’re thinking that wool only makes sense in winter, you’re missing out on three more seasons of what may be the best fabric (okay, knit) for a sock. Naturally breathable and moisture-wicking, it’s exactly what you want on your feet when the weather heats up. Yet despite Smartwool’s history as both an expert in merino and hosiery, we were surprised—in a good way—by just how good the brand’s Everyday No-Show Socks performed. This is truly a year-round no-show.
A seamless toe design and sturdy cushioning along your sole makes comfy from morning coffee to night cap, but we really appreciated just how good merino wool is letting heat out, even while running or working out. (Smartwool’s Everyday Sock Zero Cushion also hits all the same notes, minus the padding.) Our only caveat: Smartwool’s Everyday No-Show isn’t low-cut, so works best with sneakers and maybe some higher-cut lace-ups.
Best Budget No-Show Socks: Uniqlo Pile Low-Cut Socks
Uniqlo makes some of the best socks, period, and we’ve evangelized the brand’s socks often, so we had high expectations for its Pile Low-Cut Socks. They delivered in the same way as all of Uniqlo’s hosiery: they’re affordable, comfortable, and stay where they belong all day long. Wildly, they’ve even gotten cheaper, dropping by $1 a pair since last year.
Part of that low price comes from the high percentage of acrylic in the fabric, which makes them a little less cozy than pairs that lean more heavily on cotton or polyester (though not enough to affect their all-day wearability). All that acrylic at least seems to help with making the socks quick-drying, helping keep funk and sweat on a leash. Paired with some all-over padding, Uniqlo’s Pile Low-Cut Socks can sub in nicely for a low-key workout or jog.
Best No Show Socks for High-Top Sneakers: Fruit of the Loom Dual Defense No Show Socks (12-Pack)
Fruit of the Loom classifies these seeming ankle socks as no-shows, which we suppose is true so long as you’re wearing high tops or boots. They will very much stick out over the top of anything low-cut.
There’s nothing super special to the Fruit of the Loom sauce. Not much cushioning (especially compared to the Bombas or Celersport), and the medium-weight polyester-and-spandex fabric will wick some sweat, but wouldn’t handle a workout. What you get, though, are 12 pairs of fairly comfortable, long-lasting “no-show” socks that hold their shape well after multiple washes and average out to less than $1.50 per pair. On that front, at least, the math checks out.
Best Athletic No-Show Socks: Celersport Running Ankle Socks (6-Pack)
Genuine no-show socks like the Smartwool and Uniqlo pairs above can be fine for a low-key workout, but they’re not what you want if you’re piling on miles or powering through an agility-intensive CrossFit situation. Even the best elastics will slip during a 10K run, and the lower cut can lead to some chafing. That’s why, if we’re breaking a hard sweat but still want your ankles to breathe, we’d suggest Celersport’s Running Ankle Socks.